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Council Minutes of 3-5-2019 Roll Call: Yes: Williamson, Schumann, Limpert, Brossard, Hemann, Kearney No: Glassburn Motion carried. Resolution 2019-30 adopted 6-1. Councilman Schumann voted yes with comment. What the Landmarks Commission is asking Council is for $15,000 to hire a preservation professional to help us craft guidelines. There was some question as to why the Board of Control would approve the guidelines. This was a misunderstanding. The Board of Control will only approve the contractor. The guidelines are to be approved by the Commission and then shared with the residents. Landmarks is manned by people who through vocation or avocation share a passion for history and historic preservation. Members have backgrounds in folk history, local history, American history, art, architecture, building, renovation and even historic restoration. Many members are members of the historical society also and officers and many live in the district and at least one that lives in a landmark property outside of the district. Members are charged with using Interior Department rules for granting certificates of appropriateness for demolitions and renovations within the historic district and for several City landmarks. In the 15 plus years I have served on Landmarks, I don't remember five times we have turned applicants down and that includes at least two that were threatened demolitions. Usually we negotiate and try to educate. In fact, most people come to us before they ask to find out what is expected and what to expect. Over the years, we have increased the use of the minor change exemption which allows the chairman to grant a certificate when a property owner wants to replace a similar roof or driveway and this is done in days with no need for owners to appear. The commission is recognized by the State of Ohio as a certified local government. Members have gone out of their way to educate themselves and each other. I believe it would be an insult to these people, these righteous volunteers, for Council to insist upon approving the guidelines instead of letting them approve them. Though I would consider myself the best suited member of Council to judge these guidelines, I would take a backseat to some of my colleagues on Landmarks. Why do we need these guidelines? The commission members are fully capable of deciding appropriateness right now using common sense and shared education. Much like this body we discuss, argue and then vote. I'm sure that will continue, but this is for the long-term and will benefit us now, but more importantly be a guide for future commission members. Even more importantly, these guidelines will be published and made available to the property owners within the district and landmark property owners outside the district. The Butternut Ridge Historic District is unique. American settlement began along the ridge just after the west side of the Cuyahoga was opened up by treaty in 1815. Housing continued to be built along Butternut up through the 1960's, but very slowly. There are 150 years of American Midwest housing styles on the ridge. Almost every decade is represented. There are a plethora, that's right I said plethora, of styles even within each decade. The street is a guidebook of American residential housing. This means that even the humblest bungalow from 1955 has historic value in the context of the district. Those Interior Department rules I spoke about earlier are very general and not style specific or era specific. That is why we hope to get help from a professional. Landmarks has spent very little of the City's money. Most years we have spent nothing. I appreciate your vote on this if you can. Thank you. 8