Submitted By
Marcella Bondie Keenan, Chief Sustainability Officer
Reviewed By
A.M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager
Agenda Item Title
Title
An Ordinance to Amend the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget to Procure External Support Grant Development Services
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Overview
Overview
Pursuant to the February 6, 2023, OPCAN presentation and Village Board discussion on funding of the Climate Ready Oak Park Plan (ID 23-01), this Ordinance amends the Fiscal Year 2023 budget to add $100,000 to procure external support to the VMO budget for grant development services.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Ordinance.
Background
Staff evaluated the recommendations made by the ‘Oak Park Climate Action Network’ (OPCAN) at the February 6, 2023, Village President and Board of Trustees meeting and subsequent email dated February 26, 2023, concerning additional grant writing capacity.
Based on the Board discussion during the February 6th meeting, and subsequent staff discussion, we concur with the recommendation to add grant writing capacity. Staff recommends contracting in FY 2023 for external grant services (i.e., prospecting, development, and administration) for all Village departments, with an emphasis on pursuing federal grant funding for climate action.
Fiscal Impact
Account GL string 1001.41020.101.530667 VMO External Support
Expenditure: $100,000
This will be paid for by drawing down General Fund Reserves
DEI Impact
The interrelated issues of climate change and biodiversity loss disproportionately adversely impacts 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 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 plan 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. Not adopt the Ordinance.
Previous Board Action
The Village Board adopted the Climate Ready Oak Park 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.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
The Environment & Energy Commission offered recommendations for the Climate Ready Oak Park plan in a series of meetings throughout 2021 and 2022.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Upon approval of the resolution, staff will select a qualified vendor to provide the requested services, through the established Village procurement process.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
Intergovernmental partners can be notified of grant opportunities as identified by the Village’s grant services consultant.