Boerne HLC plans door‑to‑door outreach and owner mailing to promote preservation grant program

At the Oct. 7 meeting the commission discussed steps to increase participation in the Historic Preservation Improvement Grant program. Staff recalled a prior training where program changes were explained and said the grant had been underutilized over the past year or two.

Staff proposed partnering with commissioners to do door‑to‑door outreach on Main Street — distributing flyers and explaining the program to tenants and owners — while taking care to avoid open‑meetings violations by limiting in‑person teams to fewer than a quorum (staff suggested two commissioners at a time). Commissioners discussed practical approaches: pairing in‑person contact with mailings to owner addresses obtained from the Kendall Appraisal District (KCAD), following up by phone, and timing outreach around busy downtown events such as Dickens on Main or other evening retail events where owners are likely to be present. Staff said they would circulate a scheduling survey to commissioners and requested replies be sent directly to staff (not to the full commission) to avoid creating a serial meeting.

Commissioners generally supported the outreach idea and staff said they will follow up with email with dates and logistics. The outreach is intended to raise awareness among building owners (who may not be the tenant) and to increase takeup of the grant program.