Landmarks Commission - Regular Meeting

Good

evening. Welcome to Wednesday the fourth, Landmarks Commission. All members are present except for our our leader, Carmen. She is absent this evening, but we do have a quorum. So let's all let's all do roll call.

Marty Larson.

Linda Gordo. Andrea Dorantes.

Mike Racine.

Tony Lonza.

Matt Redzak.

That leads us to public comment. We have Ed Reagor? Reagor. Okay. Ed, why don't you come on up? Also, if you are you here for a specific It's

really the PDCA program.

Okay. Well, I'll ask you to come up during Okay. That point Thank you. Alright. So that ends public comments. Looking forward everyone get a chance

to

review the meeting minutes from last month. Looking for a motion to approve.

I'll make the motion to approve the minutes from the October 1 meeting.

Do I have a second?

I second that.

Alright. Doug, are you keeping track of all that? Thank you. Alright. It's time for a vote. All in favor, aye.

No. Aye. Aye.

Aye. Any opposed? Aye. Alright. That passes unanimously. Thank you. Who is going to be talking about the next one, the Landmarks Commission paint and repair grant funds update? That's me. Well, Doug's here too. Oh, Doug's our silent partner this evening. Gotcha. Anyways, that passes unanimously. Thank you. Let's hear what Charlie has to say.

So as you know, the Landmark Commission generally approves paint and repair grants and an increasing scale of roughly 15% of the cost of a project up to a maximum of $3,000 But the Landmark Commission may use discretion to change award amounts based on project scope, overall impact, fund availability or any other circumstances. That should say approved twenty twenty five paint repair grant funds since we did finally get the contract for the funds from HUD and from the county. So we have $25,000 in funds for 2025, plus $350 left over from a project that was not completed in 2024. And you've approved $21,418 worth of grants so far,

actually it's $3,582

available. So here's the list of grants that have been approved. There's 11 that have been approved so far with one on the agenda tonight. And then if there are funds left over after that one, then there's also an agenda item to consider reallocating the leftover funds to other projects. So that's all I've got.

Thank you, Charlie. Does anyone have any questions on the presentation?

The only question I have is if and we don't know for sure if we're going to have a December meeting, if there's nothing on the agenda, you would call it off or?

Yes, most likely, if there's nothing on the agenda, we would call it off. Yes, we would cancel the meeting. If we do get an application in December for a COA, it's highly unlikely that

they'll actually

be able to get the work done in December.

Yes, but they wouldn't. Just like we had a couple times ago, asked the question and they weren't going to probably be done until next year. So if I'm just wondering if we wanna look at the numbers and just in case something came up in December that we would have something else as we just kind of ruin those people's Christmas. Yeah.

That that's a great point. There are funds available, but chances are I don't think that one month is gonna make or break their project. But you bring up a good point. Right.

So It's just if we wanna hold. We might all give it tonight to this nice young gentleman. I don't know.

Correct. Correct. But if it's if it's a true emergency meeting, I have no problem with coming in. But usually, if there's only one item and nothing else to discuss, many other committees don't meet that month either. But again, that's staff hears about it before we do. So staff would have to make that suggestion, ask, or recommendation. But right now it sounds like we got our funds that we're waiting for and Charlie's total everything. Are there any other questions for Charlie? I don't think we need a motion on this because you're just giving an update. Correct?

Right.

Alright. Thank you. That brings us to Number 6, Old Business, 02205.

Alright.

So this is one twenty two Southeast Avenue. It's at the corner of Fountain Avenue and East Avenue in the College Avenue Historic District. And this is the Harter House, which was built in 1892 with an addition in 1910. The materials that we have from the state doesn't have any indication of what the architectural style is, but sure looks like Queen Anne to me. And as you might remember the October meeting, the Landmark Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness to replace the roof.

So here you can see a close-up of the existing roof, which is like a brown three tab style. And then this is just shows at the roof level. You can also see the existing gutters there, which are case style gutters. So they're replacing both the roof and the gutters and the new gutters are case style to match. And the new roof is CertainTeed Landmark series weathered wood shingles.

And the cost estimate for that for the roof specifically was $19,800 and for the gutters was $3,200 which came to $23,000 total. So again, the Landmark Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for the roof replacement and the gutter replacement at the October meeting. And so again, that'll be CertainTeed Landmark, Sears shingles, Driftwood colors and the new gutters will be K style to match the existing ones. And the 15% of that cost would be $3,450 which would exceed $3,000

All right. Any more questions on this presentation? And then we do have the homeowner or someone representing the homeowner this evening. What's that?

Yes. Okay.

You want to come up and talk about your beautiful home?

Say, first, thank you for the the consideration for this, Graham. We're very appreciative for this older homes are a lot of time and effort and resources. And this project, interesting enough, is actually supposed to wrap up tomorrow, is their third day of roofing, is about twice what it was forecast to be, which is also pretty common for projects.

You are certainly blessed with some better early early November weather. That's sure.

Yeah. Very thankful they could get this done. So really this project came up. The roof that is being replaced was put on in 2000. So it's about 25 years old as we were looking for new home insurance quotes. That was definitely detriment to getting really many of any quotes at all within the house. And then nobody wanted to insure a roof that old. If they did, they were just gonna insure it at a certain fraction of its cost for replacement. So this just helps to to get that project done in house. Also, the gutters were starting to slip a bit and get some water drainage in the corner.

So the the gutter replacement is definitely something that we're looking forward to just having a fully functioning gutters in the house again. But this caps a number of projects we've done in the house that we did all tube wiring upgrade throughout the house when we first moved in the floors. A lot of plumbing fixtures at this point as well and eventually may get into paint as well too in another year or two.

Side note, city of Waukesha has something called Waukesha unlocked. We do that every other year. And if you've heard of that, it's certainly your house. I'm assuming it is equally beautiful on the inside or on its way. It may be something you'd want to consider. It's just you limit how many people or where they go in your home, but, like, the frame house with some of the other homes they had in Waukesha locked. Basically, it's a beautiful old home such as you have, obviously, a labor of love and putting a lot of effort in there. If you don't mind showing your house up, just it's just people well, that's called Waukesha Unlock. We see it every year, and now we do it every other year. Just sign up with the city, you may have five people.

You may have 25 people, but you you basically it's, you know, schedule how you do it and you wanna do it with the city to 1st Floor or even just outside and Yeah. Talk about the home and why you do it and why you love owning a home like that. It's certainly just something worth looking into.

Absolutely. We'd be interested in kinda going on that tourist fall too that part of that historic character of the houses and just the the downtown buildings is what drew me and my wife to the area about four years ago.

Yeah. It's historic businesses, historic they open up the springs, various fountains every once in a while, but I don't we can talk about that later. But this but, you know, know right where your house is at. It's beautiful and the detail. Matt, didn't we talk about something on that? Not to put you on the spot. There was something on the roof where the some with the peaks, It looks like it's all been covered. There's something I remember you and I went, oh, look at that. Maybe it was the spindle? No.

I think it was that. Yeah. The the front porch.

I think

it was the porch. Mhmm.

Yeah. Well, whatever it was at that time, it was addressed in since it's finishing just about tomorrow. But either way, I was just wondering how that went. One of our recommendations or something we brought up, how that went, but must have went well because it's finishing up.

Yeah.

Alright. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Then talk to me afterwards if you wish or it's on the city website about that Waukeshawn lot. Thank you. Alrighty. On to new business. Oh, we still have to have a motion for that extra

Give some money away.

The COA was removed.

Okay. That's why we're moving on to All right. Charlie, you want to take us away on 2451?

Yes. So the estimated cost of the project is $23,000 and the 15% of that is $3,450 which exceeds $3,000 So generally, guideline would be to approve it for $3,000 but the Landmark Commission, of course, has discretion on that. Okay.

I I can't talk anymore about this house because it's the detail, the colors, and based on what you've all on the inside. I would have no problem with that, but let's hear what the rest of you guys have to say. Or do we have a motion?

I'd make a motion to grant a $3,000 grant for the the paint and repair of the roofing gutters.

What happens to that other remaining $582 if nobody shows up next or we have nothing next month, we potentially

We lose just go back today and find somebody worthy and kind of retroactively give it.

But if we don't meet next month, then what?

Not today. It was an agenda item coming Yeah, up,

if you wanted to wait until next month, you could, but then we'd probably want to come back in to meet even if that was the only item. Because yeah, if it's not allocated by the end of the year, it's hard county to keep

re approving. Since this is the only ongoing action item we have, I don't mind resolving that tonight just that way we don't have to make that decision in December since there are other options to get it done tonight based on what Matt had to say. That's what you're saying, Matt? Right. Okay.

So we have a motion and it's seconded, but we had some questions.

Who was

the motion seconded?

I'll second it. I don't think it got seconded.

Okay. Okay. I'm sorry. So the motion is to approve $3,000. Is that what I hear? Mhmm. And it's been alright. Let's put it to vote. All in

favor? Say. Aye. Aye. Aye.

Aye. Any Aye. Opposed? All right, that passes unanimously. Thank you. And thank you for coming in tonight. It actually makes a difference. So our next since it's not a line item, this part I'm new with because other commissions we don't do this part. So that passes unanimously but now the remaining, is it $352 or $582 Yes. What is protocol for that, please?

Well, so we do have another agenda item. It should be on the agenda for wonder if it's the second page.

I don't have it.

Next agenda item is just allocating the rest of those funds. Right. So that's 2,451.

But that is

Under new business for discussion.

So then we go back and look at possible based on that slide you had before.

Yes. And I've got a couple of them here.

Can Okay. If you want to make staff recommendation, we will listen to that.

Yes. So I've I've just got the, you know, the main slide here with I just put up and, you know, noting not only is the $582 left, but also $350 from 2024. Generally in the past when there's projects that aren't completed in the calendar year where they're approved, the Landmark Submissions policy has been to keep that money available until the funds run out and then reallocate it to whatever projects come in. In this case, the applicant, I talked to him on the phone today, he confirmed that it's not going to be able to happen in this year. He said he had a recent discussion with the manufacturer.

He's still waiting on the it was an awning replacement. And I guess he's been going back and forth with the manufacturer for since last fall. And the manufacturer just told him it was at least out until next year. So that I would say the LAMRIX vision should at the very least consider reallocating that money as well, just so that's not hanging out from 2024. It isn't actually still hanging out, the 2024 fund.

We used the last of it to pay for the first 2025 grant. But it would be good to consider whether to reallocate that as well. So that if you were to reallocate both the May and the $350 that would be a total of $932 So I just have the list of the grants again. Just noting the percentage of the projects, you guys were pretty consistent this year about approving 15% across the board. And past year, sometimes it's been a little there have been some differences.

The only cases where you didn't were instances where it was more than the where the project cost was more than 15% would have been more than $3,000 or in a couple of cases where there were smaller projects. So the also the four that are highlighted there have already been paid out. There are a couple of other projects. I think most of the ones that were approved before September, October are completed. But those are the ones that have gotten all of the approvals and been able to send the payments out for us are those four.

That doesn't mean you couldn't increase those grants. Nobody's going to object to a separate check. One project that might be worth considering if you want to do just a single project rather than like an across the board increase or something like that. Two zero two West College, you did approve a grant for 15% of their estimated project cost. That was $10,000 That was a this was a time and materials estimate for replacing and repairing siding.

And my belief would be that it's highly unlikely that or highly likely actually that, that project will end up costing more than $10,000 They just they weren't able to give the contractor wasn't able to give a definite estimate for that one because they they don't really know how much it's gonna cost until they actually get into

the work. This was the first property I thought of when this came up. And again, bear with me, this is new territory for me, leftover funds that we have to spend.

Right.

Yeah. But this is the first house that I thought of. Be looking for other recommendations. I'm ready to make a motion on city staff recommendation, but I'd like to hear from others. Based on the couple that have been here three times, what they bought, what they got into, and what they're trying to do. And every turn of the page, they find more that needs to be fixed. So Right. That's my reasoning.

And I agree too in respect of its location. Very visible. You know? So

And I'd like the fact that Carroll may be doing this with more of their properties. It may be like, oh my goodness. Look what happened to them. I don't want it happen to me. Or look what's happening to them and look what they're turning it into. It might start a look what can happen with some passion and a little bit of help from the city. Great comment.

Yes. Even before Charlie brought the picture up, that's the one that Me too. Jumped out at me. And it's going to be more than the other $10,000 no doubt.

Sounds like a motion.

Yes.

So I'd make a motion to allocate the remaining $932 to the $2.00 2 West College Avenue property.

I second that.

Alright. Let's put it to vote.

Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

Aye. Aye.

Alright. That passes unanimously. So next item I see Alderman's report. Is that where we're at? Yep. Okay.

Do we have an Alderman here today?

We do for two more years. May of two years from now. Anyways, I I had a great time working with you guys. And, again, I'm other committees that I've been on for five years, we do things a little differently. I'm learning the ways, learning the ways.

And so thank you for all you do and all your passion that you bring and welcome new people to the team. I'm a new person myself. And thank you city staff. And this is a pretty pretty unique thing that we have here. I'm also fortunate to be on the cemetery committee commission, and it's also something very unique, historic, and we have to watch our spending because it's something that a lot of people don't even think about, the city cemetery taking care of older homes.

But other than just saying thank you, the city just passed our our final budget and my word to everybody is our city administrators, we had four this year. Next year, we're gonna have four or six basically meetings, open forum type things in at least four or five different areas of the city where we're gonna just talk about the budget, things about things the city can improve, some of the things that the city are gonna have to make some cuts on in the next several years. So my biggest thing is watch for that, look for the communication with the city. If you're not on the emails or social media from the city, there's a lot of things going in our our city besides Oktoberfest and all the other things, Friday night live downtown. There's a really neat thing.

I think it's at the Shutsi Center. It's to honor the veterans. That's I think they have my scout troop used to volunteer there. I think there's room for there's enough food usually for three, four hundred people and usually only like 200 people to show up. So if you know any veterans that would like to just go out and meet some other people, I think it is this Saturday at the Shutsi Center. They send out a lot of emails, but I'm working my other job. So that's my biggest thing is if you know a vet, thank a vet, 111111, and take them out to dinner. If not, check out the Shutsi Center. They have an army band or the navy band that plays there every year, and it's a full meal with lots of food. So that's what I got, an alderman's report.

Brings us to the springs report. Alright.

So the one thing that I have on the springs report is we have a fall springs cleanup scheduled for Saturday, November 8. We do have a number of volunteers who have signed up already, including Matt. That'll be we'll meet at City Hall at I think it's 08:30 a. M. And then typically drive to the spring sites and help clean them up and kind of get them ready for the winter.

I'm hoping I can get the Parks department to suck out the drain for the Hobo Spring since I went out there today and discovered that it's plugged up and the spring is flooded again. So hopefully, we'll be able to clean out leaves Hobo Spring. Otherwise, there are other there is other work that needs to be done. So again, yeah, that's Saturday, November 8. If you guys want to come for that, you're more than welcome. If you are busy or don't feel like it, there's absolutely no obligation. Question?

Go ahead, Marty. Obviously, have a Springs Committee. So are they all there? Mean, are they the ones kind of prepping what needs to be done in each one?

Not really. I don't I don't know if they've been meeting lately. So I I guess they're not really an official committee of the city. So

Okay. But aren't they a since we have a Springs report here, aren't they a subcommittee of landmarks? So they should

I mean, guess Give

us something?

Yes. The Landmarks Commission has nominated a member to be on the Springs Committee, but I don't know if the I don't know that the Springs Committee has been meeting separately. I I think, you know, Julie was the last person that had been nominated to do that. And, yeah, I guess, I I it might have been a while since they've they've actually met.

Is there someone on the board that would like to step up or volunteer to be on represent the landmarks on the springs? I thought one of you guys was on the springs committee, but I guess I'm air on that. Is there someone that

I think the new people really love to do this. I

work just about every weekend, so it's tough for me to plus I volunteer on weekends. So, well, we will have that as an action item on our next meeting. Also, Charlie, I know I thought it was Waukesha South that helped out. Was that Waukesha North? Did you reach out to them?

Waukesha North. We had contacted the schools and they were all interested, but Waukesha North had big volunteer day in the spring that they were sending students out to a bunch of different sites. So they sent them to both Hobo and Meniska.

Okay. We'll see if they're interested in coming out in 2026. Right. Yeah. Also, other CMH, the other high school in town, they also really like to do good works in the community. So maybe you have, maybe you haven't not reached out to CMH.

Yeah. That'd certainly be worth contacting. Alright.

Well, thank you city staff. Thank you fellow commissioners. I don't have any other action. So if there's nothing else, we move to adjourn the meeting.

Do have a couple of

I'm sorry, Charlie.

That's all right. Under just communications and publications, just to note the Landmark Commission ordinance update that we

And

right get to

eighteen.

So if you guys have any questions or if you want to make any comments either to me to pass on or

Could you send us that final approved because I think everything was before and now this is I don't know if they made any changes.

The Planning Commission didn't. But, yeah, we we can certainly I can send you the once it's once it's approved.

If you want to if it gets on the consent agenda, it doesn't get talked about. But if there's any changes you wanna make, please email me and I can make those recommendations at the next common council meeting when that comes to vote. But otherwise, it'll be bit

next it's has to be discussed.

Okay. Fair

enough. And it would be actually, this this would be the first reading at the council, I guess, technically, the second reading.

Okay. Fair enough.

So that we it would just be discussion on November 18, and then the vote would be most likely the first meeting in December.

Okay. And if you guys get a chance to read it, review it and if there's any things send me an email and we'll make the changes as needed before it gets to put to a vote. We have sounds like we got at least a month on that.

Yep.

Thank you, Charlie.

And then also the local history and historic preservation conference was a couple of weeks ago. I had attended it, and there were a number of good sessions, one of which hopefully will lead to some some interesting work for the Landmark's mission to do in the future. They're working on a it's the Latino and Wisconsin context report. I guess, you know, a lot of the similar to Waukesha where we have have a lot of detail and a lot of preservation of the history of the Springs era and Les Paul and kind of nice architecture. That's pretty typical for historic preservation throughout the state and a lot of the communities that are more underrepresented or are not thought about in what's the coolest building in town don't necessarily have their history preserved as much.

So they're some work on ways to ways to preserve, specifically, in this case, Latino history throughout the state. And they had some recommendations for potential buildings that might be nominated for the National Register, one of which was I believe it was a grocery store on the Strand. Waukesha has a long standing Latino community. So that's something that we'll probably look into more once they they're still finishing up the report, but hopefully, they'll have that published early next year, and then we can look into it a little more and maybe consider whether there's more to learn and potentially some more properties to nominate.

You, Charlie. Thank you for going to that conference and bringing back some great feedback to bring bring up some other historic things with another cultural flair to it. The Strand is certainly a neat a unique part of town, and I wish the foundry is still over there making great things, employing 1,200 people, but unfortunately, it is not. But The Strand is still a vibrant part of our history. Anything else?

That's the last thing.

I've cut you off twice now. Alrighty. Well, once again, you thank guys for all you do and look forward to working with you guys in the future. So with no other things, that is the official end of the

meeting.

Thank you.