The Legislature recognizes that the long-term preservation and enhancement of historical resources is dependent, to a large extent, on the good will and cooperation of the general public and of the public and private owners of those resources.

Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature that public agencies, including the commission and the office, shall endeavor to carry out their responsibilities under this article in a manner designed to elicit the cooperation of the owners of both identified and unidentified resources, to encourage the owners to perceive these resources as assets rather than liabilities, and to encourage the support of the general public for the preservation and enhancement of historical resources.