Torrance Municipal Code Art. 21 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Revised 10/25

There is hereby created a Historic Preservation Commission for the City, consisting of seven (7) members.

(Amended by O-3953)

a) The members of the Commission shall be electors of the City.

b) All members shall have prior demonstrated interest in and knowledge of the City’s historical, architectural and cultural heritage. Members shall be chosen from among:

1. Professionals in the disciplines of architecture, history, architectural history, historic preservation, planning, archaeology, materials conservation, landscape architecture, urban design, engineering, land economics, real estate, construction, building trade, or a related discipline such as anthropology, American studies, American civilization, cultural geography, or others, to the extent such professionals are available in the community;

2. Persons with demonstrated special interest, experience or knowledge of the history, architecture, or cultural heritage of the City as will provide for an adequate and qualified Commission;

3. At a minimum, there shall be:

A) One member with a professional background in design or construction, with at least two years of experience with historic preservation, and

B) One member who meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for History or Architectural History, or with a demonstrated background or experience in researching, writing, teaching, or interpreting history or historic materials;

4. If possible, the Commission composition shall meet the qualifications and guidelines recommended for the certified local government program as administered in California.

c) The members of the Commission shall be paid in lieu of their ordinary and necessary expenditures directly connected with or pertaining to the duties imposed by Section 13.21.080 at the rate of twenty dollars per meeting attended not to exceed sixty dollars per calendar quarter. Such payment shall be made at the end of each calendar quarter.

(Amended by O-3932)

The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the City Council. All appointments and reappointments shall be for a period of four years, unless the appointment is to finish the term of an expected vacancy in which case the appointment will be for the remainder of the term of the unexpected vacancy. No member shall be eligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive four-year terms; provided, however, that after a lapse of two years, a former member may be reappointed to the Commission. When there are vacancies on two or more commissions, appointments will be made in the following order: Planning, Civil Service, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation, and Historic Preservation. Appointments to the remaining commissions will be made in alphabetical order by commission name.

(Amended by O-3932)

If any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Commission, other than by expiration of the term of office, it shall be appointed by the City Council for the unexpired term of the vacated office.

The members of the Board may be removed from office by a vote of the majority of all the members of the City Council.

At the first meeting of the Commission, and at the first meeting of the Commission in every fiscal year thereafter, the members shall appoint one (1) of their number as Chairperson who shall hold office for one (1) year and until the successor is appointed.

a) The Commission shall hold regular meetings at least once every month.

b) If a member of the Commission does not attend two (2) consecutive regular meetings unless excused by the Commission, his membership thereon shall terminate automatically; and provided further, that a member will be deemed absent from a meeting unless he is present during at least two-thirds (2/3) of the time of the entire meeting.

a) The Commission shall perform any duties assigned to it by other provisions of this Code;

b) The Commission shall conduct studies, evaluations, and public hearings of applications regarding the designation of a historic landmark or historic district, and make decisions for proposed designations and removal of designations to the local register;

c) The Commission shall keep current and make available a local register of historic resources, and identify through survey potential historic resources;

d) The Commission shall develop, amend, and adopt preservation guidelines applicable to the City, including but not limited to:

1. Application requirements and criteria for designation of historic landmarks and historic districts;

2. Application requirements and standards to be used by the Commission in reviewing project appropriateness applications and appeals;

3. Criteria for surveys and survey updates and amendments;

e) The Commission shall grant or deny certificates of appropriateness, certificates of demolition and certificates of economic hardship for demolition, new construction, or major alterations of historic landmarks and properties within historic districts;

f) The Commission shall review appeals of administrative decisions of the Community Development Director;

g) The Commission shall encourage public understanding of and involvement in the unique historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the City through educational and interpretive programs;

h) The Commission shall encourage the cooperation between public and private historic preservation organizations;

i) The Commission shall encourage the protection, enhancement, appreciation and use of structures of historical, cultural, architectural, community or aesthetic value which have not been designated as historic resources but are deserving of recognition;

j) The Commission may approve designs for plaques or signage that recognize designated historic landmarks and historic districts;

k) The Commission shall make recommendations to the City Council on applications for properties to be included in the Mills Act property tax incentive program which may be subject to historic property contracts;

l) The Commission shall grant or make recommendations on applications for preservation incentives;

m) The Commission shall advise the City Council and other City boards and commissions as necessary on historic preservation issues and environmental reviews that may be pending;

n) The Commission shall perform any other action or activity consistent with the purposes herein that may be directed by the City Council.

The Commission shall establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary for its government and for the faithful performance of its duties.