Title
Resolution to Enter into Contract with Washtenaw County to Accept and Appropriate Funds from HUD Sustainable Community Challenge Cooperative Agreement (CCPMI0057-11) $256,000.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
The attached resolution authorizes a contract with Washtenaw County to accept grant funds as part of the Washtenaw County Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Sustainable Community Challenge Cooperative Agreement. The City of Ann Arbor will receive $256,000.00 to create a community-scale energy strategy to increase energy efficiency improvements in rental housing.
Washtenaw County applied for, and received, $3,000,000.00 in United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Challenge Planning Grant (CCPG) funds in collaboration with the City of Ann Arbor, several other municipalities, the State of Michigan, non-profit agencies, private businesses and educational institutions. The goal of the Washtenaw County grant is to expand existing affordable and energy efficient housing options and connect them to job centers and healthy food through an enhanced multi-modal transportation corridor.
This grant will establish a partnership to address barriers to energy efficiency in rental properties. This partnership will involve Washtenaw County, City of Ypsilanti, University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University and community stakeholders.
The project funded by the grant extends over a period of time through December of 2014. $210,000.00 is budgeted for labor to hire a project manager and $46,000.00 is budgeted for marketing and outreach.
$370,000.00 in matching funds have been pledged and will be provided from the following sources: $50,000.00 MDEQ P2 grant supporting Michigan Green Communities; $60,000.00 Home Depot Foundation Sustainability Framework; $260,000.00 PACE/A2energy.org energy efficiency financing and community outreach efforts. Each of these projects is underway, fully funded, and no general fund monies are pledged.
The City of Ann Arbor's allocation of this grant will develop a community-scale energy efficiency strategy to improve the efficiency and affordability of rental properties. Renters often pay more than owners do on utilities due to the older and lower quality of the rental housing stock. Energy costs are often regressive in that they affect poorer renters more. Developing a strategy and outreach plan to address inefficiencies in rental housing will increase the affordability of rental housing stock and help reach the city's community-wide energy goals.
The grant funds need to be appropriated to the FY12 Energy Office Grant Fund and made available for the life of the project.
Staff
Prepared By: Matthew Naud, Environmental Coordinator
Reviewed by: Craig Hupy, Interim Public Services Administrator
Approved by: Steven D. Powers, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Washtenaw County was awarded a $3,000,000.00 cooperative agreement from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to expand existing affordable and energy efficient housing options and connect them to job centers and healthy food through an enhanced multi-modal transportation corridor;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor collaborated with Washtenaw County on the HUD Office of Sustainable Community Challenge Cooperative Agreement application;
Whereas, The HUD Office of Sustainable Community Challenge Cooperative Agreement awarded to Washtenaw County allocated $256,000.00 to the City of Ann Arbor to create a community-scale energy strategy to increase energy efficiency improvements in rental housing;
Whereas, This strategy will help further the City's Green Energy Challenge goal of reducing communitywide greenhouse gas emissions by 8% from 2000 levels (R-11-142); and
Whereas, Washtenaw County will serve as the grant manager and the City of Ann Arbor will be a contractor to Washtenaw County;
RESOLVED, That the contract with Washtenaw County as part of the HUD Office of Sustainable Community Challenge Cooperative Agreement for $256,000.00 to create a community-scale energy strategy to increase energy efficiency improvements in rental housing is approved;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to sign the contract after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney;
RESOLVED, That the grant funds be appropriated to the FY12 Energy Office Grant Fund (Fund 00MG) for the life of the project, regardless of fiscal year; and
RESOLVED, That te City Administrator be authorized and directed to take the necessary administrative action to implement this resolution.