There is hereby created a commission to be known as the City Museum and Historical Preservation Board, hereinafter referred to as the Board.
(A) The Board shall consist of seven members, with an addition of one ex-officio to be appointed by the City Commission if possible; an architect or planner, if available an engineer a historian or historical society member an attorney two residents of Laguna Madre Area.
(B) At least four members must be city residents and have a known interest, competence or knowledge in historic preservation in the city, and as a whole shall represent the ethnic makeup of the city.
(C) Board members shall serve three years, except the initial term of two members shall be one year, two members two years and three members three years.
(D) The Board will elect their officers annually.
(E) The Board shall be empowered to:
(1) Make recommendations for volunteers, employment and staff and professional consultants as necessary to carry out the duties of the Board;
(2) Prepare rules and procedures as necessary to carry out the business of the Board, which shall be ratified by the City Commission;
(3) Adopt criteria for the designation of historic, architectural and cultural landmarks and the delineation of historic districts, which shall be ratified by the City Commission;
(4) Conduct surveys and maintain an inventory of significant historical, architectural and cultural landmarks and all properties located in historic districts within the city;
(5) Recommend the designation of resources as landmarks and historic districts;
(6) Create committees from among its membership and delegate to these committees responsibilities to carry out the purposes of this chapter;
(7) Maintain written minutes which record all actions taken by the Board and the reasons for taking such actions;
(8) Recommend conferral of recognition upon the owners of landmarks or properties within districts by means of certificates, plaques or markers;
(9) Increase public awareness of the value of historic, cultural and architectural preservation by developing and participating in public education programs;
(10) Make recommendations to the city government concerning the utilization of state, federal or private funds to promote the preservation of landmarks and historic districts within the city;
(11) Approve or disapprove applications for certificate of appropriateness pursuant to this act;
(12) Prepare and submit twice annually to the City Commission a report summarizing the work completed the previous year;
(13) Recommend yearly budget on operation and maintenance of the City Historical Museum;
(14) Prepare specific design guidelines for the review of landmarks and districts;
(15) Propose tax abatement program for landmarks or districts if feasible;
(16) Accept on behalf of the city government the donation of preservation easements and development rights as well as any other gift of value for the purpose of historic preservation, subject to the approval of the City Commission; and
(17) Recommend fees, after consultation with the City Administration and planning and zoning, for services provided.
(Ord. 568, passed 1-23-1996; Ord. 568A, passed 4-23-1996)