Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Application for a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Assessment Grant and Accepting the Terms and Conditions of such Grant, Should it be Awarded
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution authorizing the application for a U.S. Environmental protection agency brownfield assessment grant and accepting the terms and conditions of such grant, should it be awarded to the City.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Resolution authorizing the application for a U.S. Environmental protection agency brownfield assessment grant and accepting the terms and conditions of such grant, should it be awarded to the City.
Staff Contact:
Mike Reid, Economic Development Director, Office of Community Vitality, 360.753.8591
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
On September 30, 2019, the City of Olympia was notified that had been awarded a $600,000 Brownfield Assessment Grant. This funding has been used to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct cleanup planning and community involvement related activities for brownfield sites in the Olympia area.
The grant had been specifically called out in the Downtown Strategy as an action that could address some of the barriers associated with developing on potential brownfield sites. There were no matching funds required for this grant.
The City had three years to spend these funds and has successfully utilized these funds on 20 sites throughout Olympia. To date with this grant, we have completed or are actively working on 17 Phase I Environment Site Assessments (ESAs), 11 Phase II ESAs (including two supplemental Phase II ESAs), and one cleanup plan. Several more Phase I and Phase II ESAs are in the pipeline. Eight proposed mixed use or residential developments, a Downtown business, a shelter/resource center, and a supportive housing facility are currently underway/planned for sites assessed by the grant.
Knowledge of the grant is spreading, and we are receiving additional requests from the community on a regular basis. Additional funds will only further spur development and remove blight Downtown and in the surrounding areas. The City’s use of the grant and ability to exceed timelines has received commendation by the Environmental Protection Agency.
New funding is now available for another round of Brownfield assessment grants. Previously the City was part of the ‘Olympia Regional Coalition’ in conjunction with the Port of Olympia and Olympia Metro Parks but this time around we are singularly pursuing a community-wide assessment grant for $500,000 during the Fiscal Year 2022 application period.
If successful, the City would have three years to spend funds. There are no matching funds required for this grant. The City will continue to focus the use of this grant on real properties, where the expansion, development or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant - this constraint is most commonly found in the Downtown and waterfront areas of Olympia due to legacy contamination.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Part of the grant process includes community outreach and holding a community meeting in which interested parties can learn more about how to identify and nominate sites in Olympia for environmental assessment.
Options:
1. Approve the resolution supporting the application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Assessment Grant.
2. Reject the resolution supporting the application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Assessment Grant.
Financial Impact:
There are no matching funds required for the grant.
Attachments:
Resolution
Grant Application
Map of Current Grant Served Sites
Grant Fact Sheet
Grant Review Letter