Historic Preservation Commission

Meetings

  • 5:15 pm
  • 3rd Wednesday of each month
  • City Hall - Council Chambers

215 Sycamore Street
Muscatine, Iowa 52761

Membership

The Historic Preservation Commission shall consist of 5 members who are appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Council. Commission terms are for 5 years. Members appointed to the Commission must have a demonstrated interest in historic preservation and meet the criteria established through Muscatine's Certified Local Government (CLG) ordinance (PDF). No commission member may serve more than 2 consecutive terms.

Duties

Muscatine's and other local historic preservation programs throughout Iowa deal with the built environment and encourage preservation of historic properties. Historic properties are variable and can include buildings, structures, objects, archaeological sites or any combination of these resources. Historic properties have documented significance and a high degree of integrity. Ideally a local historic preservation program has a dual focus. First, it has an on-going process for identifying, evaluating, and recognizing historic properties within the city limits. Key activities the commission conducts to meet this responsibility include conducting surveys and other investigations; and encouraging or completing research and education. Second, the program has a continuing duty to manage and protect historic properties. This means commission involvement in planning, including review and comment of proposed developments impacting historic properties; education; and consideration of historic preservation in land use, public improvement and development decisions. The commission is required to develop and submit an annual report to the State Historical Society of Iowa and report regularly to the Council on its activities.