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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 22579: FILING OF AN APPLICATION WITH THE EPA REGARDING A GRANT INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM pfs V??, rthur Texas INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIVISION OF HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION DATE: NOVEMBER 8, 2022 TO: RON BURTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: MARY E. ESSEX, GRANTS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR RE: P.R. 22579 NATURE OF REQUEST: Grants Management recommends that the City Council adopt Proposed Resolution 22579 to approve filing an application with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the FY 2023 Brownfields Area-Wide Assessment grant. STAFF ANALYSIS CONSIDERATIONS: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Brownfields Program is designed to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields*. EPA provides technical and financial assistance for brownfields activities through an approach based on four main goals: protecting human health and the environment, sustaining reuse, promoting partnerships, and strengthening the marketplace. Brownfields grants serve as the foundation of the Brownfields Program and support revitalization efforts by funding environmental assessment, cleanup, and job training activities. Thousands of properties have been assessed and cleaned up through the Brownfields Program, clearing the way for their reuse. Port Arthur's Brownfield Area-Wide grant will focus on Houston Avenue to the West, 7th Street to the North, Lake Charles Avenue to the East, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway as the approximate southern boundary. The Denbo Avenue area will also be included. *A brownfield is defined as:real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance,pollutant, or contaminant. The 2002 Brownfields Law further defines the term to include a site that is: "contaminated by a controlled substance; contaminated by petroleum or a petroleum product excluded from the definition of'hazardous substance';or mine-scarred land" RECOMMENDATIONS: I recommend that the City Council adopt Proposed Resolution 22579 which approves filing an application with the FY 2023 EPA for a Brownfields Area-Wide Planning grant in the amount of $500,000. BUDGET CONSIDERATION: The Brownfields program grant will provide all budgetary funding. P. R. # 22579 October 10, 2022- MEE Page 1 RESOLUTION NUMBER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION WITH THE U.S.ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY(EPA)FOR THE FY 2023 BROWNFIELD COMMUNITY-WIDE ASSESSMENT GRANT NUMBER EPA-OLEM-OBLR-22-05 FOR AN ESTIMATED TOTAL FUNDING RANGING FROM $300,000.00 TO $500,000.00. WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting applications for Brownfields Assessment Grants, (i.e., Community-Wide Assessment Grant No. EPA-OLEM- OBLR-22-05),for grant funding that can be used for the direct costs associated with the inventory, site prioritization,community involvement, site reuse planning, assessment, and cleanup planning for Brownfield sites; and, WHEREAS, the Brownfield sites (aka Target Area) is defined as Denbo Avenue to the west, Lake Charles Avenue to the east,the Sabine Neches Canal to the south and Rev. Dr. Ransom Howard Street to the north; and, WHEREAS,it is in the best interest of the City of Port Arthur to submit a grant application through www.grants.gov by November 22, 2022, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR: Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct. Section 2. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to submit a grant application to the Environmental Protection Agency for the maximum grant funding amount of$500,000 for Brownfield Community-Wide Assessment Grant Number Epa-Olem-Oblr-22-05. Section 3. That the City Manager is designated to sign all documents in connection with the grant submission. Section 4. That a copy of the caption of this Resolution be spread upon the minutes of the City Council. p P. R.#22579 October 10, 2022- MEE Page 2 READ,ADOPTED AND APPROVED this day of A. D., 2022 at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas by the following vote: AYES: MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: / Thurman "Bill" Bartie, Mayor ATTEST: SHERRI BELLARD CITY SECRETARY AP ROVED FOR FORM: ()Azle tis-kt_ la $f eo VAL TIZE CITY ATTORNEY APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: N URT N, Cy MA A 7W a', aoy PAMELA LANGFORD, ASSIST -3CITY MANAGER , cY� ) , KANDY DAtsTIELS INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR