(A) Specific powers.
(1) In addition to the powers and duties stated elsewhere, the Commission shall take action necessary and appropriate to accomplish the purpose of this chapter.
(2) These actions may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Conducting a survey of historic buildings and areas and preparing a plan for their preservation;
(b) Recommending to the City Council the designation of historic districts and individual landmarks;
(c) Regulating changes to designated property including proposed alterations that are visible to the public, demolitions, relocations, and new construction;
(d) Adopting written guidelines for making exterior changes to designated property and for undertaking new construction on designated property;
(e) Working with and advising the federal, commonwealth, and county governments and other parts of city government;
(f) Advising and assisting property owners and other persons and groups, including neighborhood organizations who are interested in historic preservation;
(g) Initiating plans for the preservation and rehabilitation of individual historic buildings; and
(h) Undertaking educational programs including the preparation of publications and the placing of historic markers.
(B) Rehabilitation of buildings. The Commission may encourage plans for the preservation and rehabilitation of individual historic buildings. The Commission shall, on a regular basis, give recognition to owners and tenants who maintain or rehabilitate their historic buildings with care and thus contribute to the preservation of the history of the city.
(C) Survey of historic buildings. In making its survey of historic buildings and areas, the Commission shall conduct this work in accordance with the guidelines of the Commonwealth Heritage Council. The Commission shall provide that its survey and preservation plan shall be maintained and continued. The Commission shall use the preservation plan to assist the city in its overall planning efforts.
(D) Meetings of the Commission. The Commission shall adopt and make public rules for the transaction of its business and shall hold monthly public meetings and special public meetings when necessary. All meetings shall have a previously available agenda and shall comply with the Commonwealth Open Meeting Act, KRS 61.805. A simple majority of the membership shall be required for decisions involving historic buildings and areas.
(E) Annual report. The Commission shall prepare and keep on file, available for public inspection, a written annual report of its activities, cases, decisions, qualifications of members, and other work.
(F) Right to receive specific funds. The Commission, in addition to any appropriations made by city, shall have the right to receive, hold, and spend funds which it may legally receive from any and every source both in and out of the commonwealth for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter.
(G) Other duties under the Certified Local Government Program. In the development of the Certified Local Government Program, the city may ask the Commission to perform other responsibilities that may be delegated to the city under the National Historic Preservation Act, being 16 U.S.C. §§ 470 et seq.
(H) Assistance for the Commission. The Commission shall receive assistance in the performance of its responsibilities from a city staff member or designee whose assigned duties shall include this work with the Commission who shall have expertise in historic preservation or a closely related field. Other city staff members may be asked to assist the Commission by providing technical advice or helping in the administration of this chapter.
(Ord. 648B-01, passed 9-10-2001; Ord. 734-06, passed 11-13-2006)