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There is a federal, state, and local aspect to the HPC. As a certified local government, the HPC is a third tier review agency for national register designations and it provides contractual services to the City of South Bend for federal funding. They send reports and statistics annually to the State Historic Preservation Office. There are about six - thousand sites that have been identified as contributing notable or outstanding references to our area's history. The Commission makes recommendations to the Common Council of the City of South Bend and to the St. Joseph County Council to formally designate local landmarks and historic preservation districts by ordinance. Once a landmark or district is designated, the Commission serves as the agency that administers the preservation standards required by the designation. Since 1973, two - hundred and eight (208) local landmarks and nine (9) local historic districts and several national register districts have been designated throughout South Bend and St. Joseph County. The HPC is one of the three (3) oldest preservation authorities in Indiana. Eight (8) at -large members equally representing the two (2) political parties are appointed by the legislative and executive branches of local government. The eight (8) at -large members appoint the HPC Architectural Historian who serves as a ninth member. Members serve for three (3) years without compensation. The HPC Board also sets staff policy, reviews its budget, and holds public hearings to review proposals. HPC has no governmental enforcement authority to uphold those standards and decisions and is legally required to petition the South Bend Code Enforcement and Building Departments whenever violations occur. The staff of the HPC have developed partnerships with local agencies, universities, City and County Departments and local businesses to educate the public about historic preservation. The HPC serves as a resource to home owners and assists homeowners with exterior projects so they are more appropriate and likely to be approved by the HPC. Each semester they host an average of three (3) interns in partnership with the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce from various schools and universities. There are seven hundred and forty -eight (748) structures through the nine (9) local historic districts. In 2015, the HPC completed about one - hundred (100) research requests from the members of the community and colleagues. They are also nearly finished with a comprehensive overhaul of HPC archives which includes cataloguing their vast collection of files. HPC and Indiana Landmarks has also developed the annual Restore Michiana Series to teach homeowners and students the best practices from experts in the preservation trade field. The goal is to preserve existing buildings through education. To promote interest in South Bend's architectural heritage, the HPC works with partners such as the History Museum, Indiana Landmarks, DTSB, South Bend Parks and others to develop guided and self - guided tours. In 2015, the HPC guided four (4) local historic districts tours and several private tours. The Building South Bend Past Present and Future Partnership with the Notre Dame Architecture Library and the History Museum is a way to explore South Bend's history through architecture using interactive technology. It includes a website, mobile application, 3 -D printed model and virtual reality tour of 1920s Downtown South Bend. This unique archival project was four (4) years in the making and launched during S13150. The HPC presented the project to the American Planning Association Conference. The content is being continuously expanded and is now linked to the St. Joseph County Website. Also, HPC staff are working under the leadership of County G�