#8 Approve grant request for Brownfields Program funding (File Res. #2010-741)
City Manager’s Office Memorandum
October 11, 2010
TO: Janesville City Council
FROM: Al Hulick, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to
submit a grant request to the USEPA for funding through their 2011
Brownfields Program. (File Resolution No. 2010-741)
Summary
The City of Janesville is submitting a grant request to the USEPA for funding
through their FY11 Brownfield’s Program. The City seeks to develop a
Comprehensive Brownfield’s Redevelopment Program that will guide the
planning, assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of contaminated sites in the
community. The ultimate goal of program is to protect public health and the
environment, remove blight, and remediate sites so they can be redeveloped and
reused. To guide the program, it is our intent to establish a Brownfield’s Advisory
Committee comprised of representatives from various community groups, public
agencies, and other engaged entities. A team of City staff and consultants will
provide technical support to the Program
To facilitate these efforts, the City intends to apply for the following grants:
$200,000 Community-wide Hazardous Substances Assessment Grant
$200,000 Community-wide Petroleum Assessment Grant
There is no required financial match from the City for either of the two grant
awards.
City Manager Office’s Recommendation
The City Administration recommends the City Council authorize the submission
of a grant request for the USEPA for funding through their 2011 Brownfield’s
Program for a Community-wide Hazardous Substances Assessment Grant and a
Community-wide Petroleum Assessment Grant.
Suggested Motion
To make a motion approving File Resolution 2010-741 authorizing the
submission of a grant request for the USEPA for funding through their 2011
Brownfield’s Program for a Community-wide Hazardous Substances Assessment
Grant and a Community-wide Petroleum Assessment Grant.
Background
Brownfield sites can be any abandoned, idle or underused commercial or
industrial properties, where the expansion or redevelopment is hindered by real
or perceived contamination. Brownfield’s vary in size, location, age, and past
use. Brownfield’s can be anything from a five-hundred acre automobile
assembly plant to a small, abandoned corner gas station. Every community has
brownfield sites that sit in this idle or underutilized condition for a variety of
reasons. The City of Janesville is no different in this regard.
For years, the City has taken an active, but incremental approach towards
brownfield remediation. As sites became available for purchase, the City would
work with available resources to research, remediate, and at times, redevelop
brownfield sites. The City of Janesville has had some successes with this
approach, but is looking to be more proactive in brownfield site remediation and
redevelopment.
Therefore, the City of Janesville is looking to submit a grant request to the
USEPA for funding through their FY11 Brownfield’s Program for a Community-
wide Hazardous Substances Assessment Grant and a Community-wide
Petroleum Assessment Grant. These grants will provide the framework towards
a more comprehensive brownfields redevelopment strategy. It is the City’s intent
to develop a Comprehensive Brownfield’s Redevelopment Program that will
guide the planning, assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of contaminated
sites in the community.
The City envisions this grant opportunity as the first step in creating a more
comprehensive brownfields program. It is hoped, that by creating this
framework, the City will position itself more favorably for future grant
opportunities. Additionally, the City will have a better knowledge of the City’s
brownfield inventory and redevelopment potential.
Analysis
Specifically, the funding will be used for the following:
Area-wide planning: a site inventory and prioritization process for Brownfield sites
throughout the community which will result in a ranking of key sites for
assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment. The prioritization of sites will result
from a combination of the following:
An initial environmental analysis of Brownfield sites based on known or
suspected contamination levels conducted by an environmental
consultant.
An evaluation of reuse options and redevelopment potential for each site
conducted by a planning consultant.
Direct community input on key community concerns, goals, and objectives
for brownfields redevelopment.
Site Assessment: Based on the outcomes of the above, the City will work with
property owners to have the priority sites assessed to characterize the type and
extent of potential environmental contamination, a critical first step toward
ultimate clean-up and reuse.
Health Monitoring Program: the City will engage a public health expert to work
with area health professionals, the USEPA, and the WI Dept. of Health & Family
Services to monitor community health in brownfields-impacted neighborhoods.
The success of this program will rely greatly on the participation of partner
organizations and direct input from residents throughout the community. The
City is seeking letters of support for our application and commitments from
organizations and individual to work with us.
cc: Eric Levitt
Jacob Winzenz
RESOLUTION NO. 2010-741
A RESOLUTION authorizing the City of Janesville’s submission of a grant request to the
USEPA for funding through their 2011 Brownfields Program for a Community-wide
Hazardous Substances Assessment Grant and a Community-wide Petroleum
Assessment Grant.
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Janesville recognize that the
investigation, remediation, and redevelopment of Brownfields are important parts of
protecting Wisconsin’s resources and reuse of abandoned lands; and
WHEREAS, by adopting this Resolution, the Common Council declare their intent for
the City Administration to submit a grant request to the USEPA for funding through their
2011 Brownfields Program for a Two Hundred Thousand Dollar ($200,000.00)
Community-wide Hazardous Substances Assessment Grant and a separate Two
Hundred Thousand Dollar ($200,000.00) Community-wide Petroleum Assessment
Grant that will guide the planning, assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of
contaminated sites in the community; and
WHEREAS, the City of Janesville will maintain records documenting all expenditures
made during the grant period and abide by the necessary reporting responsibilities as
determined by the USEPA; and
WHEREAS, the City of Janesville will work cooperatively with employees, agents, and
representatives of the USEPA during the grant period; and
WHEREAS, the City of Janesville intends to comply with all requirements of and will
submit all documents and participation requirements, to the USEPA; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council find that the submission for and use of each of these
Grants will be in the best interests of and benefit to the City, its properties, its residents,
and taxpayers.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of
Janesville that:
1. All above introductions and recitals are incorporated herein by reference as if
fully set forth verbatim; and
2. The City Administration is authorized on behalf of the City of Janesville to
prepare and submit applications for, and request funds and assistance available from,
the United States Environmental Protection Agency for these two Grants; and
3. The City of Janesville shall take any and all necessary actions to undertake,
direct, and complete approved grant activities, and comply with State and Federal rules
for the program(s); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager and his designee(s), on behalf of
the City of Janesville, is/are hereby jointly and severally authorized and empowered to
negotiate, draft, review, revise, modify, amend, execute, enter into, file and/or record
additional applications, agreements, amendments, documents, reports, and letters of
understanding concerning this matter, and to take whatever additional other actions that
the City Manager may determine in his sole discretion, from time to time and at any
time, necessary and/or desirable in the public interest to effectuate the intent of this
Resolution and/or the public good.
ADOPTED:
Motion by:
Second by:
APPROVED:
Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
Brunner
McDonald
Eric J. Levitt, City Manager
Perrotto
Rashkin
ATTEST:
Steeber
Truman
Voskuil
Jean Ann Wulf, City Clerk-Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney, Wald Klimczyk
Proposed by: City Manager’s Office
Prepared by: City Manager’s Office