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Landmarks Commission Minutes June 15, 2026 Members Present: Raivo Balciunas, Aaron Brewster, Robert Gough, John Gyorfi Members Absent: Megan Beer-Pemberton, Dave Barnes, Bob Tollefson Staff Present: Peter Baumgartner The following items were on the agenda: 1. Call to order Chair Balciunas called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. 2. Roll call Roll was taken and a quorum was present. 3. Open public comment period for items that do not appear on this agenda. None. 4. Approval of the 5/18/26 Minutes Motion by Commissioner Gough to approve the Landmarks Commission minutes, seconded by Commissioner Brewster, and approved unanimously. 5. Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) – 620 3rd Avenue Baumgartner went over the application, noting the significance of the structure and that the applicant was requesting two modifications, the replacement of the windows and the installation of the meter bank on the structure. He noted specifically that the standards for windows are only recommendations, and that the meters have to meet both the district standards and the screening standards from the ordinance. Ed Garlick, owner, spoke on behalf of the item, noting the insurance requirements, Xcel’s requirements, and clarified that they were going to be filling in the existing 3’ window well up to grade and blocking in two of the three windows, leaving only the window that is closest to the proposed meter bank. Commissioners asked clarifying questions for the proposed windows, the location of the meter bank, if it could be flipped horizontally, and how the backboard installation would work with the existing siding. Garlick mentioned that Xcel said that they cannot paint them, calling it trespassing. Baumgartner stated that the zoning code does have the authority to affect the location and screening of the meters and that painting the meters could be required. The discussion then moved toward screening it, with Garlick noting that it cannot fully be enclosed due to access and clearance requirements. Motion to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness was made by Commissioner Brewster with the conditions that the meters are screened, that any replacement windows are awning style windows, and that they reuse any of the existing block from the windows on a screening wall if available. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Gough and approved unanimously by the commissioners present. 6. Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) – 244 Lake Street Baumgartner gave a quick overview of the application, noting its historic provenance and that this application was largely the same as the previous one. Ed Garlick, owner, noted that installing shrubs or a fence in front of the meter would not be practical due to there being no space between the existing parking lot and the structure. He also reiterated that Xcel said that he was not allowed to paint the meters. The commissioners noted that it was already somewhat screened from the neighboring property by the existing fence. Garlick also noted that they will be replacing the existing aluminum siding and some of the windows. While discussing it, Baumgartner noted that windows that are replaced in kind do not normally need CoA’s but residing does. The Commission and the applicant then discussed some of the specific details on the electrical replacement work being done. With no further discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Brewster to approve the COA with no conditions, seconded by Commissioner Gough, and approved unanimously. 7. Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) – 1302 Lake Street Baumgartner went over the application, noting that this was also the same request as the previous application with the difference being that this was on a façade that was pointed toward the street. He concluded that this application has the same recommended condition to paint the meters. Ed Garlick, owner, noted that the shrubs in front of the meter on the aerial were removed to accommodate Xcel’s preference that they have a hard surface to work on. He also reiterated that Xcel said that he was not allowed to paint the meters. During the discussion between the property owner, the Landmarks Commission, and staff, it was noted that while it is technically street fronting, the meters are not fronting State Street, the property owner noted his preference for reinstalling shrubs or a fence, rather than having to paint it; and that the meters were already going to be grey like the house. Motion to approve by Commissioner Gough with staff recommendations to paint the meters if possible. No second, motion fails. Motion by Commissioner Brewster to approve with either screening shrubs or a fence, second by Commissioner Gyorfi, approved unanimously. 8. Presentation on Forest Hill Cemetery National Register Nomination Gail Klein, the consultant with the Archaeological Research Laboratory Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee presented her research and findings on Forest Hill Cemetery, calling out things such as the already landmarked Putnam Memorial Chapel, the landscape and various columbarium’s. Some discussion was had around 7-Bumps Hill being excluded from the plan. Baumgartner noted that staff directed the consultant to exclude that area to keep it within the same boundary as the locally designated area and to also prevent it from impacting the Plank Hill Master Plan. Klein had suggested that some more language could be added to her report to further enhance the recreational aspect of the cemetery and its mention of 7-Bumps, but it would be challenging to both mention its importance and exclude it from the landmarked area. It was also asked about the next steps. Klein responded that it would be sent to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for review as soon as it is approved by the Landmarks Commission or staff. From there, SHPO would provide comments on the application and make a recommendation to the National Parks Service, which would make the final decision. With no further discussion, a motion to approve the sending of the nomination to SHPO was made by Commissioner Gough, second by Commissioner Brewster. The motion was approved unanimously by the commissioners present. 9. Future agenda items and announcements I. Future Agenda Items: a. Gyorfi’s videos b. More possible COAs 10. Adjournment Chair Balciunas called for adjournment of the meeting at 6:36 p.m. Submitted by, Robert Gough, Secretary