Number
231603
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
221233, 210990
Sponsor
ALD. RAINEY, DIMITRIJEVIC, BROSTOFF, BAUMAN, MURPHY, STAMPER, ZAMARRIPA, CHAMBERS JR. AND PEREZ
Title
Substitute resolution relative to acceptance and funding of a Cooperative Agreement through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Program in support of the Environmental Collaboration Office’s Healthy Homes & ECO Neighborhoods Project.
Analysis
This resolution authorizes the Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO) to accept an Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Program Cooperative Agreement from the Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $1,000,000. The purpose of this grant is to support ECO’s Healthy Homes & ECO Neighborhoods Project to expand awareness of and access to local and statewide housing improvement programs and federal funding sources through collaborative outreach and marketing efforts and by funding home energy audits for residents living in historically disinvested neighborhoods on the north and south sides of Milwaukee, where lack of access to affordable, healthy, climate-resilient housing is most pervasive.
Body
Whereas, in Milwaukee environmental and public health threats stem from old, deteriorated housing and historical disinvestment in communities of color; and
Whereas, issues like high energy burdens, lead paint, mold, and outdated electrical wiring are commonly found in housing stock built before 1978, which is prevalent in the northwest and far south sides of the city that are home to many people of color; and
Whereas, for a number of reasons, homeowners are often challenged to secure the financing and obtain adequate assistance to make improvements to common home health issues and energy efficiency; and
Whereas, the City of Milwaukee adopted a Climate and Equity Plan in June 2023 with goals of reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030 and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while creating good-paying green jobs that pay at least $40,000 per year with a focus on recruiting workers of color into these green jobs; and
Whereas, Health Home Energy Upgrades and Resilience Ambassadors are Big Ideas included in the Climate and Equity Plan to develop a holistic approach to creating health homes for Milwaukee residents by integrating energy efficiency, lead abatement, asthma trigger mitigation, and home electrification, as well as better connect residents with available resources and programs by working with and through trusted community-based organizations; and
Whereas, diverse partners from environmental and health nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and local government can coordinate grassroots efforts to distribute resources; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office was awarded $1,000,000 through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Program; and
Whereas, the City will work with funded partners Clean Wisconsin and Sherman Park Community Association and advisory partners including Century-City Triangle Neighborhood Association, Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, Community Advocates, Groundwork Milwaukee, Milwaukee Water Works, and Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers; and
Whereas, the operation of this grant from March 15th, 2024 - March 15th, 2027 would cost $1,000,000, of which 100% would be provided by a Cooperative Agreement and 0% would be provided by the City; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Environmental Collaboration Office shall accept this Cooperative Agreement without further approval, unless the terms change as indicated in Section 304-81 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances; and, be it
Further Resolved that the City Comptroller is authorized to:
1. Commit funds within the Project/Grant Parent of the 2024 Special Revenue-Grant and Aid Projects the following amount for the project titled: Healthy Homes & ECO Neighborhoods Project:
Project/Grant GR0002400000
Fund 0150
Org 9990
Program 0001
Budget Year 0000
Sub Class R999
Account 000600
Project Grantor Share
Amount $1,000,000
2. Create the necessary Grant and Aid Project/Grant and Project/Grant levels; budget against these Project/Grant values the amount required under the grant agreement;
3. Establish the necessary City Share Project Values; and, be it
Further Resolved, that these funds are budgeted for the Department of Administration- Environmental Collaboration Office which is authorized to:
1. Expend from the amount budgeted for specified purposes as indicated in the grant budget and incur costs consistent with the award date, including contracting or subawarding funds to Sherman Park Community Association and Clean Wisconsin to employ Resilience Ambassadors and to Slipstream, Inc to provide training for the Resilience Ambassadors.
Requestor
Department of Administration - Environmental Collaboration Office
Drafter
Erick Shambarger
02/21/2024