The purpose of this Chapter is to promote the public health, safety and general welfare by providing for the identification, protection, enhancement, perpetuation and use of historic buildings and structures within the City that reflect special elements of the City's historical heritage for the following reasons:
A. To safeguard the City's heritage as embodied and reflected in cultural resources and historic sites;
B. To encourage public knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the City's historic past;
C. To foster civic and neighborhood pride and a sense of identity based on the recognition and preservation of cultural resources;
D. To promote understanding and appreciation of cultural resources for the education of the people of the City;
E. To preserve diverse architectural styles and design preferences of periods of the City's history and to encourage complementary contemporary design and construction;
F. To promote public awareness of the benefits of preservation; and
G. To take whatever steps are reasonable and necessary to safeguard the property rights of the owners whose building or structure is declared to be a landmark. (Ord. 1212, 11-16-1993)