00:00:14,370	In the Tom Baker room, um, and we’ve got a, a crew here. So, um, and you want to call a roll? Comm Zener here Mr. Hall. He Comm Percele Comm Swanson. Yep Comm Nod. Here. Mracerson. Here? Chair angle. Here.

00:00:50,870	Um, right, so in your, uh, packets, there is the historic Preservation reports, and just a list of things that we have commented on, um, this past year, uh, and nothing new under that one, I don’t believe. Um are there people from the audience and the public that would like to speak at this meeting.

00:01:14,470	Nobody online No? You’ve never I know, right? We actually have a member in the audience, not to put her on the spot, but hi, welcome. Um, OK, so no public comment, so we’ll go to the review of the meeting minutes. Dr OK All right. Any discussion or comments or corrections? Hearing none. You can call it. Comm Nodland. Here, oh yes, Monsieuracerson. Yeah, here, yes, Comm Swanson. Comm Hall, Comm Zenker, Chair Engel, yes. All right.

00:01:55,900	Approval of the minutes is done. Moving on to the regular agenda, um, we are going to have a discussion about the historic Preservation Award. Hello. Hi, you’re really quick to the podium. I didn’t even see move. OK.

00:02:17,230	Uh, thank you, uh, Chair Engel and Comm, the historic Preservation Commission requested a revision to the historic Preservation Award criteria at their May 2025, uh, meeting seeking more objective standards, um, with which to evaluate a nominations, um, as a reminder, only projects completed within the past 3 years would be eligible to apply for this.

00:02:41,170	Um, so staff did meet with Comm Swanson, Saker son and Oddly, um, in a meeting that was publicly noticed. uh, and that was to review both a revision, uh, to the categories, so historic building sites, adaptive reuse, and public awareness and education, as well as uh updated criteria for each of those.

00:03:05,870	A draft nomination form an internal evaluation form with criteria for each of those categories, and a timeline of the process, uh, for the awards, uh, solicitation are included in the packet. uh, in order to avoid public meeting note or public notice requirements for meetings, um, for nomination and review, uh, for that selection, staff would suggest only two historic preservation Commissioners be part of the 2026 Award selection process prior to the final selection being approved

00:03:29,800	by this commission here. Um as well as those two, historic preservation Comm, staff from the Planning department would be involved in that selection process as well. So there are 3 items, um, for, uh, consideration uh with the staff recommendation, um, for an action. So one is to approve the revised award categories and nomination form.

00:03:55,500	2 is to approve the award criteria for the internal use by the selection group and 3 would be to choose two historic preserv ation Commissioners to be part of the 2026 award selection.

00:04:18,370	Thank you, Lauren Um has already had a chance to review this? Yes, I just have one question, uh, Chair Commissioners and so last year, just refresh me, I, I think there was just one applicant, right? So did, uh, is that part of we’re gonna change that up a little bit to make sure that we get more than one, or do you, do we solicit these? Do they,

00:04:32,330	how does that all, how do we get that, how do we make sure we get good applications. Uh, great, uh, Comm, anchor, Chair Commissioners, um, so yes, we did receive only one, nomination last year, um typically what we did last year, we didn’t really go out and ask

00:04:53,700	people to apply, um, this, the entity that did apply, they came to us, they saw it, um, wanted to apply. They provided all their information for that. Um, we could change that process if we’d like to, um, yeah, I, it’s up I’m not advocating for change.

00:05:12,900	I’m just curious to how we drum up the business, I guess. I would think we can put it out on social media that the application pro is open, um, and yeah, and just maybe even highlight last year’s awardy to get, I don’t know, drum up some interest. Yeah. Yes Engel um if we’re having our table at the, the builder thing that might be.

00:05:36,330	at the home, that might be a, a, a good place to you know, mention it. Depending on timing. Yeah. I mean, in. Cause the application’s only open till three years. Uh, and, and 30 thank you. So, it depends when that all would. fit in. Right Love the concept.

00:05:57,700	Great idea Right. Calendar got in the way Maybe work for 25 and not for 26. 27. Uh, yes, Comm Engel um is there would it be worth looking at, uh, who has come to the Renaissance. board or the Downtown Planning Comm is, is there like to look through the past.

00:06:22,230	123 years to see, wouldn’t it have had to go through those? departments or anyone who did it? Yeah, so. I can expand on that a little bit because there was a pause in the RZ, you know, um, just because of some whatever circumstances took place and there haven’t been a lot of applications. for Renaissance zone scenarios.

00:06:43,730	There’s been a couple smaller projects, but I don’t know how it all fit into the historic preservation side of it because I mean they have to do so much upgrades to those buildings to to. to get the five-year tax exemption, so. Yeah.

00:07:01,900	Is there somebody else, like the Shippo or somebody else who would know who’s doing this? Like, would people have applied for any other funding places we could go and like get a list of here’s the 5 people who did a project this year. I think we could put out a media release, and that would include Shippo, um, the members of the Renaissance, um, Zone Committee.

00:07:19,970	OK, um, and, uh, who, whoever else we would think, um, would be able to, you know be interested in that sort of thing. Who is it locally? I know that, uh, using Jackson used to deal with the store tax credits.

00:07:40,730	If those are involved in some of these projects um, he might be able to furnish some contacts for projects that he might be aware of, we could certainly contact him and he might know other, other people locally that are using using that That sounds a good idea to get the, the word out.

00:08:04,230	So could we put it on the HBC’s annual calendar that in December we try and find anybody who and then be sure in addition to a general media posting. So, and, and the, you know, I don’t know if that. falls on the staff, but if in December we try and reach out to a few 3 groups, then every year we might have a few names to to speak, reach out to, yeah, Hook.

00:08:26,170	for sure. All right um so, uh, for the first, uh, recommended action, the approving the revised award categories and nomination form. I know I had some notes or some questions, clarifications I’d like to make, um, or at least put out there. Uh so the second page the categories are historic building, adaptive reuse, or historical awareness and education.

00:09:01,270	Most of the questions, uh, that follow relates only to historic buildings or adaptive reuse. There’s very little in the way of needing to explain for the historical awareness and education.

00:09:21,600	Um, I’d like to see at least a couple of questions that they would have to answer specifically, um, about, you know, what, if you’re doing a historic education piece, what age group, the target audience? Are you doing, um, continuing education credit, you know, something more, uh, to flesh that out as to, to. uh what they’ve been doing for their programming.

00:09:41,900	Um, and also what their goals were in doing that education piece and if they met those goals with the activity, just a little bit more robust to, to bring it up to standard with the rest of it.

00:10:05,970	Um would you, would you then add in that where you have your boxes to check, startup awareness and education and then just say, please include details and goals and, and just do it. Uh, if, if I may, uh, Chacom Commissioners, so, um, it’s difficult to tell with how this is.

00:10:29,000	I, I did pull it from uh survey 123, which is where this form is hosted on, um, but what I can do through that platform, um, is I can actually uh set certain questions, uh, depending on how people answer at the very beginning. Um, so I could set it up that way, um, which I do have it set up like that.

00:10:40,270	You can’t really tell in paper form here, but it, once you actually use the form, it’s easier to tell so I could send it, set it up that way. And that makes more sense to you for the, um, I think it’s the 4th page of this that indicate how your project benefits the community.

00:10:57,870	Each one of those check boxes is more more explanatory for the, the other, um, major categories of these, I think. So perhaps we could nest those as well if you’ve, if you’ve checked box, the first one it’s like, hey, these are the kind of, this is how you’re going to explain why it’s beneficial to the community in there. Um, just, just a little bit clearer and tightening up the, the process a little bit.

00:11:15,370	Um, or like the, the SOI one, um, or, yeah, the SOI standards, it’s like, won’t be applicable if it’s educational. Right, it’s, yeah, so, yes, for that one specifically Chair Commissioners, uh, it, like I said, it’s difficult to tell where you can kind of see those little eyepieces Next to it,

00:11:36,900	those are related to a specific answer at the very beginning where it asks, um, what category are you applying for? That’s the big one that, uh, generates the specific types of questions, but I wanted to see you to see all the questions that are being provided for. Awesome.

00:11:53,000	That makes a lot more sense then. Um, and then whenever we are saying project, um, provide a description of the project being nominated. I would like to see that project slash initiative or something to help pull in that education piece too, so that it’s more applicable to, to everything,

00:12:11,900	um, especially if it’s an event, um, wouldn’t necessarily be a project, uh, that’s more semantics. Um I think that um, and then for the, if you are the owner of the building that is being nominated, is that one also, um, going to change some of the other, uh, following questions.

00:12:33,230	Uh, for clarification, are you, uh, Chair Commissioners, are you talking about the last question with the acknowledgment or no, it’s page 2. are you the owner of the building that is being nominated? Yes or no? And then um the next one is. explain if you conducted the project work on support of yourself.

00:12:55,170	and I think there was one other show up under the bullet for the test. Uh, I believe how I have it set up currently chair Commissioners, is that it would be for both the historic building and adaptive reuse is where it shows up for. Great. Sounds good.

00:13:19,170	Uh, and then I think for one of the attachments, um you tell a field season’s done and I actually have time to think this month. Um, for the, um, that they got permission from the landowner. I want to put in written um, permission from the landowner, so that it’s very clear that we have documentation that this is acceptable and not just their word for it.

00:13:39,500	That will help All right. Does anybody else have anything about the actual survey itself No OK Um, I move that we accept the uh, submission, the application form for the historic Preservation Award. with the changes with the noted changes. All right. Any other discussion? Think we killed that one, so, OK, call it Annie.

00:14:09,370	Comm Hall. Yes. Comm Swanson. Yes. Commissioneracerson? Yes. Mrs. Zenkerer? Yes. Comm Noddland, Chair Engel, yes. has, uh, one of 3 done Um, going on to the award criteria for internal use by selection group. Um, I also had a few, uh, word suggestion changes. Um, but I could share those, um, offline.

00:14:37,630	It’s more just like lowering the, instead of a race, saying altering or lessening. and taking it down a couple notches. Um and, um, under the historic awareness and education, I would like to add a bullet saying that, um, the, uh, nominator explained um, I had a, an explanation of the education awareness and goals set forth prior to

00:15:01,800	execution and how those girls were met, kind of like what I mentioned before, but just in here as a a check box for us as a committee.

00:15:23,730	Were there any other questions or comments about the review list? And I, I remembered from past meetings that uh it was going to be a ranking for like how well they did for each one of these things, but you guys just did a a yes, no, or it’s not applicable.

00:15:42,370	Is there, do you guys have, did you just go for it and did a yes, no, uh, good question, uh, Chair, Comm, so, um, with the yes no I just based on the criteria here, um, with the, the criteria being a little bit more objective rather than subjective, um, having a yes no means that yes, they did meet it. No, they didn’t, whereas like, uh, doing a ranking of 1 to 5 doesn’t. necessarily meet those objectives. or or indicate whether they met those objectives clearly.

00:16:05,370	I think it’s uh a little bit easier to tell. Um, there is an additional bonus area in the event of a tiebreaker which could help, um, for that, um, but seeing as we didn’t receive too many nominations last year, not, not too sure if that would be an issue.

00:16:29,270	Um, there is the potential to have 3 awardees as well, um, so could, could happen as well. OK. Yeah, but by 2027, we’re going to be inundated and then we’re going to have to have this very clearly explained. Um, I would say instead of, uh, saying tiebreaker, then just say an indecision by the subcommittee, since we’re not using a ranking for that. That would be good.

00:16:52,330	All right. Uh, any other discussion with that? And can I get a motion to approved like to make a motion that we accept the internal criteria ranking sheet with the noted changes. All right. Any other discussion? No. Annie. Misser Holth. Yes. Mr Swanson? Yes. Comm Zenker. Yes, Comm Nodland. Yes, Commissioneracerson, Chair angel, yes.

00:17:22,630	All right. Are there any volunteers to be part of the 2026 awards selection. You need two takers. All right, thank you, John. Yes, Amy, you wanna be on this? Yeah. Anybody else? We’re gonna have to duke it out, then we could do arm wrestling. I know, but then we could arm wrestle for it.

00:17:44,530	OK, so thank you to Commissionerackerson and Swanson. Um, and I think that is the end of that one. All right, moving on to the North Dakota 250 grant, however, there’s saying that’s Uh, thank you again, Chair Engel and Commissioners.

00:18:15,530	uh, City staff, uh, historic preservationers or historic preservation Commissioners, Hull and Perceley unrepre representatives from other community organizations, um, have met twice so far to discuss the preparation for the 250th anniversary, uh, as well as to identify some potential celebratory activities or events, um, at the last meeting, uh, for that group, it was determined that the city of Bismarck would apply for the uh ND 250 Community

00:18:37,600	initiatives Grant to fund, uh, public art project, um, specifically in art and heritage discovery walk. Um, so what this will do, it will include art and heritage heritage discovery signs that will have a QR code, um, which will link to virtual versions of local literary, visual, or performance arts related to North Dakota’s history and

00:19:02,600	culture from the past 250 years. Um, so each link will provide a narrative on the art form and will describe how it celebrates the past 250 years of North Dakota’s people, places, innovations, and achievement s contributing to the nation’s history. So some potential locations, um, could include uh planter boxes within downtown.

00:19:23,330	There’s currently several signs located within there, so it would be a good opportunity to, to capitalize on what’s currently there. Um, so some potential other uh locations could include, uh, the parks or potentially even the airport, uh, depending on discussions with those entities.

00:19:46,370	Um, so, uh, if grant funding is awarded further discussions with other city departments like administration, public health, potentially the airport, um, uh, would occur as well as other members from Dakota West Arts Council, Bismarck Parks and Recreation District and the Downtowners, um, just to name a few. So the project would support strategies, uh, 1.8 and 2.1B.

00:20:13,000	uh With Bismarck’s recently adopted Arts and Culture plan, um, as well as, uh, the draft objective 3B With the current draft of the historic Preservation Plan. Um, and that includes developing materials, programs, or areas that help both bolster Bismarck’s heritage tourism. Um, both plans call out strategies to create interactive and educational opportunities for residents and visitors to experience the arts, culture, history, and heritage of Bismarck.

00:20:40,100	So planning staff intend to submit an application for $10,000. It’s the max, uh uh allowed by that grant, and that would include funds for the production of the signs, uh, sign materials, uh, as well as artist design fees slash stipends, um, as, and, uh, the art background of the signs that would be used.

00:21:03,100	um, so there is a 20% local match required for this grant. Um, however, volunteers from the community during the planning process or additional work, um, like, uh, combining the, uh, signed panels and posts, uh, could be, uh, included, uh, for that match, and it can be, uh, similar to

00:21:24,530	how our board does our historic preservation fund grant, uh, utilizing that as donated labor. So the request to apply was forwarded to the City Commission, um, for approval at its December 16th meeting, um, which was reviewed and approved last night.

00:21:48,800	Um, this will still need to go for approval, uh, via, um, the city’s typical process, uh, for any grant application. So it, it still needs to go through that process. Um, the historic Preservation Commission, uh, is being notified at the city’s intent to apply for that specific grant, um, since it has been part of assisting with the 250th anniversary efforts for next year. OK just an update there.

00:22:11,500	Thank you, Lan Any questions for her? Yes, Mr. Noddlin. Engel, and, um, I have a, my question is if if this is projects which would occur in 2026. And yours, is it specifically for the sign, the posts and signs that would. mark the downtown tour and other areas.

00:22:39,370	that would go up in 2026, uh, Comm Nodlin, Chair Commissioners, that is correct, yes. So, it’s not for art projects, it’s for marking what we already have. Oh, my, sorry, I misunderstood. So it would be highlighting uh different art forms, so it could be visual arts, it could be um a recordings of performances, both musical, uh, as well as dance or other similar productions.

00:23:06,500	Um, it wouldn’t necessarily be located in in uh, next to buildings or, or places that are specifically historic or what we’ve already uh identified as historic buildings, but the, the theme and what would be solicited through an art RFP that would be related to this, um, would be calling out how those uh art pieces that are are

00:23:31,630	being identified how, how they enhance or or reflect Bismarck’s history. So it could be a, a local rendition or a poetry reading from um. uh local authors, um, kind of showcasing that history there. It could be an interpretation of Bismarck’s past, um, either, uh, of a person, a landscape, something similar to that.

00:23:56,170	So it, it has a multitude of how it could be utilized and showcasing Bismarck’s history, but it’s not specifically uh calling out or related to what we’ve currently done with this commission here.

00:24:15,870	OK I’m not sure that so I’m just trying to read and understand here so the so it sounds like it could be either or so this in this 3rd, 4th paragraph where it says it would create an interactive art tour through downtown and other areas. in addition to creating an educational opportunity for residents to experience those things.

00:24:34,530	Um, so I guess what I’m hearing you say is it’s, it can be, it’s still every, it can be it can be live event, it could be any number of these things, um, that you’ve, that you mentioned um and that it’s not it, it’s things that are uh it’s yet to be determined what will be included as the, the

00:24:56,630	places or events that might be visited. Correct. I, I feel like uh, Comm Noland Chair Commissioners, I feel like, uh, what, what we are determining for what will be linking to with those QR codes will be determined through that selection process through the art RFP that will be placed or part of this.

00:25:19,470	Posts with QR codes. Yes. OK. And the QR code’s linked to lots of things. OK. So the $10,000 is for the post with QR codes or and the events and the artists stipends, um. or historians or other uh heritage and cultural history things.

00:25:52,700	So if we have a speaker that would a historian who could present that would be not just an artist stipend, but a. there there is uh Comm Noddlin, Chair Comm, the, there’s a lot of um openness to the literary aspect, um, for art.

00:26:16,530	So I, I believe there is an opportunity there to have an historian or uh another individual who would want to, to provide some sort of presentation, um, related to that, so. thank you right sounds good. Um, we will move on then to the South Capital survey update. Uh thank you again, Chair and Commissioners. Um, so there is nothing currently within the Agenda packet.

00:26:46,500	um, staff did meet with Emilyeackerson of Southfork Historical Research on Monday this week, um, for an update on the project, um, at the beginning of the meeting you were provided with an attachment. I’ll get into that, uh. shortly. Um so, uh, I just want to provide some of the update that was discussed between staff and, and our consultant for the project.

00:27:08,600	So, uh, Msackerson is currently working on the reconnaissance forms for each of the properties, um, as you may remember, we do have over 100 pro or properties here close to 200, uh, give or take a little bit, um, you were provided 2 forms previously. Um, you’ve reviewed that, um, Shippo has received them, and they’ve provided some minor corrections to those as well.

00:27:28,070	Um, so for the additional reconnaissance forms that, uh, Miss Stackerson is working on attachment pages are finished and formatted, um, Sanborn Maps, um, where possible, uh, those are included and at least one early owner occupant has been identified for approximately all of the sites except about 15 of those, um. rude discussions with Missackerson related to that.

00:27:57,530	Um, one aspect that the HPC may be able to help with this if, uh, you were provided with a list of those early occupants if you have any information related to them that could support um any information in those forms. Uh, it may be requested of this commission just to have a look.

00:28:14,530	Um, but that would be provided in the future. if possible Uh, 13 sites, uh, as included in that attachment I provided you, um, our vacant lots and Missackerson would prefer not to record them with uh an individual NDCRs form, but instead provide a summary with recommendations within the actual report.

00:28:40,700	Um, 3 of those already have Sitz numbers, um, documenting the houses that were once on the property, uh, and she plans to update those and within the NDCRS database to indicate the sites have been destroyed, so those would be updated.

00:29:00,630	Um, 2 sites, uh, in the list, uh, at the bottom of that page I provided you are modern dating from 2005 and 2008. Um, she would prefer not to record those as well, um, as they’re not yet of age to be considered historical cultural resources.

00:29:22,370	Um, one of those has a SitzS number um documenting a former residents no longer extent, uh, which she has noted that she will update as well in the database. Um, additionally, uh, we have created a flyer, um, similar to the postcards that were sent out to properties within the survey area.

00:29:45,900	Um, we have sent that out to um Trinity Lutheran Stint George’s, Zion Lutheran, uh, as well as the public library asking if they would be willing to put them up, um, just till the end of January just to see if there’s any additional information that we can receive, um, for properties within the area. Uh, additionally, Bismarck Historical Society plans to include a small, a small bit of information on the project in their next quarterly newsletter, so.

00:30:08,730	those are just the, the updates for that project for you guys. Great. Thank you, Laurn Any questions about the South Capital survey. Seems like it’s going well. It’s good. Um, that is the regular agenda. Um, I know of two other business items that we’re gonna be putting on there.

00:30:34,500	One is a resolution of appreciation, um, whereas James Scooter Percy has served as a member of the Bismarck Historical Preservation Commission for the past year, and whereas during this time he has represented the interests of the residents of the city of Bismarck and whereas Mr. Perceley has given freely of his time and expertise in the many matters considered by the Commission.

00:30:53,630	And whereas during his term of office on the historic Preservation Commission. Mr. Percelia has distinguished himself for fair deliberation and common sense decision making. And whereas Mr. Perley will now leave the historic Preservation Commission for a well-deserved rest.

00:31:15,530	Now, therefore, be it resolved by the historic Bismarck Historic Preservation Commission that James Scooter Perley be commended for his dedication and his support for the historic preservation of Bismarck, and that the appreciative appreciation of the historic Preservation Commission, the extended to him. Thank you. Even though he’s not here, I’m sure he’ll watch the minutes and see that we’re thanking him.

00:31:33,900	But how about we have a round of applause for him. All right Uh, the next one is going to be an update about the Downtown survey Uh, thank you again. So just, uh, a quick item here. So, uh, our RFP, uh, solicitation ends this Friday at 5:00 p.m.

00:32:02,430	Um, we have received a couple proposals, um, so Comm Nodland and Comm Zenker, um, as part of the selection committee, um, I’ll be sending those over to you for review within the next couple of weeks. Um given the holiday season, no rush on those, um, and this, uh, item with the full with the final selection will be provided to the historic Preservation Commission at its next meeting.

00:32:21,700	Great. Thank you, Laurn Um, any other, other business that we have not discussed yet All right. Hearing none, we’re going to Adjourn. The next meeting is January 21st, 2026, right here in the Tom Baker