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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-17-2012 C5 grant request to prepare historic context statementcounci l j aq €n ca iepont C I T Y O F S A N L U I S O B I S P O FROM : Derek Johnson, Community Development Directo r Prepared By : Phil Dunsmore, Senior Planne r SUBJECT : Grant request to prepare a Historic Context Statemen t RECOMMENDATION Adopt a resolution that authorizes City staff to apply for $25,000 in grant funds through th e Certified Local Government program for preparation of a citywide historic context statement . DISCUSSIO N Backgroun d The Council identified historic preservation activities as an "other important objective" as part o f the 2011-2013 Financial Plan . Part of the work program described activities to support histori c survey work and Council endorsed the City's application to become a certified local government . Since that time, the State Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) and the National Park Servic e (NPS) have also endorsed the City's participation in the Certified Local Government (CLG ) program . As of March 22, 2012, the City is officially enrolled in the CLG program (Attachmen t 1). In addition to the technical support from the state, a key benefit of the program is eligibility t o apply for grants to assist with historic preservation activities . One of the first activities the OH P recommends is preparation of a historic context statement as it creates a solid foundation for a historic preservation program and provides context and criteria for historic surveys and resourc e nominations . Grants are awarded to CLGs on a competitive basis through a review process which consider s the proposed scope of work, the plan to administer the project, the benefits of the propose d project to the community, and the budget . Bonus points may be awarded for projects that address emerging issues or are consistent with the goals and objectives of OHP . For example , OHP offers bonus points for the preparation of a historic context statement that includes mid - century modern resources . Staff recommends the City pursue a grant for $25,000 to develop a historic context statement fo r the City . OHP anticipates that $170,000 will be available state-wide to fund grants for CL G projects in 2012 in amounts from $2,500 - $25,000 each . In previous years, other cities hav e sought the maximum amount to prepare a context statement . The Cultural Heritage Committe e reviewed the grant application package on March 26, 2012 and voted to support the grant request, acknowledging the need for a context statement . Staff is seeking the City Council's authorization in order to proceed with the grant application . Meetin(D.te4 /17 /1 2 Item Number C 5 Council Agenda Repor t CLG grant request : Historic Context Statement Page 2 Historic Context Statemen t One of the key elements currently missing from the City's historic preservation program is a complete historic context statement . Typically, these statements are fairly comprehensive an d identify specific themes of development (with associated building types), social patterns, an d significant historic aspects that are associated with the community . The Cultural Heritag e Committee has identified the need to develop a historic context statement to guide futur e preservation efforts . A thorough context statement will add a greater level of guidance t o decision makers when determining the potential historic significance of properties . In the 1970s the City drafted a Historical Element of the General Plan . Although this documen t was not formally adopted, it provided a good overview of the basic components of histori c preservation and a description of the City's development history up to the 1940s (see Counci l reading file) and much of the info was incorporated into the subsequently adopted Histori c Preservation Program Guidelines . The historic district descriptions in the Guidelines, while no t necessarily comprehensive, provide abbreviated portions of a context statement . A complet e context statement would elaborate and tie these descriptions together with examples o f development and details of historic events that occurred within each of the time frames an d would extend the evaluation to include a mid-century description . Today, with continued survey efforts, and the fact that more recent patterns of development ar e attaining historic significance, the need for a comprehensive historic context statement i s becoming more important . Once developed, the context statement could either be its ow n document, such as a recent example from the City of Benecia (see Council reading file) or i t could be a part of the City's Historic Preservation Guidelines . OHP publishes a series of guides to assist with the preparation of a historic context statement tha t are available on its website . One of these, prepared by Marie Nelson of OHP is included a s Attachment 2 . OHP also publishes numerous examples of context statements that have recentl y been prepared in other communities . Grant Proces s Preparation of the grant will require participation of the Cultural Heritage Committee and staff . OHP provides excellent guidance on the grant process, including online presentations on gran t preparation and grant management . A copy of the grant application checklist has been include d as attachment 3 . Grants through the CLG program require a 40% match from the City . This match can b e supplied from "in kind" funds, which means that staff and volunteer time can be used to meet th e match requirement . Staff is not proposing to request funds to assist with the grant match, bu t intends to instead use the "in-kind" option for grant match . Staff is interviewing othe r communities and consultants to estimate the cost and to scope the work involved in developin g an historic context statement . Most communities utilize outside consultants to prepare th e statement while using staff time to accommodate the in kind match . Next Step s With Council endorsement of the grant proposal, staff will complete the application and submit it to OHP by the April 23, 2012 deadline . If the City is selected as a grant recipient, staff wil l return to Council with a request for proposals (RFP) and invite consultants to assist with th e C5-2 Council Agenda Report CLG grant request : Historic Context Statement Page 3 • preparation of the context statement . The work on the context statement must be complete d within the one-year grant period which begins October 1, 2012 and ends September 30, 2013 . FISCAL IMPACT S Historic Preservation was identified as a 2011-2013 Council priority "As Resources Pennit" t o "Continue to promote historic resource preservation opportunities and update The City's Histori c Resource Inventory ." Staff, volunteers, interns and Cultural Heritage Committee members wil l be utilized to assist a consultant with development of a context statement . Since the grant allow s for an "in kind" match of staff and volunteers to accommodate the 40% match requirement n o General Funds are being requested . ALTERNATIVE S The City Council may suggest alternative activities that should be pursued for grant funding , however given the short time frame for the grant application, these alternatives should b e considered for next year's grant cycle which will be in April 2013 . ATTACHMENT S 1.Letter from NPS verifying CLG statu s 2.Guide to preparation of a Historic Context Statement by Marie Nelso n 3.Grant Application Checklis t 4.Resolution authorizing grant applicatio n Council Reading File : City of Benecia historic context statement ; Draft 1976 General Plan Historic Element Attachment 1 United States Department of the Interio r NATIONAL PARK SERVIC E 1849 C Street, N .W. Washington, DC 2024 0 H36(2256 ) March 22, 201 2 Ms . Lucinda Woodward California Office of Preservation 1725 23`d Street, Suite 10 0 Sacramento, CA 95816-710 0 Dear Ms . Woodward : Thank you for forwarding the necessary documentation concerning the City of San Lui s Obispo's application for participation in the Certified Local Government (CLG) Program .I have reviewed your submission and am pleased to concur in your recommendation that Sa n Luis Obispo be certified under the provision of Section 101(c) of the National Histori c Preservation Act . The date of certification will be recorded as the date of this letter . We ar e also providing a copy of this letter to the City of San Luis Obispo . If you have any questions about this letter, please feel free to contact me by phone a t 202-354-2062, or by email at megan_brown@nps .gov. Sincerely , Megan j .g rown Certified Local Government Program Coordinato r cc : Phil Dunsmore, City of San Luis Obispo Attachment 2 Writing Historic Context s Marie Nelso n California Office of Historic Preservatio n As reiterated in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeolog y and Historic Preservation,"the development of historic contexts is the foundation fo r decisions about the identification, evaluation, registration and treatment of histori c properties, and surveys ." Well-developed historic contexts are critical . As you go abou t the work of researching and writing the themes and contexts, I encourage you t o consider the following : •Historic context statements provide the basis for evaluating significance an d integrity . The purpose of the context statement determines how broad or narro w the focus should be . Whether developed for a single property evaluation,a register nomination, or a survey, an adequate and appropriate context needs t o be developed before making an evaluation . •The historic context (statement) is an organizing structure for groupin g information about historic properties that share a common theme, place, an d time . A historic context focuses on describing those historical developmen t patterns within which the significance of a resource can be understood . •Historic context statements are a specialized form of historical writing wit h specific goals and requirements . They are not intended to be a chronologica l recitation of a community's significant historical events or noteworthy citizens o r a comprehensive community history . Nor are they intended to be academi c exercises demonstrating prodigious research, the ability to cite a myriad o f primary and secondary resources, and write complex and confusing pros e comprehensible only to professionals in the field . Rather, historic contex t statements need to be direct, to the point, and easily understood by the genera l public . •Historic context statements are intended to provide an analytical framework fo r identifying and evaluating resources by providing focusing on and concisel y explaining what aspects of geography, history and culture significantly shape d the physical development of a community or region's land use patterns and buil t environment over time,what important property types were associated wit h those developments,why they are important, and what characteristics they nee d to have to be considered an important representation of their type and context . •By focusing on property types rather than on individual buildings or architectura l styles, and providing clear criteria for evaluating significance and integrity,a good context provides a template for identifying, evaluating and developin g plans for the treatment of historical resources even in the absence of complete Attachment 2 2 knowledge of individual properties . "Property types" is the concept that links history with the built environment . •In discussing property types associated with important themes, the contex t statement needs to answer such questions as : What facet of history does the property represent ? Why is that facet of history significant ? Is the property type important in illustrating the context ? How does the individual property illustrate that facet of history ? •Information included in historic contexts need to pass the "so what'test . Whe n researching or writing, it helps to ask, "So what information does this sentence , paragraph, or section provide to help explain how land use patterns develope d or why the built environment looks the way it does today?" Wars, fires , expositions, arrivals of the rail roads and street car lines, visits by presidents , and other such events generally serve as historical markers or frame tim e periods . But unless a connection is made between that information about wha t happened in the past and how it shaped today's built environment, then "s o what ." For example, a description of what native peoples ate, wore or made thei r houses from hundreds of years ago will not pass the "So what" test unless it i s connected with where they collected or processed their resources and how thei r land use patterns shaped those of later inhabitants . •Land use patterns and the built environment are expressions of the ideas an d cultural practices of individuals and groups in response to the climate , geography, economy, politics, technology, and available resources in a particula r locale . Only when the context writer makes an explicit connection between th e history and the extant land use patterns or built environment, will the histori c context pass the "so what" test and be a useful tool for integrating histori c preservation into land-use planning . •More information on how to develop context statements is available in Th e Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Histori c Preservation,and in National Register Bulletins, especially How to Complete th e National Register Multiple Property Documentation Form, Historic Residentia l Suburbs, Guidelines for Evaluating and Nominating Properties that Hav e Achieved Significance Within the Past Fifty Years,and bulletins focused o n evaluating particular property types . Attachment 3 CLG GRANT APPLICATION CHECKLIS T Include checklist in application package . Include documents in order listed below . Items in bold are available on OHP's CLG Grants Program Website at www .ohp .parks .ca .gov/default .asp?paqe id=2449 3 CLG GRANT APPLICATION (Including narrative ) Copy of Preservation Element, if availabl e Applicable Maps and Estimated Acreage (see Application Form) for Surve y Project s Applicable Maps, Photographs, and Significance Statement for NR Project s Resumes of Key Personnel and/or Volunteers who will work on Projec t PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FORM FOR KEY PERSONNE L ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATIO N CERTIFICATION OF PROFESSIONALISM AND CONFORMANC E ASSURANCES – NON-CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS CERTIFICATIO N CERTIFICATIONS REGARDING DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION AND OTHE R RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS, DRUG-FREE WORKPLAC E REQUIREMENTS AND LOBBYIN G 1 C5-7 Attachment 3 CLG GRANT APPLICATIO N FISCAL YEAR 2012-201 3 CLG APPLICANT :City of San Luis Obispo County :San Luis Obispo Contact Person Responsible for PROGRAM Management Responsible fo r FISCAL managemen t Nam e Title Phil Dunsmor e Senior Planner Phil Dunsmor e Senior Planne r Address 919 Palm Stree t San Luis Obispo CA 9340 1 Phone (805) 781-752 2 FAX (805) 781-717 3 EMAIL pdunsmore@slocity .org LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE S Federal $Requested $25,00 0 PROJECT :q Narrative Attache d q Archeological Preservation Plan q Design Guideline s q General Plan Historic Preservation Element Q Ordinance Revisio n Historic Context q Survey q Reconnaissance q Intensive Approx . Acreage q Historic Structure Report/HS Preservation Plan U Information Managemen t q National Register District or MPS Nomination q Education & Outreac h I have read and will ensure that the applicant CLG will comply with the "Project Aqreement Genera l Terms"and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines, as applicable . Authorized Representative Signature Dat e Name and Title of Authorized Representativ e State Senator State Assembly U . S Representativ e Nam e Distric t Addres s Attachment 3 2012 Grant Application Narrative Templat e Please use the following section headings and provide the content requested for eac h section in a brief but thorough narrative . 1.PROJECT SUMMARY Summarize in one or two sentences the purpose of the proposed project . A mor e detailed description will be completed under Project Scope . Indicate if your propose d project addresses State Preservation Plan goals and warrants consideration for bonu s points . 2.PROJECT SCOPE (60 points) In 2 pages or less clearly and concisely describe th e proposed project . Be sure to answer the questions for each section below within th e narrative : ■NEED (25 Points): What local historic preservation needs does the propose d project address? How does the proposed project relate to the local government's preservation plan? Why is the proposed project a priority? How will the propose d project benefit the community? How does the project relate to the Statewid e Historic Preservation Plan ? •ACTIVITIES (15 Points): What activities will be necessary tasks to complete th e proposed project? Who will be responsible for doing what? How does th e proposed project remedy the identified preservation needs? Is the propose d project the most efficient, cost effective way of addressing those needs? How wil l the public be involved ? ■PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT (10 Points): How will the public be involved in th e project? How will the product(s) be made available to the public ? ■DELIVERABLES (10 Points): What product(s) will be derived from the project ? Will the product(s) be in draft or final adopted form? How will the product(s) b e used by the local government ? 3 . ADMINISTRATION (15 points): Demonstrate that project personnel and method s are clear and appropriate to achieving project objectives . ■PERSONNEL (5 Points): List names and/or experience of individuals an d organizations necessary to implement your project . Include current resumes fo r key project personnel . ■SCHEDULE (5 Points): Create a schedule/calendar for major project activities . I t should be realistic and achievable . Distinguish between consultant and loca l government's activities . Attachment 3 4 . BUDGET (15 points) Show that budget is reasonable to accomplish major projec t tasks and activities and that budget items are necessary to accomplish project activities . Provide a sufficiently detailed budget to show basis for cost items including a breakdown of staff and volunteer hours by task . Indicate how these numbers wer e calculated . A.Amount of Federal funds requested Amount of matching shar e $ 25,000 $ 16,66 6 B.Source of Non-Federal Matc h 1 . Donor 2 . Donor Source Source Kind Kind $16,66 6 Amount Amoun t C.(Use a separate sheet to show detail if necessary .) Cost Categories Rate Used t o Calculate Cos t (# hrs @ $ per hr) Cash Fro m Grant Other Cash In-Kind Service s Match activities mus t directly relate to proposed projec t Contracted Services * (Specify ) Salaried Employees * (Provide a breakdown of estimated hours by task). Volunteers * (Provide a breakdown of estimated hours by task ) Supplies, copying , postage, etc .(Specify ) Travel Costs ** * Rate shall not exceed a salary of $89 .41 per hour or $715 .00 per day . C5-1 0 Attachment 3 ** Maximum allowable car mileage rate is $.51 per mile . See link to table in budge t section for federal per diem and Iodginq rates for your area . 5.BONUS POINTS :(Up to 10 points ) If you are applying for bonus points, describe how the proposed grant project will carr y out one or more of the goals of the State Historic Preservation Plan related to th e preservation and stewardship of resources associated with historic ethnic and cultura l diversity ; resources of the recent past ; preservation incentives ; cultural landscapes ; archaeology ; or for projects involving the survey, inventory, and digitization of histori c site information on cultural resources located in areas with a high potential for natura l disasters . 6.DEVELOPMENT POINTS : Indicate if the CLG is entitled to Development Points and why . City Council Resolution No . (2012 Series ) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SAN LUIS OBISPO APPROVIN G THE PREPARATION AND APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR A CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANT TO FUND TH E PREPARATION OF A HISTORIC CONTEXT STATEMEN T WHEREAS, The City of San Luis Obispo is now a participant in the Certifie d Local Government program with the State Office of Historic Preservation effective Marc h 22, 2012 ; an d WHEREAS, the City does not currently have a comprehensive context statement ; and WHEREAS, the preparation of a context statement will assist current and futur e historic preservation efforts in the City ; an d WHEREAS, the Cultural Heritage Committee of the City of San Luis Obisp o conducted a public hearing in the Council Hearing Room of City Hall, 990 Palm Street , San Luis Obispo, California, on March 26, 2012 to consider pursuing grant funding t o prepare a historic context statement and endorsed application for a grant of $25,000 ; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo conducted a publi c hearing in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo , California, on April 17, 2012 for the purpose of considering the grant application for a historic context statement ; and WHEREAS, the City Council endorses use of City staff, volunteer, and Cultura l Heritage Committee member time to provide the required "in-kind" match for the grant . NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Sa n Luis Obispo : 1.Approves the preparation and filing of an application for grant funding to prepar e a historic context statement . 2.Appoints the Community Development Director, or designee, to execute al l documents including, but not limited to applications, agreements, paymen t requests, and other documents as may be required for grant application an d acceptance . C5-12 City Council Resolution No . (2012 Series) CLG gran t Page 2 On motion of , seconded by and on the following roll call vote : AYES : NOES : ABSENT : The foregoing resolution was passed and adopted this day of , 2012 . Mayor Jan Howell Mar x ATTEST : Sheryll Schroeder, Interim City Cler k APPROVED AS TO FORM : /s/ Christine Dietric k Christine Dietrick, City Attorney C5-13 Page intentionally lef t blank .