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Landmarks Commission reviews 2025 paint‑repair grants, CDBG monitoring and new eligibility rules
Summary
Staff reported $25,350 in 2025 paint repair grant funds were allocated, about $18,600 disbursed and $6,432 pending pending project completion; county CDBG monitoring prompted contractor‑eligibility checks and a move away from area‑based grants toward spot slum/blight designations.
Charlie, a city staff member, presented the Landmarks Commission’s 2025 paint repair grant summary and accompanying CDBG monitoring findings. He said the commission had $25,000 in the grant fund plus $350 leftover from an incomplete 2024 project, had approved 12 grants for 2025, and had disbursed roughly $18,600 with $6,432 remaining to be released when two projects finish.
Charlie described county monitoring recommendations: require contractor eligibility verification (checking federal exclusion lists), document completion of work with photos or inspections, and when feasible secure SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) and environmental reviews prior to project starts. He added that staff will try to provide SHPO documentation ahead of meetings when possible.
A substantive policy change was highlighted: the paint repair grants can no longer be awarded on an area (census-tract) basis. Instead, any historic property in the city can be eligible for a grant, but awarding a grant will require a spot slum/blight designation on the property in order to justify use of CDBG funds. Charlie described the spot‑designation standard as allowing rehabilitation limited to eliminating conditions detrimental to public health or safety (for example, a roof replacement that prevents structural leaks and future damage).
Commissioners discussed whether indexing the $25,000 annual allocation or requesting a larger share from the county was feasible; staff explained the county administers entitlement funds that are allocated across multiple programs and that reallocations occur when other programs underspend. Jeff (Redevelopment Authority representative) noted that RDA loan programs — homeowner and rental rehab loans — can be paired with grants but are income‑qualified.
No formal changes were approved by the commission at the meeting; staff said they will return with more information and updated application language to comply with county and SHPO expectations.
