Title
Preparation for Summer Retreat
Recommended Action
Discussion only. No formal action requested.
Report
Issue:
Discussion on possible site locations and themes for a potential joint retreat with the Thurston County Historical Commission.
Staff Contact:
Michelle Sadlier, Historic Preservation Officer, Community Planning & Development, 360.753.8031
Background and Analysis:
As a result of requests from both commissions, Ms. Sadlier is working with the staff liaison to the Thurston County Historic Commission (TCHC) on organizing a combined retreat with the Olympia Heritage Commission (OHC). Goals of the retreat would include developing regional relationships and developing an understanding of how other historic preservation commissions operate.
Tentatively, the retreat could involve the following:
• Take place on a Saturday in July (when the OHC is otherwise on hiatus),
• Include lunch,
• Provide the opportunity to formally and informally share information on the work of each commission, and
• Visit two historic places that illustrate the work of each commission: one selected and hosted by the OHC, the other by the TCHC.
Tonight Heritage Commissioners will begin discussing planning for the summer retreat. Of particular interest is generating ideas for a location which would provide an interesting illustration of the Commission’s work.
Some considerations might include Downtown or Priest Point Park as recent and upcoming grant-funded surveys. Downtown could also be a good spot to highlight recent Register listings and one (upcoming) Special Valuation tax incentive project. Commissioners might also think about choosing a neighborhood like Governor Stevens or Wildwood which the Commission surveyed in the past with an eye to designation as a historic district but hasn’t yet gotten off the ground. Finally, there may be a particular location related to recent a Historic Preservation/Heritage Month theme worth taking a closer look at together.