HDC Minutes Feb 2017vmwt As as
j &
Febt°uary 99 2017
The Van Buren Historic District Commission held its monthly meeting on Thursday,
February 9, 2017 at 5:30 P.M. in the City Council Room of the Municipal Complex,
Members Present: Chairman Lisa Willis, Vice Chairman Vickie Davis, Cathy Gifford,
Paul Gibson, Derald Porter and Alan Fohart. Others Present: Julie Copple, Planning
Assistant, City of Van Buren, Lonnie and Mindy London.
Chairman Lisa Willis called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. The first item on the
agenda was to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. A motion was made
by Vickie Davis and seconded by Derald Porter to accept the minutes, The motion
was approved unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was for the sign update. Derald Porter is working with
Lonnie London on the signs for downtown, Lonnie London showed the sign to the
commission. Everyone likes the sign. Julie Copple will get with Wayne Sandusky
from the Street Department about mounting the signs. Derald Porter stated the other
side of the 600 block sign will be finished by the next meeting, along with a preview
of the next coin for the geocache tour.
Next item on the agenda was the CLG 2017grant application for training, mini grants
and design guidelines. Julie Copple stated the email from AHPP was requesting more
information concerning the grant application. Chairman Lisa Willis and Julie Copple
will meet later to clarify some of the grant application questions with Catherine
Barrier, AHPP, CLG Coordinator.
The next item was an update from the CAMP training. Derald Porter and Julie
Copple attended the Little Rock training. Code of Ethics, Public Meeting protocol
and mock scenarios for commissions were just some of the subjects covered at the
training. Chairman Lisa Willis showed the commission a tri-fold brochure that lays
out all the information about the Historic District Commission, the process of a
COA, and other information.
Vice Chairman Vickie Davis will check with Dwight, a former commissioner, and see
if he still has a copy of this brochure on his hard drive. Chairman Willis stated it
would be a good brochure to give out to business owner's downtown.
Next item on the agenda was a discussion about some possible pop-up temporary
benches or seating for downtown. Covered trolley stops were requested and denied
on our last grant cycle because of the expense. Chairman Willis suggested Hying
temporary seating downtown to see if the people utilize them. Maybe try one in a
location where there is limited seating and expand from that and ask the city if they
could move the marque and put some temporary seating. Some funding possibilities
from the city or the A&P commission. Vice Chairman Vickie Davis stated the
Women's League might fund the project. Chairman Willis asked if Lonnie, Alan and
Paul could come up with some figures and submit it to her, then she could write the
proposal to the women's league.
Training dates for this year: National Register Training on Saturday, April, 29`", in
Little Rock. CAMP training, Conway, May 2017. CAMP training, NWA, Fall 2017.
Chairman Willis asked the commission to go to one training per year.
Other business — Chairman Willis asked Alan Foliart to share some updates with the
commission concerning TOTMA. Alan Foliart stated the finalized schedule for the
year has been completed. There will be Living Local again, Old Timers in May, with
some, new events scheduled. Looping into hosting a flea market, Junk ranch, Rustic
rail style event. Car shows are set for June and September. TOTMA is getting ready
for the new park being completed. TOTMA meetings are the first Monday of the
month. VBO is helping TOTMA with event planning. TOTMA is sponsoring
business after hours on March 14. Chairman Willis would like for the commission to
meet up and walk downtown during the day, so we can go in and talk with the
business owners. It will be nice for them to know who we are and what we do. We
can go in and say hello and introduce ourselves. Let's meet at 3:OOpm, Thursday,
February 161h) at the Depot.
A motion was made by Derald Porter and seconded by Vickie Davis to adjourn. The
motion was appro d unanimously.
2l%G4 �/ Ral7
Lisa Willis, Chairman Joseph Hurst, Planning Director