As Council is aware, the Historic Preservation Board was created in 2002 with the purpose of regulating and administering historical, archaeological and architectural resources in the City and recommending resources for historic designation to the City Council. The powers, duties and responsibilities that are outlined in the governing ordinance for the Board are as follows:
1. Initiate, authorize, and oversee an ongoing historic survey and inventory of historically, culturally, aesthetically, archaeologically or architecturally significant resources within the City and to plan for the preservation of significant resources identified in the survey(s). All survey materials shall be kept available to the public, and duplicates of all inventory forms shall be supplied to the State Historic Preservation Office.
2. Recommend to the City Council specific buildings, structures, sites, signs, objects or districts approved for designation by the Board according to the procedures and based upon the criteria contained in this Historic Preservation Code as historic properties or historic districts to be listed on the Local Register of Historic Places.
3. Develop, publish, review and periodically update design guidelines. Such guidelines shall incorporate and be based upon the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. In adopting these guidelines, it shall be the intent of the Board to promote maintenance, restoration and adaptive reuses appropriate to the property and compatible contemporary designs which are harmonious with the exterior architectural and landscape features of neighboring buildings, sites and streetscapes.
4. Recommend concepts or policies to the City Council and Community Redevelopment Agency that will assist in making historic preservation an integral and on-going part of the City's Land Development Code, and the City Comprehensive Plan, as required by the state of Florida.
5. Review applications for Certificates of Appropriateness and grant, deny, or suspend same based upon the application and the project's consistency with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings and in accordance with the provisions of this Historic Preservation Code.
6. Review and act upon applications for moving permits for all buildings, structures, signs, or objects that have been designated as historically significant pursuant to this Historic Preservation Code.
7. Review and act upon applications for moving permits for all structures that are:
a. Located outside the boundaries of a designated historic district when the proposed move would relocate the structure within the boundaries of a designated historic district.
b. Located within the boundaries of a designated historic district whether the proposed move would relocate the structure within the district or outside the district.
8. Conduct and attend educational programs on historic properties located inside and outside of the boundaries of the City, and on historic preservation in general.
9. Make recommendations to the City Council concerning the availability and utilization of grants from federal and state agencies, private groups and individuals, as well as the utilization of City funds to promote, undertake and enhance the preservation of archaeologically, historically, culturally, architecturally and aesthetically significant historic sites and districts.
10. Advise and assist property owners and other persons, groups or organizations on the physical and financial aspects of historic preservation and the renovation, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic and cultural resources, and to advise and assist property owners in identifying available funding sources while providing support to them in their efforts to secure available grant funding as well as state and local tax incentives.
11. Cooperate and advise local, state and federal governmental entities concerning the effects of local government actions on historic and cultural resources.
12. Assist, review and make recommendations to the State Historic Preservation Office on local nominations to the National Register of Historic Places.
13. Enforce this Historic Preservation Code and take appropriate action for noncompliance herewith.
14. Make a reasonable effort to attend a State Historic Preservation Office Orientation Program and any informational or educational meetings, conferences or workshops pertaining to work and functions of the Board scheduled by the State Historic Preservation Officer or the Florida Conference of Preservation Boards and Commissions or any other relevant educational workshops, conferences, or seminars relevant to historic preservation.
15. Approve, seek funding for the production of, and issue standard historic plaques or markers for designated historic properties, sites, and districts within the City.
16. Advise and assist the City Council on all matters related to the use, administration and maintenance of City owned historic properties.
17. Promote public awareness of historical, cultural, aesthetic, architectural and archaeological preservation and its community benefits.
18. Propose and recommend to the City Council any amendments to this Historic Preservation Code that, in the opinion of the Board, would further the objectives of this Historic Preservation Code.
19. Maintain responsibilities complementary to those of the State Historic Preservation Office through participation in municipal survey and planning activities, and provide any other services and/or functions that may be designated by the City Council.
Since its inception, the Board has met from time to time with the most recent meeting taking place in early 2020. Subsequent meetings were placed on hold while the City completed its application for Certified Local Government designation.
At the interest of several community residents and some City Council members, direction was given at your regular meeting on June 18, 2024 to re-activate this important advisory board. Given that task, staff sent letters to members on the last known membership roster who still resided within city limits to seek their interest in being re-appointed to the board. Three previous members have submitted their re-appointment applications for your consideration. Those members are Kelly Smallwood, Frank Starkey and Bob Langford. Each of these applicants are long-standing members of our community and I believe that their knowledge and skill set would be an asset to this board. Mrs. Smallwood has served on the City's Cultural Affairs Committee since 2016 and is an active member of the New Port Richey Main Street organization. Mr. Starkey brings almost thirty years of experience in architecture, urban design and real estate development to this board. Mr. Langford brings his many years of experience as President of the West Pasco Historical Society along with his work with the Friends of the Hacienda to this board.
If approved, Mrs. Smallwood, Mr. Starkey and Mr. Langford's terms would be for three years and would be up for renewal on August 1, 2027.
As the ordinance that governs this board calls for nine members and two alternate members, on July 15, 2024, staff sent letters to those who live within city limits from the list of names submitted by Rita King to the City Manager to seek their interest in joining this board. Any applications that are returned will be presented to City Council for your consideration at your regular meeting on August 6, 2024. Once all eleven members have been appointed, a meeting schedule will be established.