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Minutes 06-09-25 MINUTES OF THE HISTORIC RESOURCES PRESERVATION BOARD HELD ON MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2025, AT 6:30 P.M. IN CITY HALL, COMMISSION CHAMBERS 100 E. OCEAN AVENUE, BOYNTON BACH, FLORIDA PRESENT Barbara Ready, Chair Jae Eun Kim, Principal Planner Mike Wilson John Stout, Planner II Robert Wilt Valentina Broglia ABSENT: Bradley Jackson Victor Norfus, Alt. Andrea Rodriguez 1 Call to Order Chair Ready called the meeting to order at 6:41 P.M. 1. Agenda Approval Chair Ready added the following: • An update on the Magnuson and Andrews Houses, after Item 4 Communications and Announcements, • Updating the Historic Preservation information on the City's website and including old pictures of a home to Old Business as Item 5A so that when users select Historic Preservation on the website, they do not see a picture of the future Town Square • A discussion on the need for a Historic Resource Preservation Planner as Item 5 B. • Purchasing a sign for the Cultural Center identifying it as the Old High School, paid for potentially by the Historical Society as Item 6. Motion Mr. Wilson moved to approve the amended agenda. Ms. Broglia seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Approval of Minutes A. Approval of Minutes Approve Minutes from the January 13th, 2025 Historic Resources Preservation Board meeting. Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 9, 2025 Motion Ms. Broglia moved to approve. Mr. Wilt seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 3. Communications and Announcements Jae Eun Kim, Principal Planner, updated the Board about the Andrews House and reported that the City is keeping the option to relocate the home and is obtaining information on rates to move it. She said that Public Works is handling the matter, but she did not have an update about a location and how it could be done as Rick Hoffer, Assistant Director, Public Works is still working on it. She said that no one heard anything about the Villages project. Ms. Kim stated the CRA has been working on the Magnuson House and that the coffee shop is interested in moving there and the structure will be preserved. She said that the CRA has a full assessment of the actual structure for the coffee shop, but she had no information about the cost of the repairs. Ms. Kim said that staff can reach out to the CRA and update the Board. 4. Old Business Chair Ready stated that last she had heard, a new IT employee was updating the City Website. Ms. Kim said that she had not heard, but that Planning and Zoning is in charge of that page. Chair Ready asked if staff can update the photograph on the Historic Preservation page on the City's website as it shows a Town Square image instead of old photos that have some historical significance. She suggested posting the Heritage Trail or a home that is on the Historic Register and a map of where they are. Ms. Kim said the website carries all the designated historical properties. She said when you click on it, it has pictures, locations and addresses. Mr. Wilson commented that he would like to get the list of what would be given to the IT employee. Chair Ready requested the members send a list of what they would like to see on the web and commented they could put some of the information on the brochures on the website. She thanked staff for the brochures, but noted, in reference to a Historic Resource Preservation Planner, the former Planner's name is mentioned several times and it says for further information, contact the Historic Resource Preservation Planner and it would be helpful to have one. 2 Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 9, 2025 5. New Business 6. Other A. Brochures created for the historical places in the City. Ms. Kim stated that staff is seeking the Board's guidance on updating the brochures.She said that there are six total brochures, which will be updated under Item 7A agenda item. She said that staff is aware that some of the phone numbers and names are no longer valid. She asked how the Board would like to move forward. Chair Readdy stated that the City should hire a full-time Historic Preservation Planner because the brochures and planner position are entwined. She said that Planning and Zoning could add their phone number and email addresses. Ms. Kim said that the department has staff on standby to receive calls and respond. As to a Planner, she noted that this is a conversation for the City Commission as it requires approval from them and approval in the budget. Mr. Wilson said that someone in the City needs to bring it forward to the City Commission and he asked if this should have been a discussion with Planning and Zoning months ago as he did not see where it is going. Ms. Kim explained that adding a new position is not really a staff decision. They could recommend a position be opened, but it would not be a decision made by staff or the department. Chair Ready inquired if there was anyone in the department knowledgeable enough to answer questions about the Historic Preservation Program. Ms. Kim responded that there was and noted that all is spelled out in the Land Development Regulations, and there is staff with a strong architectural background and a Masters Degree that can answer the questions as well as other staff with diverse experience in Historic Preservation. Ms. Broglia suggested adding the locations and the names of the homes under the photos. Chair Ready suggested running the updated brochures off and placing them in the kiosks. B. Signs installed for the Downtown Heritage Trail Walking Tour Program The Historic Resources and Preservation Board has informed staff that signs installed for the Downtown Heritage Trail walking tour program are damaged and in need of repair. Staff visited 12 sites listed on the Trail map and confirmed for three (3) signs that remain. Staff will provide a presentation of the findings of the Downtown Heritage Trail program. 3 Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 9, 2025 Yazan Bata, Planner I, reviewed a PowerPoint Presentation and said that the idea was to create a trail for people to follow. He stated that the two-mile trail starts around Ocean Avenue on Seacrest running west to Mangrove Park and it was completed in 2014. As to funding, he said the project was funded by a small state grant and another$2K was from the CRA. The funding was divided to pay for signposts and other expenses such as building permits, a website theme, vinyl or QR codes, signs and brochures. He mentioned that of the signposts on the trail, staff was only able to find the posts on Ocean Avenue, the Boynton Beach Harbor Marina, and the Oscar Magnusen house with the conditions ranging from mildly legible with faded colors and no QR Codes, to completely damaged. Before and after photos showed what the signs looked like were viewed. He noted they found one signpost that was not installed and is in storage. Mr. Bata stated that the QR Codes in the brochure do not work. He asked how the Board wanted to proceed and what sources of funding should be pursued. Chair Ready commented that she was told that these locations were GPS'd and it would show up on the phone even without the QR Codes. She asked if the information would still be in the cloud. Mr. Bata explained that the QR Code used to take the phone reader to a website with information on the properties, but it does not work any more. The URL is a broken link and they have no record of it. Mr. Wilson asked if IT could look at creating part of the website to do that. Mr. Bata said that they could check. Ms. Kim said that the QR Code can be created from the brochure and linked to the preservation website. As for the physical signs, the current conditions of the sign would bar the Codes from working She said that they need to refurbish the signs and use new QR codes, where the prior locations were. She commented that staff could confirm the 12 locations of the signs, but as far as signs on the trail, they only identified three of the nine total signs on the trail. Chair Ready stated that the prior preservation planner could do this because he was able to pursue a grant, but she noted a sign that is missing is for the Schoolhouse Children's Museum, which is on the National Register. She explained that the National Register sign is a large metal sign and it is in Public Works somewhere. She said that they also had a sign with the QR Code for the Schoolhouse Children's Museum. Ms. Kim said that staff will look at old photos of the signs around the school and try to find the National Register sign. Chair Ready mentioned the Rosenwald Sign that comes from the State and the bell from the Schoolhouse Children's Museum is also at Public Works, and she suggested, at some 4 Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 9, 2025 point. to display the bell in the visitor room of City Hall with a plaque. She commented that they need grant funds, and she did not know if the CRA would pay for it. Mr. Bata stated that he contacted the vendor and they gave an estimate about $5K for each sign. He said that the poles, board and installing post are metal, which is adjustable, and the board is wood with a protective coating from the rain and sun. Chair Ready commented that Public Works has a sign shop and they had installed the signs and posts. The prior OR Codes were stickers with plexi-glass over them. She noted the sign at Dewey Park needs to be replaced and if they put a sign there, it should be placed on Ocean Avenue. She thought perhaps they can pay the sign department. Ms. Kim stated that staff will provide an update about the Schoolhouse Children's Museum Bell and the signage in place in front of Schoolhouse Children's Museum that was on the National Register. Chair Ready commented that they plan to put a sign in front of the Old High School Art & Cultural Center, Circa 1926, similar to it, and maybe the Historical Society could pay for it. Ms. Kim stated that they have started updating the brochures to add the correct contact information and adding the OR Codes to the City update website, and link the brochures to the City website. She said that she will have to ask if they can make brochures, and the brochure will be linked to the City website. The brochures will be online. They will ensure all the photos on the website include addresses. Ms. Kim stated that staff will contact the CRA to learn more about Magnuson and Andrews homse. Mr. Wilson commented that the prior planner got grants, which paid for his salary. Chair Ready pointed out that if the City got a new planner, it could pay for the position. She noted the current grant writer is busy. Ms. Broglia commented that a planner provides access to the State of Florida databases. Chair Ready agreed and stated that it would maintain the City's Certified Local Government Status as she believes a planner is required. 7. Comments by Board Members - None 8. Public Comments Relative to Historic Preservation 5 Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 9, 2025 Susan Oyer, Boynton Beach, commented that there is no excuse the old website was not maintained, and that the City is required to maintain public access information, and the information must be printed off somewhere. Mr. Wilt left the dais at 7:30 P.M. and returned at 7:33 P.M. Ms. Oyer supported having a historic planner and said that the City was the leading city in the state for historic preservation. She noted the City is one of the oldest cities and thought it was embarrassing that the City does not have one. She further supported adding the original historic street names to the streets and pushing the information on social media. She suggested contacting Bill Reicherter, of Boca Sign Works, which is the number one sign company in the U.S. and they should contact him to see what he can do. As for Andrews house, she said that the mayor contacted Chris Brown, and he wants to go forward, and that there is money available and people who want to help. Tom Warnke stated that he is a second generation Boynton Beach Historian. He commented that there are quite a few historic entities in the City and the City does not have an adult level museum, only a children's museum. He commented that at some point there will be a Boynton Beach History Museum and right now Boynton is the only City in Palm Beach County that does not have one. He noted that in Delray Beahc, there are three cottages which are a big economic driver, and they have been heavily funded to the tune of about $400K. He suggested that the Delray Beach Historical Society can be used as a model. He said that his father produced a movie the 1976 Movie, the History of Boynton Beach which Harvey Oyer Jr. remastered a few years ago. He recommended trying to see the movie. He stated that he cannot find an organizational chart, and that the one they have is three years old. He pointed out that it gives a listing of all positions in the City, but not who is supervised by who and they do not have a Historic Preservation Planner in the Budget and the City Manager reinstate the Planner and the planner would enable the City to apply for grants and the salary would be paid for. Mr. Warnke requested that the Board make a motion to make a Resolution to the City Commission or City Manager reinstate that position. That person could get grants that would pay for the position. It's the national registry. Mr. Warnke commented that he is an integral part of the Andrews Houwe Committee supporting moving the home near the Magnuson House. He commented that at the last City Commission meeting they discussed signage at City entryways and it would be appropriate for the Board to take up as there is a deep history with the slogan Gateway to the Gulfstream. He pointed out that Benjamin Franklin named the Gulf Stream, which should be two words. He said that he is an editor and third generation writer and he would volunteer to do whatever needs to be done. Ben Lowe, Boynton Beach, said that Planning and Zoning is overworked or staff has too many activities and cannot give the attention to historic preservation. He requested staff provide weekly updates to the Chair on what is going on and with regard to the Magnuson and Andrews homes because they are time sensitive. He commented that there needs 6 Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida June 9, 2025 more transparency about the house. He agreed with the prior comments about obtaining a planner and that Boynton is the third largest city in the County and it is an embarrassment to not have a planner. He said the only historic preservation awareness is from the Board and there are huge gaps between meetings and the Board only meets a few times a year. He said that they need regular updates. He also requested, because they hear every year, that the budget process is where a historic planner position would be reinstated. that they should invite the chair or someone to the budget hearings. He noted that during the last election campaign, one candidate said they would support a historic planner and they have to step up. He said that the brochures are outdated, especially the Heritage Trail brochure, which he thought should be redone. As to the signage, Mr. Lowe asked who is responsible for overseeing and maintaining the signs to allow them to get to this state of disrepair. He thought this would be a duty for a planner, and he asked if staff is looking for grants. He said it is not the Board's responsibility to find grants and they need to have a representative at the budget meetings as a top priority. 9. Announce Date of Next Meeting Chair Ready announced the July 14th meeting will be changed a week later to July 21st or staff will inform the board about what is occurring. She thought there was not enough time to gather the information by the July meeting. There was agreement to meet on August 11th as the next meeting. 10. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Chair Ready adjourned the meeting at 7:50 P.M. and thanked staff. (lxklittittia_ 0 jiAjudi , Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 7