A.    The Columbia heritage and preservation commission shall schedule a public hearing within sixty (60) days after the filing of an application to the city council.

    1.    Any person, group of persons, or association, including, but not limited to, the commission, may request a historic landmark designation by the city council for any structure, building or site within the boundaries of the city, which may have historic or architectural significance as defined by this chapter. The city clerk shall supply, upon request, the application forms. Completed forms shall be submitted to the city council. Forms shall be forwarded to the commission for its consideration and recommendation.

    2.    Notice of date, time, place and purpose of the public hearing shall be sent by mail to owners of record and to the nominators as well as to the adjoining property owners, not less than fifteen (15) nor more than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the hearing. A public notice also shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the city. The notice shall state the location of the property and summarize how the proposed landmark meets the criteria set forth in Section 15.64.100.

    3.    Upon receipt of the application, the secretary of the commission shall schedule a public hearing, to be held within forty-five (45) days after preliminary approval of the application.

    4.    During the public hearing, the commission shall review and evaluate the application according to the criteria established by this chapter.

    5.    If the commission finds at the time that the application merits further consideration, then the commission may table the request until its next regularly scheduled meeting.

    6.    A certificate of appropriateness shall be required for alteration, construction, removal or demolition of a proposed landmark, from the date when the nomination form is presented to the commission until the final disposition of the request.

    B.    A decision shall be made within thirty (30) days following the date of the closing of the public hearing.

    1.    Following the public hearing, the secretary of the commission shall prepare the commission's evaluation, recommendation and all available information for submission to the city council within thirty (30) days.

    2.    If the commission decides that the landmark should be designated, it shall do so by a resolution passed by a majority of the commission.

    3.    The owners of record shall be notified promptly by a letter containing information of the commission's decision.

    4.    A simple majority vote by the city council is necessary for approval of a landmark designation. If the city council approves the application for a designation, a notice will be sent to the property owner, the Columbia heritage and preservation commission, the building inspector and the city clerk, and recorded with the county recorder of deeds. If the city council denies the petition, no petitioner or applicant can refile with the city council for ninety (90) days.

    5.    Buildings designated as historic landmarks shall be subject to issuance of certificates of appropriateness. (Ord. 777 § 1 (part), 1989: prior code § 41-3-3)