Landmarks Board

Legal basis

• BRC 2-3-7 · creates · Landmarks Board source
• BRC Chapter 9-11 · governs · Historic Preservation source
• Ordinance No. 8658 (2024) (2024-12-19) · amends · Amending 2-3-7 and Chapter 9-11 to remove the appointment of a Planning Board member to the Landmarks Board and revise review timelines source
• Charter Sec. 130 · governs · General provisions concerning advisory commissions source

Appointed by

City Council, Mayor. City Council appoints the five members (BRC 2-3-7(a)). The Mayor, with council consent, may appoint former members as alternates for a Chapter 9-11 matter when a member has a conflict of interest (BRC 2-3-7(d)). Partial-term vacancies have been filled through a mid-year recruitment (e.g. an 8-month at-large term, Aug 2023-Mar 2024). source source as of 2026-10-29

How

Annual city recruitment run by the City Clerk (2026 cycle: applications Dec 8, 2025 to Jan 25, 2026), 15-minute Zoom interviews with one council member and the board's staff, then nominations and a vote by City Council at a regular meeting before April (Council Procedure IX), with terms starting April 1. Vacancies after partial terms are filled for the rest of the term (BRC 2-3-1(a)(3)). Mid-year recruitments fill partial terms. · annual; applications December-January, interviews February, council vote by March, seats effective April 1 · city-council (majority vote on each seat) source source source source source as of 2026-03-05

Seats

5 source as of 2026-10-29

Seat types

• Architectural or urban planning professional ×2 qualified
• Member chosen without limitation (at large) ×3 at-large
• Temporary alternate (former member, appointed by the Mayor with council consent for a conflicted matter) alternate

source as of 2026-10-29

another source differs

plus one non-voting Planning Board member appointed as liaison source

Ordinance 8658 (adopted Dec 19, 2024) removed the Planning Board appointment from BRC 2-3-7; the current 2-3-7(a) has no such seat, and 2026 Landmarks Board minutes list no Planning Board member. The city page text is stale.

Term

5 years source source as of 2026-10-29

Term limit

none set in BRC 2-3-7 or 2-3-1 (or Charter Sec. 130); members may be reappointed. Example: Abby Daniels left in March 2026 after 8 years (a partial term plus a full term). source source as of 2026-03-04

Staggering

One seat a year: terms end 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2031 (Charter Sec. 130 pattern of one five-year appointment each March). source source as of 2026-10-23

Powers

quasi-judicial. Decides: Initiates designations; holds hearings on and approves, modifies or disapproves proposed landmarks and historic districts (a disapproval is final unless appealed or called up); decides landmark alteration certificates for new construction, relocation and demolition of designated buildings and for applications referred by staff/LDRC; holds hearings on demolition permits for non-designated buildings over 50 years old referred from initial review; recognizes structures of merit; adopts rules under 9-11-24.. To council: Council designates landmarks and historic districts by ordinance after the board recommends approval (9-11-6); owners may appeal and council may call up a disapproval (9-11-7); council may call up any alteration-certificate decision (9-11-16: 16 days for approvals, 30 for denials). source source as of 2026-10-29

Council liaison

not applicable: City Council assigns no council liaison to the Landmarks Board: council's approved 2026 committee and board assignments (Jan 22, 2026, Attachment A) list council members only for intergovernmental bodies, internal council committees, local outside boards and sister cities, and name none for any city board or commission. A council-liaison program for boards was proposed in January 2023; no assignment under it appears in the 2026 list. source source

Staff liaison

Planning & Development Services (Historic Preservation) · Marcy Gerwing source source as of 2026-05-06

Relations

• Landmarks Board appeals to City Council · owner appeals and council call-up of designation disapprovals (9-11-7); council call-up of alteration certificates (9-11-16) source source
• City Council appoints Landmarks Board source
• Mayor appoints Landmarks Board · temporary alternates only (BRC 2-3-7(d)) source
• Landmarks Board member of Landmarks Design Review Committee · two board members, rotating weekly source
• Landmarks Board recommends to City Council · designations, adopted by council ordinance source
• Planning & Development Services staffs Landmarks Board · Board secretary and staff (Historic Preservation) source source source
• Landmarks Design Review Committee subcommittee of Landmarks Board source

History

• 2015-06-08 · transitioned · Adopted a regulation clarifying demolition review under 9-11-23(d), defining the Landmarks Design Review Committee as one preservation staff member and two board members. source
• 2024-12-19 · transitioned · Ordinance 8658 ended the non-voting Planning Board member who attended Landmarks Board meetings (struck from 2-3-7(a)) and lengthened staff/LDRC review from 14 to 21 days. source source