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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 HPC Self-Assessment NotesHISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE 360 DEGREE SELF-ASSESSMENT and STRATEGY Context: The Historic Committee has been active in some formal manner at least since the 50th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the City of College Station. The committee purpose and duties were formalized with Ordinance 2025, August 12, 1993, approximately 20 years ago. NOTES: The Framework for the Committee set forth by the Creating Ordinance: The purpose statement text: Although the City of College Station, Texas, does not have a long history, it is important that it be collected and preserved. By acting in a timely manner, the City will be able to capture information before it otherwise would become irretrievable. Duties and Responsibilities text: The duties of this committee shall be to aid in the collection and preservation of the history of the City of College Station and its environs, and to provide for education of citizens on the history of this City. The committee shall also carry out other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the City Council. The committee shall semi-annually submit a report to the City Council. NOTES: Actionable Takeaway of purpose duties and responsibilities: Scope: CITY AND ITS ENVIRONS Activities: CAPTURE COLLECT PRESERVE …….history, especially aspects of history at risk of being forgotten. PROVIDE FOR EDUCATION OF CITIZENS CARRY OUT COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS SUBMIT REPORT TO COUNCIL TWICE A YEAR NOTES: OVER TIME, THE COMMITTEE HAS DEVELOPED SEVERAL STANDING PROGRAMS, WITH VARYING DEGREES OF OVERLAP: PROJECT HOLD ORAL HISTORY EXPLORING HISTORY LUNCHEON HISTORIC MARKER PROGRAM These Programs Have Been in Existence Varying Periods of Time For evaluative purposes we could ask to what degree each one: Captures and Preserves History Educates Citizens PROJECT HOLD: -How does it Capture and Preserve History?: -How does it Educate Citizens?: -Are there opportunities for collaboration and partnerships, if so, with who: - Is it in competition with any other program that shares its purpose, if so, is it an inherent problem, or a missed opportunity for cooperation, or does it make both programs less effective?: -Would a change in existing program or a new different program do the same thing more effectively?: -Does this program complement other programs, helping all be more effective?: -Other Considerations: ORAL HISTORY: -How does it Capture and Preserve History?: -How does it Educate Citizens?: -Are there opportunities for collaboration and partnerships, if so, with who: - Is it in competition with any other program that shares its purpose, if so, is it an inherent problem, or a missed opportunity for cooperation, or does it make both programs less effective?: -Would a change in existing program or a new different program do the same thing more effectively?: -Does this program complement other programs, helping all be more effective?: -Other Considerations: EXPLORING HISTORY LUNCHEON: -How does it Capture and Preserve History?: -How does it Educate Citizens?: -Are there opportunities for collaboration and partnerships, if so, with who: - Is it in competition with any other program that shares its purpose, if so, is it an inherent problem, or a missed opportunity for cooperation, or does it make both programs less effective?: -Would a change in existing program or a new different program do the same thing more effectively?: -Does this program complement other programs, helping all be more effective?: -Other Considerations: HISTORIC MARKER PROGRAM: -How does it Capture and Preserve History?: -How does it Educate Citizens?: -Are there opportunities for collaboration and partnerships, if so, with who: - Is it in competition with any other program that shares its purpose, if so, is it an inherent problem, or a missed opportunity for cooperation, or does it make both programs less effective?: -Would a change in existing program or a new different program do the same thing more effectively?: -Does this program complement other programs, helping all be more effective?: -Other Considerations: ANY NEW PROGRAM, such as new outreach, school programs, formalization of history blurbs, articles, walking tours, etc. etc.: -How does it Capture and Preserve History?: -How does it Educate Citizens?: -Are there opportunities for collaboration and partnerships, if so, with who: - Is it in competition with any other program that shares its purpose, if so, is it an inherent problem, or a missed opportunity for cooperation, or does it make both programs less effective?: -Would a change in existing program or a new different program do the same thing more effectively?: -Does this program complement other programs, helping all be more effective?: -Other Considerations: POTENTIAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERS: STATE: Texas Historical Commission- Universities- Other- LOCAL: County Historical Commission- University Example--Center for Heritage Conservation-documentation of historic structures, policy and technology -Libraries- -Non-Profits- Other- So Far focus has been past and present, now the FUTURE. What can Committee do to get outside input to better assess? Public Survey- We can do surveymonkey, but NEED A SET OF QUESTIONS Future Committee Members: What would be the ideal committee member? What would be the best “job description” for a member? NEED A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT AN EFFECTIVE HPC MEMBER DOES Other: The big question: The HPC exists to collect, preserve and share history with the public, yet we have the big question: -Why Should Anybody Care? Common reasons: Personal Nostalgia Sense of Identity Sense of Place Real reasons, that are often overlooked: A unique sense of place makes money, and opens up opportunities for development for a community, every day: --For example, a unique sense of place caused President Bush to put his library here. --A unique sense of place attracts a skilled workforce to actually want to live and invest in a location. --A unique sense of place attracts small and local business, two economic segments that keep their profits in a community out of proportion to their scale. -- A unique sense of place attracts tourists, ones that are generally more affluent, stay longer, spend more, and have les negative impacts on infrastructure than typical tourists. --Other reasons? --Actionable tasks/projects that would provide for the education of citizens about local history, and also why it is important.