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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING of the HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Monthly Meeting 7:30 p.m. Monday November 20, 1995 County Commissioner's Conference Room 7th Floor County -City Building I. Call to Order John Oxian, president- of the commission, brought the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. II. Roll Call Commission members present were: John Borkowski, Richard Bullene, Martha Choitz, Catherine Hostetler, Janeanne Petrass, John Oxian, & J. Edward Talley. Commission staff present were: David Duvall, director and Aladean DeRose, counsel. Also attending the meeting were: Brian Godfrey, Dr. Anne Kempf, Nancy Ranson, Betsy Harriman, and Marty Murphy. III. Public Hearing A. Landmark Designation Establishment of Leper Park as a Local Historic Landmark Mr. Duvall began the discussion by reading the prepared Staff comments. Following the Staff continents Commission member Talley, of the Landmarks Committee made further presentation noting that this_ year. 1995 marks the centennial of the establishment of the park and that the park was also used at the commencement of World War I in 1917 as the site of Camp Alfred Miller. He also provided additional information regarding the salvage -of materials from the earlier Michigan street bridge and their installation at rivers edge between Michigan and Lafayette Streets with the reported intention of developing a wall similar to that found in Howard Park. He presented several historical photographs depicting features discussed in the Staff comments in their historical context(s). He noted that the City Engineering Department still retains original copies of the George Kessler plans for the pari: -boulevard sy_stern_which_are-of-historical--interest-rn and of -themselves. Betsy Harriman next spoke representing the South Bend Department.of Parks and Recreation. She indicated that the Park Board had some questions regarding the requirements, consequences, and possible benefits of Local Landmark designation to. the Parks Department and the City of .South Bend. Specifically she mentioned concern about the island retaining walls and interest in financial benefits such as grants in aid. Mr. Oxian responded that 'designation did not guarantee grants but provided some assurance that what exists at the site. presently remains for the future. If grants become available targeted to such sites then. the designation would assist in such. Ms. Harriman inquired if the HPC would assist or join_ in application for grants, specifically in connection to the retaining walls of the island. Mr. Oxian stated that the commission would certainly not oppose such grants and that if the Park Dept required. the support of the HPC it certainly would assist. He indicated that. a purpose of the HPC is to support .owners of Landmarks and in districts. He stated that these questions should. have been stated previously and the HPC could have responded in writing. Ms. Harriman rioted that this was the first occasion of a landmark proposal for an entire park and that the Park Board was novice with regard to these questions. Mr. Talley stated that his understanding regarding the island retaining walls was that the original slabs were to be raised back into place. Ms. Harriman