DATE: May 3, 2016
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Adoption of Ordinance Establishing the Hayward Mills Act Historical Property Contract Program
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the City Council introduces the attached Ordinance establishing the Hayward Mills Act Historical Property Contract Program and approves the attached Resolution finding that the proposed program is categorically exempt from CEQA and establishing a fee to administer such program.
Body
BACKGROUND
The Mills Act was enacted by the State of California in 1976, granting local governments the ability to provide property tax abatements to the owners of qualified historical properties. In order for the owner to receive the property tax abatement, they must enter into an agreement with the City, committing to making capital improvements to rehabilitate, restore, preserve, or maintain the qualified historical property.
In 2014, the City adopted the Hayward 2040 General Plan. The General Plan directs the City to adopt a Mills Act Program by 2019 (GP Policy LU-8.9). Due to market demands, staff is moving the adoption of this program to this current fiscal year.
DISCUSSION
Program Overview
Hayward has some properties of historical significance that add to the City's character. Over the years many of these properties have fallen into less desirable states, some becoming blight on local neighborhoods.
The goal of the Hayward Mills Act Historical Property Contract Program is to help facilitate the rehabilitation, restoration, preservation, and maintenance of local historical properties to rejuvenate neighborhoods and increase property values. The Mills Act Program would facilitate these activities by allowing the City of Hayward to enter into agreements with the owners of qualified properties, reducing their property tax burden, in an effort to offset capital improvement costs ...
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