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SR-061907-1C~- ~;tYof City Council Report Santa Monica City Council Meeting: June 19. 2007 Agenda Item: To: Mayor and City Council From: Andy Agle, Director of Housing and Economic Development Subject: Adoption of a Resolution of Support Authorizing Grant Application For Federal Preserve America Grant Funds. Recommended Action Adopt a Resolution of Support authorizing the City Manager to submit a Federal Preserve America grant application to the National Park Service on behalf of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation (SMPRC) for its Santa Monica Pier 100`h Anniversary planning and programming. Executive Summary The Preserve America grant program is administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior and provides designated Preserve America Communities the ability to compete for grant funds intended to support planning, development, and implementation of activities and programs in heritage tourism such as surveying and documenting historic resources, interpreting historic sites, planning, marketing, and training. If awarded, the grant will require adollar-for-dollar, non-Federal match, which will be provided by the SMPRC and can be in the form of cash or in-kind donated services for grant-assisted work. 1 City and SMPRC staff will prepare an application seeking $150,000 in grant funds for exhibits and programs associated with the Santa Monica Pier's 100th Anniversary including a Pier history display at the west end public observation deck, and. the development of a historic walking tour and information markers along the Pier. Discussion A completed application package must include the attached Resolution of Support showing the City's willingness to accept the Preserve America funding if awarded and demonstrating its commitment to the project. The application is due to the California Department of Parks and Recreation by June 29, 2007. The Preserve America Grants Selection Panel, will review applications and make funding recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, will select successful applicants and forward selections to the White House and to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations for concurrence. Awards will be announced after the White House and Committees concur. Background In 2004, staff submitted a successful application to designate Santa Monica as a Preserve America Community by emphasizing the City's accomplishments and ongoing efforts in recent years to enhance the economic and cultural vitality of the City's Landmark Santa Monica Pier. Benefits of receiving designation as a Preserve America 2 Community include recognition as a national leader in preservation efforts, and the eligibility to compete for Preserve America Community grant funds. The FY 2007 Preserve America grant cycle provides an opportunity to seek additional funding to support programming currently in the planning stages for activities leading up to and coinciding with the Santa Monica Pier's 100th Anniversary. The SMPRC has established a 100th Anniversary Steering Committee for the purpose of developing and planning events, activities, partnerships and programs which celebrate the Pier's 100 years of history, its status as an international icon and the promise of its future. Previous Council Actions Staff advised Council in an Information Item dated February 16, 2005, that the National Advisory Council on Historic Preservation designated the City of Santa Monica as a Preserve America Community, making Santa Monica at that time only the third California community to win this designation. Budget/Financial Impact If the $150,000 grant is awarded, a subsequent Council action may be required to accept the grant and make appropriate budget changes. A revenue and expenditure account would be established at that time. All Preserve America grant funds must be distributed to a government entity, even if anon-profit organization, in this case the SMPRC, is involved in the management of the grant project. 3 Prepared by: Elana Buegoff, Sr. Administrative Analyst Approved: Andy Agle, Director Housing and Econom Attachment A: Preserve America Grant Resolution Forwarded to Council: Ewell 4 Reference Resolution No. 10225 (CCS).