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Monroe Historical Preservation Committee: April 21, 2009
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MONROE - During a meeting Tuesday, The City of Monroe Historical Preservation Commission:

• Approved paint colors/scheme for Portraits by Dawn.

• Approved Certificates of Appropriateness (COAs) and facade grant applications for Century 21 Zwygart Real Estate; Sequels ... Fine Interior Consignments; Baumgartners; and Chopsticks and Julie's Bridal.

• Met the new city building inspector, Rex Henke, and discussed roles and responsibilities.

• Discussed funds available for facade grants with city comptroller/treasurer. Until the Monroe City Council approves $100,000 to the program, about $2,200 remains available after preapproved grants for this year.

• Discussed an off-premise sign for Monroe Foot Clinic with Scott Patterson and determined the sign did not meet Historical Preservation guidelines established in August 2008. Patterson was asked to remove the sign.

• Discussed and approved rewording guidelines regarding prohibited signs to read: "(13) Permanent commercial advertising signs located off-premises." The words "in rest areas or parklands" was removed.

• Discussed signage and postponed action on a COA for Kirk Genthe (Genthe Appliance).

• Discussed with the city clerk and approved revisions to COA applications to include the building inspector's phone number; a list of regularly scheduled HPC meeting dates; and instructions to return the form to the building inspector.

• Discussed and approved revisions for procedures to coordinate the facade improvement grant program process as suggested by city clerk. The process for initiating a facade grant or COA will begin with the office of the building inspector at City Hall. After the fee is paid and the inspector reviews the application for city codes, the grant application will move to the office of Monroe Main Street for verification, or an application for a COA only will move to the city clerk, and added to an agenda for the HPC's review and approval.

• Sent back to the Design Committee partial payments for facade grants before completion of work and other revisions suggested by the city clerk and mayor.

• Discussed signing COAs of facade grants approved without the COA being done or an appropriate fee being received (Barth, Barrett's, Portraits by Dawn, Patterson, Fehr-Graham).

• Reviewed and approved a form letter for the building inspector to use to send to owners of property who failed to get a COA.

• Reviewed and approved a letter to be sent to local sign companies, informing them of signage guidelines.

• Discussed a free training opportunity May 29-30 for Historic Preservation Commission members.

• Postponed discussion and possible action regarding window signs.

• Postponed discussion and possible action regarding signs in the Main Street district.

• Postponed review and possible action regarding amortization table.