Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to apply to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a Community-wide Coalition Environmental Assessment Grant and enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Franklin County and the Columbus and Franklin County Metropolitan Park District (hereinafter "Metro Parks").
The City of Columbus has been approached to participate as a partner in a Community-wide Coalition Environmental Assessment Grant application along with Franklin County and Metro Parks.
The parties intend to complete and submit an application for a Community-wide Coalition Environmental Assessment Grant. The Memorandum of Agreement is needed to facilitate and implement the goals of the grant application. Metro Parks will serve as the lead applicant for the Community-wide Coalition Environmental Assessment Grant. The successful funding of the application would support the work to develop inventories of brownfields, prioritize sites, conduct community involvement activities, and conduct site assessments and cleanup planning related to brownfield sites.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: This legislation is submitted as an emergency measure in order to meet the grant application deadline.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact for this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to apply to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a Community-wide Coalition Environmental Assessment Grant and to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Franklin County and the Columbus and Franklin County Metropolitan Park District ("Metro Parks"); and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Franklin County, and Metro Parks desire to jointly complete and submit an application for a Community-wide Coalition Environmental Assessment Grant; and
WHEREAS, Metro Parks will serve as the lead applicant for the Community-wide Coalition Environmental Assessment Grant; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Franklin County, and Metro Parks have experience working in the area of environmental assessment and cleanup at several sites within Franklin County and the City of Columbus and have successfully submitted applications and completed assessment projects funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus has been approached to participate as a partner, based on past brownfield assessment and development successes, in a Community-wide Coalition Environmental Assessment Grant application along with Franklin County and Metro Parks; and
WHEREAS, a successful application through the competitive review process could result in an award of up to $600,000 to Central Ohio public agencies for the assessment of brownfields and past industrial sites; and
WHEREAS, the Memorandum of Agreement is not intended to be a legally binding document; and
WHEREAS, the Memorandum of Agreement is a document which outlines how the parties intend to collaborate if the grant is awarded; and
WHEREAS, participation in this Program would further foster existing partnerships and provide for expanded partnerships with other government entities in Central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus whereby it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to apply to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a Community-wide Coalition Environmental Assessment Grant and enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Franklin County and Metro Parks in order to meet the grant application deadline, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to apply to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a Community-wide Coalition Environmental Assessment Grant and enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Franklin County and Metro Parks in conjunction with the grant application for up to $600,000 for the assessment of brownfields and past industrial sites.
SECTION 2. That the Council of the City of Columbus authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to serve as the official representative of the City of Columbus application to participate in the Program, and provide all information and documentation required in said Application for the submission to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
SECTION 3. That the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to participate in the Program, comply with program guidelines, and provide necessary assurances.
SECTION 4. That for 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.