From
Patricia D. B. Redfearn, Ph.D.
Title
Resolution authorizing the filing of an application with the Environmental Protection Agency for a 2018 Region 6 Environmental Education Local Grant; authorizing Tom Hart, City Manager, or his designee to act on behalf of the city in all matters that are related to this application, pledging that if funding for this project is received, the City of Grand Prairie will comply with all requirements of the application with the Environmental Protection Agency
Presenter
James R. Cummings, Environmental Services Director
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
Several of the Departments/Divisions within the City of Grand Prairie are tasked with public education. These include Water Quality, Emergency Management, Stormwater Management, Floodplain Management, Solid Waste & Recycling and Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful. The EPA offers Environmental Grants of up to $100,000 to organizations tasked with Environmental Education.
In anticipation of submitting a grant application to the EPA, the GPISD, Solid Waste and Recycling Division and Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful have collaborated with representatives of the City of Grand Prairie’s Environmental Services Department, Emergency Management, Public Works and Engineering to develop the concept of a mobile environmental educational training center that will roll out to schools and to City-wide events to facilitate local learning and stewardship efforts related to water quality, conservation, erosion control, flood preparedness, recycling, litter reduction and pollution prevention. A key component of the grant is compelling the audience to commit to, and complete, stewardship actions to protect and conserve the environment. The stewardship component will result in water conservation, recycling, litter prevention and cleanups all geared towards protection of our drinking water and natural areas. By combining the efforts of the participating departments to develop the mobile environmental education training center, the City will be creating a powerful new tool that will provide impactful and potentially behavior-changing experiences for the betterment of the environment in Grand Prairie.
The EPA requires that a portion of this grant, 25% of the federal funds, go to sub-grantees for projects that further the goals of the City’s primary grant. The Grand Prairie Independent School District has agreed to be our sub-grant partner and will distribute the pass-through grant funds to schools participating in the Green & Clean Campus Program, which is an award-winning City-GPISD partnership through the Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful Program. As part of the win-win sub-grant process, the schools will develop environment projects geared towards recycling and the prevention of floatable litter.
The EPA also requires a match of 25%. Estimated cost of this project, based on similar facilities, is $140,000 ($25,000 for subgrants and $115,000 for the training center and supplies).
Financial Consideration
This grant, if successful, would be funded in the FY2019 budget year from various City funds.
Body
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF A PROJECT APPLICATION WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FOR A 2018 REGION 6 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION LOCAL GRANT, WHICH WILL PROVIDE PARTIAL FUNDING FOR A MOBILE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TRAINING CENTER, IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, TOM HART, OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE APPLICATION; AND PLEDGING THAT IF FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT IS RECEIVED, THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE WILL COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Whereas, the Environmental Protection Agency has released a solicitation notice for Environmental Education Local Grants Program for Region 6 for 2018,
Whereas, the City of Grand Prairie in the State of Texas, and in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 6, is qualified to apply for funding under the Solicitation notice for Environmental Education Local Grants Program for Region 6 for 2018,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas that:
Section 1. The City Manager or his designee is authorized to request grant project funding under the EPA’s Solicitation Notice for Environmental Education Local Grants Program for Region 6 for 2018 and act on behalf of the City of Grand Prairie in all matters related to the grant application and any subsequent grant contract that may result.
Section 2. If the grant project is funded, the City of Grand Prairie will comply with the application and contract requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency.
SECTION 3. The local government will allocate and expend the necessary monies to support this grant project and then seek reimbursement from the Environmental Protection Agency on a timely basis, so long as sufficient funding is appropriated by the City Council to satisfy the City’s obligation.
SECTION 4. The grant funds and any grant-funded equipment or materials may be used only for the purposes for which they are intended under the grant application.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, MARCH 6, 2018.