National League of Cities Leadership in Community Resilience Grant Copyrighted
December 21, 2020
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 19.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: National League of Cities Leadership in Community Resilience Grant
Application Letter of Support
SUM MARY: City Manager recommending approval for Mayor Buol to sign a letter of
support to the National League of Cities Leadership in Community
Resilience grant program.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File;Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
NLC Letter of Support-MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Letter of Support from Mayor Buol Supporting Documentation
Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: National League of Cities Leadership in Community Resilience Grant
Application Letter of Support
DATE: December 16, 2020
Sustainable Community Coordinator Gina Bell recommends City Council approval for
Mayor Buol to sign a letter of support to the National League of Cities Leadership in
Community Resilience grant program.
The project proposes gathering data related to barriers to increase energy efficiency in
rental housing stock throughout Dubuque. The project selected addresses equity,
sustainability, and resiliency, while providing job opportunities and work experience for
youth. Additionally, the work directly supports the 50% by 2030 Community Climate
Action and Resiliency Plan. The result will guide future engagements with frontline
communities and help to move forward climate action in our City. A letter of support
from the Mayor is required as a part of the grant application. There is no budget impact.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gina Bell, Sustainable Community Coordinator
Dubuque
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TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gina Bell, Sustainable Community Coordinator
DATE: December 14, 2020
RE: National League of Cities Leadership in Community Resilience Grant Application Letter
of Support
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request Council approval of a letter of support to the National League
of Cities Leadership in Community Resilience grant program.
BACKGROUND
The National League of Cities (NLC) 2020 Leadership in Community Resilience (LCR) grant program
is seeking applications from cities across the U.S. focused on building and enhancing climate
resilience in their communities. Eight cities will be selected to participate in a yearlong cohort in 2021
and will receive $10,000 in pass through grants, access to program partners and services, and
professional development opportunities.
The Teen Resiliency Corps (TRC)was formed as a part of an Urban Sustainability Directors Network
(USDN) Rapid Response grant awarded to the City of Dubuque in July of 2020. For the past six
months, the City's Sustainability Department has partnered with the Multicultural Family Center's
(MFC) staff and teens to pilot this program. Teens who graduated from the Summer Teen
Empowerment Program were invited to apply to the TRC, were selected and trained. Working with
adult mentors, the teens canvassed their neighborhoods and discussed issues related to COVID-19,
sustainability, city services and broadband access. The TRC built relationships through conversation,
door-to-door visits, asking questions, and delivering local food, while offering opportunities to impact
neighborhood resiliency. As the program wrapped up, both staff and teens expressed interest in
continuing to build the program.
While still in its initial phase, the Housing and Community Development Department's Housing
Inspectors have been discussing ways to survey rental housing stock to determine where energy
efficiencies could be made.
DISCUSSION
Building on the success of the program pilot, we plan to further develop this program using funding
and technical support provided by the NLC LCR grant program. It will serve to both build the program
structure, as well as continue the work of canvassing Dubuque's frontline communities. In partnership
with the Housing Department inspectors, we plan to support their efforts using the Teen Resiliency
Corps model. The project proposes gathering data related to barriers to increase energy efficiency in
rental housing stock throughout Dubuque. The project selected addresses equity, sustainability, and
resiliency, while providing job opportunities and work experience for youth. Additionally, the work
directly supports our 50% by 2030 Community Climate Action and Resiliency Plan.
The result will guide future engagements with frontline communities and help to move forward climate
action in our City. A letter of support from the Mayor is required as a part of the grant application.
BUDGETIMPACT
There is no budget impact.
REQUESTED ACTION
I respectfully request City Council approve the letter of support for the application and request Mayor
Buol's signature to move the grant process forward.
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December 15, 2020
To Whom It May Concern:
As Mayor and on behalf of my City Council colleagues and the residents and business of
Dubuque, I am pleased to offer this letter of support for Dubuque's application for a National
League of Cities 2020 Leadership in Community Resilience grant.
In the late 1970s, Dubuque was struggling. The economic recession of that period impacted
Dubuque particularly hard, resulting in the highest unemployment rate in the nation. Through
strong public-private partnerships, citizen engagement and shared vision, Dubuque has worked
to become a more sustainable,resilient, and equitable community. Sustainability has been a top
City Council priority since 2006.
Earlier this year, we updated our 50%by 2030 Community Climate Action and Resiliency Plan
to advance racial equity in this work, and we continue to strive to address racial and social
inequities within our government operations and decision-making processes. We recognize that
in order for Dubuque to be resilient, we need our most impacted residents to have the tools
needed to build resiliency. We see this grant program as a great opportunity and advance the
Teen Resiliency Corps work we've started and to continue to build resiliency in our
neighborhoods.
Should you have any questions,please feel free to contact myself or Gina Bell, Sustainability
Coordinator at bg ellna,cityofdubuque.org or 563.690.6038.
Best regards,
Roy D. Buol
Mayor
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork