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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987 11-25 EBFMMINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 25, 1987 EARLE BROWN FARM COMMITTEE MEETING ' CALL TO ORDER The Earle Brown Farm committee was called to order at 7:41 a.m. by chairman Orn. ' ROLL CALL Dr. Duane Orn, Leone Howe, Sylvia Kenney, Gil Engdahl, Ron Christensen, Donald Peterson, Warren Lindquist and Mary Jane ' Gustafson. Also present were City Manager Gerald Splinter, HRA Coordinator Brad Hoffman, Program Supervisor Kathy Flesher, Al Beisner, and Administrative-Licenses Secretary Sharon Knutson. ' APPROVAL OF MINUTES - NOVEMBER 4. 1987 There was a motion by Gil Engdahl and seconded by Sylvia Kenney to approve the minutes of the November 4, 1987, Earle Brown Farm ' Committee meeting. The motion passed. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT ' Dr. Orn said he did appoint a subcommittee to determine if a paid citizen is needed to oversee the development of the Farm and the design team to protect the public interest. He stated the members appointed to the subcommittee were HRA Coordinator Brad Hoffman, Leone Howe, and Gil Engdahl, who was recommended by Bill Eldridge.. ' Gil Engdahl said the subcommittee had its meeting, and the recommendation should go to the City Council not to appoint a paid citizen to participate on the design team. He added Brad ' Hoffman's office is always open for anyone to come and get information that is needed about the development of the Earle Brown Farm. Leone Howe said at first she was concerned that Brad ' Hoffman and Greg the subcommittee Watson's relationship was too cozy; but during meeting, her ideas were cleared up in communications. The HRA Coordinator emphasized this is a public project and he is available for more insight at any time. He said having a paid citizen on the committee creates a dilemma or conflict, and everything the design team would want to do would have to go before the City Council for recommendation. He further stated structurally it cannot be put together because not everyone ' agrees. He listed the priorities of the follows: 1. preservation and restoration Farm in of the order as Farm; 2. financial feasibility and protection for the City; 3. a public use. He went on to review the idea of a paid citizen and tried ' to determine who the paid citizen would be paid by and responsible to. He stated Heskin's role is a business manager of the project. 11-25-87 -1- Ron Christensen had some concerns with the level of involvement the committee will continue to have over the Farm. He said he wants the committee to be involved during the renovation, and asked how the committee will continue to be involved. The HRA Coordinator said the committee must make recommendations to the City Council. Gil Engdahl said we must look at what the goals of the Earle Brown Farm Committee are. The City Manager said the City Council may not be clear as to the committee's involvement after the completion or renovation of the Farm, but the committee must be flexible. Ron Christensen said it is a very important time right now and what goes on at the Farm will depend on how it is designed. He further stated he thinks there is a difference of opinion between the City staff and the Earle Brown Farm Committee. The City Manager said the City Council may look at it as a different approach than the Earle Brown Farm Committee. Mary Jane Gustafson said the Earle Brown Farm Committee is at the discretion of the City Council, and its role is not to have more power. Al Beisner said he has been involved in the Earle Brown Farm Committee on and off for the last two and a half years. He further stated the committee has done everything that can be done, and he reacted to the input of the committee. The HRA Coordinator said the committee should address who is going to make decisions. Ron Christensen said how the City Council votes depends on the committee's presentation. The HRA Coordinator stated the committee's recommendation may differ from the City staff's recommendation. Dr. Orn summed up the subcommitte's report and said he feels there is a conflict with the committee versus a paid citizen. He said he wants to keep the committee "pure" and "untainted,"- and does not recommend the Earle Brown Farm Committee to appoint a citizen because there is too much conflict. He further stated if Heskin wants to give retainer to a consultant, it is up to Heskin. Leone Howe asked the committee if it had fear the City staff would not want public use versus private use at the Earle Brown Farm. Dr. Orn stated advisory committee's do not always prevail; it is only an advisory committee, and the members are not paid. Gil Engdahl asked what is private use versus public use. The City Manager addressed the committee defining a public use as a facility open to the public. He stated there is some overlap; sometimes it is a public use and sometimes it is a private use. He said the historical experience must be seen and he agreed there is demand for the elderly services. He addressed the issue of public uses making private uses unfeasible, because once a public use occupies a building, it is not easily moveable. He further stated with public uses there is not a lot of tax funds, and there is burden on all the other services of the City and somehow that public use must be funded. Dr. Orn stated it is more expedient to go from a private use to a public use. There was a motion by Gil Engdahl and seconded by Donald Peterson to r (-I I 11-25-87 -2- accept the subcommittee's recommendation not to recommend to the City Council a paid citizen to be a member of the design team. The motion passed. Ron Christensen abstained from voting. STAFF REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS Dr. Orn said the committee needs to give the architect direction ' and recommend uses for the Farm and asked the staff to give their review and recommendations. The HRA Coordinator reviewed the Earle Brown Farm development schedule. He said the Earle Brown Farm Committee should make a recommendation to the EDA by December 28, 1987, City Council meeting. He further stated Heskin's contract be submitted to the EDA for approval and said there are talks going on now between Heskin and the City. He said at the beginning of January 1988, he would like the architect to develop the preliminary plans, and ' January 20, 1988, is the goal for the site plans, landscaping, and floor plans to be ready for the Earle Brown Farm committee's comments. He said he would like the architect to develop the final plans and specifications by early March 1988, and on ' March 20, 1988, the Earle Brown Farm Committee should comment on the final design and the specifications of the Farm. He said in April the final plans and specifications should go to the EDA for ' approval. He added during March, April, and May there should be the development of bid specifications and prequalifying of bidders with the opening of bids scheduled for May 20, 1988. He concluded the development schedule noting a starting date of ' July 1, 1988, is the goal. The HRA Coordinator reviewed for the committee staff's ' recommendations for the buildings of the Earle Brown Farm. He displayed a map of the Earle Brown Farm buildings and pointed out the hippodrome and said it is a multipurpose building that can be used for trade shows or banquets and may also have a public or ' private use. He then pointed out the stable and said this could be a kitchen or small restaurant. Next he pointed out barns one and two and said these are the least desirable buildings but would be appropriate for offices. Next he reviewed the house and suggested a bed and breakfast be placed there. He pointed out another building that could be used for offices, noting the Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Bureau are interested in ' moving on the Farm. Mary Jane Gustafson said she had met with Noreen Roberts, Ph.D. about the national historic level of the ' Earle Brown Farm. The City Manager reviewed for the committee the disadvantages and costs involved with this and noted the architect would determine the historic level of the Farm. The HRA Coordinator further reviewed the buildings of the Earle Brown ' Farm, pointing out the D Barn could be a museum shared with offices. He then pointed at the bunkhouse and said the historical society may want to reside there. He further stated the Earle Brown Farm needs a theme, and asked the committee what the theme will be. He said the senior adults want a significant 11-25-87 -3- l - ' amount of space and this is not economically feasible. Dr. Orn _ said there could be a compromise with the senior adults and the Brooklyn Historical Society. He said if the senior adults need more space for certain events, they could schedule to use the Brooklyn Historical Society space. The City Manager said the Park and Recreation Commission is looking at recreational facilities at this time which could provide space for the senior ' adults. Dr. Orn said the seniors need identity and recognition; they want a phone number and an office on the Farm. The HRA Coordinator said what they want will not suit their needs anyway ' because they need too much space. Dr. Orn-suggested one building be dedicated to the Brooklyn Historical Society along with the senior adults or dedicate a part of another larger building to them. Ron Christensen suggested the committee prepare a comments page on what it thinks. The HRA Coordinator said that is what the staff wants. Ron Christensen said the house is the prime spot and it is what the public is most interested in seeing. The City Manager said he is concerned with the splitting of the operating costs and revenues, and the committee must look at the total aspect of the Farm instead of each individual building. , Leone Howe addressed the committee and reviewed her presentation for the Earle Brown Farm buildings. She said the Brooklyn Historical Society needs a protected area for the artifacts it , has. She further said after the public informational meeting, she has come to believe the senior adults need a large area for their crafts and workshops. The City Manager said the committee ' must come up with a list for the architect and let the architect do his job, and then the committee can review what the architect has to offer and decide from that. Dr. Orn reviewed for the committee the staff's recommendations as follows: 1. the ' hippodrome is a multipurpose building that can be used for trade shows or banquets; 2. the stable could be used as a kitchen or small restaurant; 3. Barn 1 could be used for an office , building; 4. Barn 2=could also be used for an office building; 5. the house could be used as a bed and breakfast; 6. one building could be used as an office building, such as for the ' Chamber of Commerce or Tourism Bureau; 7. the bunkhouse could be used for the Brooklyn Historical Society; 8. the D Barn could be a museum shared with offices; 9. a building could be used for the Brooklyn Historical Society along with the senior adults. , He further stated if it is feasible, the offsite barn could be moved and used. Donald Peterson suggested the park and recreation facilities be added to the recommendations. After further , discussion, it was agreed the park and recreation facilities be added to the list. There was a motion by Mary Jane Gustafson and seconded by Donald Peterson to accept the list of recommendations from City staff and recommend the list to the City Council. The ' motion passed. Al Beisner mentioned the architect may want to know how many ' people will occupy each building. Ron Christensen said the 11-25-87 -4- committee must be as flexible as can be and recommended at some future meeting, an agenda item may be the development of a priority list to recommend tenants for the Earle Brown Farm buildings. NEXT MEETING There was a motion by Gil Engdahl and seconded by Donald Peterson to set the next meeting of the Earle Brown Farm Committee subject to the chairman's discretion. The motion passed. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Donald Peterson and seconded by Warren Lindquist to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The Earle Brown Farm Committee meeting adjourned at 9:29 a.m. 11-25-87 -5-