[Amended 9-16-1997 by Ord. No. 4088; 11-20-2012 by Ord. No. 6864; 6-4-2013 by Ord. No. 6936]
The City of Crystal Lake Historic Preservation Commission shall consist of nine voting members who shall be appointed by the City Council.
The members shall be appointed on the basis of expertise, experience, or interest in historic preservation, architectural history, building construction, engineering, architecture, landscaping, finance, neighborhood organization, or real estate.
[Amended 5-20-1997 by Ord. No. 4042]
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, two for two years, and three for three years. 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 Chair and Vice Chair, which are elected by the Commission to serve a term of one year and shall be eligible for reelection. The Chair shall preside over meetings. In the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair. In the event of the absence of both the Chair and Vice Chair, a temporary Chair shall be elected by those members present.
B. 
Members of the Commission must state if they have a conflict of interest and abstain from voting on any matter before the Commission in which they have a conflict. A conflict of interest is defined as a situation in which a public official's decisions are influenced by the official's personal interests.
[Amended 6-4-2013 by Ord. No. 6936]
A. 
Meetings shall be held at regularly scheduled times to be established by the Commission at the beginning of each calendar year, or at any time upon the call of the Chair. There shall be a minimum of four meetings per year.
B. 
A quorum shall consist of a majority of the appointed members. A concurring vote of a majority of those members present and constituting a quorum is necessary to render a decision on any matter upon which the Commission is authorized to act.
[Amended 4-19-2016 by Ord. No. 7214]
C. 
All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act of the State of Illinois (5 ILCS 120/1 et seq.) and shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order.
D. 
The Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing the vote of each member upon every question, or if absent or failing to vote, and shall also keep records of its official actions. Such minutes and records shall be open to the public for inspection and maintained at the offices of the City of Crystal Lake.
[Amended 9-16-1997 by Ord. No. 4088]
Any member may be removed for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office with the concurrence of the City Council. The Commission may recommend to the Council the dismissal of a member upon the failure of that member to attend 2/3 of all meetings held during a one-year period. The Council shall appoint members to fill all vacancies on the Commission.
The Commission shall have the following powers and authorities:
A. 
To conduct an ongoing survey to identify historically and architecturally significant properties, structures, and areas.
B. 
To investigate and recommend to the City Council the adoption of ordinances designating sites, structures or areas as having special historic, community, or architectural value as landmarks or Historic Districts.
C. 
To hold public hearings and recommend to the City Council the designation of landmarks or Historic Districts identified in the survey.
D. 
To develop specific guidelines for the alteration, demolition, construction, or removal of landmarks or property and structures within Historic Districts.
E. 
To consider applications for certificates of economic hardship that would allow the performance of work for which a certificate of appropriateness has been denied.
F. 
To keep a register of all properties and structures that have been designated as landmarks or Historic Districts, including all information required for each such designation.
G. 
To provide information and assistance relevant to the designation of landmarks and Historic Districts.
H. 
To determine an appropriate design of markers for designated landmarks and Historic Districts.
I. 
To inform and educate City residents concerning the historic and architectural heritage of the City by publishing appropriate maps, newsletters, brochures, and pamphlets, and by holding programs and seminars.
J. 
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.
K. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection K, regarding the Commission’s authority to review proposed zoning amendments or applications for zoning variations or special uses, as amended, was repealed 6-4-2013 by Ord. No. 6936.
L. 
To request technical advice and assistance from City staff members, and to retain specialists or consultants when expressly authorized by the City Council.
M. 
To seek certification of the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and the United States Department of the Interior so as to qualify structures, buildings, objects, or sites certified as landmarks pursuant to this chapter as an historic building under 35 ILCS 200/1-1 et seq. or as a certified historic structure under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, 26 U.S.C. Paragraph 1 et seq., or under other legislation subsequently passed into law by the State of Illinois or the United States.
N. 
To accept and administer on behalf of the City of Crystal Lake, upon designation by the City Council, such gifts, grants and money as may be appropriate for the purpose of this chapter.
O. 
To submit an annual report to the City Council.
P. 
To testify before all boards and commissions, including the City Planning Commission, and to recommend to the City Council.
Q. 
To periodically monitor designated landmarks and preservation districts for demolition by neglect.
R. 
To undertake any other action or activity necessary or appropriate to the implementation of the purposes of this chapter.
S. 
To engage in mutual cooperation with City departments, other boards and commissions and other units of government on matters affecting the property and improvements which have been designated for preservation.
T. 
To award grant monies to any applicant that satisfies the necessary submittal requirements to be awarded Commission grant funds. The grant monies are to be awarded at the Commission's discretion and are intended to promote appropriate repairs, upgrades and changes to existing historic landmarked or historic district properties.
[Added 6-4-2013 by Ord. No. 6936]
U. 
To allocate funds towards charitable causes or not-for-profits, to attract speakers, exhibits or other historic preservation activities at the Commission's discretion to further the Commission's mission.
[Added 6-4-2013 by Ord. No. 6936]