The State of Montana Historic Preservation Office has designated the City of Billings as a Certified Local Government (CLG) for historic preservation activities. As a CLG, the City is eligible to receive state funding to coordinate historic preservation efforts in our area. The City has participated in the CLG program for many years. In February of 2011, the City of Billings applied for these funds for the next grant cycle through the CLG Program. On March 2, 2011, the City received approval for this grant cycle of April 1, 2011, through March 31, 2012, and 2 original contracts for the Authorized Representative (Mayor) to sign. The Council must take action to authorize the Mayor to sign the grant documents for the next grant cycle.

The City Council may:

• Agree to participate in State CLG program and accept CLG grant funding to coordinate historic preservation activities.
• Decline to participate in State CLG program and accept CLG grant funding to coordinate historic preservation activities.

City Council approval would provide $5,500 in State of Montana Certified Local Government funding. Local match for the CLG includes $1,031 from the City of Billings Planning Division, $1,000 from Yellowstone County and $469 from the City of Laurel for a total program of $8,000. The Planning Division will also continue to provide in-kind match through staff support of approximately 20 hours a week to administer the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board (YHPB) activities and the CLG Grant Administration. The funding package will be used to contract with the Western Heritage Center for consulting services that assist with completion of projects identified in the YHPB Work Plan.

The budget proposed with local funds and in-kind match is sufficient to meet the requirements of the CLG Grant and has been approved by the State Historic Preservation Office.

Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign the Certified Local Government Grant Contracts for a $5,500 Certified Local Government grant from the Montana State Historic Preservation Office.