HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting of 2012-06-12 Agenda Item No.13 CITY OF ,•/�
LAKE 5LSINOR
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• DREAM EXTREME.
REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: TOM EVANS
INTERIM CITY MANAGER
DATE: JUNE 12, 2012
SUBJECT: HISTORIC PRESERVATION WITHIN CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE —
THE APPOINTMENT OF AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO STUDY
AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING HISTORIC
PRESERVATION WITHIN THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE
Recommendation
The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council take the following actions:
1. Appoint an Ad Hoc Committee (City Council Policy No. 200 -5B) to evaluate and
to make recommendations regarding historic preservation within the City of Lake
Elsinore including, but not limited to, the following:
a. The designation of the Planning Commission as the City's Historic
Preservation Commission.
b. The creation of a voluntary advisory council to make recommendations to the
Planning Commission regarding the placement of historic structures and sites
on a City of Lake Elsinore list of historical resources.
c. The creation of a City of Lake Elsinore register /list of designated historical
structures or sites.
d. The establishment of criteria for identifying which structures should be placed
on the City's list of historical resources.
e. The establishment of an application process, such as a Certificate of
Appropriateness, that will allow the Planning Commission to determine and
whether modifications to or the demolition of designated historical structures,
and to approve or deny such applications.
f. Penalties for the unpermitted demolition of designated historic structures.
g. The implementation of the Mills Act within the City of Lake Elsinore.
h. A current inventory of structures and sites within the City of Lake Elsinore and
its sphere of influence that warrant consideration for designation as historical
resources.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 13
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Historic Preservation within Lake Elsinore
June 12, 2012
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i. Provide an estimated budget for implementation of the Ad Hoc Committee's
recommendations, and research and report on the availability of grants and
other funding sources available to the City to finance a historic preservation
program.
2. Direct the Ad Hoc Committee to consult with the Planning Commission prior to
finalizing and reporting its recommendations to the City Council, and direct the
Ad Hoc Committee to include the Planning Commission's comments in its report.
Staff recommends that the City Council take the following additional actions:
1. Direct that the resolution establishing the Ad Hoc Committee be placed upon the
City Council's July 10, 2012 agenda for adoption.
2. Determine that the Ad Hoc Committee will consist of five (5) members who will
be appointed by the City Council on July 10, 2012 following adoption of the
resolution that established the Committee.
3. Direct the Ad Hoc Committee to make quarterly progress reports to the City
Council and to the Planning Commission.
4. Direct the Ad Hoc Committee to make final recommendations to the City Council
no later than July 31, 2013.
Background
On May 1, 2012 and May 15, 2012 the Planning Commission held workshops regarding
historic preservation. Planning Staff provided background, definitions of historical
resources and a summary of historic preservation within the City of Lake Elsinore. (See
Attachment 3.) The Commission discussed the need for establishing a process for
identifying historic properties within the City and establishing criteria for determining
whether such properties should be preserved. The Commission was also concerned
that any preservation regulations that are established allow for the demolition of
structures where preservation is not practicable and demolition is the most appropriate
action.
The Commission discussed Resolution No. 82 -67, adopted by the City Council on
September 28, 1982, establishing a Historic Preservation Commission as an official
commission of the City of Lake Elsinore. However, Resolution No. 82 -67 was never
implemented and provisions for a Historic Preservation Commission were never
codified. The Planning Commission concluded that it was appropriate to recommend an
update of the City's Municipal Code to address historic preservation. The Commission
also considered the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee to develop draft regulations and
procedures regarding historic preservation within the City.
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At its regular meeting on May 15, 2012, the City of Lake Elsinore Planning Commission
recommended (5 -0 vote) the appointment of an Ad Hoc Committee pursuant to City
Council Policy No. 200 -5B for the purpose of studying and making recommendations
regarding historic preservation.
Testimony & Discussion
The Planning Commission received testimony from Ruth Atkins, Joyce Hohenadl, and
Charlene Cleary representing the Lake Elsinore Historical Society. Kim Cousins,
President of the Chamber of Commerce also spoke on the matter. Their testimony
supported the establishment of formal historic preservation regulations and procedures.
The Planning Commission's discussion considered different approaches used by cities
for determining the significance of historical resources. Planning Staff advised the
Commission that most cities have appointed specific historic preservation
commissions /boards, while others have delegated that function to their Planning
Commission.
Additionally, many cities have established procedures for the identification of historic
resources and several have established local registers /lists of historic structures.
Similarly, they have set up an application process for the review and determination as to
the appropriateness of structural modifications to identified historic resources. Often
this consists of an application for a "Certificate of Appropriateness." This application is
also used to determine whether demolition of the structure is acceptable. Some
municipal codes establish penalties for demolition without approval of a certificate of
appropriateness.
The Planning Commission also expressed an interest in the Mills Act. The Mills Act,
enacted in 1972 is an economic incentive program to encourage the preservation of
historic buildings. It grants local governments the authority to establish, administer and
implement Mills Act Historic Preservation Tax Abatement Programs (Mills Act
programs). Under the program, property owners receive a significant reduction in local
property taxes in exchange for their promise to actively participate in restoring,
rehabilitating, repairing and preserving their properties.
The Planning Commission discussed the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee to formulate
recommendations regarding ways in which to increase the importance of historic
preservation within the City of Lake Elsinore. City Attorney Barbara Leibold advised the
Commission that City Council Policy No. 200 -5B defines an "ad hoc committee" as
being a committee or board that has a special limited purpose and is established for a
limited period of time. Within its designated area of responsibility, the Ad Hoc
Committee has the primary role of advising the City Council on policy matters or
reviewing specific issues as directed by the City Council. Ms. Leibold advised the
Planning Commission that it could recommend to the City Council that the Council
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Historic Preservation within Lake Elsinore
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appoint an Ad Hoc Committee to make recommendations regarding historic
preservation.
Creation of an Ad Hoc Committee
City Council Policy No. 200 -5B sets forth the procedure that Ad Hoc Committees are
established by the City Council by resolution. Each City Council member is entitled to
appoint one person to the Ad Hoc Committee. In the event that the Committee consists
of more than five (5) members, each City Council member shall have an equal number
of appointments, with the Mayor appointing the balance of the members. All members
of the Committee serve at the pleasure of the City Council for the term designated by
the Council for completion of the Committee's mission. Members of the Ad Hoc
Committee cannot be current members of the City Council, City Commissions or other
Ad Hoc Committees.
Fiscal Impact
City Council Policy No. 200 -5B states that Ad Hoc Committee members serve on a
voluntary basis without compensation. The Policy also states that as each Ad Hoc
Committee is established and members are appointed "the City Council shall make
clear what level of staff support is to be provided to the Committee." As authorized by
the City Council, staff services may include "general staff assistance, such as the
preparation of agenda /notice materials and minutes, general review of departmental
programs and activities, to perform limited studies, program reviews, and other services
of a general staff nature."
The potential fiscal impact resulting from the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee as
recommended by the Planning Commission will be the cost of staff support to the
Committee and any photocopying and postage costs associated the Committee's
activities. The fiscal impact associated with the recommended action cannot be
estimated until the City Council defines the scope of the Ad Hoc Committee's duties and
establishes the level of staff support to be provided.
Prepared by: Richard J. MacHott
Environmental Planni g Consultant
Reviewed by: Warren Morelion, AICP\—
Acting Community Development Director
Approved by: Tom Evans
Interim City Man V"
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Attachments:
1. Staff Report to the Planning Commission, May 15, 2012, including 1982 Staff
Report, Resolution No. 82 -67 and related correspondence (PC Attachment 1),
and City Council Policy No. 200 -5B (PC Attachment 2)
2. Minutes of the May 1, 2012 (Draft) and May 15, 2012 Planning Commission
workshops
3. Planning Staff's May 1, 2012 PowerPoint Presentation regarding Historic
Preservation.
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