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Cultural Affairs staff outlines Mills Act outreach limits; council asks for broader outreach
Summary
Cultural Affairs Department staff told the council the Mills Act historic-preservation incentive program is administered by one part-time staffer and that multilingual outreach and expanded assistance are planned for the next application cycle.
Councilmembers asked the Cultural Affairs Department about steps to recruit more properties into the Mills Act historic-preservation program and whether the department is doing targeted outreach to historic neighborhoods.
Matthew Dilhofer, historical property contracts manager for the Cultural Affairs Department, told the council the department administers the Mills Act program and provides information to Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) boards, but it is not the Planning Department’s role to designate HPOZs. “The Mills Act program...is used as an incentive program in inspiring historic districts primarily within the Los Angeles area to become an HPOZ so that they can take advantage of this program,” Dilhofer said.
Dilhofer said the department maintains literature, a website and a phone line for inquiries; however, he told councilmembers the program is currently administered on a 20-hour workweek by one staff member. He said the department plans a multilingual website and telephone service for next year’s application cycle.
Councilmembers thanked staff and emphasized the Mills Act’s role in spurring preservation and reducing blight, and urged continued outreach to neighborhoods such as Highland Park and West Adams where councilmembers said eligible properties exist. The council moved certain related contract items forward because of time-sensitive contract deadlines, voting to forward the items with 11 ayes on the roll.
