Bloomberg's Youth Climate Action Grant Application SubmittalCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 013.
Copyrighted
March 4, 2024
ITEM TITLE: Bloomberg's Youth Climate Action Grant Application Submittal
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval of the submission of
a grant application and funding request to the Bloomberg Youth Climate
Action grant program.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Grant Application Supporting Documentation
THE CITY
DUOF
B TEE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Bloomberg's Youth Climate Action Grant Application Submittal
DATE: February 27, 2024
Dubuque
All -America City
IN
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
Director of Sustainability Gina Bell is recommending City Council approval of the
submission of a grant application and funding request to the Bloomberg Youth Climate
Action grant program.
The grant offers $50,000 to be administered as mini grants to youth, for youth led
climate actions. The funding would address equity, sustainability, and resiliency, while
providing capital and experiences for youth. Additionally, the work would directly support
our 50% by 2030 Community Climate Action and Resiliency Plan.
The grant request is $50,000.00. An additional $100,000.00 is potentially available. No
match is required and there is no additional budget impact; however, the project will
require staff time.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gina Bell, Director of Sustainability
THE C
DUj!B9?[FE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
Gina Bell, Director of Sustainability
February 20, 2024
Bloomberg's Youth Climate Action Grant Application Submittal
Dubuque
AIFMaica Cif
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request City Council approval of a grant application and funding
request to the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action grant program.
BACKGROUND
Last December (2023) Mayor Cavanagh and I attended the United Nations Conference of the Parties
or COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. During the Local Climate Action Summit (LCAS), Michael
Bloomberg announced a grant opportunity to Mayors participating in the LCAS to help fund global
youth climate action. We submitted our letter of interest and recently received an invitation to submit a
grant application.
DISCUSSION
Building on the success of past youth -led climate actions by the Teen Resiliency Corps, and with the
full support (including a pledge) from Mayor Cavanagh, we submitted the grant application, sharing
both vulnerabilities facing Dubuque related to climate change as well as ideas for youth projects we'd
like to fund. The grant offers $50,000 to be administered as mini grants to youth, for youth led climate
actions. The funding would address equity, sustainability, and resiliency, while providing capital and
experiences for youth. Additionally, the work would directly support our 50% by 2030 Community
Climate Action and Resiliency Plan.
If we are successful, and able to disburse the initial $50,000, an additional $100,000 would be granted
to the city for continued youth -led climate action and greatly help to move forward climate action in our
City.
BUDGETIMPACT
The grant request is $50,000.00. An additional $100,000.00 is potentially available. No match is
required and there is no additional budget impact; however, the project will require staff time.
REQUESTED ACTION
Due to time constraints of the grant opportunity, the application was submitted to meet the deadline. I
respectfully request the City Council approve the submittal of the grant proposal to the Bloomberg
Youth Climate Action grant program.
Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF) Application — Bloomberg Philanthropies x Local
Governments
Application Portal opens Thursday, February 15, 2024
Submitted: Tuesday February 20, 2024
Hard Deadline: EOD Thursday, February 29, 2024
Award: $50,000 (and if distributed in 6 months' time, an additional $100,000)
Grant Purpose: Youth -led climate action via mini -grants
1. Please provide the following basic information:
a. City Name: Dubuque
b. State Name: Iowa
c. Country Name:
United States
d. Region:
North America12/31/2025
e. Mayor's Name:
Brad M. Cavanagh
f. Mayor's Email:
BCavanagh@citvofdubuque.org
g. Mayor's Preferred
Phone Number:
(563) 690-6502
h. Mayoral Term
Start Date:
January 1, 2022
i. Mayoral Term
End Date:
December 31, 2025
j. Applicant's Name
(if not mayor):
Gina Bell
k. Applicant's Email
(if not mayor):
GBell@cityofdubugue.org
I. Confirmation that Applicant is authorized to submit application on behalf of city
i. Select One:
YES NO
m. Preferred Language: English
n. City Population: 58,873
o. City Social
Media Accounts:
i. https://www.facebook.com/City0fDubuque/
ii. https://twitter.com/cityofdubugue
iii. https://www.instagram.com/cityofdubuguegov/
iv. https://www.youtube.com/user/DubugueP1O
v. https:Hnextdoor.com/profile/7127545/
vi. https://www.linkedin.com/company/city-of-dubugue-iowa/
2. Briefly describe the key impacts of climate change that your city is already facing and/or could
face in the future.
The following highlight the vulnerabilities to climate risk facing Dubuque, excerpted from the
most recent Dubuque Climate Vulnerability Assessment. The city knows that our most
vulnerable populations (Black, Latino, Marshallese, low-income and elderly) will be impacted
first and worst by the following:
Heat Stress (High) - Warmer temperatures and more extreme heat may lead to higher risk of
heat -related illness.
Air Quality (Medium -High) - Increased heat may result in more days of poor air quality and
exposure to allergens, impacting respiratory illnesses.
Energy Burden & Housing (High) - Warmer temperatures will increase demand for air
conditioning and weatherization needs. Energy costs may be difficult for vulnerable populations
to meet. Heavier rains coupled with higher risk of surface drought conditions may cause more
local flooding, particularly "flash flooding" which could cause damage to housing and reduce
mobility for portions of the community.
Stormwater Management (High) - Heavier rains coupled with higher risk of surface drought
conditions may significantly increase demand on stormwater management. The city's
stormwater infrastructure may not be capable of handling the amount of runoff during more
frequent heavy downpours, requiring resources to make needed upgrades.
Trees, Greenspace, and Agriculture (Medium) - Increased temperatures and changes to
precipitation will stress trees, greenspace, and agriculture. Conditions may be more favorable
for disease, pests, and invasive species. Trees and crop species which formerly thrived in the
area's climate may be less suited for future climate conditions.
Surface Water Quality (High) - Increases to heavy rain events and flooding/flash flooding risk
may negatively impact water quality in the city's lakes, streams, and rivers. Increased pollutants
and contamination potential, combined with increased annual water temperatures could
increase risk to algal and bacteria growth, harming habitats and limiting recreation. Mental
Health (Medium -High) - Exposure to increased climate impacts and disasters may lead to
increased anxiety and other mental health ramifications.
Vector -Borne Disease (Medium) - Longer growing seasons and higher temperatures may
increase vector -borne diseases like West Nile Virus and Lyme disease.
3. Please provide a publicly accessible link to your city's climate action plan.
https://www.citvofdubugue.org/DocumentCenter/View/46662/Dubuque-Climate-Action-Plan-
2020 Full-Reoort FINAL
4. Describe 2-3 youth -led or youth -focused climate projects that you would be excited to support
with a microgrant through this program.
a) Marshallese youth engagement and education series to highlight their islands'
challenges related to sea level rise and showing their strength and resilience as they
fight for their islands while living in Dubuque, Iowa.
b) Youth led bike rides to raise awareness that many Dubuque youth have limited access to
a car for transportation and demand safer streets and better bike infrastructure.
c) Public Art campaign related to the impacts of climate change as outlined in the
community climate action plan and what actions residents can take.
5. Other than providing funding, how might your city support these projects (i.e., by making
available tools or equipment to youth volunteers, expediting permitting for mural projects, or
by joining in to add additional staffing capacity, etc.)?
The city has long supported youth climate action through engagement efforts and youth
participation in the update of the climate action plan. The city solidified support of youth and
climate action with the formation of the Teen Resiliency Corps which includes reoccurring
funding in the Sustainability Office's budget. City sustainability staff, the Resilient Community
Advisory Commissioners and volunteers have committed to supporting, mentoring, and
sponsoring youth who are taking climate action. We have partnerships with many youth -facing
organizations as well as work well cross -departmentally to support youth driven projects such as
securing necessary permits, providing equipment and materials and/or waiving fees. Past
examples include waiving special events permits and fees for a sustainability fair and lending
supplies for river cleanups and tree planting efforts.
6. Please name the city staff member who will be responsible for implementing your city's Youth
Climate Action Fund program, and provide:
a. First and Last Name: Gina Bell
b. Title and City Department: Director of Sustainability, Office of Sustainability
c. Email: GBell @citvofdubuque.or
d. Preferred Phone Number: (563) 690-6038
e. A brief description of their role: Gina Bell, the Director of Sustainability, and her team, is
responsible for delivering the Mayor and City Council's priority to strengthen our
community's resiliency through climate action. She works both internally, to review,
advise and promote sustainability within City operations; and externally to build
partnerships and support resident's efforts, while fostering collaboration throughout
the community in Dubuque, Iowa.
f. Confirmation that they will participate in all required webinars and coaching calls hosted
by the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund.
i. Select One: YES NO
g. Confirmation that they, on behalf of your city, will manage (or coordinate the
management of) the city's Youth Climate Action Fund project —soliciting and selecting
youth -led or youth -focused climate projects, collecting and elevating stories of success
to Bloomberg Philanthropies and its partners, and completing periodic financial and
impact reporting.
i. Select One: YES NO
7. [Mayor's Pledge] — please sign and return. https://uclg.org/wp-
content/uploads/2024/02/Youth-Climate-Action-Fund-Mayors-Pledge.pdf (signed 2/20.2024)
8. Preferred Currency: US Dollars