HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDApacket__02-07-24_0431_578
NOTICE OF MEETING
REGULAR MEETING
HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION
Chair Susan Obst-Dworkis
Vice Chair Tim Yoder
Commissioner Bob Burns
Commissioner David Corlett
Commissioner John Gibson
Commissioner William Meade
Commissioner Dave Peterson
TIME:4:00 P.M. – REGULAR MEETING
WHEN:WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024
WHERE:FOUNTAIN HILLS COUNCIL CHAMBERS
16705 E. AVENUE OF THE FOUNTAINS, FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ
Commissioners of the Town of Fountain Hills will attend either in person or by telephone conference call;
a quorum of the Town’s Council, various Commission, Committee or Board members may be in
attendance at the Commission meeting.
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to A.R.S. §1-602.A.9, subject to certain specified statutory
exceptions, parents have a right to consent before the State or any of its political subdivisions make a
video or audio recording of a minor child. Meetings of the Commission are audio and/or video recorded
and, as a result, proceedings in which children are present may be subject to such recording. Parents, in
order to exercise their rights may either file written consent with the Town Clerk to such recording, or
take personal action to ensure that their child or children are not present when a recording may be made.
If a child is present at the time a recording is made, the Town will assume that the rights afforded parents
pursuant to A.R.S. §1-602.A.9 have been waived.
REQUEST TO COMMENT
The public is welcome to participate in Commission meetings.
TO SPEAK TO AN AGENDA ITEM, please complete a Request to Comment card, located in the back of
the Council Chambers, and hand it to the Executive Assistant prior to discussion of that item, if
possible. Include the agenda item on which you wish to comment. Speakers will be allowed three
contiguous minutes to address the Commission. Verbal comments should be directed through the
Presiding Officer and not to individual Commissioners.
TO COMMENT ON AN AGENDA ITEM IN WRITING ONLY, please complete a Request to Comment card,
indicating it is a written comment, and check the box on whether you are FOR or AGAINST and agenda
item, and hand it to the Executive Assistant prior to discussion, if possible.
History and Culture Advisory Commission Meeting of February 7, 2024 1 of 3
1.CALL TO ORDER – Chair Susan Obst-Dworkis
2.ROLL CALL
3.CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.01(H), public comment is permitted (not required) on matters NOT listed on the
agenda. Any such comment (i) must be within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and (ii) is subject to reasonable
time, place, and manner restrictions. The Commission will not discuss or take legal action on matters raised
during Call to the Public unless the matters are properly noticed for discussion and legal action. At the conclusion
of the Call to the Public, individual commissioners may (i) respond to criticism, (ii) ask staff to review a matter, or
(iii) ask that the matter be placed on a future Commission agenda.
4.REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS
5.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of History and Culture Advisory
Commission January 3, 2024 Verbatim Meeting Minutes
6.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: National Register of Historic Landmarks Workgroup
Update
7.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Insider/Fountain Hills Independent Workgroup
Update
8.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Points of Interest Workgroup Update
9.DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Amending the Charter of the History and Culture
Advisory Commission
10.UPDATE: Town's Storage for Historic Preservation Records and Artifacts
11.REVIEW AND DISCUSSION: Creating an Interactive Development Map Using Photos
12.REVIEW AND DISCUSSION: Future Speakers
13.UPDATE: Future Agenda Items
14.UPDATE: Next History and Culture Advisory Commission Meeting on Wednesday,
March 6, 2024. Agenda packet items are due by February 21, 2024.
15.ADJOURNMENT
History and Culture Advisory Commission Meeting of February 7, 2024 2 of 3
CERTIFICATE OF POSTING OF NOTICE
The undersigned hereby certifies that a copy of the foregoing notice was duly posted in accordance with
the statement filed by the Historic and Cultural Advisory Commission with the Town Clerk.
Dated this 1st day of February 2024.
___________________________________________
Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
The Town of Fountain Hills endeavors to make all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Please call 480-816-5199 (voice) or
1-800-367-8939 (TDD) 48 hours prior to the meeting to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting or to obtain
agenda information in large print format. Supporting documentation and staff reports furnished the Commission with this agenda are
available for review in the Community Services' Office.
History and Culture Advisory Commission Meeting of February 7, 2024 3 of 3
ITEM 4.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 02/07/2024 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Community Services
Prepared by: Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
Staff Contact Information: Ryan Preston, Recreation Manager
Request to History and Culture Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): REPORTS BY
COMMISSIONERS
Staff Summary (Background)
Reports by Commissioners will allow commissioners to share information about town events attended
and information related to the History and Culture Advisory Commission. This time is purely for
reporting, no discussion or comments from the public are taken, and cannot be used to address any item
on the agenda.
Form Review
Form Started By: Patti Lopuszanski Started On: 01/18/2024 05:36 PM
Final Approval Date: 01/18/2024
ITEM 5.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 02/07/2024 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Community Services
Prepared by: Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
Staff Contact Information: Ryan Preston, Recreation Manager
Request to History and Culture Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): CONSIDERATION
AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024
Verbatim Meeting Minutes
Staff Summary (Background)
The intent of approving meeting minutes is to ensure an accurate account of the discussion and action
that took place at the meeting for archival purposes. Approved minutes are placed on the town's
website and maintained as permanent records in compliance with state law.
Attachments
HCAC January 3, 2024 Verbatim Minutes
Form Review
Form Started By: Patti Lopuszanski Started On: 01/18/2024 05:38 PM
Final Approval Date: 01/18/2024
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 1 -
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION JANUARY 3, 2024
A Regular Meeting of the History and Culture Advisory Commission was convened at 16705 E. Avenue of the Fountains in open and public session at 4:00 p.m.
Members Present: Chair David Corlett; Vice-Chair Susan Obst-Dworkis; Commissioner Bob Burns; Commissioner Bill Meade; Commissioner Dave Peterson, and Commissioner Tim Yoder Absent: Commissioner John Gibson Staff Present: Recreation Manager Ryan Preston; Executive Assistant Paula Woodward
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 2 -
CORLETT: We will Call the Meeting to Order at 4:00 PM. May I get a Roll Call, please?
WOODWARD: Chair Corlett?
CORLETT: Here.
WOODWARD: Vice Chair Obst-Dworkis?
OBST-DWORKIS: Here.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Burns?
BURNS: Here.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Gibson is absent. Commissioner Meade?
MEADE: Here.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Peterson?
PETERSON: Here.
WOODWARD: Commissioner Yoder?
YODER: Here.
PRESENTATION – Jim Dickey
DICKEY: But I did want to at least say a couple of words about some of the things that I hope to see
that the commission can do and maybe offer you some challenges, how that might happen. You
probably wonder why, first, I think the Chairman and I probably share a little bit of history. And by that, I
mean, we both have degrees in American History. And I taught American History for a long time and
right out of college. And so I've always kind of been stuck in this kind of environment. And when we did
the 30th Anniversary of the Town and the 50th Anniversary of the Fountain, several of us, Brent
Cruickshank and Sandy Ursini, who I think used to be on this. David, I think you and I talked, and some
others talked to staff about what it would be what it would mean to have a commission. Because it
seems like, although we're young, in some regards, we're also getting old. In fact, I share that feeling
I'm getting old, I've been here more than 32 years. I know there's some institutional knowledge up here
that's been here as long or longer than I have. And so I think this is an opportune time for the
commission to dig in and kind of place a stake in the ground in terms of what might be the future of a
commission like this, and what are some of the things that can be done to get there? I've dug through
most of your minutes, I was shocked to see. Mr. oh gosh, I can't remember his name now. The Director
of Community Services now. That was here to talk about his role in Mesa, as an actual staff member to
a committee like this. And he brings a lot of institutional knowledge …..John Wesley brings a lot of
institutional knowledge about process, settings, things that I wanted to talk about, and also just the
ability to help direct commission because this is new, I contend that this is a commission that is unlike
any other that the town is involved in, maybe except for Strategic Planning, where they had a specific
role, to provide some direction to the town. And I think this commission like Planning and Zoning and
some others, really has a different kind of mission and role. And so I've kind of dug through the things
that you've done so far to at least be aware, and some of the things that this commission has already
undertaken, I think are great and, and shows that we're on the right track.
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 3 -
I have some other ideas that I want to talk with you about. And so, with that, let me take a movie theme
for a minute. For those who have not seen “Dodgeball” l there might be a couple of you that have not
but as you'll recall, there were five D’s in dodgeball, dodge, duck, dive, dip, and dodge. Actually, four
but dodge is in there twice? Well, I contend that this commission has five P's in preservation, which
would be programs, process plans, participation, and programs because there are only four. But my
point is, I think there's a lot that can be done organizationally to get to maybe some of the heart of what
the commission can do. And I'd like to address some of those things here for a couple of minutes. I
think we're ahead of the curve when it comes to commissions like this, but I also think we're behind.
And that 50 years, I think it tells us something right to begin with that there's that institutional
knowledge, some of it is beginning to disappear. Let me give you an example, Four Peaks School. I'm
worried about Four Peaks School, not because it may be torn down or may end up being something
else. But I
think Bob, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, that's probably the second oldest municipal building in
town.
I think the Sanitary District was the first and I think they've built kind of around it that I think that building
is still there. For a big school, the first school We'll in our community 74 or 75, that building may be
destined to become something else or disappear. I'm worried about that. And let me give you an
example of why when EVIT took over that building was going on four years ago, maybe five.
Somewhere in that process, the cornerstone of that building disappeared. We can't find it, I have no
idea what happened to it either somebody has it or it got thrown away. We don't even know what that
cornerstone said. Those are the kinds of things that make me nervous, although we're only 50 years
old, we're already beginning to lose some of that institutional knowledge, some of those things that we
think are important. Luckily, where the high school is the P-Bar Ranch, there's a giant memorial there
right in the parking lot. That's neat. And I hope if in fact, something happens with forepeak school, that
that is something that maybe the Commission can address to make sure that we don't lose sight of the
fact that that was the first school building our community.
So, there's the issue of institutional knowledge that I worry about. There's, there's a lot of other potential
losses. I mean, if you go back even to the Basha’s, history, or the Ace Hardware history, or some of
those older, you can go on, and on and on about some of the things that are that already, we are
beginning to kind of fade into the background. And luckily, a group put together a historical book, that
many of us in fact, I meant to bring in, I forgot that many of you have probably seen and read, it already
needs to be updated. It's going on 10 years old, I think, or more. Susan, I don't know if you're a part of
that or not. But yeah, that thing is getting old. So I believe there are some things that we need to be
focused on to make sure that we don't lose some of that background and then we continue moving
forward. Now that I think that's going to require some coordination with other commissions like the
Planning and Zoning, there are some issues that you need to deal with, for instance, the Sanitary
District is going to, I believe, if I've heard right, is going to move the president's statues, and all of that.
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 4 -
Because they're going to there's a well, real close to there. And they're going to build a much like they
did the bathrooms. They're going to build insert infrastructure to manage that weld. And so all that's
going to be moved. So, my question is, does it get moved and it limited space? Or would it be moved in
a way that allows for it to continue to grow if somebody wants to donate to another president? So,
there's things like that, and I think Planning and Zoning may be involved in or the town in some other
way may be involved in and maybe those are things that you guys
would be interested in dealing with as well as a commission. And so, I think there's also playing a more
active role in communication, there seems to be I think you're the hidden group right now in town. And
I know that in past meetings, you've talked about how you can get more exposure and more
involvement. And maybe one of those, there's any number of ways you do it, and you can understand
those as well as I do. But I think there's some opportunity there to get the rest of the community
involved, because this is an organization that's, I think, less controversial, and maybe a little bit more in
a position to engage the public positively in a wide variety of actions. So I hope that that's something
that happens as well. And to John Wesley's presentation, I've got it, if there are two punchlines to my
presentation. This is the first one, his role as a Preservation Officer, I think needs to be visited,
revisited, or addressed in some form or fashion.
When you look at other History and Culture Commissions within the state and throughout the nation
that's a pretty typical position. And I know that it's probably early in our need for something like that. But
at the same time, it begins to institutionalize some of the very things that happen. And so that's my first
punchline. I'll come back to that in a minute. The second one is we have a little issue of storage. And I'll
come back to that as well. So, I think having more defined responsibilities and beginning to look at
some of the opportunities that are in front of us that to be truthful, I think maybe the Town Council,
either overlooked or decided weren't important. pieces of that. But I think as a commission, you're in a
position where you can bring these ideas forward, whether they were part of your original charter
because that charter can be changed. And maybe it's time to re-address that and there's a way that I
want to recommend you do that.
So, there's a reason I bring all this up, is I tried to make a mental list of all the things, places, or stuff
that our town has and where it is. So let me just make a short list. And maybe you've already talked
about this, the museum clearly is a storehouse of information. The Times is clearly a storehouse of
information. I've worked with Bob, Duke, Brent, and several other people. And we'll come back to that in
a minute because I'm in possession of a bunch of their stuff right now. Fountain Hills, school district,
Fountain Hills Sanitary District, you can go on and on about the places that Chamber we know is a
storehouse of information. MCO. You know, I've known a lot of the past leadership of MCO, when they
were institutionalized here in town, their lists. So today, wow, you know, the amount of information that
they, they might still have accumulated, Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic Association has stuff. A lot of
our service organizations have stuff. churches and other organizations have just incredible
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 5 -
storehouses of information, some of it hard copy stuff, some of it technologically enabled stuff, and
some of it is up here. And I think those are the kinds of resources that need to be tapped and are trying
to think of there's anybody else that institutional knowledge, though, I think is this something that as we
all get older, as some of our community passes away, then we lose some of that. And trying to tap that
sooner than later, I think is an important effort that maybe as a commission, there's a way for that to
happen.
My bottom line is that I think a Strategic Plan is a way to get to the solutions and others. And in so
doing, a Strategic Plan can be as difficult as you want to make it or as easy. And there's an and the
town has several strategic plans, kind of what subsets of their of their overall general plan. And part of
some of the other efforts that go on I know; the economic development department just did a Strategic
Plan. And I think that having something like that, not only is a way for the council to understand where
this commission might go over more than just one or two or three meetings, or one or two years. But if
you had a three to five-year Strategic Plan, I think that enables the council and you to begin to go
forward with some hardcore steps of what is what you want to do, knowing that the council has
approved it, and seen it. So that's the first part of it and I don't think it costs money. You have a
planning department I think John Wesley and his group could probably help with that there's plenty of
knowledge here to make those kinds of things happen as well. You don't have to buy it, it may only be a
page or two. If you look at the economic development plan, it's concise. So I think those things though,
by bullet point or by number would be a good way to get there.
The second thing, I think, is to try to go as public as you can with your efforts. And, whether it's in print
media, whether it's meetings like this or hopefully any number of events, allows people in the
community to jump in and be a part of this more than just being a commissioner. And, and I think then,
thirdly, it's maybe there is a budgetary need. No, that's probably not something that everybody wants to
hear, but I believe that there may be a budgetary need. And to that end allow me to show you what I
mean by a budgetary means a need. If I can find it. I brought all kinds of paper.
The speaker walked away from the microphone…..inaudible. Returns to podium.
Debbie Skehen has volunteered along with a couple of other people, maybe even somebody on the
commission to help us go through.
David, you know what's in them. The first? Well, I've seen a box as old as 1985. But I think there are
probably older ones there. I've got three or four boxes at my house right now, the rest of them, we have
stored. Those boxes are full of negatives, contact sheets, and photographs, cataloged by every issue of
the Times from 1974 sent Bob 28 boxes. Now our goal is to separate the wheat from the chaff. And
we'll do that we'll, I got to tell you, there's stuff in there that nobody cares about, we probably
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 6 -
wouldn't even be able to identify what it is, when you start looking at 35-millimeter negatives envelopes
full in envelopes full of negatives. It's incredible. It's unbelievable. So, my goal is to try to get it down to
10 or 12 boxes, we want to try to cut it in half or more, to try to narrow it down and try to begin to save
those things that are important. But the real reason I bring that up is then what? What do we do with
them then? And I think that becomes an issue that I know, the Town Council and its original charter
were reticent to address. But the reality of it is, those kinds of issues are going to confront you time and
time and time again. Whether it's photographs, memorabilia, or stuff, whatever it may be. What do we
do with that? Number one? How do we catalog? Number two? How do we keep track of it? How do we
publicize number three and number four? What if somebody wants to look at it?
So those are the kinds of things that I think I hope you as commissioners will be able to address and try
to figure a way that we can do a better job of maintaining and accounting for our history. That's my
whole story. And so, I'd be happy to answer questions or, you know, whatever, go for it.
PETERSON: But they're just photographs and there's no articles, how are we going to you know?
DICKEY: I don't have a different tenure, you know, but I'd love for you to join our group to help us. I'd
love for you to join our group to help us figure that out. I think that's part of the challenge. There are
some of the photographs that are labeled, there are some contact sheets, and there's a lot, we haven't
even come close. David, you may have a better idea of what's really in them, I'm sure Bob does. But
there's going to be things that I think just by volume, there's probably maybe 100 pictures of, you know,
Breakfast with Santa from some years. We don't need those but if there was one key picture or a lot of
times, I believe the times from all those negatives and photographs, or negatives and contact sheets, if
they used it, they had printed the photograph. And so we have that as a hardcore record of the Times I
think he's also got at least one or two master copies of every newspaper they've ever done. And so
there's some cross reference there. But there's so much here that I you know, I, I don't imagine how
we'll ever catalog it. There's an opportunity to digitize a lot of this stuff, but I'm not sure that even doing
that is worth it. In terms of what may be a lot of redundant or just miscellaneous stuff. That's why my
goal is to try to cut that volume in half right to begin with, try to get down to the things that we believe
are important. We're bound to screw up. We're bound to miss out on something, but we'll try our best.
I've got a volunteer group to do that by the way, we have a deadline, of March 31. So, we're working on
it.
YODER: Can I ask you your deadline of March 31? Is that to reach that goal of 50% reduction? Is that
what you….?
DICKEY: That's a sub-goal, as it turns out, that's when we lose our storage space. So, when we lose
our stuff, I mean, you know, at some point after April 1, we don't have a place to put the stuff.
OBST-DWORKIS: Where is it currently stored?
DICKEY: That's a secret I finagled a little space from Justin Weldy over at the Facilities Maintenance
yard. They had a storage space there, and we've got it on the shelves. In fact, the shelves will become
part of the town's inventory once we move all the boxes out. But I promised them we'd have them out
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 7 -
thereby the 31st. of March, because that's usable space for the Town. Yeah, so that's a double
deadline in that regard. I don't know, again, that's something maybe the commission could address in
the short run. I think it's timely that we, have these discussions now because you're entering the budget
year, and if, there is a need for space or some small amount of money, maybe there's a way that that
could get into the annual budget. Maybe then we could twist some arms and wait until July 1.
That's my whole story. I'm sticking to it. Thank you for your time, I appreciate it. And, Debbie, do you
want to add anything? This is Debbie Skehen, by the way, if you don't know her.
SKEHEN: It's just a real treasure for us to have these stories. It's a treasure for us to have these
pictures. And I think we have to be as diligent as we can to pick the best that is there. And that tells her
the history of this town. And then once we have them, we'll digitize them. And then they will be
available to everyone on a website or however, we need to. We had hoped to have copies of the paper
itself digitized. But it's only I think Bob helped me from what year are they digitized?
BURNS: I'm going to guess from about 2000 forward.
SKEHEN: Okay. So it's before that that we have no record at all, but the original copy of the paper is so
these, these are really important in there, once gone, are lost forever. So, I think it's important that
that's why we're, we're getting friends and so on to help going through this. And Cassie Hansen has
agreed to help which is a real plus, because she, of course, was here at the beginning of the town and
was our first Town Clerk. So it's people like that I'm trying to get together so that they will automatically
be able to save this is we must keep this one. And this one I don't know any idea what it is, we have a
real mountain of a job ahead of us and to try to get it done by the end of March is, I think a real well,
unrealistic goal. But at least if we get started quickly, we can show progress. And maybe we might even
I don't know move into Four Peaks School or something, some area that the town owns for another
temporary spot for the things I'd I don't know, there are different resources we could go or maybe some
empty storefront that nobody's in, we could arrange with so that's kind of easy. That's the short term.
It's the long term of where these are kept. And the museum would be optimal if we can find enough
storage room in there for it. But again, this is, as Jim said, this is just the first coming through. We also
have FHCCA which are many boxes and they're right now at the Chamber, but they want them out of
the Chamber too. So I mean, this is a big problem. How do we store the important thing to set our
history? And so it's something that needs a lot of thought. Thank you.
DICKEY: I was going to mention that I knew that. Several organizations have boxes and stuff. And they
get shifted around. I'm always concerned that sometimes those shifts happen in the dumpster instead.
And we have, we don't know where everything is. And I think maybe that's a way the commission could,
maybe figure out a way to ask people if they have real stuff. I'll speak for the museum because I can,
and nobody will stop me but I'm, I'm pretty sure the museum gets stuff that is not worth keeping. And
that, again, is a challenge as well. Yeah, people, if you throw out the flag and say, hey, you know, if you
got something historic, bring it to us, oh, you're going to need a bigger room. And so that's a kind of a
strategic effort to undertake as well. But there's, there's a lot of real stuff out there that I think we ought
to try to capture.
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 8 -
MEADE: I'm just curious as to your perspective. So, we were created, and I mean, you know, all this,
but I mean, we were created with very little charter, it was like, go figure out who you're going to be
what you're going to be. And then you're here today with, you know, a key issue about all these
documents. But as a newer person, I've only lived here seven years, can you share just why the town
isn't more like storage is going to expire at the end of March, storage spaces are 1000s and 1000s of
dollars. So, I mean, what's your perspective having been around as to why the town was created a year
ago, but yet even something is just hanging on to this stuff, or providing funds to store it isn't
happening, it just seems to be kind of a disconnect, to me between the charter of what we're doing and
being created. And yet right over here is, at the end of March, unless somebody comes up with
something, there wouldn't even be a place to put this stuff.
DICKEY: I think when the town first considered creating this commission, several people did some
homework on what it should look like, what some of the some of needs would be, and how it would
function. And of course, there are all kinds of policies and procedures that the town already has to
identify a lot of that but this one's a little bit different. And as I said earlier, this is a little bit different
animal in terms of how it goes about its business. Planning and Zoning don't really have a storage
need, you know, but we also know that the town's been through a lot of discussions at the Council level
about storage costs, and where things could be kept all the way down to Christmas trees, and you
name it. And so, the Town has limited space and so I think, as I understood it, when this charter was
recommended for Council approval, it was specific about not doing that. And like I said, charters can
change. And, if in fact, there's a compelling reason, then, maybe that can be addressed. Hence my
thought about, well, maybe there's some budget need here as well. Because maybe that space would
need to be stored and eventually down the line once you store and catalog and do all this kind of stuff
you'd like for if somebody wants to see it, or, you know, it's not museum kind of stuff. But not unlike a
presidential library where you can go do research or any number of things like that. There are
opportunities that people may want to look at. So, so having a place that's at least available to the
public, not open, but you know, under whether it's certain days of the week or whatever, you know,
that's yet to be determined. But, I think there's a real need and that particular thing was specifically
excluded at the time I think the charter was written. The other half of that goes back to the reference I
made to a preservation officer. And I didn't cover that, if you don't mind. Can I go ahead for a minute
and talk about that? Are you okay? Briefly, okay. The Preservation Officer is typically a staff person and
that staff person has responsibilities specific to preservation thing. So let's use the town lake and
fountain as an example. I don't know. I don't know that. Tim, you may know. I don't know when they
decided to put in that shopping plaza at the fountain. I don't know whose idea that was. But obviously,
there's a shopping plaza at the fountain that butts right up to Fountain Park and Fountain Lake. And so,
is that the future of that facility? will there be one over by the amphitheater? Or will there be maybe
something else past the pumphouse? I don't know. So, when you begin to set policy and procedure and
you have a preservation officer, then you be you can begin to address some of these future conditions
that might otherwise be unaddressed or go unnoticed in terms of what it
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 9 -
might mean to have a more preserved area or not. And maybe, Planning and Zoning would come up
with an idea that, yeah, we can parcel some of this out and do that well. So what I'm doing with the
preservation officers, that's a responsibility that officer to help coordinate and develop and, respond to
requests. Say, you made that Fountain Park, historic overlay, then all of a sudden, it comes with strings
attached if somebody wants to do something. Now, we're not Mesa we don't have a downtown Historic
District per se. We're not Tempe by the way, the reason that Tempe has such a big organization right
now is when the light rail came in, all they had was the mill area. And now they have a very robust
program of historic preservation because when light rail came in, they realized that they were going to
be dealing with indigenous areas when they laid track, and that turned out to be an issue that they
needed to address. And so that helped their commission take form and format. So there's a lot of things
laying out there that that a preservation officer might be responsible for. Eventually when
somebody else comes in and says, “Hey, I want to, I want to take a house that you guys have labeled
as historic. And I want to paint it purple.” Well, do you have something to address that? Is that okay, or
not? Or is that something that you care about? So there are a lot of things there that the preservation
officer would be the frontline of defense.
MEADE: Okay, thanks, appreciate it.
CORLETT: Thank you very much for your remarks and food for thought. We can come back to some
points in the future. The next item on the agenda is a Call to the Public. Paula, do we have any other
requests to speak?
WOODWARD: No Chair.
CORLETT: Thank you very much. Next up are Reports by Commissioners. And just as a reminder,
this is the time to share information about town events, and information related to what we do. But it's
just reporting not discussion. So, if there are things you want to report on that are on the agenda, don't
just hold on to those. So, are there any Reports by Commissioners?
MEADE: I don't know if it's a report, but my mind is spinning now after Jim's presentation. So, I guess
one of the things I'm struggling with right now is….
CORLETT: May I ask if are you talking about his remarks? Because if they are not…
MEADE: No, no they are related to Debbie and me working on the Points of Interests Workgroup. So,
I'm going to report. Can I report on my workgroup? No, not yet.
CORLETT: A little bit later. Thank you. Now that's this. It's more it's a coded way of saying
announcements is what Reports by Commissioners are so that we do have Consideration of and
Possible Action for Approval of the December 6, 2023, HCAC Verbatim Meeting Minutes which
were included in your packet. Does anyone have any changes to the minutes? If not, can I get a
motion?
YODER: Motion to approve the minutes.
CORLETT: Thank you, Tim.
OBST-DWORKIS: I'll second.
CORLETT: Susan. Second. All those in favor, say aye.
ALL: Aye.
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 10 -
CORLETT: Any opposed? Okay, unanimously passes (6-0) Next item on the agenda is for
Consideration and Possible Action for the Appointment of a Chair to the HCAC for the next year.
So, we can open up the floor for conversation if folks are interested in self-nomination for Chair of the
HCAC. So, the role of that is just the role of the Chair? Oh, well, it's a one-year appointment. It's the
main one. The main thing for me is with the travel I have I'm going to be missing a number of meetings
this year and kind of dialing in and it's going to make it hard for me to continue in that role. So, I would
love for someone else to step up, we'll lock the doors until we get a nomination.
PETERSON: I would like to say something about that. I think the most experienced people should step
up to Vice Chair I nominate as Chairman.
BURNS: I will second that motion.
OBST-DWORKIS: Gee, thanks. Okay, I'll accept the Chairpersonship, whatever you want to call it.
CORLETT: So, can we get an official motion to nominate Susan as Chair?
PETERSON: Yes.
CORLETT: So, we had a nomination for Susan Obst-Dworkis for Chair. Oh, I will get it someday. Yes,
we had a second from Bob. All in favor of Susan as Chair says, Aye.
ALL: Aye.
CORLETT: Any opposition? The motion passes for our new chair.
OBST-DWORKIS: So now we'll meet on base the new Vice Chair
CORLETT: Do I pass the baton now or do I need to wait till the next meeting? I'll be happy to help
continue this though. Or should I? Is that official at this moment?
WOODWARD: You can continue.
CORLETT: Okay, I'll continue. I'll finish it but you can do the hammer at the end. Okay, so our next item
for Consideration and Possible Action is the Appointment of a Vice Chair to the History and
Culture Advisory Commission.
OBST-DWORKIS: I'll just say that there's very little to do. You just take the place if the Chairperson
isn't here. That's pretty much it. Am I right?
WOODWARD: Yes.
MEADE: I'll head it off at the pass I have a suggestion. I think the Vice Chair should be one of our new
members. Not from last year.
PETERSON: Okay. I nominate John Gibson. No Tim Yoder.
CORLETT: Kind of knew that was going to….
PRESTON: To clarify I think you just said for Tim Yoder.
CORLETT: Tim, would you be interested in serving as Vice Chair?
YODER: As I understand the responsibilities that have just been mentioned, I guess I would accept
that.
CORLETT:. All right, I will. I would do that. Bill nominated him. I will second that motion, all in favor of
Tim Yoder as Vice Chair of the History and Culture Advisory Commission please say Aye.
ALL: Aye.
CORLETT: That passes unanimously (6-0). Thank you. Congratulations, Vice Chair. Our next agenda
item for Consideration and Possible Action Workgroup Update from the National Register of
Historic Landmarks. And I know we just reappointed that group I believe. Does that group have an
update?
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 11 -
OBST-DWORKIS: No.
CORLETT: Okay.
OBST-DWORKIS: Because of the holidays and everything.
PRESTON: Just a reminder for the microphone. That's okay.
OBST-DWORKIS: No, we don't have a report due to the holidays and everything. Tim did a little bit of
research. I did a little bit of research, but we haven't gotten together about it with Bob. But after this
meeting, before everybody leaves, we'll set a date when we can sit down and decide where we're at.
CORLETT: Okay, thank you. Next is Discussion and Possible Action on the Insider/Fountain Hills
Independent Workgroup Update. I know, Bob, you have sent in an update, would you like to
elaborate for the group?
BURNS: Okay, yeah, sure. I just met with our editor and talked to him for some time about what we
might do. And I think, probably the follow-up, and the suggestion made by Patti to just kind of do little
historical blurbs or snippets. I threw a couple of examples in there off the top of my head as I was
writing this to Patti. I think, David, and I can sit down and come up with some other ideas and maybe
write some things out that both Bo and I can use. Again, I can't make any commitments on how or
when the paper might use these things. And we might be able to get a box designed to put these in. But
I'm not sure if that's something that Ryan mentioned when we were talking, but we haven't followed
through on that. We had another deadline, and we had to get through there, too so we're kind of
starting from scratch here with the New Year. So that's, that's kind of where we're at there. And, like I
said, I'll try and set up something and meet with David. And we'll go through some stuff that we have
available. And you know between Bo’s quarterly I will be surprised if we get something in more than
monthly. So probably don't need more than a couple of dozen to start with here. So, we can sit down,
write some stuff up, and then go from there. We'll present them when we get that done.
PETERSON: So like to add to that chair? Yeah, Bob, we'll get together because I've been doing some
research, excuse me with most of its stuff that I wanted to look up before the town was formulated. And,
you know, goes back to 1865, or before the Civil War, things like that involve Fountain Hills. Also, in the
30s when it comes to mining one other aspect of Fountain Hills was that the clay under our ground, sort
of little interesting things like that, you know, that we could put in because I think people I know I am
because I'm a history buff, love to read stuff like that. Okay.
CORLETT: Just as a point of consideration for the workgroup, other avenues of publication or
disseminating the information if we don't quite have the same friendly ease with the Times as we have
in the past. The what's our other one is, you know, it's the Insiders quarterly, webpages don't cost
much, if that's something that the Town might be able to consider, like an informational one where
things that we do, like things that we take on tasks that we take on, or these historic write-ups could
start publishing in that format as well. Just a thought to consider but maybe with town staff contacts we
could since they do the HTML on that end, and all we would have to do is write the goods. Thank you.
PRESTON: And for that workgroup, as you know, that would be Bo Larsen to be your contact for all of
them.
CORLETT: All right, thank you. So, Bill, we are now on to Consideration and Possible action for the
Points of Interest Workgroup. So if you'd like to provide that update.
PRESTON: Microphone, if you can.
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 12 -
MEADE: Patti provided John with all the documents that Debbie had provided our workgroup before so
John got everything. He and I talked once since he had surgery or whatever so he said he wasn't
available to meet until the latter part of January. So, we haven't met at all. I want to come back to what
I was going to start saying Ryan, you are going to go you're going away to see if we needed the criteria
that we came up with at the last meeting you were going to go back to see what kind of approval if any,
we needed for that. And I just was curious as to what came out of that.
PRESTON: Approval specifically for what?
MEADE: We had our set of criteria for the town designate what the criteria, you know, what our criteria
was going to be? And somebody I don't know, if it was David, in his role as Chair, somebody said,
“Should we now take that for approval or whatever?” And you were going to I think my recollection was
you were going to go to see if anything needed to be done relative to what we recommended.
CORLETT: On page 37, the backend?
PRESTON: As far as that, I think that was sitting with Patti. But as far as Designation Criteria I guess
the question was that a final list from the Commission to go in front?
MEADE: Yeah, we had already all approved at a prior meeting, I believe. We had all we when Debbie
and I presented it. I think it got accepted. Correct me, David, or whatever, and then it was we were
waiting again, then we had the big break. But then it was we were waiting to hear what the next steps
were going to be.
CORLETT: We may not have formally recommended it to the Town at that point, as far as an official
vote, which we can certainly do here. Motion that we recommend that the Town adopt it.
MEADE: I thought we did this criteria.
PRESTON: I recently went to the minutes, and there was nothing from the last meeting.
MEADE: The last meeting would have been would have been before the summer break. It would have
been in June.
PRESTON: Okay, I wasn't at those meetings. I apologize. So, I wouldn't have been involved. I would
have to look into that because I don't think we brought it up at the last meeting. So, I'd have to look
deeper into that for you.
MEADE: Okay. Then the other thing I just wanted to come back to where my head is spinning is, I
think where we get hung up a lot and specific to this committee. We pulled our recommendation back
because one of the things that we constantly heard, and I think I brought this up at the last meeting is
there is no budget. So, to Jim's point about saying a Preservation Officer, when Debbie and I went
through all this, there were all kinds of criteria and things we could have recommended, but under the
auspice of, there is no budget, we just came back to kind of the simple plaque. Because tied to that.
And I think I brought this up. If you get into preservation, there are all kinds of legalities, the town
attorney would have to be involved with something stipulated or whatever. And I don't know where to
go with this. And I'm just expressing it as frustration as Jim had mentioned, you know, going into the
next budgetary cycle or the Town will. I think for this commission to stop being frustrated, we either
need to know that we need to make a recommendation, or there'll be some funds in the town budget
that the town then declines or doesn't want to do. Because this is a specific example that we pulled
back because funds aren't available. But then Jim did a presentation that said well, can you guys
consider down the road perhaps preservation? We looked at preservation and just said, “That's not our
venue it's not ours because of the whole issue around what potentially could be budgetary, legal
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 13 -
attorney issues or whatever” So I'm just I don't know how, you know, we deal with this. But going back
to the work that was done on the signs. The budget came up. So here we've been in existence for a
year. And it seems every time things come forward; it ends up becoming well there's no budget. So,
either I feel like we as a commission need to think that through and propose to the town there is some
budget or somebody just makes that hard and fast. There is no budget because you know, I'm just
sitting here today listening to Jim, and then when John Wesley even was sharing with about Mesa, it
was clear we could have gone in a much, much broader direction. But we didn't because of this
constant thing about no funding,
CORLETT: I would like an offer one insight and then one question on that, let's say that if there was a
budget, because of your position, Ryan within the Town, would our commission and its budget if there
was one, fall underneath that particular department, or is it a completely separate item.
PRESTON: Right, and the fact that there's no budget for the commission just to go out and spend on
for example, what I think referencing was a graphic designer to design a point of interest or a plaque or
things like that, I believe that's what was being discussed. However, you can advise, you can come up
with the language, the wording, everything you'd want to see on that, you would then advise the town
on what to do, whether it's through a formal meeting, whether that's through a presentation, and then
we can decide within our already allocated budget. If we have the room, if we can spend it, if it is a
priority, whether it's with a Director, or Town Manager to then push that through the budget, and use
that portion of whatever we already had, let's say signage for the park, do we have enough left in the
budget to be able to create the graphic for what you guys came up with, with the wording and
everything and then be able to then put that in the parks. And that is something that is on our list. It's
something that I think we discussed last time a year out from being able to be completed. But it is not
something that was put on a shelf and forgotten either. It takes time, especially when it involves
spending money.
CORLETT: So, with that in mind, then Bill back to your point, let’s recommend, let's recommend
different things. And again, it's the Town's discretion as to whether they fulfill that budgetarily and carry
it out. But that shouldn't stop us from making recommendations.
MEADE: Great clarity, because I've just felt in the past, we've been steered more away from that just
or year item when next year's budget process was going to happen. But then what happened last year
was by the time we got into a couple of things, I was like, oh, that's already been finalized.
CORLETT: Well, that may be the case anyway, in that we make a recommendation and just because
of how the gears of government churn, it takes a while to get into the next cycle. So, whatever we
recommend may not be enacted if it costs a lot of money. It could be the next budget cycle before it's
considered and put in, but they have it queued up more or less is how I read that.
PRESTON: That's correct. Yeah, again, it's not that thought that there's no budget we have a budget
for certain things. We have assigned budgets for the parks, we have different budgets, it's whether or
not what we can fit in when a lot of times once that budget comes out in once it's approved, what a
second week of June, ideally, that most of that's already earmarked most of that's already spent. So, if
there's anything we want to do, it's not getting into the budget until February the next year when it's
discussed. And then finally pushing through to the next fiscal year is typically the process for that.
CORLETT: So, we're playing the long game.
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 14 -
BURNS: Yeah, I just have a thought on that. Maybe you guys, in your group, come up with this listing
of sites that you believe are worthy of designation. For preservation, or just as a historical site or
whatever. You take that list, the committee or the commission here looks at it and say, “Yeah, we're
fine with this, we recommend this to the Council”. You send that on to the Council and the Council can
look at it and maybe there's some information in there and you know, what, what might be done, that
would cost money, and the Council can look at it and decide, okay, as Ryan says, we can put this into
the budget. Or if not just do a resolution that costs nothing and say, “Hey, if anything comes to us that
involves any of this property, we need to know about it and make some kind of overriding or some kind
of decision whether whatever might happen goes forward.” That's just a thought.
YODER: I appreciate that. I was unaware of when the town goes through its budget and approves the
budget for the next fiscal year or whatever. But I was thinking maybe we could look at the time of
working on our projects, coming up with some plans, some specific plans, and preparing, say, a
portfolio of three or five things that we would like to promote to the Town Council. Some of these may
be able to be done with the existing town infrastructure and not take much money. And some may be
longer-term goals that need to be executed slowly over time which might take two or three more years
or something like that. And try to get our ducks in a row before that Town Council Financial Meeting.
CORLETT: Right, thank you all. I'm going to steer us back a little bit here. I appreciate that
conversation. So, I see a number of Future Agenda items that we need to add here in a few minutes. In
addition to Tim, I saw yours in the suggestions already. So thank you for that conversation. We do have
a couple of more items on the agenda to work through before we get to Future Agenda items. The first
is a Review and Discussion for Future Speakers such as Jim, we have had others come in the past,
and we did have Cherie Koss from the River of Time Museum come last year, did most of us most
commissioners attend a presentation to a different commission on the Dark Sky. Dark Sky Center. And
we did, of course, have our visit from facilities. And I want to say we maybe had one more maybe one
more but the idea here that we started with this was a use the phrase to hear from people who are part
of the history and culture constellation within the town that could interact with us. So, if we have
suggestions for potential speakers, that's all we're looking for. Now, I could throw a few out here to spur
this would be a Representative from Fort McDowell, Yavapai Nation Tribal Council, or their culture
commission culture director might be one and my others have already been done. So that's one
suggestion I have. And then what we could do is take a list of speakers at our next meeting and kind of
prioritize and then invite those folks in as an action item itself. So, if you have suggestions, this would
be the time to just put them out there without discussion.
YODER: I'm sorry, additional ideas besides the Tribal Council members?
CORLETT: This, of course, can be an ongoing thing, too. If we don't have suggestions now, that's fine.
That can come up in future meetings and Future Agenda Items. We can do it that way as well.
YODER:. I think I'd like to see people in their 80s or 90s, who've been out here since the early 70s
might be good to think about there can't be too many of them left.
CORLETT: I love that idea.
YODER: For clarity. What I mean is there can't be too many 80 or 90-year-olds left who live here now
who lived here back then. Okay.
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 15 -
MEADE: I like this since you know I think where we are going is obviously the National Register of
Historic Landmarks with the fountain ultimately will become a big, big thing. I don't know if there's a
group or someone or some other community somebody that's gone through that process was
something that could come in and just kind of talk to us about the lessons learned. What went well,
what didn't go well, what were the surprises along the way, so that maybe we could just you know,
learn from somebody else's efforts and mistakes.
YODER: I'd like to say in doing my research, the process to me looks straightforward. Yeah,
surprisingly so.
PETERSON: I was going to suggest, I don't know if he would be someone that can speak of this rep
the fountain. But when I was going to the Fountain Hills Leadership Academy Kevin Snipes would be
probably someone that we might want to listen to.
PRESTON: And that's regarding the fountain specifically.
PETERSON: Yes, and the pump house.
CORLETT: Great, thank you.
PRESTON: If I can, if you have more budget questions, my expertise only goes so far. But David Pock
CFO. I don't know if he's spoken in front of you guys before.
CORLETT: Thank you. So, the new Chair can discuss that with you and prioritize who to bring in when
and I'll leave that to you all. Thank you. The next item we have for Review and Discussion is the
Removal of Items from Town Storage. So, was that your item Ryan?
PRESTON: It was brought up as a whole, yes, I believe so. I believe people wanted to discuss it last
meeting and we couldn't, that is regarding what was mentioned earlier, the items stored at the Streets
Yard currently. And I think it was the idea was it would open us to be able to discuss just topics related
to what to do with these items.
OBST-DWORKIS: How much storage space are we talking about and what type of items are we
talking about?
PRESTON: These are the photographs in the 28 boxes discussed earlier in the presentation.
OBST-DWORKIS: Has anybody given any thought to approaching the U-Haul? I'm not sure if they're
on Technology Drive. I'm not sure of the exact address. But they have what’s it called? They have
units, you know it's climate control. That's the word I was looking for. They have units and to see if
maybe they are, you know, what would want to donate one or two? Because like I know, they have like
a 10 by 10s by you know, by 10 that is in the climate control. And maybe they could get a tax write-off
or something for the town. I don't know if anything like that is possible.
PRESTON: Yeah, I guess the big thing is that the boxes are not town property and it'd be more of a
recommendation that we could pass on. You can recommend moving forward. But it wouldn't be
something that the town would take on itself as far as the storage.
CORLETT: So, the point of order on what we can and cannot do with the way the agenda is laid out
here is review and discussion as opposed to action on this point. So, our next meeting is in February
and the budget cycle ends, when for the Town? Isn't it February when the council is making
determinations on the future budget?
PRESTON: Mid-February is when things start happening. So, the town employees usually put
everything together before then. And since you've been doing that since November, I know yes, we
have. And usually by that point that it sees in front of the Council for the first time, I believe it's, you
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 16 -
know the date? Yeah, February, it's usually near the end of the second week of February. Typically, I
don't have the date in front of me.
CORLETT: So, this is related. But it's also the next agenda item. I'm not intending to skip ahead on
this, but there are Future Agenda items we need to discuss number one is a revision of our charter as
given to us by the Town Council, which prevents us from accumulating and becoming a preservation
group. And that was stated in there. We need to address that and take it on because then we could
have an official stance on what the town should do about this. So, I'll add that to the agenda items here
in a moment. But it is just a little bit frustrating when we can discuss and I mean, we can't even motion
on that with the way this is laid out right now. So, we have until the end of February 28th or March 31
excuse me, when storage ends for the photographs. We have until mid-February to make a
recommendation to the town in terms of budget, so I would recommend that we have two agenda items
for the February meeting related specifically to this. We can continue to discuss it. We just can't
recommend anything yet, based on this. So that's my two cents for the moment.
PRESTON: Right, like I said, I think the only reason it got on there is because it was attempted to be
discussed last meeting. So, we threw it on there for this meeting, although I know a lot of the topics we
were going to discuss were already addressed in the presentation. So, it may not be necessary
anymore.
CORLETT: Okay, is there a further discussion on that discussion item at the moment?
YODER: I just have a question. So, are we planning then perhaps, at our next meeting in early
February, to adjust our charter?
CORLETT: I would recommend that we have an action item on here that we sent me we still have to
request the town I suppose that allowed that. But I say we do it at that point. And then we make a
recommendation going right along with it about preservation and budget.
YODER: That sounds good.
CORLETT: Kind of hitting them with both at the same time. Good. Okay. So that leaves us our next
Discussion Possible Action item or Possible Direction is Future Agenda Items. So, my
suggestions for agenda items are for Consideration and Possible Action on the Charter of the History
and Culture Advisory Commission. A second point….
OBST-DWORKIS: I'm sorry, revising it, right?
CORLETT: Amending it is one of those. The second recommendation for Consideration and Possible
Action is the Town's Storage for Historic Preservation Records. I want even to broaden that a little bit
more to not just records, but artifacts. Yeah, words are just not coming to me today. We're working
together. So those are my two recommendations. We also have, of course, Consideration Possible
Action Items from our Work Groups, which are kind of standing ones until we close those out. Bill, we
can verify the passing of that action and if not, we can do that at the February meeting. Are there other
possible agenda items for consideration? Dave?
PETERSON: Just an idea or thought I was looking at the Fountain Hills app. If anybody has that app,
I'm sure somebody has it on there. But one of the things I noticed that's not on this Fountain Hills app
that shows you dining and drinks, shopping, play, events, live and work. They have all kinds of little
icons about medical services, all kinds of fire and police, and all blah, blah, blah. I don't have anything
on history and culture.
PRESTON: I don't believe the town has an app.
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 17 -
PETERSON: Well, I'm looking at it right here.
PRESTON: Is it the Town or the Chamber of Commerce?
PETERSON: It's the Chamber but don't you think the Chamber should have something on History and
Culture that we can probably help them or add to it?
CORLETT: We can fall into discussing that's all yes, says hit the neck. Yeah, which we get to the next
meeting. So, adding that please is a point and actually, I believe Tim not to steal your thunder. I saw
your proposed one in the packet, which sounds very similar to Dave's version of it. That was yours,
wasn't it?
YODER: I talked to Patti about something I thought she said this would be maybe the next meeting but
I haven't I don't know where it is on here.
CORLETT: It's on page 40. Future Agenda Item related to creating an interactive development map
using photos etc. So, kind of the historic overlay in some ways like Dave's talking about.
YODER: Yeah, that's okay, I didn't know Dave was on that too.
PETERSON: I wasn't on it. Okay, but what I'd like to suggest is the QR codes possibly can be an
action item that we can add to this Chamber right here because we discussed that a lot in the Fountain
Hills Leadership Academy because it was lacking quite a bit.
CORLETT: Okay, so I would recommend it since we can't discuss it now. I would like to add both of
those points to the future agenda. Correct?
PRESTON: Yeah, we cannot discuss it.
OBST-DWORKIS: It's what we've already done in the past. I just want him to know what we've worked
on already.
CORLETT: In the park?
OBST-DWORKIS: Right. Yeah, that we had already done. Part of our recommendation on revamping
the signs in Fountain Park was to have a QR code on the sign so that people could access the
Chamber or the Town or, you know, however, we're going to end up setting it up. But it was already
added to our presentation to Parks and Rec about revamping the signs with QR codes.
CORLETT: So that we can reference back to the April 2023 meeting, I believe, is when we get that.
Okay. Thank you. Okay, so we can add that to the conversation then. Are there other possible agenda
items?
MEADE: Yeah, I would like to have us discuss your you were invited at one point to present the
Council just as kind of our how we were doing what we'd come up with and all that, and you got
bumped. And I'd like to just come back I think it'd still be helpful for either you or Susan or a
combination or whatever to get back on providing an Update to the Council.
CORLETT: Okay, thank you. All right. So, the last item Update Next Meeting is February 7, 2024. If
you have agenda items or attachments, they are due to Patti by Wednesday, January 24 to be included
in the agenda for the February 7th meeting. So please note that.
PRESTON: that would be sure to cc me as well if you don't have my email. I'm not sure how long Patti
will be out. But just send me it as well so we can make sure to get that on the agenda.
CORLETT: Thank you very much. If there is no further business, can I get a Motion to Adjourn?
OBST-DWORKIS: I make a Motion that we Adjourn.
History and Culture Advisory Commission January 3, 2024, Verbatim Minutes
Transcribed by https://otter.ai - 18 -
CORLETT: I second. All in favor?
ALL: Aye
CORLETT: This meeting is now adjourned at 5:14 pm
Having no further business, Chairman Corlett adjourned the Regular Meeting of the History and Culture
Advisory Commission on January 3, 2024, at 5:14 p.m.
HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION
______________________________________________
Susan Obst-Dworkis, Chairman
ATTEST AND PREPARED BY:
____________________________________
Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the
History and Culture Advisory Commission held in the Town Hall Council Chambers on January
3, 2024. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present.
DATED this 7th Day of February 2024.
Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
ITEM 6.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 02/07/2024 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Community Services
Prepared by: Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
Staff Contact Information: Ryan Preston, Recreation Manager
Request to History and Culture Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): CONSIDERATION
AND POSSIBLE ACTION: National Register of Historic Landmarks Workgroup Update
Staff Summary (Background)
Update from the National Register of Historic Landmarks Workgroup.
Fountain Hills Historic Landmark Designation Criteria Recommendation
Attachments
National Register of Historic Landmarks
Historic Property Inventory Form - Work Group Update
Recommendation for Fountain Hills Landmark Designation
Form Review
Form Started By: Patti Lopuszanski Started On: 01/18/2024 05:41 PM
Final Approval Date: 01/18/2024
National Register of Historic Landmarks
The process starts with the AZ State Historic Preservation Office
applying for the Fountain in the Town of Fountain Hills as a historic
landmark. They can also be of help when establishing a Fountain Hills
Historic Register.
• How to List a Property - National Register of Historic Places (U.S.
National Park Service) (nps.gov)
• How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation
(nps.gov)
• Arizona's State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) | Arizona State
Parks (azstateparks.com)
• The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), a division of
Arizona State Parks, assists private citizens, private institutions,
local governments, tribes, and state and federal agencies in the
identification, evaluation, protection, and enhancement of
historic and archeological properties that have significance for
local communities, the State of Arizona, or the nation.
• SHPO Forms and Publications | Arizona State Parks
(azstateparks.com)
• Historic Property Inventory Form.docx - Google Docs Application
form
RECOMMENDATION FOR FOUNTAIN HILLS HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION
DESIGNATION CRITERIA:
The building must have a special characteris�c to the community.
The building must have a historical significance like being “the first”, batlefield, Na�ve American history,
birthplace, or residence of a prominent contributor and/or developer of the community.
Provides an ongoing unique heritage value to the community.
Added to the development of the cultural character of the community.
At minimum 30 years old.
DESIGNATION:
A small plaque affixed to the building iden�fying the nature of the designa�on.
AWARENESS:
Lis�ng on the Town website of all buildings and loca�ons with landmark designa�on.
BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS:
The town will need to pay for the cost of plaques and installa�on. This amount will be larger in year 1 as
there will be a number of designa�ons but should be minimal moving forward each year.
ITEM 7.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 02/07/2024 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Community Services
Prepared by: Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
Staff Contact Information: Ryan Preston, Recreation Manager
Request to History and Culture Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): CONSIDERATION
AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Insider/Fountain Hills Independent Workgroup Update
Staff Summary (Background)
Commissioner Burns - The commission could look at putting together a small library of
historical materials that others might be interested in using for research, etc.
Spring Insider 2024 - Due Dates February 5-9
Insider requirements are 250-300 words maximum and must include a visual.
Attachments
Insider/Fountain Hills Independent Workgroup Update
Form Review
Form Started By: Patti Lopuszanski Started On: 01/18/2024 05:45 PM
Final Approval Date: 01/18/2024
Town of Fountain Hills HCAC February 7, 2024 Work Group Report - Bob Burns and Dave Peterson
Coordinating with Town of Fountain Hills Insider and Fountain Hills Times Independent to publicize
history of Fountain Hills
Group met Jan. 15, to discuss current status and objectives going forward.
At this time it appears we are ready to implement a program for getting items published in Insider,
the town’s quarterly newsletter distributed by mail to all residents.
We have identified potential sources of material for publication including The Fountain Hills Times
Independent. The paper ran a monthly story related to the history of the town during 2020. These
are lengthy stories about 1,500 to 2,000 words or more. It would be up to Bo Larsen to decide how
or if he wanted to use these stories, either by editing or splitting for publication. There are other
possibilities related to The Times Independent that can be explored if necessary.
Another source discussed includes “Rising Above the Rest” a book on the history of Fountain Hills.
The book includes a series of short historical briefs that could potentially be used for either the
Insider or The Times. There are 42 of them in the book, and it would not be difficult to generate more
volunteer help.
Another source discussed is the Verde Valley Lore books written by the late Bob Mason of Rio
Verde. His stories vary in length but provide a great picture of the history of the Verde Valley, but
also stories related to the area specific to Fountain Hills and surrounding area. Glimpses of
ranching and mining in the immediate area.
I believe we should take a look at the need for reprint permission related to these publications. Not
sure if this is something staff would be able to help with or leave it to the work group. I would like a
staff opinion as to whether permission is needed or might attribution be adequate.
There is not much new information at this time related to getting information into The Times
Independent. I believe the next step to take would be to prepare examples of the historic briefs we
would be looking at running and try to get feedback. I do believe whatever might be used would be
irregular at best, dependent on space.
Is there commission feedback on whether we should proceed to implement something with Bo for
the Insider? Is this material the commission would want to review before publication? His next
deadline may be approaching or past, we need to check on that.
I don’t believe there is anything in this outline that would have a price tag attached.
ITEM 8.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 02/07/2024 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Community Services
Prepared by: Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
Staff Contact Information: Ryan Preston, Recreation Manager
Request to History and Culture Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): CONSIDERATION
AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Points of Interest Workgroup Update
Staff Summary (Background)
Attachments
Designation Criteria
Form Review
Form Started By: Patti Lopuszanski Started On: 01/18/2024 05:47 PM
Final Approval Date: 01/18/2024
RECOMMENDATION FOR FOUNTAIN HILLS HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION
DESIGNATION CRITERIA:
The building must have a special characteris�c to the community.
The building must have a historical significance like being “the first”, batlefield, Na�ve American history,
birthplace, or residence of a prominent contributor and/or developer of the community.
Provides an ongoing unique heritage value to the community.
Added to the development of the cultural character of the community.
At minimum 30 years old.
DESIGNATION:
A small plaque affixed to the building iden�fying the nature of the designa�on.
AWARENESS:
Lis�ng on the Town website of all buildings and loca�ons with landmark designa�on.
BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS:
The town will need to pay for the cost of plaques and installa�on. This amount will be larger in year 1 as
there will be a number of designa�ons but should be minimal moving forward each year.
ITEM 9.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 02/07/2024 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Community Services
Prepared by: Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
Staff Contact Information: Ryan Preston, Recreation Manager
Request to History and Culture Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE ACTION: Amending the Charter of the History and Culture Advisory Commission
Staff Summary (Background)
The purpose of the History and Culture Advisory Commission will be to advise the Town Council on
matters relating to historic and cultural preservation, including making plans and policies for the
identification, evaluation, and recognition of historically or culturally significant aspects within Fountain
Hills. The Commission will establish criteria and procedures for review and bring further awareness to
the public on the history of the Town of Fountain Hills. The Commission’s purpose is informational and
advisory, not an archival collection of memorabilia or artifacts.
Form Review
Form Started By: Patti Lopuszanski Started On: 01/30/2024 10:06 AM
Final Approval Date: 01/30/2024
ITEM 10.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 02/07/2024 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Community Services
Prepared by: Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
Staff Contact Information: Ryan Preston, Recreation Manager
Request to History and Culture Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): UPDATE: Town's
Storage for Historic Preservation Records and Artifacts
Staff Summary (Background)
The purpose of the History and Culture Advisory Commission will be to advise the Town Council on
matters relating to historic and cultural preservation, including making plans and policies for the
identification, evaluation, and recognition of historically or culturally significant aspects within Fountain
Hills. The Commission will establish criteria and procedures for review and bring further awareness to
the public on the history of the Town of Fountain Hills. The Commission’s purpose is informational and
advisory, not an archival collection of memorabilia or artifacts.
Form Review
Form Started By: Patti Lopuszanski Started On: 01/30/2024 03:16 PM
Final Approval Date: 01/30/2024
ITEM 11.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 02/07/2024 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Community Services
Prepared by: Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
Staff Contact Information: Ryan Preston, Recreation Manager
Request to History and Culture Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): REVIEW AND
DISCUSSION: Creating an Interactive Development Map Using Photos
Staff Summary (Background)
Tim Yoder requested a Future Agenda item be considered related to creating an interactive
development map using photos from the Fountain Hills Times (Times) and perhaps the Town’s
Developer, MCO. He would like to propose a “computer cartography” project.
"I think aerial and area photographs (shot by the Times and MCO (perhaps among others) could be
digitized and made into an “interactive map” of Fountain Hills. The title of the map might be “Fountain
Hills, the first 50 years.” It would give an overview through time, of how this town was developed.
Showing new roads, homes, commercial, educational, and recreational development through the years
of roughly 1971 — 2021 (present). I’m pretty sure we would need to collect at least a few hundred
different photographs for a computer guru to be able to get that work done."
Form Review
Form Started By: Patti Lopuszanski Started On: 01/30/2024 02:30 PM
Final Approval Date: 01/30/2024
ITEM 12.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 02/07/2024 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Community Services
Prepared by: Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
Staff Contact Information: Ryan Preston, Recreation Manager
Request to History and Culture Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): REVIEW AND
DISCUSSION: Future Speakers
Staff Summary (Background)
Future Speakers discussed at the January 3, 2024, HCAC Meeting:
Fort McDowell Tribal Council Representative - History and Culture1.
Someone who has gone through registering a historic landmark2.
Kevin Snipes - History of Fountain (Presentation took place January 25, 2024, at the Community
Center)
3.
Establish a History and Culture Advisory Commission work group to research and contact speakers to
schedule a presentation at a future meetings.
Form Review
Form Started By: Patti Lopuszanski Started On: 01/18/2024 05:55 PM
Final Approval Date: 01/18/2024
ITEM 13.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 02/07/2024 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Community Services
Prepared by: Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
Staff Contact Information: Ryan Preston, Recreation Manager
Request to History and Culture Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): UPDATE: Future
Agenda Items
Staff Summary (Background)
Future Agenda Items discussed at January 3, 2024, HCAC Meeting
Amending the Charter of History and Culture Advisory Commission1.
Artifacts and Document Storage2.
Fountain Hills Chamber App - Adding History and Culture, QR Codes3.
Town Council Presentation 4.
Form Review
Form Started By: Patti Lopuszanski Started On: 01/18/2024 05:52 PM
Final Approval Date: 01/18/2024
ITEM 14.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 02/07/2024 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Community Services
Prepared by: Patti Lopuszanski, Executive Assistant
Staff Contact Information: Ryan Preston, Recreation Manager
Request to History and Culture Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): UPDATE: Next
History and Culture Advisory Commission Meeting on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Agenda
packet items are due by February 21, 2024.
Staff Summary (Background)
Form Review
Form Started By: Patti Lopuszanski Started On: 01/18/2024 05:49 PM
Final Approval Date: 01/18/2024