There is created a Yelm historic preservation commission to identify and actively encourage the conservation of Yelm's historic resources by initiating and maintaining a register of historic places and reviewing proposed changes to register properties; to raise community awareness of the city's history and historic resources, and to serve as the city's primary resource in matters of history, historic planning, and preservation. All advisory committee roles and responsibilities will be defined and approved by the city council as an appendix to the mayor and city council protocol manual.
(Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015; Ord. 1073 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
A majority of the members of the historic preservation commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. Any action taken by a majority of those present, when those present constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting of the historic preservation commission, shall be deemed and taken as the action of the historic preservation commission.
(Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015; Ord. 1073 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
The major responsibility of the historic preservation commission is to identify and actively encourage the conservation of the city's historic resources by initiating and maintaining a register of historic places and reviewing proposed changes to register properties; to raise community awareness of the city's history and historic resources, and to serve as the city's primary resource in matters of history, historic planning, and preservation. In carrying out these responsibilities, the historic preservation commission shall engage in the following:
A. 
Conduct and maintain the inventory of historic resources within the boundaries of the city known as the Yelm historic inventory ("inventory"); publicize and periodically update inventory results. Properties listed on the inventory shall be separate and distinct from the "national register," "state register" and "local register";
B. 
Maintain the Yelm Register of Historic Places ("Register"). This official register shall be compiled of buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts identified by the historic preservation commission as having historic significance worthy of recognition by the city. The object may be a thing of functional, aesthetic, cultural, historical or significant historic value. A district shall possess a significant concentration, linkage of sites or structures united by past events, aesthetic or physical development;
C. 
Review Nominations to the Register. The historic preservation commission shall consider the merits of the nomination according to criteria in YMC § 18.15.060;
D. 
Issue a certificate of appropriateness, with or without mitigating conditions, for proposals to change, alter, modify, remodel, move, or significantly affect properties or districts on the register, certifying the changes do not adversely affect the historic characteristics of the property that contribute to its designation;
E. 
Cause the removal of a site, building, object, or district from the register according to criteria in YMC § 18.15.070;
F. 
Promote, conduct, and participate in information, educational and interpretive programs which pertain to historic resources;
G. 
Establish liaison support, communication and cooperation with federal, state, and other local government entities which will further historic preservation objectives;
H. 
Review and comment to the city council on land use, housing and redevelopment, municipal improvement and other types of planning and programs undertaken by any agency of the city, other neighboring communities, the county, the state or federal governments, as they relate to historic resources of the city;
I. 
Advise the city council generally on matters relating to Yelm's history and historic preservation;
J. 
Officially recognize excellence in the rehabilitation of historic buildings, structures, sites and districts, and new construction in historic areas, and encourage appropriate measures for such recognition;
K. 
Submit nominations to the state and national registers of historic places, as deemed appropriate;
L. 
Investigate and report to the city council on the use of various federal, state, local or private funding sources available to promote historic resource preservation in the city;
M. 
Serve as the local review board for the purpose of approving applications for special property tax valuation per Chapter 84.26 RCW and for the purpose of entering into agreements with the property owner for the duration of the special valuation during which time the review board monitors the property for continued qualification for the special valuation per requirements of Chapter 84.26 RCW.
(Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015; Ord. 1073 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
Commission and professional staff assistance shall be provided by the community development department with additional assistance and information to be provided as necessary to aid the historic preservation commission in carrying out its duties and responsibilities under this chapter.
(Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015; Ord. 1073 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)