Agenda Item # 2
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
October 14, 2008
Agenda Report # 322
TO: Mayor and Councilors
SUBJECT: Brownfields Assessment Grant
INITIATED BY: Department of Community Reinvestment
________________________________________________________________________________
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Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an application and if approved
accept a $200,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant from the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to amend the Mult-Governmental Fund
by the amount awarded.
Background: ?Brownfields? are defined as abandoned, idled or underutilized
industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is
complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination and financial
liabilities. Brownfields Assessment Grants provides fund to inventory,
characterize, assess, and conduct planning (including cleanup planning) and
community involvement related to brownfields sites. Site-specific proposals
are appropriate when a specific site has been identified and the applicant
plans to spend grant funds on this site only. The deadline for application
proposals is November 14, 2008.
Analysis: The City has identified a site-specific area in the Enterprise
Zone. Several parcels of property have been identified for acquisition. These
properties are potential brownfields sites. If awarded, this grant will
provide funding to assess these properties prior to purchase. The assessment
will allow the City to proceed with the acquisition as a more informed
purchaser and to better plan for clean-up, if necessary.
Financial Considerations: The grant amount requested is $200,000; however an
award of lesser amount may be awarded. No local match is required for this
grant. Receiving the award of this Grant will allow the City to apply for
additional funding for cleaning contaminated sites.
Recommendations: Approved the attached resolution to authorize the Columbus
Consolidated Government to make application to and accept from the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a Brownfields Assessment Grant in
the amount of $200,000.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT TO SUBMIT
AN APPLICATION AND IF APPROVED ACCEPT A $200,000 OR AMOUNT AWARDED BROWNFIELDS
ASSESSMENT GRANT FROM THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA).
WHEREAS, ?brownfields? are defined as abandoned, idled or underutilized
industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is
complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination and financial
liabilities; and,
WHEREAS, EPA?s Brownfields Program provides funds to empower states,
communities, tribes, and non-profits to prevent inventory, assess, clean up and
reuse of brownfields sites; and,
WHEREAS, Brownfields Assessment Grants provide funds to inventory,
characterize, assess, and conduct planning (including cleanup planning) and
community involvement related to brownfields sites; and,
WHEREAS, it has been determined to be in the best interest of the Consolidated
Government to apply for an assessment grant to assist in the redevelopment
activities in the Enterprise Zone.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager is hereby authorized to submit an application and if
approved accept a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency
for a Brownfields Assessment Grant in the amount of $200,000 and authorize to
amend the Multi-Governmental Fund by the amount awarded.
____________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the
_____day of ___________, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote
of ____members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Anthony voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Hunter voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_______________________________ ____________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Jim Wetherington, Mayor
Attachments
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