Explanation
The Public Service Department, Fleet Management Division, is eligible to participate in a grant opportunity in conjunction with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) and the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) for a grant with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). The funding opportunity is titled "Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative" and was created to fund projects within Region 5 (US) that will demonstrate effective emission control technologies, strategies, and/or methods to reduce diesel emissions. MORPC is the lead partner for the grant and will serve as the project manager.
The Ohio collaborative project requesting funding is titled "Mid-Ohio Public Diesel Fleet Initiative: Leading the Way to Cleaner Air". The Fleet Management Division's portion of the project requests funding for the installation of engine hydraulic heaters for refuse trucks and for diesel oxidation catalysts to be installed on pre-1999 city diesel trucks. The two initiatives reduce diesel emissions either through reduced idling or by cleaning exhaust from diesel trucks.
This project supports the efforts and recommendations of the Mayor's "Green Team", which created a subcommittee focused on reducing emissions from City-owned vehicles. Projects included in this grant application are a result of plans formulated by this committee, the Fleet Management Division, and the Green Team.
Fiscal Impact: No city match is required for this grant. The Fleet Management Division resources that will be dedicated to managing/implementing this grant are included in the Division's 2007 operating budget.
Emergency action is requested so the legislation can be included in the grant application package.
Title
To authorize the Public Service Director to submit a grant application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, for a Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative grant to fund Fleet Management's portion of the "Mid-Ohio Public Diesel Fleet Initiative: Leading the Way to Cleaner Air" project designed to reduce diesel emissions in Region 5 (US); and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the Public Service Department, Fleet Management Division, in conjunction with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) and the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), is eligible to apply for a grant through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency titled "Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative"; and
WHEREAS, this grant was created to fund projects within Region 5 (US) that demonstrate effective emission control technologies, strategies and/or methods to reduce diesel emissions; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio collaborative project requesting funding is titled "Mid-Ohio Public Diesel Fleet Initiative: Leading the Way to Cleaner Air"; and
WHEREAS, the Fleet Management Division is requesting grant funds for the installation of engine hydraulic heaters for refuse trucks and for diesel oxidation catalysts to be installed on pre-1999 diesel trucks; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Public Service Department, Fleet Management Division, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Public Service Director to apply for the grant so that the legislation can be included with the grant application package for the preservation of public health, peace, property, and safety ; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Public Service Director be and hereby is authorized to submit a grant application to the U.S. EPA, through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, for a Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative grant to fund Fleet Management's portion of the "Mid-Ohio Public Diesel Fleet Initiative: Leading the Way to Cleaner Air" project designed to reduce diesel emissions in Region 5 (US).
SECTION 2. That this ordinance authorizes an application only and is not a commitment to expend City funds. If awarded, a second ordinance to accept and appropriate monies from the grant is required before the City will obligate its funds.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.