Title
Approval of Washington Department of Ecology Grant Proposals
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to authorize submittal of grant applications to Washington State Department of Ecology.
Report
Issue:
Whether to submit three storm and surface water-related grant applications to the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology). The grants do not require a City funding match.
Staff Contact:
Andy Haub, P.E., Water Resources Line of Business Director, 360.753.8475
Presenter(s):
Not applicable.
Background and Analysis:
Ecology announced the opening of three grant programs to assist permittees of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Stormwater. The grants focus on improving stormwater quality. Grant applications are due July 30, 2015.
The grants are for specific projects that support implementing municipal storm and surface water management programs across the state or region. Grant funding is only awarded to cities and counties covered under the municipal Clean Water Act and NPDES stormwater permits.
City staff is prepared to submit three applications:
1. Grants of Regional or Statewide Significance (GROSS)
City Storm and Surface Water staff proposes submitting a grant application in partnership with WSU Extension, Washington Stormwater Center (WSC) and South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC). Grant funds would develop a comprehensive stormwater training program curriculum. The funding would be used to identify the specific training needs of municipal and county field staff in the Puget Sound region. The work effort will develop a professional training curriculum and materials for current public stormwater staff, as well as develop a college-level curriculum that could lead to an Associate Degree in Environmental Science with an emphasis on stormwater and low impact development technologies. WSU, SPSCC, and Ecology have completed considerable work on this effort over the past year. As a stormwater permitted municipality, the City of Olympia will sponsor the grant effort. If the grant is received, the City will participate in the project as a technical resource.
The grant submittal will request $300,000. No City financial match is required.
2. Stormwater Pre-construction Grant Program
Grants from this program fund design work for stormwater projects that use green retrofit principals to address stormwater issues. Staff identified three locations adjacent to neighborhood centers to develop stormwater retrofit designs. The locations are Rogers Street NW, San Francisco Street NE and Capitol Way. If grant funding is received the funds would be used to determine if and how small stormwater facilities could be designed in these areas. Constructing these projects is dependent on receiving additional grant funding.
The funding request will not exceed $250,000. The grant does not require a City financial match.
3. Stormwater Capacity Grants
Grants in this program are non-competitive and are awarded by Ecology to stormwater permitted cities and counties based on population. Funds are used to implement the Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit, in particular stormwater system mapping. In previous years, the City has received funding from this pass-through grant program, typically between $50,000-$75,000.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The grants support well-established community interests in stormwater and water quality management. WSU, SPSCC and the Washington Stormwater Center are partners on the GROSS grant. Neighborhoods may be interested in the small stormwater designs grant.
Options:
1. Approve the request to submit the grant applications. Grant awards will be announced in September.
2. Decline or modify the request to submit the grant applications prior to July 30, 2015. May jeopardize these work efforts moving forward.
Financial Impact:
There is no match required for any of the grants. A portion of the GROSS grant may cover City administrative costs.