ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with a Request to APPROVE and to Authorize the City Manager to Execute an AGREEMENT Between the City of Peoria and FRESH COAST CAPITAL, LLC Under the United States Department of Agriculture Conservation Innovation Grant for the Installation of Absorptive Landscapes.
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BACKGROUND: Fresh Coast Capital, LLC (Fresh Coast), with the support of City and other parties, was awarded a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grant (the Grant) in the amount of $940,800 to install absorptive plant and tree-based landscapes that also generate revenue and create community engagement opportunities. These installations may include stormwater tree farms and harvestable microenterprise (agriculture and/or native floriculture) rain gardens on vacant City-owned and/or right-of-way land.
The primary goals that the City and Fresh Coast intend to achieve with the implementation of this Agreement are to establish and develop one or more pilot projects pursuant to the Grant which will provide guidelines for additional projects in the City and elsewhere. In addition, there may be additional, ancillary benefits from this Agreement such as:
• Address issues with blight and maximize the productivity of vacant and underutilized real estate;
• Generate positive economic, environmental and social improvements for Peoria by developing productive land reuse projects;
• Engage in regular dialogue with Peoria stakeholders to foster project alignment with Peoria’s goals.
The proposed installations augment the City’s proposed green infrastructure strategy to control combined sewer overflows. The City’s Innovation Team was instrumental in our support and participation in this agreement and grant.
The local Gifts in the Moment (Gitm) Foundation will partner with Fresh Coast, leveraging Gitm’s existing urban agriculture training and management program designs to create a specific design for this program. Fresh Coast and AKRF (engineering consultant to Fresh Coast) will also leverage and modify the process employed by AKRF to train local youth in Philadelphia to maintain green stormwater infrastructure. These models will be integrated to ensure both the effectiveness of the green infrastructure and the success of micro-enterprise.
Attachments to this communication include the Agreement and exhibits.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: No payments will be exchanged between Fresh Coast and the City as part of this agreement. Instead, the City will provide in-kind grant support of approximately $16,000 in engineering staff time (paid with sewer funds), and the City will provide the use of the right-of-way and/or City-owned public property.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Fresh Coast or its team members will work with the City to identify community stakeholders to be consulted in an advisory capacity with the purpose of aligning projects with the goals and needs of the community and Peoria’s priorities. Fresh Coast or its team members will share information and solicit community input on its goals, strategies and projects through community meetings that it either organizes or participates in. Fresh Coast or its team members will create marketing materials under the Grant requirements. Whenever possible, Fresh Coast will share these materials with the City to route updates and documents through existing marketing channels for community outreach.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The grant work will move forward.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The grant funds could be in jeopardy.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City Government, Effective City Organization
2. Attractive Neighborhoods with Character: Safe and Livable
3. Grow Peoria: Businesses, Jobs, and Population
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Invest in our infrastructure and transportation.
2. Support sustainability.
3. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
DEPARTMENT: Public Works.