The Planning and Zoning Commission, in order to effectuate the purposes of this chaper, shall have such duties and powers as may be imposed by ordinance and these Codified Ordinances, including the following:
(a) Establishment of Criteria, Rules and Regulations for Evaluation of Applications. The Commission shall establish criteria, rules and regulations not otherwise included in this chapter for evaluating applications for certificates of appropriateness submitted to it and the manner in which such applications shall be processed.
(b) Use of Standards for Rehabilitation and Other Guidelines. The Commission shall use the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and any other written guidelines the Commission may adopt for making decisions on requests for certificates of appropriateness submitted to it.
(c) Assistance of Applicants. The Commission shall help applicants understand and comply with the criteria established in this chapter.
(d) Review and Action Upon Applications. The Commission shall review and act upon all applications for certificates of appropriateness as required by this chapter. Approval or denial shall occur within thirty days, unless tabling is requested by the applicant.
(e) Consideration of Hardships and Other Consequences of Approval and Disapproval. The Commission shall consider whether the failure to issue a certificate of appropriateness will institute a "substantial hardship" to the applicant, and whether the certificate may be issued without substantial detriment to the public welfare and without substantial derogation from the provisions and purposes of this chapter.
(f) Use of Experts. The Commission may employ technical experts and such other employees as may be required to perform its duties, within the appropriations made available therefor, and to perform such other related tasks within its capabilities as may be required by Council.
(g) Cooperation With Planners, Developers, Etc. The Commission shall work cooperatively with planners, developers, the City and others in long-range planning efforts to insure the inclusion of historic preservation values in such planning efforts.
(h) Surveying of Properties. The Commission shall conduct, cause to be conducted or assist in the conduct, of a continuing survey of all structures or areas of architectural, historic or aesthetic interest in the City, which the Commission believes, on the basis of information available or presented to it, are or will be eligible for designation as a listed properties.
(i) Designation of Listed Properties; Registration. The Commission shall make recommendations for the designation of listed properties to Council and keep a current register of all listed properties. All listed properties shall be given a number, a description accompanied by a photograph and the reasons for the listing. This register shall also include verbal boundary descriptions of the listed properties. The register will be made available to the public and to any other interested party.
(j) Education of Members. The Commission shall conduct or encourage members to attend educational sessions at least once a year pertaining to the function of the Commission or relating to specific historic preservation issues.
(k) Education of Citizens. The Commission shall work for the continuing education of the citizens of the City with respect to the architectural and historic heritage of the City and the listed properties and District designated under the provisions of this chapter, and shall make every effort to improve the overall design and environmental awareness of the citizens of the City.
(l) Review of National Register Nominations. The Commission shall review proposed National Register nominations for properties within its jurisdiction and forward its comments to the State Historic Preservation Officer.
(m) Minutes. The Commission shall maintain written minutes of its actions and ecisions and shall make such minutes available for public inspection.
(n) Achievement of Purposes of Chapter. The Commission shall improve the quality of life in the City by striving to further and achieve the spirit and purposes of this chapter.
(o) Amendments. The Commission shall make recommendations to Council for additions or revisions to this chapter.
(Ord. 94-46. Passed 7-5-94; Ord. 2000-77. Passed 8-1-00.)