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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-21-24 Public Comment - R. Brey - 2_21_2024 Historic Preservation Advisory BoardFrom:Ron Brey To:Agenda Subject:[EXTERNAL]2/21/2024 Historic Preservation Advisory Board Date:Wednesday, February 21, 2024 7:55:48 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Members of the HPAB First let me thank you for your service. Bozeman’s historic character, though fragile, is priceless and your efforts to sustain it are greatly appreciated by the community. I understand that one of the City Commission’s adopted priorities is to “ Rework and strengthen new historic preservation policy /program”. I have some suggestions on how to restore some of the strength of the program that has been compromised in recent years. Ordinance 1927, April 2016 TO CHANGE THE OBJECT, DEFINITIONS, COMPOSITION, STAFFING, MEETING PROVISIONS, AND POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD. Several changes made in this ordinance had the effect of reducing the role of the HPO and moving authority from the Board to the Commission. The ordinance changed the role of the HPO from staff to the board to staff liaison to the board and also changed the appointment of the HPO from appointment by the Board with concurrence of the commission to “A member of the historic preservation advisory board may be invited to participate in the City' s process for selection and hiring of” the HPO” The effect of these changes would seemingly have the effect of compromising the HPO’s advocacy role by placing it into the political realm. The ordinance also weakened the responsibility of the HPO concerning the survey and inventory of historic elements by changing maintaining the survey and inventory of historic elements to advocating for the maintenance.. Combined, these and other minor items had the effect of moving the little authority the HPO and Board had to the City Commission. A good start on strengthening the historic preservation program would be to reestablish the role of the HPO and the authority of the Board to previous levels and allow the program to truly advocate for historic preservation, people-centered preservation as well as physical spaces. Ron Brey1106 South 3rd .