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 on an annual basis. At its January 11, 2010 meeting, the City Council approved the 2010 application for these funds through the CLG Program. On February 23, 2010, the City received approval for this grant cycle of April 1, 2010, through March 31, 2011, and 2 original contracts for the Authorized Representative (Mayor) to sign. The Council is being asked to accept the grant and authorize the Mayor to sign the grant contract documents.

The City Council may:
Agree to participate in State CLG program and accept CLG grant funding to coordinate historic preservation activities in FY2011; or
Decline to participate in State CLG program and not accept CLG grant funding to coordinate historic preservation activities in FY2011. Not participating would affect historic perservation activities in Billings, Laurel and all of Yellowstone County since this grant funds cooperative efforts in these jurisdictions.

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.

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 for historic preservation activities in FY2011.