18.08.904 - Historical Resources Commission
(a) Creation of Historical Resources Commission There is hereby created a Historical Resources Commission (HRC).
(b) Powers and Duties of the Historical Resources Commission The HRC shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) Contribute to the development and review of plans, bylaws, rules, ordinances, regulations, and implementation programs affecting historic resources; Survey districts, areas, places, buildings, structures, sites, landscapes, objects and properties having historic, community, architectural, archaeological, or aesthetic value;
(2) Administer on behalf of the city, a register of historic resources to include information concerning historic resources, and make nominations to the National Register of Historic Places;
(3) Review and act upon applications for designation, demolition, alteration, and maintenance of historic resources;
(4) Advise and assist owners or other persons, entities, or governmental, or private agencies concerned with historic resources, and confer recognition upon those involved in exceptional historic preservation efforts;
(5) Inform and educate the community concerning historic resources through promotion, signage and wayfinding, publishing information, and by developing interpretive programs and holding events;
(6) Administer, in accordance with a budget approved by the City Council, gifts, grants, money, and contracts as may be appropriate for the purposes of the commission and this Chapter;
(7) Present, hear evidence, testify, or assist as appropriate before all boards, commissions, committees, councils, and related public and private entities on any matter affecting historic resources;
(8) Work with City staff to implement adaptive reuse policy by incentivizing the use and preservation of existing building stock in new and creative ways; and
(9) Play a significant role in the renaming of public facilities with potential historical significance, resources listed on the local register, or resources within a local register historic district.
(c) Composition
(1) The HRC shall consist of seven members, who are residents of the State of Nevada, each appointed by an affirmative vote of no less than four members of the City Council, which includes the mayor. At all times, five commissioners shall be residents of the City of Reno.
(2) At a minimum, the HRC shall be composed of the following positions:
a. One position held by a person who is a registered architect in the State of Nevada;
b. One position held by a person who is an historian with knowledge of local history;
c. One position held by a structural or civil engineer licensed in the State of Nevada; and,
d. Remaining positions held by persons who have demonstrable interest, competence, or knowledge of historic preservation in the disciplines of landscape architecture, real estate, construction, community development, urban planning, archeology, law, finance, cultural geography, cultural anthropology, or related disciplines.
(d) Terms of Office
(1) The regular term of membership on the HRC shall be three years.
(2) A commissioner may serve two consecutive regular terms on the HRC.
(3) A person may serve more than two consecutive regular terms on the HRC in accordance with this subsection provided such regular terms are separated by a period of not less than three years.
(e) Designation of Alternate Commissioner
(1) The City Council, which includes the mayor, may designate an alternate commissioner to serve on the HRC when a commissioner is temporarily absent. The commissioner's temporary absence shall not exceed three months. The designated alternate commissioner shall meet the same requirements of the position as the commissioner who is temporarily absent.
(2) A commissioner is temporarily absent when they will be absent at a regular meeting for a consecutive third time or longer.
(3) Either the chair of the HRC or the temporarily absent commissioner may seek the designation of an alternate commissioner. Before any such alternate commissioner may serve on the HRC, the City Council shall have appointed the alternate commissioner for a specific period. The period of designation shall be three months.
(4) An alternate commissioner may be designated for more than one three-month period.
(5) Once an alternate commissioner is designated, the alternate shall sit as a commissioner on the HRC for the period of the designation.
(Ord. No. 6692, § 1(Exh. A), 1-8-25)
