The Columbia Heritage and Preservation Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission" or the "CHPC") shall consist of nine voting members, residents of the City of Columbia, Illinois, or persons owning real property located in the City of Columbia, Illinois, appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council. The residency requirement may be waived for not more than three members who, in the opinion of the Mayor and the City Council, possess special knowledge or expertise in historic preservation or local history.
The members of the CHPC shall be appointed on the basis of expertise, experience, or interest in the areas of architectural history, building construction or engineering, finance, historical and architectural preservation, neighborhood organization, or real estate (especially as same pertains to historic districts in the City). All members shall be provided with Columbia Historical Society memberships; however, two members shall be members of the Columbia Historical Society selected by said Columbia Historical Society to represent the Society on the CHPC and the remaining seven members shall be from the community at large (that is to say, not appointed to the Commission to represent any other special interest group, association, board, commission or society).
Members of the CHPC shall be appointed for terms of two years. Of those members first taking office, four shall be appointed for one year and five for two years. Alternate members may be appointed to serve in the absence of or disqualification of the regular members. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term only. Appointments of alternates or to fill vacancies shall be by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council. Members shall serve without compensation.
A. 
Officers shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and a Secretary elected by the Commission, who shall each serve a term of one year and shall be eligible for re-election, but no member shall serve as an officer for more than three consecutive years.
B. 
The duties of the Chairperson shall be 1) to preside over meetings and 2) to disqualify any member for excessive absences. 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 to the Commission shall have the following duties:
(1) 
Take 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.
(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 majority of the members. All decisions or actions of the Commission shall be made by a majority vote of those members present and voting at any meeting where a quorum exists.
B. 
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 one meeting per month.
C. 
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.
D. 
No changes to the regulations contained in this chapter or any other action shall be taken by the Commission that could in any manner deprive or restrict the owner of a property in its use, modification, maintenance, disposition, or demolition until the owner shall first have had the opportunity to be heard at a public hearing to be held by the Commission, as hereinafter provided.
E. 
The Chairperson, and in his absence the acting Chairperson, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses.
F. 
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 (being the office of the City Clerk, until the Commission may designate otherwise) and shall be a public records.
The CHPC 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 in the City.
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 areas having special historic, community, or architectural value as historic districts.
E. 
To keep a register of all properties and structures that have been designated as landmarks or historic 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 district to another.
G. 
To advise 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 state or national register of historic places.
H. 
To inform and educate the citizens 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 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 districts.
K. 
To review proposed zoning amendments and applications for special use permits or variances that affect proposed or designated landmarks and historic districts. Such review shall be made prior to the date of the hearing by the City Plan Commission or the Zoning Board of Appeals.
L. 
To administer on behalf of the City 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.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
M. 
To accept and administer on behalf of the City, upon designation by the City Council, such gifts, grants, and money 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.
P. 
To periodically review the City Zoning Code and to recommend to the City Plan Commission and the City Council any amendments appropriate for the protection and continued use of landmarks or property and structures within historic districts.
Q. 
To recommend that the Mayor certify this chapter with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and with the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, in order to qualify historic structures under the federal Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, Sections 212 and 214, and under the Illinois Revenue Act of 1939, as amended.
R. 
To maintain a registry of historic sites.