Title
Approval of a Resolution to Apply for a Grant for Ecology’s Grants of Regional or Statewide Significance for Environmental Education and Equity Program
...Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution authorizing staff to apply for, and the City Manager to sign, a grant agreement for a Washington State Department of Ecology Grant of Regional or Statewide Significance.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Resolution authorizing staff to apply for, and the City Manager to sign, a grant agreement for a Washington State Department of Ecology Grant of Regional or Statewide Significance (GROSS) application to develop environmental justice and stormwater tools to assist stormwater managers implement the Stormwater Management Action Plan (SMAP).
Staff Contact:
Susan McCleary, Senior Program Specialist, Public Works Water Resources, 360.570.3794
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Item
Background and Analysis:
The Storm and Surface Water Utility is addressing 2019-2024 National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Stormwater Permit. The Permit obligations include working with overburdened communities as part of our stormwater management efforts. This includes public education and outreach engagement and creating opportunities for public involvement and participation in decision-making processes involving the development, implementation, and update of the City’s Stormwater Management Action Plans (Special Permit Conditions S.5.C.2.a.i and S.5.C.3.a).
City staff will manage the project with support from Thurston County Stormwater Utility Partners (Thurston Regional Environmental Education Partnership) to address this issue of common concern regionally and to provide economies of scale. The grant funding will allow us to develop tools and training that will provide long-term benefits to multiple jurisdictions across our region.
We will also partner with the University of Washington Tacoma and the Action Mapping Project to develop the Thurston Equity Index Map, a baseline geospatial data analysis tool and dashboard(s). The Index along with a facilitated service equity analysis, communication plan and cultural competency training will provide the training and tools we need to apply an equity lens to how we prioritize and evaluate our environmental stewardship work and where to focus our efforts to create better outcomes for historically underserved/overburdened populations.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Our community has made it clear that equity and racial justice need to be prioritized.
Options:
1. Move to approve a Resolution authorizing staff to apply for, and the City Manager to sign, a grant agreement for a Washington State Department of Ecology GROSS application to develop environmental justice and stormwater tools to assist stormwater managers implement the SMAP.
2. Do not approve a Resolution authorizing staff to apply for and the City Manager to sign the grant agreement for a Washington State Department of Ecology GROSS grant application. The City will not receive financial assistance and will have to postpone the development of the Thurston Equity Index and associated service equity analysis and cultural competency training until other funding sources can be secured.
3. Consider the Resolution at another time.
Financial Impact:
There are no matching funds required from the City for this funding opportunity. It is expected if awarded the grant, the amount received would be approximately $125,000. The grant term is two years.
Attachments:
Resolution
Funding Guidelines