DUTIES : The Historic Landmarks Commission advises and makes recommendations to the City Council on the designation, acquisition and preservation of historic landmarks and sites, artifacts and other property of historic significance and value including items housed at the History San Jose Historical Museum.

RELATIONSHIPS : The City Council is the final decision-making body of the City. The Commission is advisory to the Council and serves as a conduit for community input to the Council.

QUALIFICATIONS: Members of the Commission must be residents of San Jose unless the City Council specifically authorizes a non-resident member. Whenever possible, at least three members shall have professional expertise in one of the following disciplines: architecture, history, architectural history, planning, prehistoric and historic archaeology, folklore, cultural anthropology, curation, conservation, and landscape architecture or related disciplines, to the extent such professionals are available in the community. All members should have a demonstrable interest and expertise in historic preservation.

MEETINGS : The Commission meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 P.M. at City Hall, Room W118/W119; other duties include study sessions, visits to sites, meetings with staff and public forums. Commissioners spend an average 15 hours per month on Commission business.

BENEFITS : There is no compensation for members of the Historic Landmarks Commission. However, from time to time, Commissioners may be reimbursed for some expenses incurred on City business.

POLITICAL REFORM ACT OF 1974 AS AMENDED : The Conflicts of Interest Section of the Political Reform Act applies to the Historic Landmarks Commission. Commissioners are required to file a Statement of Economic Interests, Form 700, to disclose investments, income and positions which are limited to persons, business entities or sources which deal in real property and those transactions related to such dealing and to consultant services dealing with historic landmarks analysis, including Environmental Impact Reports. Real property must be reported if it is adjacent to, or could be considered for, designation as an historic landmark.

APPOINTMENT PROCESS : All applications received are submitted to the Project Diversity Screening Committee for review according to the needs of the Commission as specified in a Needs Assessment Memo. Applications will be forwarded to the City Attorney for a Conflict of Interest review and thereafter, the applicants will be asked to appear before the Screening Committee Members for an interview. Following interviews, the Screening Committee will develop a list of applicants which will be submitted to the Council Member Liaison to the Commission. The Liaison will forward the list to the Rules Committee of Council either with or without a supplemental recommendation. The City Council makes the final appointment to the Commission based on Rules Committee recommendations.

ATTENDANCE : Commissioners are expected to attend all Commission meetings. San Jose Municipal Code Section 2.08.060 specifies that a Commissioner who has unexcused absences from any three consecutive regular meetings, or 20% of the meetings in a calendar year, is deemed to have resigned from the Commission.

For further information about the Commission, please contact the Commission Staff at 408-535-7834.