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Historic Preservation Commission approves revised award categories and selection criteria, names two volunteers for 2026 selection
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Summary
The Bismarck Historic Preservation Commission on Dec. 17 approved revised award categories and a new internal selection checklist for its historic preservation awards, endorsed outreach changes to boost nominations and tasked two commissioners to serve on the 2026 selection subcommittee.
The Bismarck Historic Preservation Commission on Dec. 17 approved revised award categories and an internal evaluation sheet for its historic preservation awards and confirmed two commissioners to serve on the 2026 selection subcommittee.
Planning staff presented a draft nomination form and an internal evaluation form designed to make award decisions more objective. Lauren, the city planning staff member who led the presentation, said, "As a reminder, only projects completed within the past 3 years would be eligible to apply for this." Commissioners discussed outreach and scoring mechanics after staff noted the commission received only one nomination last year.
Commissioners asked staff to broaden outreach (social media, highlighting last year's awardee, and outreach at builders events) and to contact partners such as the Renaissance Zone committee and the State Historic Preservation Office for candidate leads. Staff said the nomination form (hosted on Survey123) will display category-specific questions depending on the applicant's selected category, and staff agreed to add a clearer field for education/awareness submissions and a requirement for written landowner permission for owner-nominated buildings.
A commissioner moved to accept the nomination/application form with the noted changes; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call. The commission also approved the internal criteria checklist (staff said yes/no checks better match the objective criteria and added a bonus area to break ties) by roll call.
For the 2026 award selection, two commissioners volunteered to serve on the selection group; commissioners Sackerson and Swanson were confirmed to the subcommittee. The commission noted the selection group will include those two historic preservation commissioners and planning staff; final award selections will be approved by the full commission.
The commission did not set a final deadline for nominations during the meeting but discussed using routine annual outreach (including placing the item on the commission's annual calendar) to identify candidates each December going forward.
