Preserving Ontario

That the City Council adopt a sesolution approving a 2009 Preserve America Grant application (File No. PADV08-008) to develop a Heritage Tourism Plan and authorize the City Manager to execute a grant agreement with Preserve America upon grant award.

 The total cost to develop the proposed Heritage Tourism Plan is estimated to be $40,000. The Preserve America grant would fund $20,000; and the grant requires a $20,000 local match. The City's required local match will consist of $11,000 in in-kind services (salaries from Planning, Museum, Library, and Economic Development), and $9,000 in existing Planning Department appropriations approved by the City Council for advertising and consulting services. If the City is awarded the grant, additional budget appropriations and corresponding revenue will be included in a future quarterly budget report.

BACKGROUND:   Preserve America is a White House initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve the nation's cultural and natural heritage. The goal of this initiative is to strengthen regional identity and foster local pride while sharing knowledge of our nation's past. On September 16, 2007, the City Council accepted a certificate from Congressman Joe Baca's office designating Ontario as a Preserve America City. As a Preserve America City, Ontario is eligible to apply for Preserve America grants. The 2009 Preserve America Grant application must be submitted to the National Park Service by November 18, 2008.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:   The Preserve America grant will partially fund the development of a Heritage Tourism Plan that will work with local businesses and organizations to tap into the tourism market and help strengthen the local economy. The Plan will follow the National Trust for Historic Preservation's guidelines for developing local cultural heritage tourism. The guidelines include four steps: (1) assess the potential for heritage/cultural tourism in Ontario; (2) plan and organize by involving stakeholders; (3) prepare protect and manage our historical resources wisely; and (4) market for success. The Planning Department will be working in collaboration with an outside consultant, the Museum, Library, and Economic Development Department to develop the Plan.