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The Historic Preservation Committee has changed its name to the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee (CRPC). The CRPC is coordinated by the Building and Safety Division and comprised of seven members appointed by the City Council.
The Committee was created as part of the City's Cultural Resources Ordinance to help preserve specific areas and buildings within the City that reflect elements of its cultural, social, economic, political, architectural, and archaeological history. The Committee advises the City Council and in all matters relating to the identification, protection, restoration, and retention of historic sites within the City. (Mission Statement)
The Committee conducted a Bus Tour in April 2007 which visited a number of interesting sites throughout Palm Desert and developed a booklet, History and Tour of Palm Desert Historical Sites commemorating this event.
The CRPC regularly scheduled meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. in the Administrative Services Conference Room. An informational booklet about the CRPC can be found here. For more information about the CRPC, please click here for a listing of current Committee Members and upcoming meetings, or contact us via email at building@palmdesert.gov or call (760) 776-6420.
About Agendas, Staff Reports and Minutes
The Minutes for the CRPC meetings are available after they have been approved at the next regular meeting. Meeting agendas are typically available 72 hours prior to each meeting and may be downloaded by clicking on one of the Event links below. The City of Palm Desert reserves the right to make changes to the order of items listed on the agenda.
Information and Forms
On January 13, 2011 the City Council adopted the Mills Act Program for Palm Desert. The Mills Act is state legislation, enacted in 1972, to provide property tax relief to owners of historic properties for the purpose of assisting in the expense of restoration and maintenance. To qualify, a historic property must be listed on a national, state, county, or city register. Although it is applicable to historic income producing properties, it is the single most important economic incentive program available in California for owner occupied historic residential buildings, particularly single-family homes. A Mills Act program is developed in accordance with California Government Code, Article 12, Sections 50280-50290 and California Revenue and Taxation Code, Article 1.9, Sections 439-439.4.
Under the program, property owners receive a significant reduction in local property taxes in exchange for their promise to actively participate in restoring, rehabilitating, repairing and preserving their properties. Participants enter into a perpetual 10-year contract with the City. Contracts are automatically renewed each year and are transferred to new owners when the property is sold. The act provides for inspections, as needed, by city, county, or state officials. Penalties may be imposed for breach of contract or failure to maintain the historic property.
The City accepts applications during the month of June every year. The internal review process is completed by late fall, when qualified applications are forwarded to City Council for consideration. Approved contracts are forwarded to the County Assessor. Tax credits are effective the following fiscal tax year, when restoration work, according to the contract, may commence. For more information contact Jason Finley, Cultural Resources Administrator at (760) 346-6420.
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