Submitted By
Bill McKenna, Village Engineer/Assistant Public Works Director
Reviewed By
A.M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Approving the Village of Oak Park’s Climate Ready Rainscapes Grant Program Beginning in 2025
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Overview
Overview
The Village worked with GreenPrint Partners to revise the Rainscapes grant program (previously named RainReady) to be more efficient for staff and consultants, make it more customer friendly, and include equity considerations. The Engineering Division recommends approval of the redesigned program for implementation starting in 2025. The grant program offers 50% reimbursement up to $2,00 to homeowners for projects such as rain gardens, permeable pavers, cisterns, de-paving projects, etc. The professional services agreement for the administration of the program is being presented as a separate agenda item at tonight’s meeting.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution.
Background
The Climate Ready Rainscapes program promotes and implements projects that reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality on private properties. The grant program offers 50% reimbursement up to $2,00 to homeowners for projects such as rain gardens, permeable pavers, cisterns, de-paving projects, etc. These green infrastructure projects are important in Oak Park because several areas in the Village experience urban flooding. When rainfall lands on impervious surfaces such as roofs, driveways, and patios, it creates stormwater runoff and overwhelms the sewer system, and causes flooding. In contrast, green infrastructure solutions allow rainwater to soak into the ground where it is filtered and can replenish groundwater.
Between late 2016 and 2020, staff worked with the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) to design and administer this program. The grant program was suspended in early 2021 due to a lack of a consultant to oversee the program.
GreenPrint Partners was selected in 2024 as the Village’s consultant to redesign the existing grant program and to administer a revised grant program. The redesigned program incorporates recommendations from the previous program. The improvements include:
• An efficient program workflow to minimize both staff time and the consultant’s administration cost
• The Village will develop a pre-approved contractor list for homeowners to aid in their selection process. Pre-approved contractors will complete a 1-hour online training developed specifically for the Rainscapes program.
• Income-qualified homeowners (under 80% of household area median income) will receive additional support throughout the process. The Village will pay the contractor directly for the grant amount instead of having the homeowner paying the full cost and then requesting reimbursement. The consultant will also provide increased technical support in securing the contractor and providing guidance throughout the construction process. Income-qualified applicants will also be prioritized if the number of applications exceeds grant funds, with a target of reaching 40% of the grant funds towards income-qualified homeowners.
• GreenPrint Partners completed mapping and analysis to identify priority areas for program outreach. The mapping incorporated climate and social factors from the Climate Ready Oak Park Existing Conditions and Vulnerability Assessment.
GreenPrint Partners will manage and administer the program, and the Neighborhood Services Department will provide limited support including scofflaw review and coordination with GreenPrint as needed.
Fiscal Impact
The FY25 Budget includes $100,000 in the Water & Sewer Fund, Sewer Collection, Capital Improvements account no. 504.43750.781.570707 for the Rainscapes grant program which will be used for administering and funding the grant program.
Should the Village Board award an agreement in the amount of $52,000 with GreenPrint Partners, there will be $48,000 available for grant awards, which will fund up to 24 grants to homeowners. Grants are proposed to fund up to 50% of eligible approved project costs with a not to exceed grant amount of $2,000 per individual property.
DEI Impact
The 2025 recommended Rainscape grant program currently does not have an equity component for providing additional grant funding for income-qualified homeowners. Should the Village Board adopt a comprehensive equity policy related to Village-funded grant programs for income-qualified properties, this grant program would follow any adopted policies.
The proposed grant program does include equity considerations for income-qualified homeowners (under 80% of household area median income) who will receive additional support throughout the process. The Village will pay the contractor directly for the grant amount instead of having the homeowner paying the full cost and then requesting reimbursement. The consultant will also provide increased technical support in securing the contractor and providing guidance throughout the construction process. Income-qualified applicants will also be prioritized if the number of applications exceeds grant funds, with a target of reaching 40% of the grant funds towards income-qualified homeowners.
Alternatives
The alternative to this recommendation could be to increase the grant award amount to income-qualified homeowners. For example, income-qualified homeowners receive 100% of the project cost, up to $4,000 maximum, or income-qualified homeowners receive 80% of the project cost, up to $3,200 maximum.
Previous Board Action
On May 21, 2024, the Village Board approved a Professional Services Agreement with GreenPrint Partners to redesign the RainReady Grant Program in the amount of $60,500.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
The Environment & Energy Commission reviewed the proposed program design on November 18, 2024, and their feedback has been incorporated into the program design.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
None at this time.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A.