Redlands Municipal Code Ch. 2.24 Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission

The City Council finds and declares as follows:

A. That the City possesses many distinctive structures, beautiful trees and gardens, public parks and other scenic and aesthetic qualities that enhance its value as an attractive community;

B. That the well preserved properties established before and after the City's incorporation in 1888 contribute to this community's fine character, atmosphere and reputation;

C. That certain of these properties, by virtue of their age, architectural style, aesthetic appeal, or association with local history, are of great historical significance and value;

D. That these irreplaceable historical properties should be preserved to be enjoyed and valued by the generations that follow us;

E. That the adoption of reasonable and fair regulations is necessary as a means of documenting and preserving these properties, and of providing recognition of their value to the community. (Ord. 1951 § 1, 1986: Prior Code § 18301)

A historical or scenic property is any property, structure or improvement, including any significant trees or other plant life, which satisfies any of the following requirements:

A. The property is the first, last, only or most significant historical or scenic property of its type in the City;

B. The property is associated with an individual or group having significant influence on the history or development of the City;

C. The property is an example or contains an example of a period, style, architectural movement, or construction of historical, aesthetic, or architectural interest;

D. The property is a part of or contributes aesthetically to the historical or scenic heritage of the City. This category includes, but is not limited to, landscaping, light standards, trees, curbings and signs;

E. The property is located within a geographically definable area possessing a concentration of historical or scenic properties that contribute to each other and are unified aesthetically by plan or by physical development. (Ord. 1951 § 1, 1986: Prior Code § 18309)

There is a Historic and Scenic 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 and scenic properties. (Ord. 1951 § 1, 1986: Prior Code § 18302)

The Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission shall consist of nine (9) members who shall each serve for a four (4) year term and until his or her successor is appointed. Eight (8) members shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council, shall serve without compensation, shall each be a resident of the City, and neither a member of any other standing commission, board or committee of the City nor an employee thereof. The ninth member of the commission shall be the Archivist Curator of the City's A.K. Smiley Public Library, or his or her designated appointee. No person, except for the Archivist Curator, shall serve more than two (2) consecutive full terms unless appointed to an additional term by a four-fifths (4/5) vote of the City Council. Vacancies on the commission shall be filled by appointment by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council for the unexpired portion of the term. Appointments made to fill an unexpired term will constitute a full term if more than one-half (1/2) of a term remains. For example, if a term is four (4) years and an appointment for an unexpired term is more than two (2) years, this appointment constitutes a full term. The City Council may remove any member of the commission at any time, without cause, by a majority vote. Five (5) members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. (Ord. 2751, 2011)

Any member of the commission who absents himself or herself from any three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the commission, unless excused from such absence by consent of the commission expressed by action recorded in its minutes, shall thereby automatically forfeit his or her position as a member of the commission immediately after adjournment of any such third consecutive meeting at which such member has not appeared. The Chairperson or Secretary of the commission shall thereupon, within three (3) business days, notify in writing the City Council, and any such person so ceasing to be a member of the commission, of such fact; whereupon the vacancy so created shall be filled by appointment pursuant to section 2.24.040 of this chapter. (Ord. 2853, 2017)

The commission shall annually elect a Chairperson for the term of one (1) year, and such other officers as the commission may deem advisable. The commission shall adopt such rules and regulations for its own organization as are necessary to carry out its duties and functions, and shall designate the time and place for its meetings. The commission shall keep records of all of its actions and proceedings and shall have regular meeting dates. The commission shall submit annually a proposed budget to the City Council covering personnel services, supplies, and equipment necessary for the performance of its duties. (Ord. 1951 § 1, 1986: Prior Code § 18304)

The commission shall have the following duties:

A. To promote public interest in and understanding of historical and scenic properties and the preservation thereof;

B. To consult with and advise public officials and agencies; civic, educational, professional and other organizations; and citizens generally, in relation to the preservation of historical and scenic properties;

C. To consider all inquiries and requests for the preservation or cataloging of historical or scenic properties located within the City limits of the City;

D. To compile and maintain a current register of all properties it has determined to be registerable historical or scenic properties. The register shall contain a description of each property, the reason or reasons for its inclusion in the register, and an inventory detailing those parts or characteristics of the property which are being classified as historical or scenic. Copies of the register shall be available to all interested departments, governmental or civic agencies, and interested individuals;

E. To consider requests by property owners for nontechnical advice on proposed work on a registered historical or scenic property;

F. To perform such other duties as are specified by ordinance of the City. (Ord. 1951 § 1, 1986: Prior Code § 18305)

A. A property shall be considered for registration as a historical or scenic property upon completion and filing of an application by the owner of the property. The application shall be filed with the Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission, and shall contain all information requested by the commission.

B. Upon the filing of an application, the commission shall determine, within forty five (45) days, whether the property qualifies as historical or scenic property and, if so, which part or parts of the property shall be included in the City's Register of Historic and Scenic Properties. Upon approval of an application, the commission shall notify the owner by mail of the approval, and shall give notice of any regulations, restrictions or duties that arise from such designation, including specific notice as to what part or parts of the property may not be destroyed, altered or removed without first obtaining a permit from the Department of Building and Safety.

C. Upon its determination that a property is registerable as historical or scenic property, the commission shall notify the City Clerk, who shall set the matter for hearing at the next regular City Council meeting. At the hearing on the matter, the Council shall vote on the inclusion of the property in the City's Register of Historic and Scenic Properties.

D. Upon a property's acceptance by the City Council, the commission shall enter the property on the register, and the owner shall have recorded in the Office of the County Recorder that his property has been registered as a historical and scenic property and is subject to all restrictions applicable to such property under this Code. After a property is so registered, the owner or owners or his or their legal representatives, assignees or heirs shall be required to give written notice of the property's sale or transfer of ownership to the Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission within ten (10) days of the sale or transfer. (Ord. 1951 § 1, 1986: Prior Code § 18306)