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Minutes 01-11-21 Minutes of the Historic Resource Preservation Board Meeting Held on Monday, January 11, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. In the Community Room, Boynton Beach City Hall 100 E. Ocean Avenue, Boynton Beach, Florida Present: Barbara Ready, Chair (arrived 6.41 p.m.) Mike Rumpf, Board Liaison Thomas Ramiccio Dr. Ben Lowe Rev. Bernard Wright Michael Wilson Hollis Tidwell Rhonda Sexton, Alternate In the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair, Board Member Hollis Tidwell called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. 1. Agenda Approval Motion Mr. Wilson moved to approve the agenda. Ms. Sexton seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. 2. Approval of Minutes — September 14, 2020, and September 17, 2020 Motion Mr. Ramiccio moved to approve the minutes. Mr. Wilson seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. 3. Communications and Announcements Pursuant to a prior request by the Board, staff will present a summary of demolitions of buildings eligible for consideration for the Local Registry (i.e. 50 years or older.) There were eight demolitions. There was a home on the corner of NW 5t"Avenue and . Seacrest Boulevard which suffered a severe fire. Mr. Rumpf had inspected the building, and noted there were modifications made to the windows and doors. The home was the oldest and most architecturally unique, being mission-styled. Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 11, 2021 Other homes were located on 225 NE 9th Avenue,145 NE 4th and 1001 North Railroad Avenue some of which were located on planned redevelopment sites such, namely the Cottage District and the MLK Jr. Blvd. project. The North Railroad Avenue property is CRA-owned and was being cleared to accommodate a small redevelopment project at that time to include a social service agency, moving it from 104 NW 5th Avenue. Next 222 and 212 NW 3rd Court. Staff was informed that there were tenant problems and were in very poor condition. The structure at 115 North Federal Highway was recently demolished and the property assembled by the CRA. Chair Ready noted Warren Adams, the former Historic Resource Preservation Planner, set up a process. It was not set up for the Board to deal with what would be significant. She thought it was a shame the home was demolished. Dr. Lowe asked if they could have a list of them. Mr. Rumpf agreed to email the members the PowerPoint presentation with the listing of the demolished properties. 4. Old Business: A. Historic plaques for designated properties — Staff will provide an update on a new supplier for Grandview Aluminum Products that has been located, Express Plaque Awards located in Jupiter; cost estimates and material options; and the design concept. Mr. Rumpf linked up with a local representative and not a salesman for the company they were previously dealing with and the Board may want to reconsider the bronze option. The Board narrowed the choices down to aluminum due to cost, lower theft of the item and their longevity. He noted people frequently opt for a bronze product due to the way it ages as its patina is nicer than other materials. The Board opted for a traditional product with the date as contained in the meeting materials and were using a Palo Alto plaque model. He reviewed the information on the slide. Using the brochure from the company, the Board leaned towards the larger product. The aluminum product was affordable, there was just a slight increase in the letters making the cost of the aluminum plaque $116.19. Bronze is more expensive, but if they could split the cost between the owner and the Historical Society, the cost would be reasonable. Mr. Rumpf reviewed the prices and process. Mr. Tidwell favored the smaller size as did Chair Ready. Ms. Sexton thought the plaque was not very big. Mr. Wilson also supported using the smaller size due to the cost. Mr. Rumpf thought for the price, he could come up with the money for a replica to use as a model. Chair Ready commented now that she has the cost, she can approach the Historical Society and they could underwrite some of the costs of the smaller one. She did not think the Historical Society would pay the entire cost, but she needed to know how many plaques would be needed. Mr. Rumpf noted for small orders, they would not receive a discount. Ms. Sexton commented she owns a historic plaque from Delray Beach and it is oval, 2 Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 11, 2021 about 8" x 15" and it is perfectly fine. Ms. Sexton thought the aluminum product looked nice and for the cost, it made a lot of sense. The bronze was four times as much. The aluminum was less than $100 which is very affordable. Mr. Rumpf queried if he ordered a sample piece, if it should be dated for one property and learned it should. Chair Ready suggested they lobby for funds for plaques when the budget is reviewed and to think about items they would like to include in their wish list for fiscal year 21/22. Mr. Rumpf agreed it would be beneficial to have costs when he puts the request forward. They could create a sample plaque for the school. Mr. Rumpf noted they have different sizes for buildings that are larger in scale. Mr. Rumpf will ask around if in the rehabilitation process there was talk about having some recognition. Reverend Wright stated he was unaware of what was occurring, but he had a prior conversation with Mr. Rumpf pertaining to holding a discussion with Dr. Robinson of the Palm Beach School Board at Poinciana so students will know who the founder of the school was. He and Mr. Rumpf spoke about a plaque for a long time, and he did not think there would be a problem with the School Board. In 2014, they were trying to gather history especially dealing with Blacks in Boynton Beach, Robert E Wells, and those who came from Georgia and the Caribbean. It was his reason to serve on the Board. He commended the members, but wanted to talk about plaques at this meeting and to install signs on MLK Jr. Boulevard saying Robert E. Wells Memorial Avenue. Chair Ready thanked Rev. Wright for his input and explained this project was underway for several years. It would be nice to get his ideas in conjunction with the ideas that originated also with the Rosenbaum's request. Poinciana was the first Black school in the area currently known as Palm Beach County. She asked if Mr. Rumpf had an update and learned he did not. He still had to speak with Janet DeVries. The Rosenbaum organization wanted to underwrite the cost of a plaque, but the School District was balking at the location. The Rosenbaum organization wanted the plaque to be where it was visible by parking, but the school locks the parking lot at night so it would not be visible to the public at all times. They had to find a place for the sign to help recognize the school. Mr. Rumpf explained a representative from the Jewish Historical Society wanted to donate the plaque and notified the City officials, who referred it to the Board. Reverend Wright requested confirmation that the issue is where to put the plaque so it would be visible to the public as opposed to the parking lot. He noted there are two sides, front and back as a way for students to enter and exit the school property. He asked if there could be two plaques and if having two plaques, if they should place them outside, inside the parking lot so people could see it. Mr. Rumpf recalled learning about Rev. Wright's objective and commented the Rosenbaum's objective was to have community exposure. Reverend Wright thought it was more for people going into the school than for the public to see and asserted that was where the relevancy was. If someone wants to know about a school, you do not look on the corner of MLK Jr. Boulevard and at the Family Dollar store for information unless someone has the money 3 Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 11, 2021 to install a plaque there, otherwise it was more for the students and about the school. He thought having a plaque inside the school entrance would be a good location and thought students and teachers would want to know the history of the school. Reverend. Wright had spoken with the new Assistant Principal at Poinciana. Chair Ready asked about the lobby of the school and learned Rev. Wright thought there would be no opposition to it. Chair Ready commented the Rosenwald plaque had specific things they wanted included on the plaque. Chair Ready thought the site may need two plaques: one plaque inside the lobby of school and the Rosenwald plaque outside of the school. Reverend Wright inquired about Rosenwald and learned they paid for the school to be built. He thought paying for it is one thing, but heritage is different. He thought it was about cause. He advised he will call Dr. Robinson because they want to make it more than a plaque, they want to try to infuse Black History into the curriculum not once a month or once a year. He contended the project was bigger than that and when people enter the City, they enter its history. He did not want anything to do with Rosenwald as the school was originally a Black school and it is their history and culture and it should not be mixed. He did not see why they have to have their name on the plaque. They could be listed as a sponsor of the plaque there, but if he had to pay money for a plaque recognizing his grandfather, he would do so. He did not want any other legacy or ethnic group going on in District II in the Heart of Boynton. Chair Ready explained no one said Rev. Wright could not have his plaque in the lobby. Rev. Wright explained the issue is a plaque from a Jewish ethnic group in recognition of them. He did not want to integrate their history and legacy with anyone. They are being disenfranchised. Chair Ready commented there are a lot of things about the history of the school Rev. Wright did not know about. Reverend Wright commented they were not on the same page. He brought the matter to Mr. Rumpf's attention, so it must have come to the Chair's attention afterwards. He thought additions or deletions to what he had brought to the Board's attention was out of order and improper. In all these years, there was nothing about the school's history other than what he told Mr. Rumpf about. He wanted something conducive to Black History and he did not want to be disenfranchised. Systemic racism was something he was sensitive too and was an issue to be faced today. Ms. Sexton was not familiar with Poinciana School. Rev. Wright explained his grandfather built the school. Ms. Sexton understood there was a lot of history in the neighborhood and how the school was founded. The members deal with the building of the school. Reverend Wright contended they were not on the architectural side of it so it should not be brought in as an issue. Ms. Sexton explained that was the function of the Board. Reverend Wright disagreed and contended the Board preserves the history. He commented they have a sign for Robert E. Wells Memorial Avenue and there is no building that says Robert E. Wells. Reverend Wright gave the City this history in 2014 and about everything that went down the thriving street of MLK Jr. Boulevard which was originally Robert E. Wells Avenue. He has history, legacy and has an inheritance and he is the heir apparent. Ms. Sexton explained she is involved in the Preservation Trust 4 Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 11, 2021 and they are very involved in saving Carver High School, which was historically Black when the City was segregated and they are saving the school. There is a lot of work and energy going into saving the building. As a Preservation Board, this historically Black school with a history in the building, seemed like something they would want to be involved in preserving and saving and integrating into the history of Delray Beach. But if it is a brand-new school, the history Rev. Wright is talking about, it would need a different avenue. Reverend Wright disagreed. Reverend Wright explained they are talking about a school his great grandfather founded that is the first school in the area called Poinciana that is still known as Poinciana, similar to MLK Jr. Boulevard and Robert E. Wells Memorial Avenue. There is a historic factor to it, just like preserving a historic building like the St. Paul AME Church that his great grandfather built. He just wanted a plaque there so children can learn about the founder of the school. Mr. Rumpf explained Delray Beach has official programs and federal guidelines to preserve structures/properties connected to events, architecture or a person. The Board is the only historical entity to recognize the school, and they were requested by two different entities to consider signage that has to do with historical events, not necessarily the property per se. Ms. Sexton inquired if it would be like history on a plaque and learned it would. Mr. Ramiccio thought the item should be put on a future agenda. The item on the agenda was about a plaque for a historic structure, but the conversation was different. He thought they should stick to the plaque and give Mr. Rumpf direction for the plaque for the school. Reverend Wright commented he put this on the agenda. He did not want anyone to try to divide it up. The plaque should have nothing on it except for Robert E. Wells . If there is some other person out there that was not true and it was not historical and factual, they would litigate against the Board coming in with misinformation. He informed the Board they are not going to take his family's legacy and do what they want with it. Mr. Wilson suggested putting together some information or a charrette at a future date, and they can all discuss the history of Poinciana School as it is very long and it should be recognized. It is a conglomeration of three different schools, the original, the 1960's and the current. He suggested it be on a future agenda item. Reverend Wright disagreed. Dr. Lowe requested decorum, and not interrupting others and arguing back and forth. He recommended they proceed orderly and use Robert's Rules. He did not think anyone was disagreeing with Rev. Wright but Rev. Wright just brought the matter to them and no one was prepared to talk about it. Reverend Wright helped educate the Board, and they can address it, but they need to dress it in an orderly way and have it all laid out and have steps. Reverend Wright commented he is a man who is factual. For eight years he comes to meetings and he is running for office. The Board will address the matter, but they cannot do it at this meeting. They have to have all the facts and then move on it. They are only discussing what to put on the plaque Mr. 5 Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 11, 2021 Rumpf commented based on past discussions regarding the program he agreed to provide slides breaking down features of the program and use it for educational purposes that can be used for strategic planning and the program's direction. B. Historic Preservation Programming and the local Ordinance —The board will be offered the opportunity to continue any discussions regarding desired preservation activities and programming, in conjunction with staff providing an overview of the principal components of the City's preservation ordinance. Mr. Rumpf reviewed the program as contained in the meeting backup. The presentation included an overview of the Historic Preservation Ordinance. The program is a voluntary program which has various components such as the Local Registry of Historic Places and National Registry designation. He reviewed the nomination and approval processes including Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for modifications to properties. He noted the program offers tax exemptions for improvements of up to 10 years for qualifying properties. He also noted the program reviews structures 50 years or older associated with local events, significant persons, distinguishing physical character and National Registry designation. The City is focusing on significant persons in the past. Districts are noted and the establishment of them is detailed in the Ordinance as an area having 50% of historically significant structures within a defined boundary. Although the demolition subsection falls underneath the section specifying a historic district, staff understands it also applies to all individual properties outside of the district. The City Commission could act to nominate the property and halt the demolition. The Ordinance contains stays of demolition as well. The City Commission or the Board could present a nomination for a property that meets the criteria for the Local Registry. Mr. Wilson asked about someone wanting to improve the property. Mr. Rumpf explained the Certificate of Appropriateness process would guide them. He noted if looking for significant improvements and a tax exemption is wanted, that is a different process. 5. New Business: A. None 6. Other 7. Comments by members 8. Public comments 9. Announce date of next meeting — March 8, 2021 6 Meeting Minutes Historic Resources Preservation Board Boynton Beach, Florida January 11, 2021 10.Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Chair Ready adjourned the meeting at 7:41 p.m. Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 7