SUBJECT
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A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Laredo, Texas, authorizing the City Manager to ratify the submission of a grant application in the amount of $40,000.00 to the Texas Historical Commission Certified Local Government Grant Program. If awarded, the grant will provide funding to conduct a new historic resource inventory and survey for three locally designated historic districts: Saint Peter’s, Old Mercado, and San Agustin de Laredo. This notice of funding opportunity is on a reimbursement basis and local match will be required.
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VIVA LAREDO PLAN ALIGNMENT
Alignment Rating: ☑ Strong - Directly supports or fulfills a clearly stated goal or policy from the Viva Laredo Comprehensive Plan.
Goal 2.9 - Preserve Historic Resources
“Preserve the City of Laredo’s valuable historic resources.”
Relevance: The proposed project directly supports this goal by establishing new documentation of historic properties and other potentially significant resources within three locally designated historic districts. The survey will help the City better understand its historic resources and support informed preservation decisions.
Policy 2.9.2 - Document Historic Structures
“Begin a ‘blitz’ campaign to document existing historic structures.”
Relevance: This policy directly aligns with the proposed historic resource inventory and survey. The project will document historic properties and other resources, conduct historical research as needed, and develop new survey records and associated mapping for the Saint Peter’s, Old Mercado, and San Agustin de Laredo Historic Districts.
Policy 2.9.1 - Support Historic Preservation
“Support the preservation of Laredo’s historic resources through public information, advocacy, and leadership within the community and through the use of regulatory tools.”
Relevance: The proposed survey will provide new information to support the City's historic preservation efforts and future planning decisions. The documentation may also help identify resources that warrant further research or evaluation and inform the City's use of preservation tools.
Policy 2.9.7 - Incorporate Historic Preservation into Planning
“Encourage development planning and design to sensitively incorporate preservation of historic structures and artifacts.”
Relevance: The new survey documentation and associated mapping can inform future development review and preservation planning by providing City staff with additional information about historic properties and potentially significant resources within the three designated historic districts.
Summary of alignment: The resolution demonstrates Strong alignment with the Viva Laredo Comprehensive Plan, particularly Goal 2.9 and Policy 2.9.2, which address the preservation of historic resources and the documentation of existing historic structures. The proposed project directly supports these objectives by establishing new survey documentation for the Saint Peter’s, Old Mercado, and San Agustin de Laredo Historic Districts.
The project will provide new information about historic properties and other potentially significant resources, supporting the City's historic preservation efforts and helping inform future land-use planning, development review, and preservation decisions. The project also supports broader planning objectives related to historic and cultural preservation and the protection of neighborhood character.
The proposed grant is reimbursement-based and requires a local match. The resolution authorizes ratification of the grant application submission; it does not guarantee a grant award or indicate that grant funds have been received.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION
None.
BACKGROUND
The City of Laredo proposes to conduct a new historic resource inventory and survey for three locally designated historic districts: Saint Peter’s, Old Mercado, and San Agustin de Laredo. These districts contain approximately 655 lots combined. Much of the City's existing historic resource documentation is approximately 30 years old, creating a need for new survey work to document current conditions and identify historic properties and other potentially significant resources within these districts.
The proposed project will involve documenting existing conditions, conducting historical research as needed, and preparing new survey records and associated mapping. The resulting information will help the City better identify and understand its historic resources, support historic preservation efforts, and provide information to inform future planning, development review, and preservation decisions.
The City intends to request $40,000.00 through the Texas Historical Commission's Fiscal Year 2027 Certified Local Government Grant Program, with a proposed City local match of $40,000.00, for a total estimated project cost of $80,000.00. The grant operates on a reimbursement basis, requiring the City to initially fund project expenses and provide the required local match. Reimbursement of eligible project costs is subject to grant award approval and the terms of the executed grant agreement.
The project scope, consultant procurement, deliverables, and implementation schedule will be developed in accordance with the Texas Historical Commission's grant requirements and the approved project budget. Project activities will begin in accordance with the applicable grant agreement and authorization requirements.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends approval of this resolution.
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Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Year: 2027
Budgeted Y/N?: N
Source of Funds: N/A
Account #: 101-2110-513-5526
Change Order: Exceeds 25% Y/N: N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No financial impact at this time. Local match will be required.