Posting Language
Title
Approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to award, negotiate, and execute Historic Preservation Fund grant agreements and allocations for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 in an amount not to exceed $20,771,677 for historic preservation and restoration projects. Related to Item #5.
De
Lead Department
Economic Development Department.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $20,771,677 is available in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Economic Development Department’s Historic Preservation Fund Operating Budget. This item has no fiscal impact.
Prior Council Action:
October 4, 2018 - Council approved, as amended, Resolution No. 20181004-033 directing the City Manager to allocate the Historic Preservation Fund Fiscal Year 2019 budget in the following manner: 70 percent for City of Austin historic facilities and sites in accordance with Texas Tax Code Section 351.101(a)(5); 15 percent to potential future historic acquisitions or major preservation projects that would be frequented by tourists and convention delegates; and 15 percent to the Heritage Preservation Grant Program on a 10-0 vote.
September 17, 2020 - Council approved Resolution 20200914-014 authorizing the City Manager to award, negotiate and execute historic preservation fund service contracts for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 in an amount not to exceed $16,079,216 for historic preservation and restoration projects on an 11-0 vote.
For More Information:
David Gray, Assistant Director, Economic Development Department, 512-974-7836;
Melissa Alvarado, Heritage Tourism Manager, Economic Development Department, 512-974-7870.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
February 1, 2023 - The Historic Landmark Commission will be briefed by staff for approval of the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Heritage Preservation Grant recommendations.
Additional Backup Information:
The Heritage Tourism Division of the Economic Development Department (EDD) manages programs to provide funding for preservation projects and activities that promote heritage tourism to historic sites and museums through a competitive application and review process. Funds for preservation grant agreements and allocations are derived from a portion of the revenues from the City’s Hotel Occupancy Tax. Texas Code, Chapter 351.101(a)(5) authorizes Hotel Occupancy Taxes to be used to promote tourism and the convention industry through the use of those funds for historic restoration and preservation projects or activities or advertising and conducting solicitations and promotional programs to encourage tourists and convention delegates to visit preserved historic sites or museums. Applicants must use the funds for preservation-related and history-informing projects or activities that promote Austin as a heritage tourism destination.
Staff Recommendation
Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) Fiscal Year 2022-2023 recommended grant agreements and allocations are shown in “Table A” attached to the proposed resolution, for the total amount of $20,771,677. Allocations are organized by categories identified in Council Resolution No. 20181004-033. In summary, $10,492,773 is planned for capital improvement projects and operational programs for City of Austin historic facilities and sites. Expenditures include $7,922,539 on fifteen capital preservation projects for city-owned historic facilities; $2,570,235 is budgeted for operating programs and projects for the Parks and Recreation Department, Austin History Center, Housing and Planning Department - Historic Preservation Office, and EDD; $2,248,451 is budgeted for the Heritage Preservation Grant Program; and $8,030,452 is budgeted for a potential future historic acquisition or major preservation project as approved by City Council.
City-owned capital improvement projects at historic sites were assessed for HPF Fiscal Year 2022-2023 funds focused on the following factors: historical landmark designation; evidenced tourism impact; equitable geographic distribution of projects throughout the City; department-assigned level of importance; shovel-readiness; and leveraged costs with other private funds, to develop staff recommendations to funding projects from the 70% allocation within the HPF.
Following a competitive process, staff evaluated Heritage Preservation Grant applications to ensure that proposed projects meet state mandates, grant eligibility, criteria, and program requirements. Applications from non-profit, commercial, and government entities with a historic designation that meet the criteria were evaluated and scored by an external review panel consisting of tourism, preservation, and community building representatives that considered and prioritized investments while focusing on tourism impact; preservation impact; project budget; capacity and qualifications; project schedule; diversity and inclusion; and coordination with essential partners.
Table A includes a list of organizations recommended for a Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Heritage Preservation Grant. Contracts below the City Manager’s authority are being approved by the City Manager under Article VII, Section 15 of the City Charter and are shown for informational purposes only. No Council action is required on the contracts under the City Manager’s authority.
Strategic Outcome(s)
Strategic Outcome(s):
Culture and Lifelong Learning.