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and recommended acceptance of the historic resource survey. In addition, the Commission recommended that the City Council discuss whether to pursue a separate Municipal Code amendment to expand design review authority to the exterior of non-historic single-family homes in residential zoning districts in the Downtown Specific Plan Area. PUBLIC NOTICE Notice regarding the proposed project and related City Council public hearing were mailed to the property owners and tenants within the Downtown Specific Plan Area, the former Historic Preservation Task Force members, and interested parties who contacted staff during the Historic Preservation Task Force meetings. It was also published in the local newspaper. At the time this report was written, staff had received an email from Linda Garbarino in response to this notice requesting the Council pursue a separate Code amendment to expand design review authority for the homes in the survey which were determined not to qualify as historic resources (please see Attachment #3). Correspondence received in response to the Planning Commission public hearing notice have been attached to this report (Exhibit F of Attachment 5) or discussed in the Planning Commission staff report. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT This project is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3), as it has been determined that the Municipal Code amendment will not cause a significant negative effect on the environment, and will in fact protect historic resources by making the City's historic resource regulations more robust. CONCLUSION Staff supports the draft Municipal Code amendment, as described in Option 2 above, and believes that it will help protect historic homes that are valued by the community and ensure that changes to historic homes are consistent with the Downtown Specific Plan and Downtown Design Guidelines. The historic resource survey will benefit both property owners and applicants by saving them the time and expense of hiring a consultant to conduct an individual survey and by letting them know whether a structure is considered historic or not, allowing them to plan their additions/modifications accordingly. It will also aid staff, the Planning Commission, and City Council in their review of applications that involve changes to residential structures constructed before 1942. Staff is also requesting Council direction on initiating a separate Municipal Code amendment to expand design review authority to include the exterior of non-historic single-family homes in residential zoning districts in the Downtown Specific Plan Area. Submitted by: Fiscal Rev' w: Approve9 by: /lin Beaudin Tina Olson Nelson Fialho Director of Director of Finance City Manager Community Development Page 7 of 8