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Committee endorses sending TID 7‑funded historic façade grant program to council
Summary
The committee recommended forwarding a proposed TID 7 historic downtown façade grant program — a 1:1 match to incentivize exterior and accessibility improvements — to the Common Council and discussed eligibility limits, quarterly reviews, and outreach to less experienced applicants.
The Finance and Taxation Committee voted to forward a proposed historic downtown façade grant program funded through TID 7 increment to the Common Council, with program design details to be finalized by staff and partner organizations.
Administrator Rindy said the program, drafted after prior committee feedback, would be a 1‑to‑1 matching grant intended to support exterior historic repairs and improvements in a defined historic overlay district. Eligible work would include façades, windows, tuckpointing and doors; the proposal also allows for accessibility work and second‑floor fire‑safety improvements. Rindy emphasized the program would pay contractors directly via a contractor agreement rather than reimburse property owners.
Rindy told the committee the proposal set a minimum grant of $5,000; the transcript lists the maximum as "50" (the figure as recorded in the transcript is ambiguous and not specified as dollars or thousands). She also said staff proposes dedicating $400,000 of the available "800" increment to kick off the grant program (the transcript records the totals as stated; staff or council materials should be consulted to confirm whether those figures represent thousands). Applications would be reviewed quarterly, applicants limited to one application per quarter, and applicants that received $50,000 or more in TID support within the prior five years would be ineligible for the program.
Rindy said Main Street Monroe and the Historic Preservation Commission would be involved in promotion and review; Main Street would help with outreach to business owners who may lack experience preparing bids. Committee members asked whether the $50,000 eligibility ceiling should apply per property or per owner; Rindy said that determination could be clarified by the committee or council.
A committee member moved to send the façade grant program recommendation to council; the motion was seconded and the clerk recorded unanimous 'aye' votes. The packet and draft application materials will move forward to the Common Council for consideration.
Staff noted that the expenditure period for the TID increment was listed in the materials as expiring Sept. 28, 2027, while the application process was shown as running through Dec. 2028; Rindy explained the city must dedicate the increment by the expenditure deadline to preserve funding for grants issued afterward.
