Fulton City Council members will discuss changes to the city's historic preservation code during Tuesday night's meeting.
City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Fulton City Hall (18 E. 4th St.). Meetings are open to the public. The meeting will also feature a public hearing on the city's 2020 budget and three-year capital program.
Fulton's rules on historic preservation - as set out in Chapter 62 of the city code - were last updated in 2002. Members of the historic planning commission agreed during their Sept. 17 meeting the current ordinance is confusing and in need of clarification and updates.
Bill 1560, tabled at the last council meeting, would repeal that entire chapter and replace it with the updated code.
One immediately obvious change is the addition of a section with definitions of key terms necessary to understanding the code, from "alteration" to "survey."
Section 62-26, which establishes the historic preservation commission, isn't changing much. However, the new code adds the commission's president must refrain from voting on issues unless needed as a tie-breaker.
Section 62-27 adds a provision for the appointment of a new commissioner in case of a membership vacancy. The next two sections, on officers and meetings, are shuffled slightly but otherwise unchanged.
Section 62-30 describes the preservation commission's powers and duties remains largely the same. However, a new item directs the commission to conduct "an ongoing survey for the identification of significant properties that exemplify cultural, social, economic, political or architectural history and maintain the research information in an inventory accessible to the public."
Section 62-31 adds a note, absent from the previous version, that properties identified as Fulton Historic Properties are subject to non-binding design review for demolition and new construction. Section 62-32 now describes that design review process in detail, including what changes necessitate or do not necessitate such a review. The former section 62-34, which laid out design guidelines, has been added to the section.
Upon the completion of a review, the property owner will receive a certificate of review.
Other business
Other items on the agenda include several that have previously popped up for readings, including:
An update on the city's asphalt overlay and chip seal programs.
The first reading of an ordinance permitting the sale of a 2009 recycling/yard waste truck as surplus property.
Second reading of an ordinances proposing placing a 2.5 percent use tax on the April ballot; authorizing the renewal of a contract between the city and Callaway County for public emergency communications operations services; and adoption the city's 2020 budget and three-year capital improvement programs.