HomeMy WebLinkAbout4E, Motion to Authorize Staff to Apply for 2008 Smart Growth Tech Assistance
~
~HILLS
Request for Council Action
Prepared By:
Dept.:
Council Mtg. Date:
Final Action Needed By:
Noah A. Simon
Administration
April 28, 2008
April 28, 2008
Budgeted Amount:
Actual Amount:
Funding Source:
1994m?,j(A~~;ori'BeqGlisJ:
Motion to authorize staff to apply for the 2008 Smart Growth Technical Assistance program
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Motion to authorize staff to apply for the 2008 Smart Growth Technical Assistance program
:Supporting Documents: (attached)
X Memo/letter:
Resolution No.:
Ordinance No.:
Dated April 28, 2008 from Noah Simon
Engineering Recommendation:
Attorney Recommendation:
Other:
~
~HILLS
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
April 28, 2008
TO:
City Council
FROM:
Noah A. Simon, Assistant City Administrator
SUBJECT:
Motion to approve applying for the 2008 Smart Growth Technical
Assistance program
Requested Action
Authorize staff to apply for the 2008 Smart Growth Technical Assistance program.
Background
The Development, Community and Environment Division (DCED) in U.S. EPA's Office of
Policy, Economics and Innovation is seeking applications from communities that want to
develop or redevelop in ways that meet environmental and other goals. The TCAAP project
meets the criteria established. Successful applications will be provided direct technical
assistance from national experts on issues relating to the project. In discussions with staff and
the U.S. EP A, an application for technical assistance on assisting and facilitating discussion on
the issue of density through design, would be an appropriate application. This does not mean
that the density would increase, but merely expert technical assistance on what density could
look like and how smart and sustainable design could be used throughout the TCAAP project.
The application deadline is May 8. The cost to the City is staff time, participation and assistance
in organizing the meetings and discussions.
Information about the technical assistance is attached. The value of the technical assistance is
estimated to be between $30,000 and $50,000 worth of consulting.
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Smart Growth Online
A SERVICE OF THE SMART GROWTH NETWORK
Smart Growth Resource Library
Smart Growth Technical Assistance 2008 Request for Applications
The Development, Community and Environment Division (DeED) in U.S. EPA's Office of Policy Economics and
Innovation is seeking applications from states, regions, and communities that want to develop in ways that meet
environmental and other goals. EPA will provide technical assistance to successful applicants as described below.
Eligible entities are tribal, tocal, regional, and state governments and nonprofit organizations that have a demonstrated
partnership with a governmental entity. Development practices that reflect the principles of smart growth support
national environmental and public health goals by protecting sensitive watersheds, minimizing water quality impacts
from development, reducing air emissions by increasing transportation choices, lowering greenhouse gas emissions
through more compact development patterns, and encouraging clean-up and sustainable redevelopment of brownfields.
Smart growth is often characterized by a common set of principles:
. mix land uses;
. take advantage of compact building design;
. create a range of housing opportunities and choices;
. create walkable neighborhoods;
. foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place;
. preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas;
. strengthen and direct development towards existing communities;
. provide a variety of transportation choices;
. make development decisions predictable, fair and cost effective; and
. encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions.
The application deadline is May 8, 2008. Read more or download an application at the resource link below.
Resource: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/2008_sgia_rfa.htm
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SMART GRO\X"TH
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Smart Growth
http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/2008_sgia_rfa.htm
Last updated on Mondav, March 24th, 2008.
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F:'rQgrams Smart Growth
Applications (RFA)
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Smart.4ro.wth Implementation Assistqnce
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2008 Request for
Smart Growth Implementation Assistance 2008
Request for AlWlications (RFA)
The Development, Community and Environment Division (DCED) in U.S. EPA's Office of Policy
Economics and Innovation is seeking applications from states, regions, and communities that
want to develop in ways that meet environmental and other goals. EPA will provide technical
assistance to successful applicants as described below. Eligible entities are tribal, local,
regional, and state governments and nonprofit organizations that have a demonstrated
partnership with a governmental entity. Development practices that reflect the principles of
smart growth support national environmental and public health goals by protecting sensitive
watersheds, minimizing water quality impacts from development, reducing air emissions by
increasing transportation choices, lowering greenhouse gas emissions through more compact
development patterns, and encouraging clean-up and sustainable redevelopment of
brownfields. Smart growth is often characterized by a common set of principles:
. mix land uses;
. take advantage of compact building design;
. create a range of housing opportunities and choices;
. create walkable neighborhoods;
. foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place;
. preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and criticai environmental areas;
. strengthen and direct development towards existing communities;
. provide a variety of transportation choices;
. make development decisions predictable, fair and cost effective; and
. encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions.
For more information on smart growth, please visit the DCED web site at:
www.epa.gov/Sm<lrtgrowth.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNI1Y
Communities and states around the country are interested in fostering economic growth,
protecting their environmental resources, enhancing public health, extending the benefits of
community redevelopment to all citizens equitably, and planning for development, but they
may lack the tools, resources, or information to achieve these goals. In response to this
demand, EPA is offering direct technical assistance from national experts to communities and
states that want to incorporate smart growth techniques in their development. This
assistance from EPA is intended to help applicants overcome roadblocks by providing
evaluation tools and expert analysis.
EPA is soliciting applications from communities, regions, and state governments that want
assistance with either policy analysis or public participatory processes. Examples of project
ideas include, but are not limited to:
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. crafting policies that allow or encourage specific smart growth techniques (e.g.,
transit-oriented development; infill; redeveloping vacant properties, brownfields,
abandoned gas stations, etc.);
. reviewing state department of transportation investments to support smart growth;
. using smart growth to balance the goals of economic development and cultural
development through heritage preservation;
. analyzing plans, guidelines, criteria, or procedures for school investments;
. retrofitting a commercial corridor;
. coordinating communities' smart growth design with active aging programs;
. reviewing state, regional, or local investments and poiicies to support climate change
goals and more compact development;
. evaluating regional equity through access to healthy food and public transportation or
capacity building in underserved communities;
. analyzing a pending update to zoning codes;
. using smart growth to address BRAC-related challenges, including growing
populations, due to military realignment or closing of a local military facility;
. meeting a statutory deadline on stormwater ordinances;
. crafting a vision for reclaiming derelict property with the assistance of community
development corporations and youth-based housing rehabilitation programs; or
. reviewing subdivision regulations to support complete street networks and compact
development.
EPA is particularly interested in projects that seek to resolve challenges associated with
increasing the supply, quality, or accessibility of affordable (or workforce) housing in a smart
growth development context. While expanding housing choice is a core principle of smart
growth, the regulatory framework often inhibits the private market from producing a range of
housing types that would satisfy the needs of all income levels. Some communities have had
success addressing affordability challenges using smart growth approaches, thereby better
understanding the environmental, transportation, and fiscal impacts.. at the household and
community levels.. of different housing options. Projects that can use this assistance to
develop innovative, practical, and replicable solutions to these challenges will merit careful
consideration under criteria #4 (see below) from reviewers this year.
Selected communities or states will receive assistance in the form of a multi~day visit from a
team of experts organized by EPA and other national partners to work with local leaders. EPA
will provide this assistance through an Agency contract vehicle, not a grant. Team members
will be nationally known experts in disciplines to be determined by the community's unique
needs. Team visits consist of meetings with state or local staff to study the context and
specific project and discussions with elected officials, business leaders, citizen organizations,
and representatives of many different sectors. On the last day, the team presents preliminary
findings to the applicant and its leadership. After the visit, the team works with the applicant
to deliver a final report.
EPA plans to assist three to five communities in 2008. EPA anticipates announcing the
selected communities in fall of 2008 and working with the communities over a period of
twelve months. The lessons learned from these projects will be used to help other
communities with similar challenges.
EPA must receive applications by 5:00PM EST, Thursday, May 8th, 2008.
PREPARING THE APPLICATION
EPA will evaluate applications based on the criteria listed below. Project descriptions should
be detailed and clearly identify the challenge the community, region, or state agency is facing
and the specific activities that would be most helpful from the EPA~led team. The criteria
listed below will be used to do a preliminary review of the applications. Following this initial
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review, EPA will conduct conference calls with finalists. Conference calls will include the
applicant and major partners identified in the application. These calls will be used to further
evaluate the extent to which the applicant is successful in meeting the criteria. EPA will make
final selections following the completion of the conference calls.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
1. The applicant must be (1) a tribal, state, local, or regional government; or (2) an
incorporated nonprofit organization incorporated or domiciled in the United States or an
academic institution that has a demonstrated partnership with a governmental agency.
Applicants must be located in, and project activities must be conducted within, the United
States, Puerto Rico, or a territory or possession of the U.s.
2. Technical assistance will be provided to integrate the principles of smart growth into state
or local planning processes to promote infill development. The assistance must relate to
policy analysis or public participatory processes that will improve the overall climate for
brownfields redevelopment as well as revitalization of other infill sites.
DCED will not consider applications that have a principal purpose of providing training,
research, and technical assistance to individuals and organizations to facilitate the inventory
of brownfield sites, site assessments, remediation of brownfield sites, site preparation, or
community involvement associated with the c1ean~up, assessment, or inventory of brownfield
properties. EPA funds these types of projects only under the Office of Brownfields Cleanup
and Redevelopment's "Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants and
Cooperative Agreement Program."
We will consider applications for policy analysis or public participatory processes (as
illustrated by the bulleted list above) associated with the smart growth redevelopment of infill
generally in a city, county, state, or on tribal lands that includes brownfields sites as well as
other types of sites. However, community~involvement activities associated with the clean-
up, assessment, or inventory of individual brownfield sites are not eligible for funding under
this RFA.
3. The community, region, or state must have a demonstrated understanding of and
commitment to the principles of smart growth. Applicants should describe actions that the
community, region or state has taken to address the location and design of development,
regardless of whether they have been successful. EPA is looking for applicants that have
already learned about the principles of smart growth and now want implementation
assistance.
4. The community, region, or state must clearly be facing a development-related challenge,
whether it involves growth pressures, affordable housing needs, attracting more
development, or planning for the future, and must have identified opportunities for changing
the way it handles growth. The application should include a discussion of growth conditions in
the area of interest, as well as assets and challenges to implementing smart growth
practices. The application should also specify the type of assistance (policy analysis or public
participatory processes) being requested and how it will be applied.
5. The application must have a specific, clearly defined project, and there must be a clear
role for a team to assist with policy analysis or public participation. Applicants must describe
the project; discuss how it relates to local, regional, or state growth; describe partnerships in
place to help make the project succeed; and explain how its success would affect the
applicant's environmental, social, and economic health. EPA will work with each selected
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applicant to develop a detailed statement of work to ensure that the contract support
maximizes the expert assistance available to the community, region, or state.
6. The applicant must be able to demonstrate how it anticipates using the results from the
EPA-led team to implement changes at the local, regional, or state level. The applicant should
also describe the authority that it has to implement any changes and the steps necessary to
implement design or policy options developed through the project.
7. The applicant must form a team to work with the EPA-Ied expert team and to follow up on
the technical assistance. This team should include representatives from relevant sectors,
including government, business, public interest groups, civic associations, and individual
citizens. The team will be responsible for working with the EPA-team pre~ and post~site visit
and working with the applicant to ensure all appropriate stakeholders are represented in the
assistance.
As a proponent of collaborative environmental problem solving, EPA supports meaningful
public involvement, especially among underserved populations or non~traditional
stakeholders. Applicants are encouraged to reach beyond political and professional
stakeholders and target faith-based groups, parents, senior citizens, schools, retirement
centers, and community service organizations when forming their team.
Applicants should submit letters of support and participation from the principal partners on
the team, signed by an individual who can commit the organization to the project. The EPA-
led team will be on site for only a few days. The applicant and its partners must carry out the
bulk of the work and must have the dedication and vision to succeed. Applicants must also
specify the staff who will work on this project before and during the team visit and during the
follow-up.
8. Elected officials - mayors, county commissioners, city council members, state agency
directors, etc. - must support this project and be committed to its success. The response to
this request for applications will require a letter of support from the primary elected official in
the community, as well as a list of other elected officials who support it. If a state agency is
applying, this letter should be from the agency head or elected official who will have
responsibility for carrying out the project.
9. Although this assistance will be free to the applicant, communities, regions, and states
that show commitment through partnerships, such as local government staff time, support
from local businesses, and other local resources, will have priority in the selection process.
Matching funds from the applicant will allow greater use of the expert team for the selected
project. Applicants should include a list of supporters and describe any previous
collaborations on growth and development issues, if applicable. Applicants should also
mention any potential matching funds and other technical assistance programs or grants for
which they may be applying.
SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
To be considered complete and eligible for review, all applications must include a summary
page, cover letter, project description, letter of support from the community's main elected
official or agency decision official, and documentation of partner participation. All parts of the
application must be submitted together. The following format is required:
SuInmarYIJage (no IQnger!han one page)
The summary page should include the project title, contact information for the project
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manager, type of assistance requested (policy analysis or public participation processes), and
an abstract of the project. If a nonprofit organization or academic institution is submitting the
application, then the name and contact information for the governmental partner must also
be provided.
{;QlleL lej:ter(dQ~snot CQunti'l9i'linstpi'lgelimit)
The cover letter that accompanies your application must be signed by an official with the
authority to commit your government, agency, or organization to the project and should be
written on your official letterhead.
PrQjectdescriptiQn (no longer thi'ln..5 pi'lge sides)
The request for assistance must describe the project clearly and specifically. The narrative
must provide a concise overview of the project, including how it ties into larger issues of local
or regional growth and how EPA assistance will support the project. The description must
detail support for action and resources (e.g., staff time, support from business, cost~sharing,
etc.) that the applicant's team will bring to the project. The narrative must also address how
the application meets each of the criteria and what environmental results the applicant
expects. If other project partners or funding sources are involved, their role and contribution
must be clearly defined. In reviewing the project description, reviewers will not consider any
pages over the 5-page~side limit. Project descriptions must use no smaller than 10-point type
and should have page margins all i'lround of at least one inch.
Letter of support from elected officii'll (notincluded in page limit)
Applicants must include a letter of support from the primary elected official in the community
(e.g., mayor, county commission chair). If the applicant is a state government agency, the
letter should be from the head of the agency or an elected official. Also include a list of other
stakeholders who support the project; letters from these people are not required. Please
include these materials with the application.
P"-clJm entation of. Pi'l rtneLPilrticiRatiQn{n9J:io.Q.Y.<:l~j:!jD_Qg.9e..1iI!11t)
Applicants should include letters of support from the principal partners in the local team that
will be assisting the EPA-Ied team and directing follow-up activities. Please include these
letters with the application. Principal partners will be expected to participate in a conference
call for the finalists.
EPA must receive applications by 5:00PM EST, Thursday, May 8, 2008. No late
applications will be accepted. Applicants must submit one original and four copies of their full
application. All applications must be submitted in accordance with the requirements
described above. No fax submissions will be accepted. Postmarks or meters will not be
considered sufficient documentation of on~time delivery.
If you are sending your application via hand delivery (e.g., UPS, Federal Express, courier, or
some other means) send it to:
Deloris Wingo-Huntley
Development, Community and Environment Division
U.s. Environmental Protection Agency
1301 Constitution Ave. NW
EPA West Building, Room 1408
Washington, DC 20004
202-566~2862
If you are mailing your application, send it to:
http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/2008__sgia_rfa.htm
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Deloris Wingo-Huntley
Development, Community and Environment Division
U.5. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Mail Code 1807T
Washington, DC 20460
Please note that there may be substantial delays in conventional mail service to EPA due to
heightened security screening.
If you have questions about this solicitation, please contact:
Brett VanAkkeren
vana kkeren. brett@epa,gov
202-566-2865
or
Kevin Nelson
nelson.keyJn@eRi'l.gQY
202-566-2835
http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowtb/2008_sgia_rfa.htm
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