A. Organization:
1. Appointment: The Mayor shall, with the advice and consent of the City Council, appoint members to the City Landmark Commission.
2. Composition: The Landmark Commission shall consist of nine (9) members.
a. Terms: The regular term shall be three (3) years for members with staggered terms.
b. Officers: The Mayor shall annually appoint one member to serve as Chairperson. The commission shall elect all other officers by majority vote.
c. Vacancies: Vacancies shall be filled by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council. Any commission member may be removed by the City Council for cause.
d. Meetings: Meetings of the commission shall be held on the first Tuesday of every month, except in those months when no business is pending, and shall be held at such times and places within the City as established by the commission. All meetings of the commission shall be open to the public. The commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings. The minutes shall show the vote, or absence or abstention, of each member upon every official action, and shall be a public record open for inspection and maintained by the City Clerk. All meetings shall comply with the Open Meetings Act.
e. Quorum: Any five (5) members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of transacting any business at any meeting of said commission.
B. Powers And Authorities:
1. Ongoing Survey: To conduct an ongoing survey of the City to identify structures, areas, sites and landscapes that are of historic, archeological, architectural or scenic significance, and are therefor potential landmarks or preservation districts.
2. Hearings, Recommendations: To hold public hearings and recommend to the City Council designation of landmarks or preservation districts.
3. Compile Information: To compile information concerning and prepare descriptions of landmarks or preservation districts identified and recommended for designation and the characteristics that meet the criteria for designation.
4. Maps: To prepare, keep current and publish a map or maps showing the location and exact boundaries of proposed and designated landmarks and preservation districts, and the locations and boundaries of designated County, State or Federal landmarks or preservation districts.
5. Register: To keep a register of all designated landmarks and preservation districts.
6. Markers, Plaques: To establish an appropriate system of markers or plaques for all designated landmarks and preservation districts, and for streets, roads, trails and highways leading from one landmark or preservation district to another, and to recommend that the City confer recognition upon the owners of landmarks or property within preservation districts by means of certificates, plaques or markers.
7. Recommend Nominations: To recommend to City Council the nomination of landmarks and preservation districts to any State or Federal Registers of Historic Places.
8. Advise, Assist Owners: To advise and assist owners of landmarks and property within preservation districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation and reuse, and on procedures for inclusion on any State or Federal Register of Historic Places.
9. Inform, Educate Public: To inform and educate the citizens of the City concerning the historic, archeological, architectural or scenic heritage of the City by publishing appropriate maps, newsletters, brochures and pamphlets, and by holding programs and seminars.
10. Develop Criteria, Guidelines: To develop specific criteria and guidelines for the proper alteration, construction, demolition or removal of landmarks, or of property within preservation districts.
11. Public Hearings, Review Applications: To hold public hearings and to review applications for construction, alteration, removal or demolition affecting nominated or designated landmarks or property within preservation districts, and issue or deny or recommend approval or denial of a Certificate of Appropriateness, or of a Certificate of Economic Hardship that would allow the performance of work for which a Certificate of Appropriateness has been denied for such actions.
12. Gifts, Grants: To accept and administer on behalf of the City, upon designation by the City Council, such gifts, grants and money as may be appropriate for the purposes of this chapter.
13. Seek Assistance: To seek help from citizen, neighborhood or area advisory committees, as required from time to time.
14. Testify As Necessary: To testify before all appointed boards and commissions on any matter affecting nominated or designated landmarks or preservation districts.
15. Review Laws: To periodically review the Zoning Ordinance and Building Codes and recommend to the City Council any amendments appropriate for the protection and continued use of landmarks or property within preservation districts.
16. Federal, State Projects: To advise or testify on behalf of the City for Federal and State projects requiring cultural impact surveys.
17. Other Action, Activity: To undertake any other action or activity necessary or appropriate to the implementation of the purposes of this chapter.
18. Annual Report: To submit an annual report of its activities to the City Council.
C. Surveys And Research:
1. The commission shall undertake an ongoing survey and research effort to identify districts, sites, structures and objects that have historical, cultural, community, architectural, archaeological or aesthetic significance, interest or value. As part of the survey, the commission shall review and evaluate any prior surveys and studies by any unit of government or private organizations and compile appropriate descriptions, facts and photographs.
2. The commission shall systematically identify potential landmarks and preservation districts associated with a particular person, event or historical period, or of a particular architectural style or school or building material, or of a particular architect, engineer, builder or craftsman, and adopt procedures to assure systematic survey and nomination of all potential landmarks and preservation districts within the City.
D. Preservation Plan:
1. Preparation Required: The commission shall, through the aforesaid surveys and research, become thoroughly familiarized with districts, sites, structures and objects within the City that may be eligible for designation as historic landmarks or preservation districts, and prepare a Historic Landmark and District Preservation Plan.
2. Presentation To City Council: The Historic Landmark and District Preservation Plan shall be presented to the City Council for consideration and recommendation for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan.
(Ord. 09-977, 1-5-2009; amd. Ord. 21-35, 7-19-2021)