The Charleston City Council will create a historic district on Sixth and Seventh streets tonight.

Most residential properties on the two streets between the university and the courthouse square would be part of the district. The ordinance would require residents within the district to receive a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission.

Mayor John Inyart said any work that requires a building permit on a property within the district would need the certificate from the commission.

It would not stop a resident from fencing or siding their home, he added.

“It will keep some people from doing something to their property that might drastically change the historical significance of the property,” Inyart said.

A final decision on the district could come at the March 4 city council meeting.

Inyart plans on tabling his announcement of the Home Rule Ad Hoc Committee, because the committee hasn’t been filled yet.

The committee will explore the idea of making Charleston a home rule city.

Home rule would provide more options for the city to govern.

“In non-home rule communities, we can do anything the state says we can,” Inyart said. “Under home rule we can do anything unless the state specifically says we can’t.”

Under home rule the city government would have more control over taxes, zoning issues and property maintenance, Inyart said.

One option the city could take under home rule is making landlords register in the city and also periodically inspect rental property.

The only way the city could inspect rental properties today is if all properties in Charleston were inspected.

If the committee were to recommend home rule, voters in Charleston could be asked to vote on the issue in the November election.

The only other way to become home rule is if the city population surpasses 25,000.

In other business, the council will decide to give funds to promote local events.

The Lincoln Log Cabin, the College of Arts and Humanities and the Eastern Athletics are asking for funds for promotions.

The College of Arts and Humanities is asking for tourism funds to help with promoting Celebration: A Festival of Arts.

Eastern athletics is asking for funds for the National Junior College Athletic Association Indoor Track and Field Championship.

Inyart said funds come from the hotel/motel tax.

Dan Crews, director of publicity for the College of Arts and Humanities and festival director said the funds are important to the event because it helps provide advertising.

Celebration has received tourism funds for 20 years, he added.

The council meets at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Jackson Ave.

Matt Hopf can be reached at 581-7945 or mthopf@eiu.edu.