§ 113-4. Creation of a historic preservation commission.

(a)

Creation of the commission. There is hereby created a commission whose title shall be "City of Springfield Historic Preservation Commission" (hereinafter "commission").

(b)

Commission position within the city government. The commission shall be part of the planning functions of the city.

(c)

Commission members: number, appointment, terms and compensation.

(1)

Number, appointment. The commission shall consist of five members nominated by the mayor and any member of city council, such nomination to be ratified by the city council. A ratified nomination shall have the effect of appointing such nominee to the commission as a member. All members shall be residents of the city. A majority of the members of the commission shall have demonstrated special interest, experience, or education in history or architecture. In establishing such a commission and making appointments to it, the council may seek the advice of any state or local historical agency, society, or organization.

(2)

Desired qualifications. To the extent available in the city, at least three members shall be appointed from among professionals in the disciplines of architecture, history, architectural history, planning, archaeology or related professions.

(3)

Terms. Members shall serve three-year terms. Members may not serve more than two consecutive terms. In order to achieve staggered terms, initial appointments shall be one member for one year; two members for two years; and two members for three years.

(4)

Compensation. Members shall not receive a salary, although they may be reimbursed for expenses.

(5)

Ex officio members. Ex officio members may be appointed in the same manner as set forth in subsection (c)(1), but shall not have voting power and shall not be counted for quorum purposes.

(d)

Statement of commission's power.

(1)

Authorization. The preservation commission shall be authorized to undertake the following acts:

a.

Prepare and maintain an inventory of all property within the city having the potential for designation as historic property;

b.

Recommend to the city council specific districts, sites, buildings, structures, or objects to be designated by ordinance as historic properties or historic districts;

c.

Review application for certificates of appropriateness, and grant or deny same in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;

d.

Recommend to the city council that the designation of any district, site, building, structure or object as a historic property or as a historic district be revoked or removed;

e.

Restore or preserve any historic properties acquired by the city;

f.

Promote the acquisition by the city of conservation easements, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Georgia Uniform Conservation Easement Act of 1992 (O.C.G.A. § 44-10-1 et seq.);

g.

Conduct educational programs on historic properties located within the city and on general historic preservation activities;

h.

Make such investigation and studies of matters relating to historic preservation, including consultation with historic preservation experts, the city council or the commission itself may, from time to time, deem necessary or appropriate for the purposes of preserving historic resources;

i.

Seek out local, state, federal or private funds for historic preservation, and make recommendations to the city council concerning the most appropriate uses of any funds acquired;

j.

Submit to the historic preservation division of the department of natural resources a list of historic properties of historic districts designated;

k.

Perform historic preservation activities as the official agency of the city historic preservation program.

(2)

Commission's power to adopt rules and standards. The preservation commission shall adopt rules and standards for the transaction of its business and for consideration of application for designation of certificate of appropriateness, such as bylaws, removal of membership provision, and design guidelines and criteria. The preservation commission shall have the flexibility to adopt rules and standards without amendment to this chapter. The commission shall provide for the time and place of regular meetings and a method for the calling of special meetings. The commission shall select such officers as it deems appropriate from among its members. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members.

(e)

Conflicts of interest. The commission shall be subject to all conflict of interest laws set forth in the Official Code of Georgia and in the Charter of the city.

(f)

Records of commission meetings. A public record shall be kept of the commission resolution, proceedings and actions.

(g)

Other records. The commission shall keep a copy of all historic resource surveys, planning studies, designation reports, design review criteria and applications for certificates of appropriateness and recommendations of action.

( Ord. No. 04-07, § III, 5-22-2007 )

State law reference

Historic preservation commission, O.C.G.A. § 44-10-24 et seq.