TREMONTON CITY CORPORATION
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
DECEMBER 12, 2018

Members Present:
Shawn Warnke, Chairman
Steve Bench, Commission Member
Diana Doutre, Commission Member
Larry Douglas, Commission Member—excused
Chris Breinholt, Commission Member—excused
Cynthia Nelson, Deputy Recorder

Chairman Warnke called the Historic Preservation Commission Meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. The meeting was held December 12, 2018, in the City Council Meeting Room at 102 South Tremont Street, Tremonton, Utah. Those in attendance were Chairman Warnke, Commission Member Bench, Commission Member Doutre, and Deputy Recorder Nelson.

1. Approval of agenda:

Motion by Commission Member Doutre to approve the December 12, 2018 agenda. Motion seconded by Commission Member Bench. Vote: Chairman Warnke – aye, Commission Member Bench – aye, Commission Member Doutre – aye. Motion approved.

2. Approval of minutes: None—this is the first meeting

3. Overview of the Historic Preservation Commission Roles and Duties

The Commission will talk about this in more detail when all members are present. Chairman Warnke said this ordinance identifies the rules, duties and standards of the Historic Preservation Commission, which was recommended by the Utah Division of State History. This Commission is an advisory board to the City Council.

4. Presentation on a proposal to submit to the National Park Service a historic district nomination with the boundaries of the district being approximately 300 South to
600 North and from 400 West to 300 East

Chairman Warnke said Larry Douglas and I did some legwork in preparation for this discussion. The Utah Division of State History recommended that we follow this course as one of our foundational projects. We feel it is a good path. He further discussed the proposal to create a National Historic District (see PDF). Chairman Warnke said in 2014 the City engaged a student, Hannah Turpen, to do a reconnaissance survey, which has been reviewed by several professionals, who all gave it high marks. This is a great foundational document. The survey identifies historic context, and looks at different eras and their historical significance, and how that translates into building types. They discussed the different eras including the Homesteading Act, Community Improvement and Growth (1906-1934), Post-World War II, then the 1960s to the present. The survey boundaries include up to the library down to the historic church on Tremont Street. Part of her work looks at specific buildings, which include 208 in the boundary. She identified if they were eligible and significant, and would work toward the creation of a historic district. She found that 109 buildings (52%) were contributing and 15 were in the highest category as eligible and significant. The Commission reviewed potential boundaries for a historic district based on the concentration of eligible significant and eligible contributing buildings, which included more than the original boundaries. Chairman Warnke said a pocket from Main Street, 1st South up to 2nd North, with a pocket around the church, all met the criteria. Ms. Turpen recommended that some additional surveys be done and suggested areas that could be looked into.

Chairman Warnke then discussed the benefits of a historical district. He said any residential building that is identified as a contributing building is eligible for a tax credit (20% with a minimum threshold of $10,000). The district becomes listed nationally as a historic district, which makes it easier for buildings to be eligible and enrolled on the national register. Commercial tax credits are harder to come by. This historic district includes the museum and the library, and by creating this district we can target specific improvements there. This also helps with community pride and place making. This would identify the history of the City. There is pride in our past and our forefathers who built the City, along with the historical context to the physical improvements that remain today. Commission Member Doutre brought up a home that was once part of the Pony Express. She will look into that more and come back with information for them to explore. Chairman Warnke said if there is something significant we could engage a consultant to do the research.

Chairman Warnke showed the grant application based on consultation with the Utah Division of History. It was suggested that the City update their reconnaissance survey to include an additional block to give the City a higher percentage of eligible buildings. They will need to update the 2014 survey to create a new one with the additional area and submit the paperwork for the nomination to the Utah Division of History and then to the National Park Service. The $3,500 is out of pocket cash and is the value of City staff time in creating the RFP and managing it. This could count toward the one-to-one match. He obtained professional estimates on the paperwork for the boundaries with a $1,000 cushion, ranging from $12,900 to $15,900. They would need to hire a professional to revisit the 2014 survey and evaluate the new area. The City has done a windshield survey to look at some of the homes built in the 1940s.

Chairman Warnke said in this case, federal is less complicated compared to the local districts, which have mandatory compliances and it is a more stringent process to create those districts. This is a federal historic designation, which is voluntary. If someone wanted to do improvements they would not have to do it to a standard, unless they want the tax credits. Chairman Warnke showed the application he put together on his home and explained the process. As a homeowner your time does not count, but supplies and tools could. If a professional is hired then the cost could be written off.

Chairman Warnke said the process requires the City to get all these documents in place through a consultant to meet the level of detail needed for their standards. That would be submitted to the state, and the state would send out a notice to all the property owners letting them know a district will be created. Although there is no downside, we would have an open house and send out flyers to educate the public. Commission Member Bench said the City could possibly help people in these areas fix up their homes in the future. Chairman Warnke said they could focus some of their low to moderate-income project money in those areas.

5. Public Hearing on a proposal to submit to the National Park Service a historic district nomination with the boundaries of the district being approximately 300 South to
600 North and from 400 West to 300 East

Chairman Warnke called a Public Hearing to order at 10:30 a.m. and it was closed at 10:30 a.m. There were 0 people in attendance. He said if the Commission feels good about the direction we are going and wants to pursue this, it will be added to the next City Council agenda so they are aware and could authorize us to submit the applications. Commission Member Bench said this is a great step forward.

6. New Business:

a. Discussion and consideration of making a recommendation to the Tremonton City Council regarding the submission of a Certified Local Government grant application for a historic preservation project that proposes the engagement of consultants to perform the work necessary to submit to the National Park Service a historic district nomination with the boundaries of the district being approximately 300 South to 600 North and from
400 West to 300 East

Motion by Commission Member Bench to recommend this to the City Council for their consideration. Motion seconded by Commission Member Doutre. Vote: Chairman Warnke – aye, Commission Member Bench – aye, Commission Member Doutre – aye. Motion approved.

Commission Member Bench asked about potential signage. Chairman Warnke said upon approval this could maybe be the next application or the City could pay for it out of pocket, which is not very costly. The Commission then confirmed that this body would meet as needed. Chairman Warnke said once we have some momentum on a grant project we might need to meet more frequently. They will work on the RFP and a draft will be brought to this body for their review.

7. Adjournment

Motion by Commission Member Doutre to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by consensus of the Board. The meeting adjourned at 10:35 a.m.

The undersigned duly acting and appointed Recorder for Tremonton City Corporation hereby certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Historic Preservation Commission held on the above referenced date. Minutes were prepared by Jessica Tanner.

Dated this 30th day of October, 2019.

______________________________
Linsey Nessen, CITY RECORDER

*Utah Code 52-4-202, (6) allows for a topic to be raised by the public and discussed by the public body even though it was not included in the agenda or advance public notice given; however, no final action will be taken.