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Commissioner IGngs commented to staff that the application adopted by the Commission includes a request for a site plan. In this case, a schematic site plan which showed the location of the house, detached gazage, and the relation to the entire site would have been helpful. She also requested that staff try and refer to the neighborhoods by their name instead of the City District number (t.e. Heninger Park instead of SD 40). Commissioner Giles inquired as to the process on evaluating the taxes and asked Ms. Hardy how she perceived the process for the Mills Act application and if she Thad any recommendations regarding the process. Ms. Hernandez responded that the County Assessors Office evaluated the property taxes. Mr. Edwards further informed the Commission that it was a complept formula and explained that the County ' determined the tax benefits rather than Ciry staff. Ms. Ginelle Hardy stated that she had worked on the committee with Ms. Diane Mazsh and that she had attended workshops to obtain and acquire information and knowledge regarding the Mills Act. She further stated that the process was time consuming and that it would bett~fit a property owner to have information regazding the tax benefits in the contract. Several Commissioners suggested that staff include sample calculation information in the packages regarding the Mills Act tax benefits and other incentives for historic property owners. Mr. Edwards commented that staff would continue to work on the informational package and that he would revisit the package. Motion to: 1) Receive and file the Categorical Exemption for Enxironmental Review No. 00-01; 2) adopt a resolution approving Historic Resources Commission Application No. 00-01; and 3) recommend that the City Council direct the City Attorney to prepare and authorize the Mayor and the Clerk of the Council to execute an agreement with James B. Hardy and Ms. Ginelle Hardy for the structure located at 822 South Van Ness. MOTION: Corpin SI'aCOND: Giles AYES: Kings, Brenes, Berry, Corpin, Cribb, and Giles NOES: None ABSENT: Gartner, Chinn, and Bustamante Study Session 1. Discussion b Cit Attorne . a) Brown Act b) Conflicts of Interest c) Due Process Ms. Cristine Shaw, Deputy City Attorney, discussed with the Commission the Brown Act; explained procedures for developing Committees, meetings that excluded Brown Act, the Agenda Process, and Conflicts of Interest. She defined to the Commission the differences between ad hots, standing meetings, and serial meetings and at what meetings it was appropriate to take action on items and meetings where it would be inappropriate to take actions. In addition, she discussed'',Conflicts of Interest and briefly described the eight step process for determining whether a conflict of interlest exists. However, she explained that only reliance on a written opinion rendered by the Fair Political Ptlactices Commission (FPPC) could protect a Commissioner from civil or criminal prosecution. Mr. Gary Sheatz, Assistant City Attorney, explained the legal', differences between Historic Resources Commissioners and City Council members. He discussed how the differences affected the way they performed their duties; the constitutional due process requirements related to Commission functions; and the preservation of due process mandates that Commissioners abstaini from ex-pane contacts with the applicant and interested parties, prohibits site visits, and precludes the reliann on information obtained off-the-record. In addition, he further explained that if any of the aforementioned occurred in spite of his advice, the Commissioners were required to disclose both the substance and ngture of the conversations or contacts with the applicant. 2. Discussion of informational packages on historical structures a~-d issues for property owners. Mr. Joseph Edwards, Principal Planner, discussed briefly the status of the prepazations for the informational packages to be available to the public. He indicated that the informational package would include information regarding the Cotmission, the Santa Ana Register, the review process, application fees, and procedures. Commissioner Cribb requested that staff ensure that the informational package be specific and include financial incentives.