210861
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
190445, 191923
Sponsor
ALD. KOVAC
Title
Resolution relative to acceptance and funding of an Environmental Protection Agency Grant in support of the Environmental Collaboration Office’s Net Zero Energy Home Financing Project.
Analysis
This resolution authorizes the Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO) to accept and fund a federal Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $25,000 with a grantor of $15,000 in 2021 and $10,000 in 2022 and a city share of $14,600. This grant advances the US EPA’s goal to deliver a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment for all American’s and future generations. The City of Milwaukee is embarking on an ambitious plan to simultaneously address the issues of indoor air quality and safe home environments, local air quality, climate change, affordable housing, equity and environmental justice, and economic development. The City is working to develop a public-private partnership that will be build new affordable, durable, and net zero energy housing in a new factory in Milwaukee’s Century City business park. This EPA grant project, in particular, focuses on developing a demand-side financing plan that will allow low to moderate income Milwaukee residents to purchase these homes and support a steady “pipeline” of housing orders for the factory.
Body
Whereas, the Environmental Collaboration Office in partnership with the City County Task Force on Climate and Economic Equity has developed a preliminary plan to develop affordable, net zero energy homes through a manufacturing partnership; and
Whereas, this plan is consistent with Milwaukee’s Collective Affordable Housing Strategic Plan developed by the Community Development Alliance; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee appears to be eligible for grant funds from the Environmental Protection Agency; and
Whereas, the Environmental Collaboration Office will develop a demand-side Financing Plan to bring affordable, net zero energy homes to scale; and
Whereas, ECO will document public outreach events and efforts related to this program; and
Whereas, ECO will furnish the EPA with documentation of the energy and environmental performance of the houses to be built in the housing factory; and
Whereas, the planned outcome of this project is to have a functioning financing plan to allow a substantial number of low-to-moderate income households to be able to affordably purchase a new, healthy, net zero energy home in the City of Milwaukee; and
Whereas, The operation of this grant from 10/01/2021 to 09/30/2023 would cost $39,600 of which $15,000 (approximately 50%) would be provided by the grantor and $14,600 (approximately 50%) would be provided by the city through and an additional $10,000 provided by the grantor in the second year of the grant, contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds, EPA funding priorities, and satisfactory progress in carrying out the activities described in the scope of work; 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 of the grant 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 2021 Special Revenue-Grant and Aid Projects the following amount for the project titled: Environmental Protection Agency Grant in support of the Environmental Collaboration Office’s Net Zero Energy Home Financing Project Grant:
Project/Grant GR0002100000
Fund 0150
Org 9990
Program 0001
Budget Year 0000
Sub Class R999
Account 000600
Project Grantor Share
Amount $25,000
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 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; and
2. Enter into subcontracts as detailed in the grant budget.
Requestor
Department of Administration - Environmental Collaboration Office
9/14/2021