Minutes
of the Fort Lowell Restoration Advisory Committee Meeting
5230 E. Fort
Lowell Road, Tucson, Arizona 85712
October 3,
2007 5:00 p.m.
1) Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 5:05 p.m. Roll call was taken and those in attendance were:
Larry Hecker, Committee
Chair
Frank McClure, Committee
Member
Anne Woosley, Committee
Member
Peggy Sackheim, Committee
Member
Patsy Waterfall, Committee
Member
David Yubeta, Committee
Member
Kristi Jenkins, City of
Tucson
£Loy Neff, Pima County
Simon Herbert, Pima County
Dave Faust, Arizona
Historical Society
Jeanne Turner, Old Fort
Lowell Neighborhood Association
Ann Fina, Old Fort Lowell
Neighborhood Association
David Olsen, Old Fort Lowell
Neighborhood Association
Bob Brisley, Fort Lowell
Historic District Advisory Board
Lannie Hartman, Citizen
3) Advisory Committee Roles and Responsibilities
Simon Herbert, Pima Country, explained that the role of this committee is:
· To assist and advise in developing scope of master plan
· To assist and advise in election of master plan consultant
· Review and advise on developing master plan components, including background report, existing conditions, the preparation of an alternative concept plan, and associated costs, business management plan and treatment plans for the historic buildings
· Integration of the other resources in the Ft. Lowell Park, i.e. how to interpret the multi use of the park, help with defining a schedule, and how to deal with administration and maintenance
· Engage in public meetings once there is a master plan consultant on board and probably will staff some key dates and times and schedule so that the public can be informed about this process. Once the draft master plan is assembled, there will be presentations of that information to the COT and the Board of Supervisors for the County. Finally, when the approval for that conceptual master plan has been given a final master and restoration plan for the Adkins parcel will be provided. The design and construction phases come next which becomes the role of the advisory committee
· Assist in the development of a preferred alternative, and
· Interpreting and defining a long-term use of park.
Flow chart – verifying what the goals of the committee will be and assisting in the developmental plans for rehabilitation, preservation, management, and administration of the Ft. Lowell process. The language is taken from the IGA, which is the driving force behind how this project is being organized, and will be managed.
4.
Work Plan: Project Status Reports
a. COT, Project Status Update: Loy Neff, Pima County, reported on an environmental update made by Lynne Birkinbine concerning issues with wells. A video analysis indicated the presence of debris and trash that will have to be cleared out because of the threat of groundwater contamination. This led to issues related to structures associated with wells which brought up the fact that the tower with the water tank, mentioned previously, will have to be decided during the master plan process. Birkinbine also had concerns about the condition of the support members of the tank. Birkinbine will provide a detailed update in November and give ideas how to develop solutions to the trash and debris problem and focusing on the scope items for the RFP. The next meeting will have specific solutions to the aforementioned problems and Simon Herbert, Pima County, will have property inventory forms available.
b. Pima County, Project Status Update: A draft report, prepared by Homer Thiel of Desert Archaeology, was distributed for review. Thiel plans to rework sections, including the final section containing the recommendations as the project moves forward in the master planning process. In the meantime it will serve as a working document. The GIS—electronic mapping—project is continuing.
Simon Herbert reported that emergency repairs, including a temporary roof coating to prevent moisture from penetrating the buildings, wall bracing on two buildings, replacing mud caps to prevent adobe erosion, and some foundation stabilization have been completed. The buildings have been stabilized until the master plan is completed and further guidance is provided. It is crucial to send the proposed plan for putting a temporary structure over the Officers Quarters #3, consisting of a six-legged structure, drilled 1-1/2 feet below grade in a concrete footing, to SHPO in addition to the engineers and architects. Elaine Hill inquired about getting the buildings on the National Historic Register. They are on the Register but not in the Ft. Lowell Historic District.
7.
New Business
a) Discuss and take action on draft documents for Pima County Solicitation for Qualifications: Professional Planning Services, Historic Fort Lowell Park Master Plan & Restoration Plan
Comments were solicited from the members. They included:
· Peggy Sackheim—page 2, 3rd paragraph—Donaldson house is missing; commissary and other buildings need to be included in the scope.
· Elaine Hill – Section A—more detail about current and specific use of the property; stats on current park usage; context of park in City, neighborhood, and regional land use plans; seek input from as many stakeholders/neighbors as possible in addition to groups mentioned in current document; how do other cities handle projects like this? Give examples of success stories.
· David Yubeta—curation needs to be emphasized; cultural resource protection—who will handle historic preservation; proposed “owner’s manual to your resources” plus a system to implement manual’s instructions.
Larry Hecker moved to accept the Solicitation for Qualifications as discussed in today’s meeting; seconded by Peggy Sackheim. Motion passed unanimously.
b) Schedule of Future Public
Meetings/Events
The next meeting is scheduled for November 7.
8. Call
to the public
No one spoke.
9. Proposed
Items for next meeting
Historic inventory forms
Proposed structure over Officer’s Quarters #3
10. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 6:06 p.m.