THE FRIENDS OF THE JESSE LEE HOME
Minutes
September 20, 2007
Attendance:
Sam Combs, architectural/engineering
Christy Everett, educator
Doug Gasek, DNR/Office of History and Archeology
Marcia Hastings, Alaska Community Foundation
Terry Hyer, ECI Hyer
Jim Jager, CIRI
Loren Leman, former lt. gov.
Alexandra J. McClanahan, CIRI, secretary
Stephanie Miller, Alaska Children’s Services
Arliss Sturgulewski, former senator
Via teleconference:
Dorene Lorenz, Seward, former city council member
Kirsten Vesel, City of Seward. Assistance City Manager
Agenda/Minutes: The meeting was called to order by Jim Jager at 1:42 p.m. The minutes from the August 30 meeting were approved on a motion by Arliss Sturgulewski and seconded by Kirsten Vesel. The agenda was approved on a motion by Sturgulewski and seconded by Terry Hyer.
Communications: Alexandra J. McClanahan read emails from Dr. James Simpson and Tom Swann. Simpson indicated he would be unable to attend the meeting and reported that he had recently sent a letter of support for the project to Gov. Sarah Palin. Swann also indicated he could not attend the meeting. He said he has been too busy with other matters during the tourist season to focus on Alaska Flag sales, but he assured the Friends that he will be devoting more time to that soon.
McClanahan also noted that Jo Antonson had sent an email on behalf of the Alaska Historical Society, asking whether the Friends had discussed seeking state funding for Fiscal Year 2009. McClanahan said she responded to Antonson by sending her the August 30 minutes, underlining the section indicating that the group likely will seek $1.4 million in order to be able to complete the needed stabilization work.
It was also noted that Sam Combs had distributed an email with the August/September issue of the “Western Preservation News,” published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Western Office in San Francisco. The Jesse Lee Home was featured in a brief article in the publication.
Donations: Marcia Hastings reported that the balance in the account is $44,500, thanks to a recent donation of $500 from Linda Kumin.
$1 million appropriation: Doug Gasek reported that the City of Seward sent its letter to DNR, authorizing the transfer of state funds from DNR to the Alaska Community Foundation. The next step that needs to be done, he said, is a scope of work, with an emphasis on getting as much of the money used for actual stabilization as possible, as opposed to administrative costs.
Sturgulewski asked who was in charge of managing the expenditure of funds, and Gasek noted that has not yet been determined. Sturgulewski stressed that the person named must be knowledgeable in construction and management. Gasek said that there will be a meeting in Seward on September 26, including M.E. Rider, the City of Seward, North Pacific Rim Housing Authority to iron out such details.
Jager indicated that the order of the steps is likely creation of a Limited Liability Corporation, issuance of an RFP, the selection process after bids are received and then commencement of work. When he asked whether an official timeline had been developed, Hyer answered it had not.
There followed discussion as to whether actual construction work might be initiated in the fall, and it was agreed that the bulk of the work likely will not be done until the spring construction season of 2008. Discussion also ensued as to whether stopgap measures, such as using tarps or sheet metal to protect the structure, might be undertaken. It was agreed that none of these likely would be feasible because of safety concerns involving people or the structure itself.
Jager pointed out that that after the LLC is created, the group may need to purchase insurance. Vesel volunteered to obtain a quote from the City of Seward’s carrier. Sturgulewski said Directors and Officers Liability Insurance (D & O) will be needed.
Stakeholders Meeting Oct. 8-9: Although M.E. Rider was unable to attend the meeting, Marcia Hastings spoke on her behalf and reported that arrangements have been made for the stakeholders meeting in Seward.
Christy Everett noted that the meeting will provide an opportunity for academic representatives to help determine the physical plant needs of the facility.
Sturgulewski asked whether members of the Friends group were encouraged to attend, and there was no consensus on who would attend, but Hastings and Sturgulewski both said they may go for at least one day.
There followed discussion of how and when to push forward the request for $1.4 million in state funding, and Sturgulewski urged the group to act quickly and ensure that the request made it into the governor’s budget. Leman agreed that quick action is needed because the budgets are being developed now.
It was agreed that the best place to start would be with Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, and Dorene Lorenz agreed to make sure that he is invited to the stakeholders meeting in Seward. She and other members of the Friends will then seek to arrange a meeting with him not long after that.
There was also discussion about how the Jesse Lee project might be able to coordinate with a proposed library/museum project in Seward, and it was agreed that this offers some intriguing possibilities. Leman said multi-use funds are available, which makes coordinating with the library/museum a good idea.
Sturgulewski said the ongoing investigation and prosecution of several Alaska legislators will make the upcoming legislative session an “extraordinarily difficult year.” The current events will put a pall on action, and so it will behoove members of the Friends to focus as much as possible on the positive contribution the Jesse Lee Home leadership facility can offer to Alaska, she said.
ANCSA CEOs meeting Oct. 3: Jager noted that Barbara Donatelli will brief the ANCSA Regional Corporation Presidents and CEOs organization on the Jesse Lee project at their Oct. 3 meeting.
Academic Policy Committee: Everett said the committee is investigating the concept of “block” or “intensive” studies used by a number of academic institutions. This concept generally involves students spending a block of time, usually a month, on only one subject. She noted that she hopes to survey people attending the Alaska Federation of Natives convention on education needs, and it was agreed that she will look into costs for attending the convention and possibly having a table there. Sturgulewski suggested that the committee also may want to cooperate with the Alaska Humanities Forum’s “Leadership Alaska” program.
Other: Leman asked whether the group plans to work under Davis Bacon requirements or rather use a community approach in which work or materials might be donated. It was agreed that this should be discussed at the meeting in Seward. Hyer said if a community approach is taken, it will be even more important to have a very qualified manager of the projects, and Vesel said that the city may have requirements that would preclude such an approach.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 3:37 p.m., followed by a birthday celebration for Sturgulewski’s upcoming 80th birthday.
Next Meeting: The next meeting was set for Wednesday, November 28, at 1:30 p.m. at CIRI.
To make tax-deductible contributions to the Jesse Lee Home Restoration Fund:
Mail contribution by check (payable to ACF— Jesse Lee Home Restoration Fund) or money order to:
The Alaska Community Foundation
400 L Street, Suite 100
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Credit Cards:
Contributions can be made to:
The Alaska Community Foundation
Phone: 907-334-6700
Fax: 907-334-5780
Gifts can be made online at:
www.alaskacf.org
(ACF will need type of credit card, account number, expiration date, name on credit card, billing address and zip code for card holder, amount of contribution.)
