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McKinney staff: Certified Local Government application has been forwarded to National Park Service; review pending
Summary
City staff told the Historic Preservation Advisory Board that McKinney’s application to join the Certified Local Government program has been submitted to the National Park Service and is awaiting federal review; the designation would open grant and technical-assistance opportunities but would not change local regulatory protections.
City staff told the Historic Preservation Advisory Board on Feb. 6, 2025, that McKinney’s application to become a Certified Local Government (CLG) has been forwarded to the National Park Service for federal review, and the city is waiting on the agency’s backlog to clear.
The CLG program, administered jointly by the National Park Service and the Texas Historical Commission, provides participating cities and counties with access to grant funds, state technical assistance and training, and national recognition for meeting preservation standards, city staff said.
"The Certified Local Government Program is a state a local state and Federal Government partnership to empower local communities to better protect historic resources," said Cassie Baumgartner, historic preservation staff, during a presentation explaining the program and the city’s application process. "As of today, our application has been forwarded to the National Park Service. It took a while to get there."
Baumgartner outlined the multi-step application route: the city first obtained a city council resolution to pursue CLG status, compiled a lengthy application (including relevant local code excerpts, designated resources and goals), secured the mayor’s signature, and submitted the file to the Texas Historical Commission. The state reviewed the packet and forwarded it to the National Park Service for the federal review that completes the designation.
She told the board the Texas Historical Commission maintains staff assigned to CLG communities and that the designation would permit McKinney to apply for state-administered grants that are funded through a federal allocation. "Once it's at the National Park Service, that's when they do the federal review of it," Baumgartner said. She also noted the state office has a backlog and that Texas applications submitted in January had not yet received federal responses.
Board members asked whether CLG status could require structural changes — for example, converting the advisory board into a commission — and whether the designation would impose new local restrictions. Baumgartner said reviewers focus on the board’s authority and procedures rather than the label. "Becoming a CLG doesn't change any sort of regulatory protections that you have on your community," she said. The state review included questions about who may act on certificates of appropriateness and how demolition reviews are handled.
Board members also asked about grant rules and whether the National Park Service or the state would provide feedback if federal reviewers found deficiencies; Baumgartner said deficiencies would be flagged and the city could revise and resubmit without penalty. She added that CLGs must submit an annual report to the state listing actions such as certificates of appropriateness and other preservation work.
Next steps for McKinney are to await the National Park Service review and respond to any federal feedback; Baumgartner said the state office does not provide a predictable schedule and that the city has experienced a one-month or longer backlog for recent submissions.
The board did not take a formal vote on the CLG item during the meeting; the session included questions from board members and staff direction to monitor the federal review and report status back to the board.
