City Council to Discuss Historic Preservation Program Proposal

In an effort to move forward with the proposal to create a in Beverly Hills, the community is encouraged to attend the year's first formal City Council meeting on Tuesday.

The initial reading of an ordinance to amend the Beverly Hills municipal code to adopt a historic preservation program is on the agenda.

If approved, the historic preservation program would include:

• An ordinance by which the city will meet criteria to become a Certified Local Government, granting Beverly Hills access to state funding for historic preservation and other benefits.
• Establishment of a five-member Cultural Heritage Commission made up of residents who will make recommendations to the council on the designation of historic properties and other preservation issues, and ensure that historic preservation is part of the city's development review process.
• Creation of an incentive program (also known as the ) to encourage homeowners to preserve and restore architecturally significant residences in Beverly Hills.
•  Penalties for demolishing historically significant buildings without giving the proper notifications to the city.

In addition to discussing a historic preservation program, the approval of the new  is also on Tuesday's council agenda. The JPA is a four-year agreement in which the city pays the Beverly Hills Unified School District for access to school facilities. 

The formal council meeting is taking place at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers.

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