Brownfields Multipurpose Grant Application to the U.S. EPA Copyrighted
J une 3, 2019
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 7.
ITEM TITLE: Brownfields Multipurpose GrantApplication to the U.S.
Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA)
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of an application to
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)for a
Brownfields Multipurpose Grant to support the assessment
and clean-up of eligible Brownfield sites within the City of
Dubuque.
RESOLUTION Authorizing Brownfields Multipurpose
Grant application to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agencyforthe South Port, Washington Neighborhood and
North End Areas
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Adopt
Resolution(s)
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Brownfields Multipurpose GrantApplication-MVM City Manager Memo
Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Resolution Resolutions
THE CITY OF Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Brownfields Multipurpose Grant Application
DATE: May 30, 2019
Project Manager Steve Sampson Brown recommends City Council approval of an
application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for an $800,000
Brownfields Multipurpose Grant to support the assessment and clean-up of eligible
brownfield sites within the City of Dubuque.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen �� �
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Steve Sampson Brown, Project Manager
THE CITY OF Dubuque
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager ��„�-�- ,,�-'`"
FROM: Steve Sampson Brown, Project Manager .
SUBJECT: Brownfields Multipurpose Grant Application
DATE: May 29, 2019
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum transmits for City Council review and approval, an application to the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a $800,000 for a Brownfields
Multipurpose Grant to support the assessment and clean-up of eligible brownfield sites
within the City of Dubuque.
BACKGROUND
City of Dubuque staff have previously been successful in applying for EPA Brownfields
Grants to plan redevelopment, assess contamination impact on redevelopable properties,
and to conduct contamination clean-up. The areas of focus for these previous grants
have been the Port of Dubuque, South Port, Historic Millwork District and the Washington
Neighborhoods. In general, the EPA provides communities with brownfield grants as
seed funding to help historically abandoned, neglected, blighted, or underdeveloped
brownfield sites be redeveloped so that they become revitalized and economically
contributing areas of a community.
DISCUSSION
A brownfield site is defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) § 101(39) as real property, the expansion,
redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential
presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, controlled substances,
petroleum or petroleum products, or is mine-scarred land. A critical part of EPA's
Brownfields Program is to ensure that residents living in communities historically affected
by economic disinvestment, health disparities, and environmental contamination have an
opportunity to reap the benefits from brownfields redevelopment. EPA's Brownfields
Program has a rich history rooted in environmental justice and is committed to helping
Page 1 of 3
communities revitalize brownfield properties, mitigate potential health risks, and restore
economic vitality.
Multipurpose Grants provide funding to carry out a range of eligible activities. The City of
Dubuque is proposing to apply for the maximum allowed grant amount of $800,000. As
defined in the grant announcement, Multipurpose Grant applicants should have the
capacity to conduct a range of eligible activities, for example:
- Developing inventories of brownfield sites;
- Prioritizing sites;
- Conducting community involvement activities;
- Conducting environmental site assessments;
- Developing cleanup plans and reuse plans related to brownfield sites;
- Conducting cleanup activities on brownfield sites owned by the applicant; and
- Developing an overall plan for revitalization.
Building off of the City's previously successful Brownfield grants, we are well suited to
provide these capacities. The EPA's evaluation of the grant applications will be based on
the extent to which thP applicants demonstrate: a vision for the reuse and redevelopment
of brownfield sites and a strategy for leveraging resources to help accomplish the vision;
the environmental, social, health and economic needs and benefits of the target area;
strong community engagement; reasonable and eligible tasks and appropriate use of
grant funding; the capacity for managing and successfully implementing the cooperative
agreement; and other factors.
City staff have collaborated with its consulting grant writer Andy Seth of Sustainable
Strategies DC to prepare the attached Multipurpose Grant Application. The grant
application focuses on three areas of Dubuque: the South Port, the Washington
Neighborhood and the North End.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council approval ofi an application to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency for a $800,000 Brownfields Multipurpose Grant to assist eligible city,
non-profit, and private development projects with brownfield redevelopment efforts.
BUDGETIMPACT
The Brownfields Multipurpose Grant is a highly competitive federal pass through grant
program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The City is eligible for up to
$800,000 in grant funding with a provided cost share of $30,000 in in-kind time to
support personnel expenses across all tasks and $10,000 in cash for brownfields
remediation activities. The grant application proposed that Engineering and Economic
Development Department staff will provide the in-kind time and that is currently
budgeted. Grant eligible city capital projects that are already funded will provide the
$10,000 for brownfields remediation activities.
Page 2 of 3
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
The request�d action is for City Council approval of the attached resnlution in su��ort of
ihi� grant application, �nd authoriz�tion for the M�yor to sign th� applic�tic�n on behalf
of th� City of Dubuque.
Att�chments
SSB/ssb
cc: Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Jenny Larson, Director of Financ� & Budget
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Jill Conners, Economic Development Director
PagP 3 af 3
Prepared by: Steve Sampson Brown Address: City Hall, 50 W. 13th St, Dubuque, IA 52001 Telephone: 589-4270 .
Return to: Kevin Firnstahl, City Clerk Address: City Hall, 50 W. 13th St, Dubuque, IA 52001 Telephone: 589-4121
RESOLUTION NO. 199-19
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING BROWNFIELDS MULTIPURPOSE GRANT
APPLICATION TO THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FOR THE
SOUTH PORT, WASHINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD AND NORTH END AREAS
Whereas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administers the Brownfields
Multipurpose Grant Program to help communities revitalize brownfield properties; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque (City) has previously received a U.S. EPA Brownfields
Area -Wide Planning Grant to plan the transformation of the South Port into a new mixed-
use neighborhood; and
Whereas, City has undertaken the Imagine Dubuque 2037 comprehensive plan that
serves as a guide for the community's physical, social and economic development; and
Whereas, these planning efforts envision improved housing, better recreational
opportunities, infrastructure upgrades, and improved waterfront connectivity; and
Whereas, the U.S. EPA Brownfields Multipurpose Grant is designed to provide
financial assistance to meet these planning goals.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. The Mayor hereby is authorized to sign and the Project Manager is hereby
authorized to submit an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Brownfields Multipurpose Grant Program.
Section 2. That in the event said application is approved, the City Council hereby
provides its written assurance that the completed project will be adequately maintained for
its intended use in accordance with the grant requirements.
Passed, approved and adopted this 3rd day of June 2019.
/1:1
Attest:
Kevin . Firnstahl, City'Olerk
Roy D, Buol, Mayor