(1) Created. The Historic Review Board is hereby created as a standing committee of the Planning Commission.

(2) Membership. The committee shall have seven members, consisting of one member of the planning commission; two members, to the extent they are available in the community, who are an architect with preservation expertise and a historian with knowledge of local history; two professionals with demonstrable interest, competence, or knowledge of historic preservation in the disciplines of landscape architecture, real estate, construction, community development, urban planning, archeology, law, finance, cultural geography, cultural anthropology, or related disciplines; and two citizens.

(3) Appointment and Terms of Office. Members shall be nominated by the mayor and planning commission chair and appointed by the council, except for the planning commission member who shall be appointed by the chair of the planning commission. Other members shall serve for four-year terms. A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments and the appointee shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term. A member who is absent for more than three consecutively scheduled meetings without having been excused by the chair of the planning commission shall be removed and the vacancy filled.

(4) Officers, meetings and rules of procedure. The officers of the committee shall be a chair and vice-chair, elected by majority vote of the committee. The chair shall preside at meetings of the board and shall have the right to vote. The vice-chair shall, in case of absence or disability of the chair, perform the duties of the chair. Officers shall serve for terms of one year or until their successors are regularly elected and take office. The committee shall hold meetings at such times as it deems necessary, and shall also meet upon the call of the chair. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. The concurring vote of a majority of members present shall be required for approval or disapproval of any motion or other action of the committee. All meetings shall be open to the public. At public hearings, all interested parties shall be entitled to appear and address the committee. The committee may make and alter rules for its conduct and procedure, providing they are consistent with state law and applicable provisions of the city charter, ordinances and policies.

(5) Powers and duties. The committee shall take all steps necessary to preserve historic properties pursuant to this code and shall support programs and projects which will help make the citizens of the city and its visitors aware of its origin, development and historic significance. Pursuant to chapter 9 of this code, the committee shall: