To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Vincent Smith, Community Development Director
Prepared By: Michael Walker, Senior Planner
TITLE:
Title
Preservation of Qualified Historical Property at 1221 Seminary Street
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Authorize the City Manager, on behalf of the City, to execute a Mills Act Historic Preservation Agreement for the property at 1221 Seminary Street and determine that the actions authorized by this item are exempt from CEQA.
Body
DISCUSSION:
BACKGROUND
The City has received a request for approval of a Mills Act Contract on a property that is being restored. The Mills Act Contract is requested for the purpose of obtaining financial resources to help off-set the cost of repairs that the owners incurred in their efforts to restore and preserve the subject historic building and for ongoing preservation of the building. The work identified on the Ten Year Rehabilitation Plan (see Attachment 3) was previously reviewed by the Cultural Heritage Commission as part of a Certificate of Appropriateness approved by City Council on June 16, 2020.
MILLS ACT CONTRACT REVIEW
Mills Act: The Mills Act was adopted by the State legislature in 1972. The Mills Act provides a means for an owner to reduce property taxes on a historic property in exchange for an agreement with a local government entity that the owners maintain the property's historic character. The purpose is to encourage the renovation and maintenance of historic properties throughout the State by providing a tax incentive. It is similar to the Williamson Act, which encourages the preservation of agricultural land in return for a lower property tax rate.
The Mills Act enables local governments to enter into a voluntary contract with owners of historic properties. The City is not obliged to enter into a contract even if the properties are eligible. The contract extends for an initial term of 10 years. It will automatically renew each year on it...
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