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CITY OF CORTEZ
123 ROGER SMITH AVENUE
CORTEZ, CO 81321

Rachael Marchbanks
Community/Economic Development Director
123 Roger Smith Ave.
Cortez, CO. 81321
rmarchbanks@cortezco.gov

Memorandum

To:

CORTEZ CITY COUNCIL

From:

RACHAEL MARCHBANKS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Date:

6/11/2024

RE:

Signature Authorization for CLG Grant Acceptance and Risk Assessment Form

DISCUSSION

In November 2023, Cortez City Council approved Resolution No. 28, Series 2023, granting authorization for the City to apply for a grant from History Colorado to conduct an archaeological survey of the Carpenter and Geer Natural Areas which are owned by the City. A preliminary archaeological survey was conducted in 1993 when the land for the Carpenter Natural Area was donated to the City, which identified a few small prehistoric sites and an historic dump, which may be associated with the Civilian Conservation Corps camp which was located nearby in the 1930s. No archaeological survey has been conducted at the Geer Natural Area. The 2024 grant will inventory these two Natural Areas for archaeological sites, and no matching funds are required.

On April 19, 2024, the City of Cortez was notified that a grant for the total of $12,941 was awarded to the City. To complete the contracting and award acceptance, a Risk Self-Assessment Form must be completed and signed by the Chief Elected Official.

BACKGROUND

On July 28, 2010, the City of Cortez received designation from the National Park Service as a CLG (Certified Local Government). With this designation in hand, the City and its residents are now able to participate in the State preservation tax credit program, the State Historical Fund grant program, and the City is also eligible to apply for CLG grants from the Colorado Historical Society. As a CLG, one of the obligations of the City is to maintain a system for survey and inventory of prehistoric and historic properties within the jurisdiction.

The City has received multiple CLG grants to inventory historic properties within the Original Townsite, and create a podcast of the Montezuma Ave. walking tour. The City also received a State Historical Fund (SHF) grant in 2021 for $14,900 to develop a city-wide plan to survey historic properties. In 2022, the City received a CLG grant to inventory the highest priority properties in the Survey Plan, 17 auto-tourism properties built in the 1950s. Because of these grants, more than 240 individual properties within the City have been inventoried. Of those surveyed, 133 properties were determined eligible for the City Register of Historic Sites. Eligible property owners were made aware of the results, and 58 of them have since applied to the City and received historic designation on the City Register.

FISCAL IMPACT

The grant will provide 100% of the cost of the project. In addition, the Historic Preservation Board and other locals will provide additional volunteer time. There will be little (some minor personnel time) to no cost to the City of Cortez for this project and the City will receive $12,941 in assistance.

RECOMMENDATION

The Historic Preservation Board and City Staff recommend that the Cortez City Council authorize Mayor Rachel B. Medina to sign the completed Risk Self-Assessment Form and any other documents necessary to obtain and complete the grant from History Colorado.

MOTION

If agreed upon by the City Council, a possible motion would be: I move that Council authorize Mayor Rachel B. Medina to sign the completed Risk Self-Assessment Form and other documents as necessary to obtain and complete the Class III Resource Survey of Carpenter & Geer Natural Areas grant from History Colorado.

Attachments

Res. 28, Series 2023

2024 CLG grant form