The Columbia heritage and preservation commission shall have the following powers and duties:

    A.    To adopt its own procedural regulations;

    B.    To conduct an ongoing survey to identify historically and architecturally significant properties, structures and areas in the city;

    C.    To investigate and recommend to the city council the adoption of ordinances designating properties or structures having special historic, community or architectural value as landmarks;

    D.    To investigate and recommend to the city council the adoption of ordinances designating areas having special historic, community or architectural value as historic districts;

    E.    To keep a register of all properties and structures that have been designated as landmarks or historic districts, including all information required for each designation;

    F.    To determine an appropriate system of markers and make recommendations for the design and implementation of specific markings of the streets and routes leading from one landmark or historic district to another;

    G.    To advise owners of landmarks and property or structures within historic districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation and reuse, and on procedures for inclusion on the state or national register of historic places;

    H.    To inform and educate the citizens concerning the historic and architectural heritage of the city by publishing appropriate maps, newsletters, brochures and pamphlets, and by holding programs and seminars;

    I.    To hold public hearings and to review applications for construction, alteration, removal or demolition affecting proposed or designated landmarks or structures or historic districts, and issue or deny certificates of appropriateness for such actions. Applicants shall be required to submit plans, drawings, elevations, specifications and other information as may be necessary to make decisions;

    J.    To develop specific guidelines for the alteration, demolition, construction or removal of landmarks or property and structures within historic districts;

    K.    To review proposed zoning amendments and applications for special use permits or variances that affect proposed or designated landmarks and historic districts. Such review shall be made prior to the date of the hearing by the city plan commission or the zoning board of appeals;

    L.    To administer on behalf of the city any property or full or partial interest in real property, including a conservation right as that term is used in the Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 30, Section 401, et. seq., which the city may have or accept as a gift or otherwise, upon designation by the city council;

    M.    To accept and administer on behalf of the city, upon designation by the city council, such gifts, grants, and money as may be appropriate for the purpose of this chapter;

    N.    To call upon available city staff members as well as other experts for technical advice;

    O.    To testify before all boards and commissions, including the city plan commission and the zoning board of appeals, on any matter affecting historically and architecturally significant property and landmarks;

    P.    To periodically review the city zoning code and to recommend to the city plan commission and the city council any amendments appropriate for the protection and continued use of landmarks or property and structures within historic districts;

    Q.    To recommend that the mayor certify this chapter with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and with the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, in order to qualify Historic Structures under the Federal Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, Sections 212 and 214 and under the Illinois "Revenue Act of 1939," as amended;

    R.    To maintain a registry of historic sites. (Ord. 777 § 1 (part), 1989: prior code § 41-2-5)