Submitted By
Ahmad M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager / Interim Director of Development Customer Services
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Metro Strategies Group, LLC to Provide Grant Services in an Amount Not to Exceed $100,000 for a One (1) Year Term and Authorizing its Execution
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Overview
Overview
It is requested that the Village Board authorize and approve the execution of the Professional Services Agreement with Metro Strategies Group, LLC to provide grant services.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution.
Background
On February 6, 2023, the Village Board directed Staff to pursue additional grant writing capacity. On May 15, 2023, the Board authorized a Fiscal Year 2023 Budget amendment in the amount of $100,000 to procure external grant development external services.
Staff issued a request for proposals and received two proposals. A proposal review team, consisting of Staff from the Village Manager’s Office, Office of Sustainability and Resilience, Public Works, and Development Customer Service reviewed both proposals and requested supplemental materials, and interviewed both proposers. The Metro Strategies Group proposal indicates depth of experience, familiarity with Oak Park and other northeastern Illinois municipalities, and is within the expenditure threshold established by the budget amendment.
Grant services will be made available to all Village departments. The grant services consultant will be managed by the Village Manager’s Office, and interface with an interdepartmental staff team.
Fiscal Impact
Funding for this $100,000 expenditure exists in the FY 2023 Budget within Account # 1001.41020.101.530667 (VMO - External Support).
DEI Impact
The interrelated issues of climate change and biodiversity loss disproportionately adversely impact several marginalized communities, including people of color, low-income individuals, individuals with disabilities, children, older adults, and individuals with limited proficiency in the dominant language.
Climate Ready Oak Park, adopted by the Board in 2022, includes two equity-centered commitments:
1. Direct forty percent of the public climate and sustainability dollars to the most vulnerable.
2. Partner with the most impacted to create climate and sustainability policies and programs.
By procuring support to acquire large, impactful external grant support, the Village can advance its equity goals to direct necessary and sufficient resources to those community members and neighborhoods which are most in need of Village investments. Furthermore, staff plans to engage impacted populations in any physical installation, programs or policy changes that result from participating in this initiative.
Alternatives
Seek more information from staff or not adopt the Resolution.
Previous Board Action
The Village Board adopted the Climate Ready Oak Plan on August 1, 2022. The Village Board heard recommendations from the OPCAN community group and provided direction to Village staff on February 6, 2023.
The Village Board approved the Fiscal Year 2023 budget amendment request on May 15, 2023.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Upon approval of the Resolution, staff will execute the professional services agreement with the selected vendor.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
Intergovernmental partners can be notified of grant opportunities as identified by the Village’s grant services consultant.