Okay.

Good afternoon and welcome to the Colorado Springs Historic Preservation Board meeting for February 2nd, 2026.

The historic preservation board is comprised of seven members appointed by city council to administer his dehistoric preservation code.

Historic preservation board members are community volunteers with expertise across a wide variety of disciplines.

Each member acts independently, carefully assessing all of the evidence presented to make their decision.

Again, our call to order.

Would you mind that?

Lowenberg present.

Board member music.

Board member, sorry, board member Baumgartner.

Board member Fitzsimmons.

Here.

Board member Potter.

Board member Bierbaum here.

And board member Heinz.

Thank you.

We have four members present.

So thank you very much.

I'm not aware of any proposed changes to the agenda or postponements.

So we'll continue through that.

With that, we will shift over to item number three on the agenda, communications with Mr.

Bill Gray.

And before you start, I would like to say thank you very much for taking time to investigate the property inquiry that came up at the end of the last meeting.

Oh, I was gonna show the board.

Oh, okay.

Matt sent another picture so I can make that part of the communication.

Thank you.

Okay.

I'll do that here.

So but um I'll go ahead and um going with my um communication.

So I'll start with the nomination for the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind was passed on with a recommendation for the national register um by the historic um state historic preservation um board.

Um I would like to remind the board that um May is historic preservation month.

So um I could help I I would need some help with some ideas.

Um maybe doing something different than we have done in the past to recognize historic preservation board.

We could or the preservation month, but certainly we can do the resolution.

Yeah, um, and that's kind of what we've done every every year.

Um so you know, possibly in um you know March we could decide in March.

Um we could decide what we want to do and who we who whom we might want to um involve.

Um the other um the next uh thing I want to bring up is uh just potential um HPB vacancies um in the future.

So I was um gonna go ahead and um uh send out an email to city council staff that um one we'll have I think an upcoming vacancy with Paul for sure.

Um but that it would be good if we could also at the same time get some alternatives alternate alternates um also um in the ready um you know just just in case because it's it seems like it's real nice to have somebody that can just step right step right in.

It seems like that's what's happening with all of our um other boards.

Well, yeah, that's yes and then um else uh I think yeah there was uh there's two other things.

So let me just share.

I've had several conversations um about a property in the old north end.

Um just one, and I don't know exactly where um it's going to go at this point in time, but um I think uh if you can see my if you can see the screen now, it's 119 East Fontanero.

It's a property that is zoned, um zoned R2 um property is up for sale.

Um so there's been some interest in the purchase of this property and restoring it.

The interesting maybe the most interesting thing um about the property is um it was originally established as a store in the late 1800s, early 1900s.

I think it's the most recent use was a craft store.

But that dates back to the 1980s.

Afterwards, it is in it's in poor shape.

And so this may be in front of the board at um some point in time, but it is a building that's worth protecting.

So anyhow, if you know of anyone that might be is it zone commercial or it is not zone commercial?

That's going to be a real issue for restoring um the building potentially.

So it's zoned R2.

So this is about a almost 7,000 square feet of floor area if you include the basement in this thing.

So it is a very large very large structure.

Yeah, some zone change.

Um other things.

Um, you know, it's it's in an area that is predominantly surrounded by single family single family homes.

So whatever it's but I just wanted to let the board know that you know that there is a property significantly run down that maybe on our you know on on our agenda at some point.

Um has the sale been completed or up for sale.

It's up for sale, yeah.

Do you know how much for it?

Um the list from what I can tell, we've listed the property for 69 690,000.

So it's pretty expensive.

Pretty expensive for I think it's almost totally rotting.

It's it's a hard one.

Yep.

Yeah, it's a real, yeah, it's gonna take a big effort to get that.

So how would we view this if they just want to bulldoze it after they're evaluated and be like it it will cost too much to bring it back?

Yeah, um, it would be it would require reported acceptability.

So we would review it um under the requirements of um we'd probably be really looking at the um the federal guidelines for demolition because the design guidelines as they are developed in the old north end really talk about you know new new construction or additions or things like that.

But um the guidelines for the area would you know would direct the demolition is the kind of last resort.

So but there could be potentially lots of economic hardship in terms of restoration.

So if it were raised uh would the new building need to meet some kind of archaeology um architectural standards for the old north end.

Yeah, it would have to meet the design standards for the old north end.

Yeah, it would just have to be a lease would be consulted if they wanted to spot zone and change this to commercial.

Um I would let you know if they wanted to do that.

Um think we have jurisdiction though, I don't think yeah.

Um the board jurisdiction really comes up if they're going to you know alter add to or demolish the building.

Yep.

Um and then um I uh as a um as a follow-up to um just get to that's here.

Hold on one second.

Matt's then off again.

Stop sharing.

So there was an inquiry about a house that is under construction in the old north end, and I did um follow up with the board and provided um provided the um approved report of acceptability um for that um work.

But Matt sent me an email um this afternoon about that same house.

Um and even though it may look, this is what it looks like now.

If you can see the screen, but um this was this was a pretty major renovation to this home.

So that is was its existing front view.

So it did include adding a front porch.

The siding was in pretty poor condition.

So a lot of this what the siding is being replaced, but that is ultimately not in color form.

But that is what the structure will be restored back to.

So it's just under construction.

It does have a building permit.

But yeah, it does look like it's in pretty rough shape.

I'm not sure Matt was trying.

If he was trying to tell me anything else or just show me that there are underway.

So and I think that is all that I have, Christine.

That was a lot.

Thank you.

Okay.

That I would open up the floor for communications for historic preservation board members who may have something that they would like to communicate or share any items of interest.

I'll start here in the room.

Nothing from me.

Nothing from you.

Okay.

Online, Matt or Sarah, do you have anything for the group?

So as we go through the transition of new board members, I was recently uh became one of the mayor's fellow for for the civic leadership fellowship for 2026.

So it could be a good opportunity for the other members of my cohort that may be interested in more civic engagement at that time.

So I just kind of wanted to put out um that as we move forward.

Um it could be a good group of individuals already looking to um yeah, be more involved.

That's great.

Thanks for sharing that and congratulations to you.

That's exciting.

Thanks.

Yeah, it's amazing.

I got to spend um about eight hours in that room a few weeks ago spending time with the mayor and city staff.

So it's a pretty amazing opportunity.

Um okay, then I more had just a quick experience to share with you guys as a as someone who's as we're all kind of passionate about historic preservation.

When I was traveling this last week, um an opportunity for an interesting conversation came up about cemeteries and how cemetery how historic preservation relates to them.

And there's an international organization that actually funds um training community members to preserve cemeteries, and this has become a fairly big movement in New Orleans.

And so it was interesting, just an interesting dialogue.

Um I've had the opportunity to work on three national cemeteries now in my professional career.

Um, and wasn't aware that there was something on that level to train community members on using historic preservation techniques for especially these very old cemeteries and much older than we have here in town.

Um but you know, using those traditional methods and and how to put together.

So I just wanted to put out there we never know when the opportunity to evangelize historic preservation will come up when we're out with people and something like that.

That was all I had on that for communications.

Um excuse me, sorry.

The the uh cemetery that's the burials that are below pioneer memorial park are from 1862.

Yes, so that's pretty old, I think.

And um there's some people uh that are interested in having something they they believe there could be up to 200 graves under there, really, and uh with new techniques uh that I believe that the util Springs Utilities already has it to be able to go over that ground and see what's in there um might be an interesting project.

And um there's some people uh that are interested in having something they they believe there could be up to 200 graves under there really and uh with new techniques uh that i believe that the utility springs utilities already has it to be able to go over that ground and see what's in there um might be oh that's interesting an interesting project that's very interesting yeah light art would be the technology to use for that um let's remember that yeah and something we could make well it'll go in the minutes so where is that uh it's uh if you look up uh pioneer park oh yeah but it's pioneer memorial park actually we used to live right there uh okay right in friendship me yeah we used to walk through there during Halloween and tell our kids okay bodies under there yeah that's right step carefully so you know we don't normally think of things without gravestones but that might be it was the the poor people that they couldn't find that didn't have any metal I think they had metal detectors to find right people that were buried with metal and uh so the the people that didn't have any metal could not be found that's right you got it interesting so along those lines cemeteries maybe think of um there is something brewing um with um evergreen cemetery so um there is a an engineer retired engineer's name's Michael Hughes um and he's interested in coordination with the school of minds coordinating a I think a capstone project for restoring evergreen cemetery chapel and I got that info from Roxanne efflin um maybe I can find out more and see if her and Michael might want to present that to the historic preservation um board I know it's kind of different than what you brought up but it reminded me of something that I had gotten you know that Roxanne that's certainly the vein in which you know I brought that up is that communities unless you're in historic preservation you don't think of cemeteries or you have someone that you know is in your family um that's buried there most people don't think of that and um that's fascinating so that's yeah that'd be great so is Roxanne working on a grant i uh that I don't know but um when she her email said to me what how could the city be involved um I know the city is was aware of this because Eric Rodriguez was parks um and I think a few others um know about what um might be going on so maybe I could I can figure out between Roxanne Michael and Parks maybe a presentation about this and see what um might need to be done to kind of move this along and yeah and see what parks interest there's anything I can do too you know happy to reach out to Roxanne have some conversation too that's great yeah so you never know where that could be part of our plan too okay uh moving on to item number four approval of the minutes um the first one um this item for a hp 2316 minutes for november third 2025 and this item had been brought up last month and we didn't have I believe enough of enough participants who could vote to approve these who'd have the opportunity to read the minutes so with that um I would turn that over for reading into the minutes and call for um see if there's a call to order excuse me call to action I need some caffeine it's been a long day see if there is um a motion to approve the minutes from November I'll move to approve the minutes of the November 3rd 2025 historic preservation board meeting is there a second thank you ma'am or call vote chairlowenberg aye board member pottery and bar member beerbound aye thank you the motion passes unanimously thank you and second item on our agenda these would be the minutes for January 5th 2026 of the historic preservation board um this is item hp 2318 and i would ask if there is any discussion and or a call for um a motion to approve i motion to approve Sarah

And the second item on our agenda these would be the minutes for January 5th, 2026 of the historic preservation board.

This is item HP B 2318.

And I would ask if there is any discussion and or a call for a motion to approve.

I motion to approve.

Sarah.

Yes.

Aye.

Board member Pittsmas.

Hi.

Board member Potter.

Hi.

Board member Burebound.

Aye.

Thank you.

The motion passes unanimously.

Awesome.

Thanks, everyone.

Okay.

Um item five, consent calendar.

There's nothing on the consent calendar, so we have nothing to call work on there.

Um moving six relates to that.

Item seven, unfinished business.

There is none.

Item eight, new business.

We do not have new business to discuss today.

Item nine presentations.

I'll turn it to Mr.

Gray for discussion to initiate discussion about the 2026 work plan.

So um Bill Gray City Planning.

So at our last meeting, we board had requested that we just uh review our believe review our work plan.

Um send that out to um the board.

Um is some hopefully I mean it's somewhat simplified, but it is a bit complicated, um depending on how we go.

Um but um uh and included in that work plan, I just kept the um purpose and mandate of the preservation board um in place.

Um but goal number one since we had just completed the future survey work um it was to identify um survey or resurvey work and prioritize um a future project.

Bill, are you gonna bring that up on the screen?

Otherwise I'll grab it off my own.

Yeah, I can um I can definitely uh put that up on the screen.

I didn't uh let's see all right.

So goal number one was hard to full screen if I can figure that out.

I think it's review you can hide the comments um a little bit to the left one more review pen here, right?

No, no, to the left.

Let's go to simple markups one more to the left.

Right here, okay.

Here we go.

No left will get rid of all the comments I believe.

There we go.

All right, we go.

And it didn't sorry, no markups.

How's that?

All right.

Um thank you.

All right, so goal number one was identify future work, future survey work.

I think that's kind of self-explanatory, but we we um as a group would need to identify um a survey project that we would work on, and a part of that just part of that project would be to collaborate with other historic preservation advocates to bring something um about the timeline that um I put on there was between January and March.

And that was really just to identify.

Can we just identify something within that time period and then we'll figure out the rest when we when we get there?

Um the other one was um, and this goes back to the preservation plan.

So one of the implementation items that was included in the 2018 to 2019 preservation plan and also included in historic um COS was for the store or plan COS and also when we updated the development code was that it was a recommendation that we analyze and update the city's historic preserve preservation ordinance and um so that's why that one is included.

You know, it's it's something that's been identified now for seven years, yeah.

Um and I think there could be some real benefit in updating that ordinance, and maybe one of them could be maybe a better defined process for establishment of local landmarks.

Um as you recall, and then I may just be on my soapbox at this point in time, but I'll give it to you anyhow.

Um you know, the process to establish the the up the um historic uptown neighborhood historic preservation overlay was pretty it was definitely lengthy.

Um it was you know they provided a significant amount of resort research to demonstrate that, but um you know, with review, you know, public review fees, public hearing costs, those kinds of things.

So and I don't know if that's necessarily the only reason um to do that, but I think having an ordinance that you know really sets forth a good process for landmarking individual properties versus districts versus you know other things might might be very beneficial, and one of the you know, goals in historic COS, uh Plan COS is for you know the city to kind of expand its um its reach in terms of you know landmarking or our historic preservation overlay.

And then goal number three was um historic preservation overlay district design um review.

That's simply just uh a goal where we continue to fulfill our requirements for reviewing um those building permits that require us to continue um to act.

Um and so I thought those were three things that for 26 would be um I think important and possible goals that we could you know we could achieve in full or in part, which um and so I guess from there, I guess I'll just um I would leave it up to the board to have um a discussion on those three three goals.

And these goals have been this is the these were the goals that we sent to city council.

So no, thank you.

I appreciate that.

I'll pick it up from here.

I that's a lot, and thank you for concisely doing this.

Um yeah, I I was thinking that for us as a group, um, given that as of last month and sounds like certainly still as of this month, March looks to be a fairly light agenda um for our group, it would be a good meeting to lean in on and do some brainstorming.

Um if we it would be fantastic if we could come out of the March meeting, even identifying a couple of specific um paths forward on this.

Um so thinking about that, you know, and I I just want to preface this and then turn it over to you guys to talk a little bit more as a group.

Um you know, there are certainly a couple of us, at least a couple of us on the board who have um formal planning backgrounds, and I think that um it would make it makes a lot of sense for us to assist.

I mean, I on that one in particular, you know, I think in years past there's been some discussion about um yes, we should do this, it needs to be done.

Plan COS told us we can and we should.

Um, there's been discussion about can staff do this, can staff not do this, should the board do how much who what and I think it it got lost a little bit in the um in the process of all that.

So I think it's really important because I think we as a board have the skill set to at least begin that challenge and and pick up that and begin working on that a bit.

That's goal number two.

Um so for those of us who have that background, um, you know, I am really going to challenge us to to lead the way on that one um this year.

But I was hoping in March, as I mentioned a moment ago, that this was a topic that we can revisit, we can visit the survey and context plan and and come folks come in with some thoughts, very specific thoughts on how we proceed.

Um I'd like to give a little bit of thought as well on how we we put forward, you know, we're going to put forward a number of ideas.

So, how do we then take those ideas and put that into an actionable plan?

I think there are going to be a lot of really good ideas.

So though those are I see that I don't goal number one as a two-part goal.

One, all the great ideas, and then two, how are we actually going to identify what we'll prioritize?

So with that, I'll pause there and leave the comment or open the conversation up for others there were several recommendations in this plan.

I was trying to find it and I couldn't.

But I remember, you know, originally when we passed it.

Uh and I think that's where we should start.

Oh, absolutely, that's exactly what I mean.

What thank you.

There's a table.

Um, and I opened it up to that.

Yeah.

Um I was going to suggest based on Christine's comments that that's that's where we should start.

A place um that we that we start in terms of identifying where we want to um want to go.

So what we want to try and do as it relates to survey work.

There's lots of there's a lot to a lot to it.

Yeah, and so please don't anyone think I was opening the aperture for like 29 new ideas.

Um there may be new ideas that come up and they're not bad ideas, but I think we should as a group um also identify we have limited resources and time, and so how are we efficient in being successful?

Are you talking about process?

Well, and what process would you recommend, Christine?

Well, that'll be our discussion in March.

Is we we as a group, as individuals come prepared.

So that that is part of my challenge to each person on the board, come prepared, be familiar with that's why I said we pull this back out, pull it back out, um, and be prepared to discuss what we think the priorities should be.

Okay, so that's so you're talking about a round table discussion.

Each person says what they think the priorities should and just what we're going to work on, or also who, what, where, when, why, how?

I think we start at a high level.

I I think we as a board should come to consensus if everyone puts down their top three, for example, and we find the board is in agreement on all of them or two of them.

Okay, then how do we how do we get into the weeds on how to actually execute it?

Yeah.

So what I'm recommending next month is that each board member come prepared, pull back out their plan, review it, come with thoughts, specific thoughts on what it might take from their perspective.

Because we can't, you know, I'll let's pick one.

I'm trying to read the expression on your face.

For example, um survey focus, just the first one, city-owned historic buildings and resources, high priority.

Um, our goals ensuring that all historic city-owned resources are documented and evaluate, designate those that are eligible.

That could be pretty and so would we as a board recommend a specific building?

A handful of buildings, all buildings, how how high do we want to start?

So we could really tease apart each of these.

Um, and so that's what I would like is for us as board members to come back and have given some additional thought to really if we pull the thread on a specific survey focus.

What does that look like?

Well, and is this something we're only doing as a board, or are we inviting because I know, for example, in the past the historic preservation neighborhood, is that what it's called?

Yeah, the HPN and HPI have wanted to participate.

So would we invite potential X experts to all to join us at this meeting?

Or we could.

I'm I'm advocating right now that we as a board have a diligent conversation.

And we're having a board level conversation, and then we have a better format, and we bring in others from the community as well.

So what you're saying then is we're gonna each come with our own ideas of what we think the the priorities should be for this coming year surveys, and then we're going to after everybody's heard everybody, then we're going to vote.

Um, two, three.

If we're able to get to that place, yes.

Question, what's what's the end game?

Is it to make these properties on the historic uh preservation overlay?

Is that what our final end game is so that we can have oversee over it?

Or is there something else?

I'm gonna flip the question right back to the board.

What is the end game?

Right?

I think it's important for us as a board to have developed some opinions on what we want to get out of the survey.

Um I think we have great community partners and we need to work with our community partners, but I think part of working with those community partners means that we also have done the hard work of digging in on this, and we have begun formulating some thoughts, some perspectives, um, and some potential action plans.

Well, let's just go back to your to this number one.

It says designated designate those that are eligible.

So wouldn't the end result being be to get them on the historic register?

Would it be to get every single one?

Right.

No, that's what I'm asking.

Is that well, if we as a group should decide, you know, and including our partners, because here's why the bigger the survey, the bigger the cost, and so understanding understanding what potential resources are available to us collectively.

This is when we're also with our partners, that will influence how much we can actually get done because surveys cost money, and if we're serving five properties as opposed to one property, as opposed to seven properties, right?

Like that the cost varies, and so we need to be cognizant of that and and think about like, and and there may be, you know, I there may even be a need here within our group to educate ourselves on what it actually takes to do a historic survey.

Yeah, we know.

Um so just devil's advocate.

So we could take this number one and say this year we want to do fire stations because those are city owned.

Absolutely.

Yes, okay, yeah.

All right, yeah.

So if we as a category I want to say fire stations, category we want to say just cemeteries, um, churches, or do we want criteria such as which are in the greatest are in the greatest threat of being lost?

Yeah.

How about just how about just asking the question?

What are all of the city-owned properties in the world?

Right, right.

Catalog.

Can you catalog all those?

That's a project in and of itself.

That's what that's my intent for next month when we come together is to continue, like, so we'll come in and we'll say I want this.

Okay, but what do we need to do that?

Okay, then what above that do we need, you know, keep pushing that up until we get all the way back to what's an actionable project that fits within potential resources that we can secure.

Right.

I have a question about race.

Sorry, about resources.

Do we do we have any resources?

Uh and because I know that the city has a tight budget right now.

Um, have we been allocated any resources?

And if not, how do we go about any of this without any resources?

We don't you should just say we don't have any resources, Matt.

But I don't think that should be what this initial conversation is about.

I think it should be where do we wanna focus our effort on serving?

Uh and then one of the questions or outcomes of that will be we'll have to figure out who's gonna do it, how we're gonna pay for it.

Are we gonna break it into smaller components to be able to?

I mean, there could be a you know, a bunch of questions.

I mean, even with like if you started with city owned, it's like, what are the city owned resources?

Where are all the city owned resources located?

Because we know that we're going to have city owned property that's gonna be outside of the city, and do we care about is that gonna be part of you know our history because we would have resources that are related to our water infrastructure that are home and late possible, you know.

So yeah, I think it starts to get to that question that you start, could it be fire?

Could we just say now we know what we have, here's what they are, and then we could categorize them into fire stations, police stations, uh parks or you know, infrastructure related um ownership.

And then from there, do we wanna just yeah, start narrowing it down to focus on you know, yeah, because you said fire departments, and then it could be it's like, oh, the HPB will work with the fire department and uh real estate services, um, and we'll hire a consultant to do uh and you know, this is what a grant specific to that.

Here's what this will cost, um, you know, so um because I wanna be careful in as I have thought about how we actually implement survey.

Um and I you know, I am going to start off the meeting next month with a question to our board members of do how comfortable, you know, on a scale of one to three or one to five, do you feel with understanding historic survey processes?

Some of us have a lot of knowledge, some of us do not.

And so I think it's important um that we raise raise the floor up so that everyone's on the same on that same um level and able to have that conversation.

I also think it's important that as we start this conversation, we don't assume that we're gonna be able to turn to staff and say, nor should we just turn to them and say, okay, now please go research this and bring back these lists for us.

Um if it if this stuff doesn't exist, we we're not in a position to ask them to go do it, and that may need to be a foundational part of the survey process.

So we're supposed to have a training by history Colorado, correct?

That's we're going to have one, yes.

And have we decided what that training is going to be?

Um yeah, that training was mainly gonna focus on um you know the how to be um an effective board, you know, the public meetings, uh, how to fulfill our purpose.

Um look at what other storic preservation boards with limited resources, what are they doing to fulfill their uh missions?

Um that's that's my idea of the the training kind of best practices for a historic preservation board in the state of Colorado.

So does that come before this uh um so as you know I'm trying to organize that with Lindsay right now?

So uh I'm just trying to find a date when Lindsay can do it, and then um, and then it was just going to be a yeah, a training for best practices for a historic preservation board.

Um but I was thinking that when I talked to Lindsay about this, that the focus could really be on also include our mandate and purpose, it's like um, and so if we could, for example, as part of that hear about what other cities and counties or towns in the state of Colorado do are doing for survey work.

How are they conducting their meetings?

What kind what kind of things are they doing uh from an educational standpoint that they're getting out their information?

Um they had the shirt about it it was simply just for us to be able to, you know, maybe hear and learn about how others do it, and that may then help us focus on how we get over kind of this big hurdle that I see that we always have is how do we do what we're supposed to be doing in accordance with our ordinance with the resources that we have.

And I think there's probably lots of great ideas throughout the state of Colorado about other places.

And certainly, you know, when we attend these conferences, we get to learn a great deal.

I think that would be really good for us.

But nonetheless, I think you know, may I can um pull up maybe some readings that we could send out if I sent to you, would you send it out to everyone?

No, I sure will.

Um, but then just do a thumbnail, just uh, you know, here are the high points of what we need to be considering as we put together a survey program.

You know, what are we going to have to be thinking about?

Um, what does it take to do a survey, a historic survey?

Because I don't know that everyone on the board has that depth of understanding.

Um so that's one objective, and then yes, and then to the point a minute ago, yeah.

I'd I'd like for I'd like for us as board members to come back next month and have have pulled our plan back out and and pull and through and open that section, which is thank you, Bill, page 86 specifically, um, and reviewed what we agreed with and put forward in the survey focus.

Um, and then how do we drill in on that?

So, yeah, so what I'd like to do, Judy, is basically um house that portion of it be a round table, you know, and each person gets a designated amount of time.

Um, I'd like to structure it that way.

Each person gets a designated amount of time.

I want I'd love to hear from every single person on the board who who's hopefully had the opportunity to do that.

Um and then open up for general discussion.

So I've got some large post-it noteboards that I'd be happy to bring and make some notes on those while we're going through that conversation.

Um, but I would like that to be um a real work session, especially if we don't have actual business to conduct besides the minutes from this meeting.

Well, I think that part of this discussion should be these land this these last two sentences on page 86 above the goals.

So I would like everyone to definitely you know review the plan and that section because it does start page 85 priorities for survey and resurvey.

And I think that should go out with the maybe even before the agenda, so that the people that are not here are aware that this is that's what's going to happen.

Maybe a follow-up to this meeting.

Yeah, I can why don't I write I can do it out this week if I can get I like the idea of tackling the city-owned properties, me too, but I'm not sure if they are the most vulnerable.

Um I see them as low-hanging fruit, which we always should pick those, but uh do we know of properties out there that are in danger that we should probably focus on that um instead of going to something like the the city, which we could probably um potentially write a mandate that any city project prop property that is redeveloped or um altered in any way uh should be reviewed by us or staff beforehand.

Um is that a possibility, Billic list or anything, we just say because we don't have the bandwidth to get to all the city own properties uh and evaluate them in a survey, uh we would like first um review to see if they have any sort of um potential and and then go on to other properties that aren't city that are more vulnerable right now.

I mean, I think as kind of stated in this survey plan, I think maybe the most important part of number one was for us to document our publicly held resources.

What are they?

And then I think from there that may help us decide which ones are most significant in the city.

And then which one of those do we think should be landmarked because of that?

Um that's kind of how I would almost see it laying out to me.

I think the one thing that we that is is most important, whether something's super endangered or not, is that the best thing you do for that historic resource is document it.

Make sure the story of these properties is told, right?

And then if we decide as um board, a city that hey, and our other departments, these things are really significant to us and important, and we need to designate them, and then maybe we we talk about do we set additional policies as it relates to city work that you know any work on historic resources goes through this kind of review process.

But um, so the answer is yes, Matt.

I think that could be an outcome.

Um, I noticed that an individual like go ahead.

It sounded like Matt's question was about not publicly held properties.

Is that correct?

That was but both are true.

I think this is a good discussion to have next month.

Um, and how would we go about identifying those?

And I assume that's Pat.

Is that you, Pat?

It's Pat.

I finally half an hour ago, I finally managed to connect by phone.

Oh how awesome.

I haven't been able to I tried to on my computer and it just wouldn't do it for me.

So I have been listening um to this discussion, and it sounds like a very fruitful discussion.

So we have sever we have several high priority items that run as designated as high.

And it seems to me that there could be vulnerable properties in any of these, whether it's Nevada Avenue or modernist architecture, um, as well as early neighborhood and um city-owned.

So part of the discussion should be what criteria do we want to use?

Do we want to use just one section in this survey and then narrow that down, or do we want to or do we want to say vulnerable properties?

Because we I think we want to be proactive, not reactive.

Yes, and being proactive would require identifying vulnerable properties, and then um figuring out what we want to do about that, or maybe even which are the most vulnerable, you know, and that's all we can handle this year.

Vulnerable that are not necessary or not.

I think vulnerable in any of these high areas.

So we've you know, we've got early neighborhood, we have um and we had Nevada Avenue and modernists the neighborhood organizations help with identifying vulnerable properties.

Absolutely, sure.

And I will just say the survey plan has the suggestion in it about one of the things that we are going to struggle with or that we have to struggle through is how do we or what criteria do we use to prioritize?

Right, yep, right, right.

And that's something that and yeah in a round table, that could be the project.

It could simply be that the first thing we're gonna do is we're gonna define how we're going to prioritize exactly right, right?

I mean, that could be yeah, and that could be part of our could be the very beginning of it.

It's I assumed it would be to be honest.

I I assumed that we would start off with that um in any of these categories.

Uh yeah, and I would just uh as a note, the other thing that got included in the survey plan as it related to was the one recommendation on evaluating like historic Denver and how historic Denver, which is a nonprofit, and how they work with the city and county of Denver to they've been on they have an ongoing survey program that that they do.

We're going to maybe have a conversation with the stork dent.

Have them come down and explain to us how do you do this work?

And maybe that generates some, you know, maybe that's also a part of Denver a coalition of the nonprofit.

It's been around.

But is it a coalition of other historic organizations or are they just this entity into themselves?

They are an entity unto themselves.

Okay.

But they and would we be finding out how our own historic preservation alliance is different from them?

Because that's a nonprofit too, isn't it?

Well, that could definitely be part of it as well.

Yeah.

But that we know that our our own historic preservation alliance is not.

They don't do what historic Denver is.

Right.

Right.

They have they haven't been using that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I think they've done a really good job at advocating the importance of historic preservation and educating the community about historic preservation.

Great.

So my priority for this first conversation is for us as a board to converse and to come prepare.

I think I think we've run the risk of not forward enough as a board sometimes.

And so my intent on this is that we lean forward as a group.

That I heard you say, yep, Pat.

That we that each that each member has an opinion on this, has a perspective, and has given the time and the deep thought onto okay, how do we move forward next?

Um that makes us strong.

I think that not only strengthens us as a board, but also um strengthens those conversations with our partners, you know, so that when we sit down with them, we're like, yep, we've done we have been able to do some hard work.

We've had some deep conversations and um and not show up to the conversation with them and look to them to lead it.

Um so that's my my objective for our first conversation about it.

Great.

I would just ask the board if you have anything you would like me to do to help you out with that.

Just why don't I why don't I draft um I'll draft something and send it kind of to you?

Is that okay?

And with some thoughts on sending it out, because I would like to then call the board members who aren't here today and share with them the conversation we're having and where we'd like to go next month.

Um just emphasize, yeah, I'd say if you look at beginning on page 85, um yeah, oh, and I this is what I can do.

I can um I can break out the priorities and survey resurvey section and that table and send yes, send that out.

Yeah, just send that out that would that would be helpful.

Um then maybe that'll just help you focus on this discussion um about prioritization.

Um, and you don't have to get all of the otherwhelmed see the other 100 pages of the survey.

But where does it come in as far as okay?

Let's say number one, we all decide we want to do city old property, but then where does reality well in order to do that?

That's going to take 500 man hours to you know, where does that step come in?

You know, because how can we decide on what our priorities are until we know what it would take to do them?

It will be the next step.

I mean, we we need to identify what we even want to do um beyond this document.

We haven't done that, and so once we as a group start leaning into that, I think it's always smart.

In my opinion, when we've gone into stuff like this before the Taj Mahal version, right, right?

And then there's the what can we bite off in volunteer hours piece, you know, and somewhere in between is where you end up.

But I definitely don't think that's not something we're gonna be at next meeting.

Um will we be ready in May to maybe tell the city council what it is we want to do this year?

I don't think so.

I think, you know, I think my opinion is that is that we're sharing, we'll be discussing our work plan and where we are in that.

Uh-huh.

Um, I mean, by May, we would not have come to any um we would not have finished any concrete discussions with our partners.

So we wouldn't be at a place yet where we could say, boom, this is what our number one priority is, and this is how we're gonna do it.

I don't think we'd be there by May.

I think um discussing about discussing the process that we have to go through to get there, and we may be we may be far enough along that we can um share with them unanimously unanimously that maybe we maybe it's firehouses or cemeteries, yeah.

So yeah, um, for those of you online, Judy had to step outside for just a minute online.

Any thoughts, comments?

So we're gonna get a homework assignment.

Can we um I I like the feet to the fire kind of approach?

Um should we have like an outline of what we want to discuss uh do beforehand so that we make sure that we're still thinking about it during the month and so we can I don't organize it better.

Um just thinking we're all busy, it's it's like we we'll lose leave this meeting and be like that was a great idea.

We'll go do it, and then all of a sudden that life laughing again, and uh, but if we keep somehow connected and talking about it through the month, I think we'll have a better chance of success.

I don't know, I'm not sure how that would look.

Um but this once a month thing is kind of hard to keep engaged.

Um I don't want to put any more work on Bill, but somehow have more uh in the week or during the month uh engagement, right?

Maybe um no, I think that's a good point.

I I think there is I guess some of my point, Matt also is um, and thanks for calling out my feet to the fire approach, because that's is is what it is, is that you know, I do feel like as board members, I mean, we do have a responsibility to to be engaged and think about it.

I think if we if if picking up on what Bill offered to do, which was dynamite, then what I will commit to do is the following week, do a reply all on that same email and continue to pick up on that conversation, and then the following week continue to pick up on that there.

Um, we have to be careful because we can't have discussion over email because of sunshine laws.

Um, but it'll simply be building that framework, and then when we come here next month, I'll have a framework for that discussion, and I'll continue to as a facilitator of that conversation participant and facilitator, continue to pull the thread on that.

So it's gonna be it'll I think it'll be a multi-conversation process.

Yeah, I think we have to have some so some kind of accountability because having experience the green plan we had to update our website this last year, and you know, other other priorities happened, life happens, but we still haven't done that.

We haven't even done that yet.

And um, so well, and that's why I think it's important we identify what we can control because we couldn't control, we can't control city IT staff and city, what's there and that, and um we we can't control so what can we control?

And that'll be that'll be a theme to how I want to facilitate this conversation is what can we facilitate understanding the environment in which we're trying to continue in which we're trying to move forward.

Okay, yeah, those all sound good.

Um keeping us engaged and uh this whole concept of being proactive and leaning in, and I think it is really a great uh Christine in terms of coalescing and developing the board as a proactive group.

And I think because last year we knew as we were as the report was being worked on, there was less hands on.

I mean, there were plenty of hands on, but less leaning forward for us to do because the leaning forward was really being done by the consultant team.

Um, but this year is our year to lean forward.

Right.

Great.

Sarah, do you have anything?

You haven't said anything.

I want to make sure you've got opportunity to speak.

Yeah, no, I think taking it all in and making sure understanding what the steps are moving forward.

I think it's great.

I think that as you get that information out to update others that weren't here is an opportunity, even for us to come up with an idea and an outline and to send that to our fellow board members or to whoever we decide the steps are going to be and have a you know an idea ready, I think is great and something we can work on through the rest of the month to be prepared for that.

So um, I think it allows more opportunity for us to be more invested and like you said, to lean in.

So I think it's great.

Quick question for Sunshine Laws is it two of us can get together or no more than two, right?

Okay.

No more than two.

We wanna would it be advantageous to pair up and so that we could bounce ideas off each other in pairs, and so we're not just working in a little bubble.

Yeah, I think if folks wanted to reach out to one another, we certainly could do that.

But we shouldn't make the plan here.

Right?

Yeah, um, if it would help, um I would just um need something so if it would help with this discussion uh and board members wanted to provide you know just whatever information or that they wanted to be able to convey at the next meeting about prioritizing you'd send those to me, you know, maybe by the 203rd, I could at least organize them and get them out to everyone by the end of the week.

So you'd at least have something for the for the weekend.

So even if it's just you know, you pick your top three, and I you know, I can build a spreadsheet.

Here's our you know, here's what I got back from areas of focus from each of the board members.

And if you want if that would help that to me, yeah, then I can as the chair and getting ready for that, then I can be ready to facilitate.

I'm sorry, what did you say?

Oh, I said then if as he has that received from each of you, if he shares it with me so I can begin preparing.

Yeah, if you want.

Yeah, if you think that would be helpful.

Or can people individually send me their thoughts?

And I can do that.

So we can also you guys can also send to me, Christine, as your board chair, your thoughts and your opinions, and then and then I can lean right in and organize those as they come in too and carry some that burden for Bill.

Or not burden Bill.

So we're gonna get an email with direction on what you're requesting to whom to send.

Yeah.

Okay.

To make it easier for you, can we can you send out like a spreadsheet so that everything is organized well and so you don't have to shuffle around five people with different ideas.

No, I'm not gonna make a spreadsheet.

Just send me what you your thoughts, and then we'll see, we'll see what the data looks like when it comes in, and then I'll organize it from there.

Yeah, that sounds good.

Thanks, Christine.

That's a generous offer.

Yes.

And Bill.

Okay.

Um, with that, we're at 5 45.

So if there is anything else on that topic, um, I would like to adjourn the meeting.