| | | | | | | | | TO: | Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee Members
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| FROM:
| Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager |
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| | DATE: | October 23, 2020
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| | SUBJECT: | DISCUSSION REGARDING ESTABLISHING A HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND |
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| | | | | | | | HISTORY:
| On April 11, 2018, at the request of Commissioner Ricky Arriola, the City Commission referred the discussion item to the Land Use and Development Committee and the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) (Item C4O). The Land Use and Development Committee discussed the item on February 20, 2019 and recommended that the Finance Committee further evaluate the financial aspects of the proposal.
On June 12, 2020, the item was discussed and direction was given to perform outreach to the community and property owners, explore funding sources including private sources that could match City funding, look at other City/County models and return to the September 18, 2020 Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC) meeting to discuss further.
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| | | | | | | | ANALYSIS:
| In 2019, the firm of KCI (formerly Keith & Schnars) was retained by the City to research best practices and provide the City with recommendations for the creation of a historic preservation fund. The study, completed in March 2020, provides a framework for implementation of the fund. Below is a brief summary of the recommendations contained in the report:
• Introduce the fund as a pilot program, limiting fund eligibility in the short term to local historic districts in North Beach to allow for controlled implementation and greater visibility of the fund’s impact. Expanding fund eligibility to other historic districts within the City is recommended should be a longer-term goal.
• Prioritize eligible projects to include façade repairs, life-safety improvements, landscape improvements, restoration of significant architectural exterior details. As the fund grows, eligible projects could include resilient roofs, elevating seawalls, structural repairs, building system upgrades and elevation of buildings.
• Establish an independent historic preservation fund committee to review and rank applications for the distribution of funds.
• Require funds award to be matched by the applicant.
• In order to ensure there are checks and balances to prevent abuse of the program and misappropriation of funds it is recommended that the City explore options to place deed restrictions on rents, continuation of property ownership, discouraging displacement and equitable distribution of funds.
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
In September of 2020, a survey was prepared by the Administration to request public input regarding private property flood mitigation strategies. This survey, which was distributed by the City’s communication channels, included several questions applicable to a possible grant program for historic properties. Attached to this memo are the results of the survey.
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| | | | | | | | CONCLUSION:
| | The Administration recommends that the FERC discuss the item and provide a recommendation to the City Commission. |
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| | | | | | | | Applicable Area
| | Not Applicable |
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| | | | | | | | | Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? | | Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds? | | | Yes | | No | |
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| | | | | | | | Strategic Connection
| | Prosperity - Revitalize targeted areas and increase investment. |
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