Banning Municipal Code Ch. 2.46 Historic Preservation Commission

The city recognizes and establishes the historic preservation commission, which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the city council and make recommendations and determinations relating to the designation, preservation, protection, enhancement, and perpetuation of the city's historical properties.

(Ord. No. 1593, § 2, 10-24-23)

A. Commission. The historic preservation commission shall consist of five members at large.

B. Appointment and removal. After receiving applications from those interested, along with their credentials, the mayor shall appoint the members of the historic preservation commission subject to the city council's approval and confirmation of each appointment to one of five numbered positions: Position 1, Position 2, Position 3, Position 4, and Position 5. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the city council and may be removed at any time by a majority vote of a quorum of the city council.

C. Member qualifications. Members of the historic preservation commission shall:

1. Have a demonstrated interest, competence, or knowledge in historic preservation and the local history, and pre-history, of the City of Banning. Members who meet the Secretary of Interior's Historic Preservation Professional Qualifications Standards are preferred.

2. Reside within the corporate limits of the city.

3. Serve without compensation.

4. Not be a member of any other standing commission, board, or committee of the city nor an employee thereof.

D. Term.

1. Members shall serve a term of four years, which shall be staggered every two years concurrent with city elections. In order to stagger the terms of the commission, the initial terms for commission member Position 1 and Position 2 shall be for two years, and all subsequent terms of Positions 1 and 2 shall be for four years. The initial terms and all subsequent terms for commission member Position 3, Position 4, and Position 5 shall be for four years.

2. Members shall remain a member until a successor is appointed.

E. Absences. Any member who is unexcused for two consecutive regular meetings or six meetings within a 12-month period, whether the six meetings are excused or not, will be deemed to have resigned their position and the city council may appoint a new member in the same manner as the initial appointment under subsection B of this section to serve the remaining term of the resigned member.

(Ord. No. 1593, § 2, 10-24-23)

A. Officers. The commission shall, at the first regularly scheduled meeting of each calendar year, annually elect a chairperson for the term of one year, and such other officers as the commission may deem advisable.

B. Meeting times and places. The city council shall designate the time and place for the inaugural meeting of the commission. Thereafter, the commission shall designate the time and place for its meetings. Meeting places and times shall be noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and the commission shall have regular meeting dates.

C. Commission rules. The commission shall adopt such rules and regulations for its own organization as are necessary to carry out its duties and function. The commission shall keep records of all its actions and proceedings.

D. Public meetings. As the commission is created and appointed by the city council, members of the commission and all proceedings of the commission be subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act.

E. Staff Support. City community development staff and the city attorney's office will provide support to the commission.

(Ord. No. 1593, § 2, 10-24-23)

The commission shall have the following duties:

A. Conduct or cause to be conducted a comprehensive survey to identify potential historic resources.

B. Promote public interest in and understanding of historical resources and the preservation thereof.

C. Consult with and advise public officials and agencies; civic, educational, professional and other organizations; and citizens generally, in relation to the preservation of historical resources.

D. Consider all inquiries and requests for the preservation or cataloging of historic resources located within the city limits.

E. Compile and maintain the inventory of identified resources.

F. Compile and maintain a current register of historic resources.

G. Consider requests by property owners for nontechnical advice on proposed work on historic resources.

H. Make recommendations to city council on whether resources should be designated as historic resources.

I. Make recommendations to city council on whether to grant, condition, or deny certificates of appropriateness and hardship permits for the demolition, removal, or substantial alternation of any historic resource.

J. Develop and recommend to the city council standards, including design guidelines, to be used by the commission and the city council in reviewing applications for designation and permits for the demolition, removal, or substantial alternation of any historic resource.

K. Perform such other duties as are specified by ordinance of the city council.

(Ord. No. 1593, § 2, 10-24-23)

All terms defined in section 17.58.30 shall have the same meaning herein.

(Ord. No. 1593, § 2, 10-24-23)