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ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT A FEDERAL CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION PLANNING GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,000
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution to:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute a grant agreement from the United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation in the amount of $1,000,000;
2. Authorize the City Manager to appropriate grant revenues and expenditures in the amount of $1,000,000 and;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute and manage contractor agreements and consultant agreements in amounts consistent with the Grant Agreement.
It is also recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of the resolution.
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Summary
Staff seeks City Council approval to accept $1,000,000 in grant funding from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 9, Air and Radiation Division, AIR-1 (Exhibit 1 to the Resolution). Through the Inflation Reduction Act - Climate Pollution Reduction Planning Grant the U.S EPA is funding the City of Stockton to develop or update existing regional climate mitigation plans to address greenhouse gas and reduction measures throughout the Stockton Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) area. Specific activities will include updating plans to reduce climate pollution, completing a greenhouse gas inventory, quantifying greenhouse gas reduction measures, conducting a low-income and disadvantaged communities benefit analysis, and stakeholder engagement. The grant also requires three key deliverables: a Priority Climate Action Plan, a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (due two years from the date of award), and a status report due at the close of the grant period.
DISCUSSION
Background
In April 2023, the City of Stockton submitted a letter of intent to the Environmental Protection Agency for the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Planning opportunity. Initially, the City was not selected to receive funding through the program. However, in late December 2023, the City was contacted by the EPA Region 9 grants project officer that an intended recipient, the State of Wyoming, declined offered funding and that if still interested, the offered award of $1,000,000 is now being extended to the City of Stockton.
City staff met with the EPA Region 9 Grants project officer and team on several occasions to understand the application requirements and review the scope of the grant. The funding opportunity notice (FON) through grants.gov had previously closed; however, the EPA re-opened the FON so that the City could submit the application for acceptance. On February 1, 2024, City staff successfully submitted the application for the planning grant, and on April 4, 2024, City staff received the notification of award and grant agreement from the U.S EPA, Region 9.
Present Situation
The City Council previously approved Resolution No. 2023-12-12-1202 to accept the State of California Adaptation Planning Grant Program (APGP) Award to update the City of Stockton Climate Action Plan in the amount of $650,000. The APGP grant and CPRG grant will be used in combination to develop a new Comprehensive Climate Action & Adaptation (CCAAP) plan for the City which combines the names and requirements of both programs. City staff have since developed and posted a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify a consultant to lead the development of this new Comprehensive Climate Action & Adaptation Plan.
The CPRG grant adds a requirement to extend the boundary of the CCAAP beyond the City of Stockton to include the Stockton Metropolitan Area (MSA) which is comprised of Lodi, Stockton, Lathrop, Manteca, Tracy, Ripon and Escalon. The CCAAP will focus on Stockton while also identifying & addressing critical regional priorities.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The grant award is for $1,000,000. To establish the program and grant funding, an appropriation of revenue and expenditures of $1,000,000 is necessary in the City Manager’s Special Grants Fund - Reimbursement, General Administration Division. There will be no impact to the General Fund because of accepting this grant funding.