[Adopted 8-31-1998 by Ord. No. 1657]
[1]
Editors Note: Ord. No. 1244, §§ 1—6, codified herein as Art. VI, §§ 2-79—2-84, has been treated as superseding former §§ 2-79—2-87, relative to the historical commission. The deleted provisions derived from Adm. Code, §§ A227—A227.5. Ord. No. 1657, §§ 1—7, adopted 8-31-1998, further amended this article to read as herein set out.
There is hereby created and constituted in and
for the City a commission, formerly known as the "Kalamazoo Commission
for Historical Preservation," which shall be known as the "Kalamazoo
Historic Preservation Commission," and hereinafter referred to as
the "Commission."
The Commission, formerly composed of nine members,
shall be reduced to seven members. Existing members may continue to
serve until the end of their existing term. The first two vacancies
to occur for any reason shall not be filled. The majority of the members
shall have a demonstrated interest in or knowledge of the history
of Kalamazoo and/or the principles of historic preservation. As terms
expire, members shall be nominated by the Commission, appointed by
the Mayor and approved by the City Commission for terms of three years.
Under special circumstances the Commission may recommend to the City
Commission the appointment of nonresident members. A majority of the
members shall be City residents. No member may serve more than two
full consecutive terms. Vacancies occurring other than by the expiration
of term shall be filled for the unexpired term by a nomination from
the Commission and approval by the City Commission. A membership shall
be deemed vacated if the member has more than 50% unexcused absences
at regular meetings within any half-calendar year, January through
June or July through December. A member may be removed for neglect
of duty, misconduct or malfeasance by a majority vote of the City
Commission.
The Commission shall elect a Chair and Vice-Chair
from among its members. It shall establish bylaws and procedural rules
and provide for an annual orientation after new appointments are made.
Once each year, the Commission will make a detailed report of its
activities to the City Commission.
Members of the Commission shall receive no compensation
for their services.
[Amended 4-30-2007 by Ord. No. 1824; 12-20-2021 by Ord. No.
2042]
It shall be the duty of the Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission to prepare and keep current an inventory of historic resources within the City which, in its judgment, have such value as to warrant preservation and/or redevelopment; to publish such inventory; and to cooperate with the owners of such resources in devising and carrying out appropriate means for their preservation and/or redevelopment. Fulfillment of these duties may include providing financial or other support for: a) interior and/or exterior repairs and rehabilitation on buildings which are 50 years or older, provided that the work meets the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, 36 CFR 68 ("Standards") and b) the preparation of research and implementation of historic context statements, inventories, designation nominations, preservation plans, and similar activities, provided that any physical work planned as part of a historic resource project also meets the appropriate Standards. The Commission shall also encourage the collection of materials illustrative of the history of Kalamazoo and encourage their deposit into public or educational institutions within the City or the state that the Commission deems most suitable for their preservation and use. The Commission may support and produce historical publications. The Commission shall cooperate with the City in preserving official records and documents so that they may be available for public use. The Commission shall be responsible for the coordination and nomination of national register and state register historic districts, sites and/or individual properties, and may support the creation of local historic districts. The Commission shall encourage and promote historic preservation and educate the public on preservation whenever possible. The Commission may support the inclusion of historic preservation concepts in planning and land use; and carry out other activities as assigned by the City. The Commission shall also carry out the duties of the historic district study committee as set forth in MCLA § 399.201 et seq. and Chapter 16 of the Kalamazoo City Code.
The Commission shall have the power, with the
approval of the City Commission, to accept donations of personal,
real, intellectual or other property in support of its duties. Such
donations shall vest in the City, subject to the control of the Commission
in accordance with the deed, device, bequest, grant or instrument
of such donations. Gifts of money shall be deposited in special accounts
by the City Treasurer from which disbursements shall be made by resolution
of the Commission, subject to the approval of the City Commission.
