[R.O. 2011 §405.020; Ord. No. 10-6 §1, 3-8-2010]
The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) shall consist of
seven (7) members, five (5) residents of the City of Trenton, and
two (2) residents of Grundy County, all of whom shall be appointed
by the Mayor. In addition, a member of the City Council and of the
Planning and Zoning Commission shall be appointed to serve as liaison.
The Council and Zoning representatives shall vote but shall not hold
office. All Commission members must have a demonstrated interest,
competence or knowledge in historic preservation. To the extent available
in the community, the HPC shall include professional members representing
such disciplines as architecture, architectural history, prehistoric
and historic archaeology, planning, urban design, cultural geography,
cultural anthropology, folklore, curation, conservation, landscape
architecture, law, real estate brokerage, banking, history or other
fields related to historic preservation, and residents of historic
districts or potential historic districts.
[R.O. 2011 §405.025; Ord. No. 10-6 §1, 3-8-2010]
The terms of office of the members of the HPC shall be for three
(3) years, excepting that the membership of the first (1st) HPC appointed
shall set respectively for terms of two (2) for one (1) year, two
(2) for two (2) years, and three (3) for three (3) years. Vacancies
shall be filled for the unexpired term only. Action to fill vacancies
shall be initiated within sixty (60) days. The HPC shall hold at least
four (4) meetings per year and any member of the HPC who fails to
attend at least fifty percent (50%) of all meetings, regular and special,
in any calendar year shall thereby automatically vacate the membership.
[R.O. 2011 §405.030; Ord. No. 10-6 §1, 3-8-2010]
A. Officers
shall consist of a Chairman and a Vice Chairman elected by the HPC
who shall each serve a term of one (1) year and shall be eligible
for re-election; but no member shall serve as Chairman for more than
two (2) consecutive years. The Council and Planning and Zoning Commission
representatives shall not be eligible for office. The Chairman shall
preside over meetings. In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman
shall perform the duties of the Chairman. If both are absent, a temporary
Chairman shall be elected by those present. The secretary of the HPC
shall be appointed by the Planning Department and shall have the following
duties:
1. Take minutes of each HPC meeting;
2. Be responsible for the publication and distribution of copies of
the minutes, reports, and decisions to the members of the HPC;
3. Give notice as provided herein by law for all public hearings conducted
by the HPC;
4. Advise the Mayor of vacancies on the HPC and expiring terms of members;
and
5. Prepare to submit to the Council a complete record of the proceedings
before the HPC on any matter requiring Council consideration.
[R.O. 2011 §405.035; Ord. No. 10-6 §1, 3-8-2010]
A quorum shall consist of four (4) of the members. All decisions
or actions of the HPC shall be made by a majority vote of those members
present and voting at any meeting where a quorum exists. Meetings
shall be held at regularly scheduled times to be established by resolution
of the HPC at the beginning of each calendar year or at any time upon
the call of the Chairman, but no less than once each quarter. Public
notice of all meetings shall be posted in conformance with standard
City policy and Section 610.020, RSMo. No member of the HPC shall
vote on any matter that may materially or apparently affect the property,
income or business interest of that member. No action shall be taken
by the HPC that could in any manner deprive or restrict the owner
of property in its use, modification, maintenance, disposition or
demolition until such owner shall first have had the opportunity to
be heard at public meeting of the HPC as provided herein. The Chairman,
and in his or her absence, the Acting Chairman, may administer oaths
and require the attendance of witnesses. All meetings of the HPC shall
be open to the public except as allowed by State law. The HPC shall
keep minutes of its proceedings showing the vote, indicating such
fact, and shall keep records of its examination and other official
actions, all of which shall be immediately filed in the office of
the City Clerk and shall be public record. All HPC rules of procedure,
designation criteria, design guidelines and forms shall be available
to the public at the office of the City Clerk.
[R.O. 2011 §405.040; Ord. No. 10-6 §1, 3-8-2010]
The City Council shall annually appropriate funds, within the
budget limitations, for the operation of the HPC. The HPC may, with
the consent of the City Council, apply for, receive, or expend any
Federal, State or private grant, grant-in-aid, gift or bequest in
furtherance of the general purposes of this Chapter.
[R.O. 2011 §405.045; Ord. No. 10-6 §1, 3-8-2010]
The members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed
for expenses they incur while on Commission business.
[R.O. 2011 §405.050; Ord. No. 10-6 §1, 3-8-2010]
A. The
HPC shall have the following powers and duties:
1. To adopt its own bylaws and procedural regulations, provided that
such regulations are consistent with this Chapter and the Revised
Statutes of the State of Missouri;
2. To conduct an ongoing survey for the identification of historically,
archaeologically and architecturally significant properties, structures,
sites and areas that exemplify the cultural, social, economic, political,
or architectural history of the Nation, State or City; and to maintain
the research information in an inventory accessible to the public
(except for archaeological site locations, which shall be restricted);
3. To investigate and recommend to the Planning and Zoning Commission
and to the City Council the adoption of ordinances designating for
protection properties or structures having special cultural, historic,
archaeological, community or architectural value as "landmarks";
4. To investigate and recommend to the Planning and Zoning Commission
and the City Council the adoption of ordinances designating for protection
areas as having special cultural, historic, archaeological, community
or architectural value as "historic districts";
5. To keep a register of all properties and structures which have been
designated as landmarks or historic districts, including all information
required for such designation;
6. To confer recognition upon the owners of landmarks and property or
structures within historic districts by means of certificates, plaques,
or markers; and to make recommendations for the design and implementation
of specific markings of the streets and routes leading from one landmark
or historic district to another;
7. To advise and assist owners of landmarks and property or structures
within historic districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation,
renovation, rehabilitation and reuse and on procedures for inclusion
on the National Register of Historic Places;
8. To nominate landmarks and historic districts to the City of Trenton
Historic Register, and to the National Register of Historic Places,
and to review and comment on any nominations to the National Register
of Historic Places;
9. To inform and educate the citizens of the City of Trenton concerning
the historic, archaeological and architectural heritage of the City
through publication or sponsorship of maps, newsletters, brochures,
pamphlets, programs and seminars by the City, the HPC, or other appropriate
parties;
10. To hold public hearings and to review applications for construction,
alteration, removal, or demolition affecting proposed or designated
landmarks or structures within historic districts and issue or deny
certificates of appropriateness for such actions. Applicants may be
required to submit plans, drawings, elevations, specifications, and
other information as may be necessary to make decisions;
11. To hold public hearings on each proposed nomination of a landmark
and of a historic district and on the guidelines developed for each
nomination;
12. To request the Building Inspector to issue stop work orders for any
construction, alteration, removal or demolition undertaken without
a certificate of appropriateness or to stop work that violates the
conditions of a certificate;
13. To review all applications for demolition permits within the corporate
limits of the City to determine impact to significant cultural resources,
including those not yet nominated as landmarks or as contributing
properties within a historic district;
14. To consider applications for certificates of economic hardship that
would allow the performance of work for which a certificate of appropriateness
has been denied;
15. To develop specific design guidelines based on the Secretary of the
Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation for the alteration, construction,
or removal of landmarks or property and structures within historic
districts;
16. To review proposed zoning amendments, applications for special use
permits, or applications for zoning variances that affect proposed
or designated landmarks or historic districts;
17. To administer on behalf of the City of Trenton any property of historical
significance or full or partial interest in real property, including
easements, that the City of Trenton may have or accept as a gift or
otherwise, upon approval by the City Council;
18. To accept and administer on behalf of the City of Trenton, upon approval
of the Council, such gifts, grants, and money as may be appropriate
for the purposes of this Chapter. Such money may be expended for publishing
maps and brochures or for hiring staff persons or consultants or performing
other functions for the purposes of this Chapter;
19. To call upon available City staff members as well as other experts
for technical advice;
20. To retain such specialists or consultants or to appoint such citizen
advisory committees as may be required from time to time;
21. To testify before all boards and commissions, including the Planning
and Zoning Commission and the Board of Adjustment, on any matter affecting
historically, archaeologically, culturally and architecturally significant
property, structures, sites and areas;
22. To make recommendations to the City Council concerning budgetary
appropriations to further the general purposes of this Chapter;
23. To develop a preservation component in the master plan of the City
of Trenton and to recommend it to the Planning and Zoning Commission
and to the City Council;
24. To periodically review the City of Trenton's Zoning Ordinance and
to recommend to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council
any amendments appropriate for the protection and continued use of
landmarks or property, sites and structures within historic districts;
and
25. To undertake any other action or activity necessary or appropriate
to the implementation of its powers and duties or to implementation
of the purpose of this Chapter.