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 selecte...
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