Number
241511
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
221233
Sponsor
ALD. DIMITRIJEVIC
Title
Resolution relating to acceptance and funding of a $67,000 grant through the Fund for Lake Michigan in support of the Environmental Collaboration Office’s Water Centric City-Fishable, Swimmable Rivers & Water Bodies project.
Analysis
This resolution authorizes the Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO) to accept a $67,000 grant through the Fund for Lake Michigan in support of the Environmental Collaboration Office’s Water Centric City-Fishable, Swimmable Rivers & Water Bodies project. The project will fund a dedicated Lake Friendly Employee in ECO for one year to coordinate the Plastic-Free MKE Lake Friendly Business Program, support education and outreach, and propose policies in order to protect Milwaukee’s public waterfront and improve water quality by reducing the amount of single-use plastics that are discarded into Lake Michigan.
Body
Whereas, the City of Milwaukee adopted the Water Centric City Initiative, recognizing the importance of water as essential to a sustainable, resilient future and showcasing its leadership in managing natural water resource assets in a sustainable and resilient way through 7 key principles; and
Whereas, one key principle is Fishable, Swimmable Rivers & Water Bodies, which recognizes that the Clean Water Act established federal policy for restoring our water resources with the goal of making all U.S. waters fishable and swimmable; and
Whereas, toward this effort, ECO is proud to be a core organizing member of the Plastic-Free MKE <https://www.plasticfreemke.org/> movement, a coalition made up of passionate community members, small business owners, agencies, and local non-profits all working to protect our health, waterways, and communities; and
Whereas, the Plastic-Free MKE Lake Friendly Business Program supports local business owners in making the switch from single-use plastics to more sustainable materials; and
Whereas, the Great Lakes provide drinking water for over 40 million people annually, yet, according to the Alliance for the Great Lakes, around 22 million pounds of plastic pollution enter them each year; and
Whereas, as a city located on Lake Michigan, Milwaukee’s consumption of single-use plastics is negatively impacting the health of our waterway and ecosystems and residents who consume the water; and
Whereas, ECO is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing racial and economic equity through the implementation of the Milwaukee Climate and Equity Plan calling for the reduction of emissions 45% by 2030 and achievement of net-zero emissions by 2050; and
Whereas, one of the key strategies of the plan is waste reduction and sustainable consumption, which recognizes that a reduction in food and plastics waste sent to landfills will reduce methane and other greenhouse gas emissions, as well as conserve natural resources and reduce litter in the environment;
Whereas, ECO has been notified of selection for a $67,000 Fund for Lake Michigan grant; and
Whereas, the estimated period performance for this grant is from January 2025 - January 2026; now therefore be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Environmental Collaboration Office shall accept this grant 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 2025 Special Revenue-Grant and Aid Projects the following amount for the project titled: Water Centric City-Fishable, Swimmable Rivers & Water Bodies project.
Project/Grant GR0002500000
Fund 0150
Org 9990
Program 0001
Budget Year 0000
Sub Class R999
Account 000600
Project Grantor Share
Amount $67,000
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 expend from the amount budgeted for specified purposes as indicated in the grant budget and incur costs consistent with the award date; and be it
Further Resolved, That the 2025 Positions Ordinance shall be amended as follows:
Under:
The Department of Administration
Environmental Collaboration Office
Add one FTE position of ‘Management Trainee,’ and
Add footnote E as follows:
(E) Fund for Lake Michigan Position Authority for the Management Trainee to expire if grant funding is discontinued or the agreement is extended.
Requestor
Department of Administration - Environmental Collaboration Office
Drafter
Erick Shambarger
1/17/2025