(A) The City’s Historic Landmarks Committee is hereby established as an advisory body to the Planning Commission with the following provisions.
(1) The Historic Landmarks Committee shall consist of five members selected at large. Each member shall be entitled to one vote. The Mayor, subject to Council approval, shall appoint a Historic Landmark Committee, hereinafter referred to as the “Committee,” of five members with a demonstrated competence, knowledge, or interest in historic preservation with preference given to those with professional experience in the fields of preservation, architecture, archaeology, community history, building trades, real estate, or related specialties.
(2) Initial appointments to the Committee shall be for terms of one, two, and three years as determined by the Mayor. Subsequent terms of appointment shall be for three years, or, in the case of a replacement, for the remainder of the unexpired term. Members shall be eligible for reappointment by the City Council after the expiration of their terms.
(3) All members may serve three-year terms commencing on the first Tuesday in January, except that the initial term of the first members shall be for the duration of their appointments as Historic Landmarks Committee members. Any vacancy occurring in a position for any reason other than the expiration of the term shall be filled by appointment by the Council for the remainder of the term.
(4) The Historic Landmarks Committee shall:
(a) Review the building permit applications for alterations to historic landmarks or construction upon historic sites where the guidelines for alteration provided in § 153.09 would be violated as determined by the Historic Preservation Officer;
(b) Review of the demolition permit applications which would result in the destruction of historic landmarks;
(c) Evaluate and designate historic districts, buildings, structures, sites, and objects as provided by the procedures in § 153.05;
(d) Conduct surveys, inventories, and studies of potential historic resources as budgeted;
(e) Make recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council regarding historic preservation issues, including, but not limited to, ordinance amendments and historic district designations;
(f) Promote public awareness and appreciation of the City’s historic resources as budgeted;
(g) The Committee shall support the enforcement of all state laws relating to historic preservation; and
(h) Conduct other historic preservation functions as determined by the Historic Preservation Officer.
(B) The Historic Landmarks Committee at its first meeting of each calendar year shall elect a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson who shall hold office during the remainder of said year. Members of the Committee shall also elect a Secretary who shall be responsible for keeping an accurate record of all proceedings of said Committee.
(C) A simple majority of the Historic Landmarks Committee members then serving shall constitute a quorum. The Historic Landmarks Committee, with the majority of its members concurring, may make and alter rules and regulations for its government and procedure consistent with the City charter and ordinances and with the state. The Historic Landmarks Committee may set a regularly scheduled meeting time. If no regular meeting time is established, the Historic Landmarks Committee shall be called to meetings by the Historic Preservation Officer at such times as it is required to meet, which is not less than four times per year. All meetings are subject to the state’s Public Meetings law.
(Ord. 638, passed 5-7-2014)