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Item No. 26 <br />memorandum <br />TO: Mayor & City Council <br />FROM: John Godwin, City Manager <br />SUBJECT: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION <br />DATE: January 19, 2015 <br />BACKGROUND: In order to meet certain state requirements to make us eligible for periodic <br />grants, and to help guide reinvestments and improvements in downtown Paris, the city <br />established an Historic Preservation Commission and ordinance. Both have served their purpose <br />well, but our needs have changed, and we have also significantly enhanced our in -house staff <br />expertise in the last two years. <br />STATUS OF ISSUE: For these reasons, we are suggesting some changes to the existing <br />ordinance that would allow a faster and easier turn - around for applicants, while still maintaining <br />the integrity of the downtown. The major changes up for discussion in the attached draft <br />include: clarifying the role of the preservation officer, reducing the size of the historic <br />commission and slightly changing qualifications, expanding the items that can be reviewed and <br />approved at the staff level, reducing the number of required meetings of the commission, and <br />adding demolition by neglect. <br />BUDGET: NA. <br />RECOMMENDATION: Approve attached ordinance amendments. <br />