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Page 2 of 8 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org <br />3. Adopt a resolution of the City Council approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute a <br />Historic Preservation Agreement (Mills Act Contract) for 1018-1020 Main Street; and <br />4. Adopt a resolution designating the residence at 979 Arlington Road a Redwood City Historic Landmark <br />and authorizing the City Manager to execute a Historic Preservation Agreement (Mills Act Contract). <br />STRATEGIC PLAN GUIDING PRINCIPLE <br />Excellence in Government Operations <br />BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS <br />Historic Landmark Designation <br />Properties designated as historic landmarks are protected from demolition, alteration, removal, or <br />relocation unless reviewed and recommended by the HRAC and then approved by the Planning <br />Commission at a public hearing. Chapter 40 does not prevent legally permitted and reasonable use(s) of <br />properties designated as historic landmarks, and it allows for ordinary maintenance and repair so long as <br />the work does not involve a change in the design, material or external appearance of the property. <br />Pursuant to Section 40.6 of the Municipal Code, a structure may be designated as an historic landmark if <br />it meets at least one of the following criteria: <br />A. It exemplifies or reflects special elements of the City’s cultural, aesthetic or architectural history; <br />or <br />B. It is identified with persons or events significant in local, State or national history; or <br />C. It embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method of construction, or is a <br />valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship; or <br />D. It is representative of the notable work of a builder, designer or architect. <br />Mills Act Contract <br />To qualify for a Mills Act Contract, a property must be deemed historic under Redwood City’s designation <br />criteria. Mills Act Contracts are considered by numerous local governmental agencies and preservationists <br />throughout California as one of the most beneficial historic preservation incentives available today. Mills <br />Act Contracts provide for yearly property tax savings for the owner that can be channeled towards the <br />long-term maintenance of the property and preservation of the historic resource. <br />The minimum duration for Mills Act Contracts is 10 years. After 10 years, one additional year is <br />automatically added to the contract term every year unless the City and/or property owner elect to not <br />renew. The Mills Act Contract transfers to the new owner in the event the property is sold. Once approved, <br />each contract is recorded against the title of the subject property and the information forwarded to the <br />County Assessor’s office. The initial Mills Act Contract includes a 10-year schedule of proposed <br />maintenance and improvements. <br />Once granted a Mills Act Contract, a property owner may save as much as 40%-60% of the individual <br />assessed tax valuation of the property. Since the City collects less than 20% of the 1% of the assessed <br />9.A. - Page 2 of 247 <br />260