The Mendota Historic Preservation and Restoration Commission
shall consist of seven voting members, residents of the City of Mendota,
appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council.
The members shall be appointed on the basis of expertise, experience
or interest in the area of architectural history, building construction
or engineering, finance, historical and architectural preservation,
neighborhood organizing or real estate.
Members of the Commission shall be appointed for terms of three
years. Of those members first taking office, two shall be appointed
for one year, three for two years, and two for three years. No members
shall serve more than two successive three-year terms. Alternate members
shall be appointed to serve in the absence of or disqualification
of the regular members. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired
term only. Members shall serve without compensation.
A.
Officers
shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and a Secretary
elected by the Commission, who shall serve terms of one year and shall
be eligible for reelection, but no member shall serve as an officer
for more than two consecutive years.
B.
The Chairperson
shall preside over meetings. In the absence of the Chairperson, the
Vice-Chairperson shall perform the duties of the Chairperson. If both
are absent, a temporary chairperson shall be elected by those present.
C.
The Secretary
of the Commission shall have the following duties:
(1)
Take the minutes of each Commission meeting;
(2)
Be responsible for publication and distribution of copies of the
minutes, reports, and decisions of the Commission to the members of
the Commission;
(3)
Give notice as provided herein or by law for all public hearings
conducted by the Commission;
(4)
Advise the Mayor of vacancies on the Commission and expiring terms
of members; and
(5)
Prepare and submit to the City Council a complete record of the proceedings
before the Commission on any matter requiring Council consideration.
A.
A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the members. All decisions
or actions of the Commission shall be made by a simple 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 Commission at the beginning of each
calendar year or at any time upon the call of the Chairperson. There
shall be a minimum of four meetings per year.
B.
No member of the Commission 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 Commission 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 a public meeting
of the Commission, as provided herein. The Chairperson, and in his
absence, the acting Chairperson, may administer oaths and compel the
attendant of witnesses. All meetings of the Commission shall be open
to the public. The Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings,
showing the vote, indicating such fact, and shall keep records of
its examinations and other official actions, all of which shall be
immediately filed in the office of the Commission and shall be a public
record.
The Historic Preservation and Restoration Commission shall have
the following powers and duties:
A.
To adopt its own procedural regulations;
B.
To conduct an ongoing survey to identify historically and architecturally
significant properties, structures and areas;
C.
To investigate and recommend to the City Council the adoption of
ordinances designating properties or structures having special historic,
community, or architectural value as "landmarks";
D.
To investigate and recommend to the City Council the adoption of
ordinances designating properties or structures having special historic,
community, or architectural value as "historic preservation districts";
E.
To keep a register of all properties and structures that have been
designated as landmarks or historic preservation districts, including
all information required for each designation;
F.
To determine an appropriate system of markers and make recommendations
for the design and implementation of specific markings of the streets
and routes leading from one landmark or historic preservation district
to another;
G.
To advise owners of landmarks and property or structures within historic
preservation districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation,
restoration, renovation, rehabilitation, and reuse, and on procedures
for inclusion on the State or National Register of Historic Places;
H.
To inform and educate the citizens of Mendota concerning the historic
and architectural heritage of the City by publishing appropriate maps,
newsletters, brochures, and pamphlets, and by holding programs and
seminars;
I.
To hold public hearings and to review applications for construction,
alteration, removal or demolition affecting proposed or designated
landmarks or structures or historic preservation districts and issue
or deny certificates of appropriateness for such actions. Applicants
shall be required to submit plans, drawings, elevations, specifications,
and other information as may be necessary to make decisions;
J.
To develop specific guidelines for the alteration, demolition, construction,
or removal of landmarks or property and structures within historic
preservation districts;
K.
To review proposed zoning amendments, applications for special use
permits or variances that affect proposed or designated landmarks
and historic preservation districts. Such review shall be made prior
to the date of the hearing by the City Plan Commission or the Zoning
Board of Appeals;[1]
L.
To administer, on behalf of the City of Mendota, any property or
full or partial interest in real property, including a conservation
right as that term is used in 765 ILCS 120/1 et seq., which the City
may have or accept as a gift or otherwise, upon designation by the
City Council;
M.
To accept and administer on behalf of the City of Mendota, upon designation
by the City Council, such gifts, grants and moneys as may be appropriate
for the purpose of this chapter;
N.
To call upon available City staff members as well as other experts
for technical advice;
O.
To testify before all boards and commissions, including the City
Plan Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals, on any matter affecting
historically and architecturally significant property and landmarks;
and[2]
The Historic Preservation and Restoration Commission shall undertake
an ongoing survey and research effort in the City of Mendota to identify
neighborhoods, areas, sites, structures, and objects that have historic,
community, architectural, or aesthetic importance, interest, or value.
As part of the survey, the Commission shall review and evaluate any
prior surveys and studies by any unit of government or private organization
and compile appropriate descriptions, facts, and photographs. The
Commission shall identify potential landmarks and adopt procedures
to nominate them in groups based upon the following criteria:
A.
The potential landmarks in one identifiable neighborhood or district
geographical area of the City of Mendota;
B.
The potential landmarks associated with a particular person, event,
or historical period;
C.
The potential landmarks of a particular architectural style or school,
or of a particular architect, engineer, builder, designer or craftsman;
and
D.
Such other criteria as may be adopted by the Commission to assure
systematic survey and nomination of all potential landmarks within
the City of Mendota.
