Sec. 111.910. - Downtown Historic Preservation and Revitalization Trust Fund.

(a) Fund creation. There is hereby created an account to be known as the Downtown Historic Preservation and Revitalization Trust Fund, a permanent trust fund into which shall be deposited all donations and contributions of money, including gifts and grants received by the City for use in furthering the goals of this fund, as well as all funds as may be appropriated from time to time by Council and all fees, fines, and civil penalties as may be designated for deposit into the fund from time to time by Council. These funds are designated to pay for the programs described herein. The DIA and the Historic Preservation Section of the Jacksonville Planning and Development Department (the "Historic Preservation Section") shall review all applications for grants to be paid out of the fund in accordance with the requirements set forth herein. No grant in excess of $100,000 shall be made from the trust fund pursuant to this program. Subject to availability of unencumbered funds, applicants that request $100,000 or less in the aggregate for a project may be approved by the DIA without further Council action, in accordance with the HPRTF Guidelines (defined below). For the purpose of this Section, the dollar amounts in all applications for loans or grants for any one project submitted within five years of the first loan or grant approved under this fund for the project, shall be aggregated to determine if the loan or grant amount exceeds $100,000. All monies and interest placed into this trust fund are hereby appropriated for the purposes of this trust fund, and all appropriations shall carry forward each fiscal year and shall not lapse. (b) Fund administration. The DIA and the Planning and Development Department Historic Preservation Section shall follow the Downtown Historic Preservation and Revitalization Trust Fund Guidelines ("HPRTF Guidelines"). The Historic Preservation Section shall review and approve the design aspect of the application, and the DIA shall review and approve the application and administer fund allocation. Changes to the HPRTF Guidelines which have financial impact shall be jointly approved by the DIA and the Historic Preservation Section and shall be submitted to the Council for approval. Approved applicants may receive financial assistance through grant programs as set forth in the HPRTF Guidelines. Trust funds may only be used for one or more of the purposes specified in subsection (e). (c) Planning and Development Department Historic Preservation Section review. To receive assistance from the fund, the owner of a historic building, or his or her agent, shall submit an application to the Planning and Development Department Historic Preservation Section for designation as a local landmark unless already designated, and an application to the Historic Preservation Section for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the improvements proposed, in accordance with the HPRTF Guidelines. The Historic Preservation Section shall review the landmark designation application for eligibility. Only historic buildings located within the DIA boundary area and which meet one of the following criteria shall be eligible to make application for assistance from the fund: (1) The building is a local landmark, designated by the City pursuant to Chapter 307 , Ordinance Code; or (2) The building is a contributing structure to a local historic district, designated by the City pursuant to Chapter 307 , Ordinance Code; or (3) The building has been declared a potential local landmark, as defined in Chapter 307 , Ordinance Code, however final local landmark designation must be obtained from City Council prior to final approval of the grant by DIA. The Historic Preservation Section shall also review the application for the Certificate of Appropriateness for compliance with the United States Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and any applicable historic preservation design guidelines and shall issue an approval, denial, or approval with conditions. The Historic Preservation Section shall evaluate applications based on the project's historic importance and significance, the overall contribution of the project to the restoration of the historic fabric, and the overall preservation of the building. The Historic Preservation Section shall forward its recommendation and actions on the Certificate of Appropriateness application to the DIA in accordance with the HPRTF Guidelines. (d) DIA review. To receive a grant from the fund, the owner of a historic building, or his or her agent, shall submit, in accordance with the HPRTF Guidelines, an application to the DIA for the grant requested. The DIA shall analyze the specific finances of the project for the express purpose of determining whether or not to engage in a redevelopment agreement between the City and the applicant. (e) Fund programs. The owner of a historic building which meets the eligibility requirements in subsection (c), or his or her agent, may apply for assistance from the fund in the form of grants for eligible improvements under the HPRTF Guidelines which include restoration or rehabilitation of the building exterior, restoration of historic features on the building interior, rehabilitation of the building interior, code compliance improvements and general requirements and overhead of the general contractor, as further detailed in the HPRTF Guidelines. (f) Final inspection. A final inspection to ensure compliance with the terms of the approved Certificate of Appropriateness and trust fund grant application shall be conducted within 90 days following completion of the project. The final inspection shall be conducted by, or at the direction of the Planning and Development Department Historic Preservation Section staff. All projects shall comply with the HPRTF Guidelines and criteria established herein. An applicant whose project fails to meet the HPRTF Guidelines and criteria set forth herein shall be required to repay the City any amounts received under a grant and/or loan program, less any payments made thereunder. The inspection required by this subsection shall not replace or supersede any other inspection required by local, State, or federal law. (Ord. 2002-395-E, § 2; Ord. 2006-422-E, § 106; Ord. 2012-364-E, § 10; Ord. 2020-527-E , § 2) Note— Former § 110.399.2.