(A) In addition to the powers and duties stated elsewhere, the Historic District Commission shall take action necessary and appropriate to accomplish the purpose of this chapter. These actions may include, but are not limited to, conducting a survey of historic buildings and areas and preparing a plan for their preservation, recommending the designation of historic districts and individual landmarks, regulating changes to designated property including proposed alterations that are visible to the public, demolitions, relocations, and new construction, adopting guidelines for changes to designated property, working with and advising the federal, state, and county governments and other parts of city government, and advising and assisting property owners and other persons and groups including neighborhood organizations who are interested in historic preservation. In addition, these actions may include initiating plans for the preservation and rehabilitation of individual historic buildings and undertaking educational programs including the preparation of publications and the placing of historic markers.
(B) To participate in the Certified Local Government program, t he city shall initiate all local nominations to the National Register of Historic Places and shall request the Mayor and the Commission to submit recommendations on each proposed nomination to the National Register. The Mayor and the Commission shall obtain comments from the public that shall be included in their National Register recommendations. Within sixty (60) days of the receipt of a nomination from a private individual or the initiation of a nomination by the city, the city shall inform the Kentucky Heritage Council and the owner of the property of the two (2) recommendations regarding the eligibility of the property. If the Mayor and the Commission do not agree, both opinions shall be forwarded in the city's report. If both the Mayor and the Commission recommend that a property not be nominated, the Kentucky Heritage Council shall informal the property owner, the state review board, and the State Historic Preservation Officer, and the property will not be nominated unless an appeal is filed with the State Historic Preservation Officer.
(C) If either or both the Mayor and the Commission agree that a property should be nominated, the nomination will receive a preliminary review by the Kentucky Historic Preservation Review Board. The Review Board shall make a recommendation to the State Historic Preservation Officer who decides whether to forward the nomination to the U. S. Secretary of the Interior who shall make the decision on listing the property on the National Register. The Mayor, the Commission, or the property owner may appeal the final decision by the State Historic Preservation Officer.
(D) 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.
(E) In making its survey of historic buildings and areas, the Commission shall conduct this work in accordance with the guidelines of the Kentucky 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.
(F) 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 Kentucky Open Meeting Law. A simple majority of the membership shall be required for decisions involving historic buildings and areas.
(G) 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.
(H) The Commission shall receive assistance in the performance of its responsibilities from a city staff member or designee whose assigned duties shall include 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. - -, passed 4-18-85)