2.96.030 Powers and duties.
The commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) Survey historic resources and maintain, publicize and periodically update a comprehensive inventory of those resources within the boundaries of Snohomish County to be known as the Snohomish County Historic Resources Inventory.
(2) Solicit, review, and evaluate nominations to the local register and National Register of Historic Places as provided in chapter 30.32D SCC and in the National Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470. Designate to the local register, with owner consent, such buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts identified by the commission as having historic significance worthy of recognition by Snohomish County according to the criteria listed in SCC 30.32D.040.
(3) Review proposals to modify, remodel, move, demolish, or significantly affect properties or districts on the register as provided in chapter 30.32D SCC, and issue certificates of appropriateness or waivers of certificates of appropriateness.
(4) Review and make recommendations to staff and/or county council regarding applications for approvals, permits, environmental assessments or impact statements and other similar documents pertaining to identified local, state and national registered sites.
(5) Conduct and participate in public information, educational, interpretive, and recognition-of-excellence programs pertaining to archaeological sites and historic properties.
(6) Exercise the powers and duties contained in SCC 2.96.030(1)-(5) for incorporated cities that have executed interlocal agreements with Snohomish County for historic preservation services.
(7) Serve as the local review board for special valuation pursuant to chapter 84.26 RCW, WAC 254-20-060, and WAC 254-20-070 as follows:
(a) Make determinations concerning the eligibility of individual properties for special valuation.
(b) Verify that improvements are consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, referred to in WAC 254-20-100 and used by the Washington State Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and by the commission.
(c) Enter into agreements pursuant to WAC 254-20-070(2).
(d) Approve or deny applications for special valuation.
(e) Monitor property for continued compliance with agreements entered into under SCC 2.96.030(7)(c) and statutory eligibility requirements.
(f) Following receipt of an application for special valuation from the county assessor, the commission shall, consistent with its adopted administrative rules, determine if the property meets the criteria for special valuation as set forth in SCC 4.31.050, and has not been altered in any way that adversely affects those elements that qualify it as historically significant.
(g) If the commission finds that the property satisfies the criteria set forth in SCC 2.96.030(7)(f), it shall, on behalf of Snohomish County, enter into an agreement with the owner that, at a minimum, includes the provisions set forth in WAC 254-20-120. Upon execution of said agreement between the owner and the commission, the commission shall approve the application for special valuation.
(h) If the commission determines that the property does not meet all of the requirements for special valuation, then it shall deny the application.
(i) An application for special valuation submitted pursuant to SCC 4.31.060 shall be approved or denied by the commission before December 31 of the calendar year in which the application is made. The commission shall certify its decision in writing and state the facts upon which the approval or denial is based. The commission shall file a copy of the certification with the county assessor within ten days of issuing a decision.
(j) If the application is approved, the commission shall forward a copy of the agreement, the application, and supporting documentation as required by WAC 254-20-090(4) to the county assessor for recording and shall notify the state review board that the property has been approved for special valuation.
(k) Once an application for special valuation has been approved, the commission shall determine, according to its bylaws and rules of procedure, whether the property has become disqualified, either because of the owner’s failure to comply with the terms of the agreement, or because of a loss of historic value resulting from physical changes to the building or site. In the event that the commission concludes that a property is no longer qualified for special valuation, it shall notify the owner, the county assessor, and the state review board in writing and state the facts supporting its findings.
(8) Make recommendations to the county council for use of funds available for historic preservation or historical programs under RCW 36.22.170 following an application process to be developed by the commission and approved by the council. In addition to other elements determined appropriate by the commission, the application process shall include:
(a) provision for technical assistance by county economic development program staff, if any;
(b) a means of comparing and evaluating applications, and making recommendations on a competitive basis;
(c) a procedure for prioritizing projects and stating priorities in commission recommendations; and
(d) one or more application deadlines, with recommendations to be submitted to the council on an annual basis; provided that the council may exempt specific projects from application deadlines or commission review. (Added by Amended Ord. 06-038, Dec. 13, 2006, Eff date Jan. 5, 2007; Amended by Ord. 08-153, Mar. 4, 2009, Eff date Mar. 19, 2009).