Staff recommends City Council authorize submitting an application, with the mayor's signature, to the State Historic Preservation Office for a $6,000 Certified Local Government Grant (CLG) for the FY25-26 cycle and authorizing the Mayor to sign the CLG contract for the grant once it is received.

The City Council is being asked to authorize the application for the FY25-26 grant cycle for the Certified Local Government (CLG) grant for historic preservation. The Montana State Historic Preservation Office has designated the City of Billings as a CLG for historic preservation activities. As a CLG, the City is eligible annually to receive state funding to coordinate historic preservation efforts in the local area. Applications for the FY25-26 funding cycle from the State are due February 18, 2025. The City of Billings has been utilizing CLG funding for activities that support the efforts of the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board (YHPB) since 1997. A description of these activities is provided in the Work Plan attached to this staff report. Recent projects being overseen by the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board include research in Montana Hidden History, Lincoln Center Tunnels and Cohagen Houses in Billings. The funding from FY24-25 projects completed included an update of the Downtown Walking Tour and the purchase of two window restoration tool kits. These projects were made possible through this CLG grant program and with additional funds from the State Historic Preservation Office that has recognized the success and ogoing activities in Billings and Yellowstone County to forward historic presevration activities and programs. 

The Cities of Billings and Laurel, Yellowstone County, and the Crow Tribal Council entered into an inter-local agreement in July 1993 establishing the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board (YHPB). Along with the inter-local agreement, the four governmental entities adopted ordinances setting up a multi-government YHPB, appointed nine (9) qualified board members, and a Historic Preservation Officer. Since that time, the YHPB has been meeting monthly, as warranted, and has continued to develop and refine an encompassing Historic Preservation Program. The board continues to implement the 2016 Growth Policy for the Billings Urbanized Area. An area of the policy identified as "Place Makers" is a community goal and states, "The Billings area should continue to make places that we all enjoy by preserving and improving public space as well as the natural and historic landscapes to bring the community together where people are comfortable and share activities. These places are ones that you go back to, share with visitors and recall when someone asks you to describe your community." One of the objectives includes protection and preservation, such as historic preservation controls, preservation of view sheds, preservation of natural areas and the preservation of historic places.

City Council may:

• Agree to participate in the State CLG program and approve submitting a CLG grant application that provides funding to coordinate historic preservation activities; or
• Decline to participate in the State CLG program and not authorize a CLG grant application. Declining participation would potentially limit historic preservation activities in Billings and Yellowstone County, and/or require other funding sources to be accessed for historic preservation activities. It also would not be in alignment with the City's 2016 Growth Policy, and the Council's 2025-2026 adopted Goal and Priority of Providing Exceptional Educational, Recreational and Cultural Services and Amenities.

City Council approval would allow the City of Billings to apply for $6,000 in State of Montana Certified Local Government funding.

• The local cash match for the Certified Local Government grant will be $49,501.60. The cash match includes funds from the Planning Division of $48,032.60, including a portion of the Historic Preservation Officer's salary of $47,001.60 and $1,031 in cash that will go toward consultant fees. The Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board will request $1,000 from Yellowstone County and $469 from the City of Laurel, which will also be used for consultant fees.
• There is also an in-kind match of $3,854.08 generated from board members' time and use of the Planning Division conference room.
• The total funding package is $59,355.68 ($53,023.04 (Match) + $6,000 (CLG Grant))(See attached CLG Application).
• The total cash funding package for the grant program is $8,500 ($6,000+$2,500 (local cash contribution)) of which $7,500 is used for consulting services to perform activities identified in the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board Annual Work Plan. The remaining $1,000 will be held by the city for expenses above and beyond consulting fees.

The Certified Local Government grant assists the Yellowstone Historic Preservation Board to carry out historic preservation activities for the community. This annual grant program goes a long way in achieving those goals of the board.