DEPARTMENT: Office of Sustainability
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Douglas Melnick, Chief Sustainability Officer, AICP, CNU-A
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
An Ordinance ratifying the submission of a participation agreement, to the National League of Cities and authorizing the acceptance of up to $10,000.00 in grant funds to support a local resilience leadership event.
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance ratifying the submission of a participation agreement, to the National League of Cities and authorizing the acceptance of up to $10,000.00 in grant funds to support a local resilience leadership event.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The National League of Cities (NLC) is an American resource and advocacy organization dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. Working in partnership with the 49 state municipal leagues, NLC serves as a resource to and an advocate for the more than 19,000 cities, villages and towns it represents.
The Leadership in Community Resilience Program is intended to address the challenges and opportunities associated with local resilience initiatives. The goal of the pilot initiative is to provide technical assistance and professional development opportunities for ten communities across the country. These communities include Annapolis, MD; Des Moines, IA; Portland, ME; Providence, RI; Riverside, CA; San Antonio, TX; South Bend, IN; St Paul, MN; Tempe, AZ; and West Palm Beach, FL. The program aims to generate new insights related to the challenges and opportunities associated with local resilience initiatives and to make the cities more resilient in the face of climate change and extreme weather.
To ensure the success of this pilot program and help the 10 cities selected achieve their community's resilience goals, NLC will engage a Policy and Practice Exchange with other staff and elected leaders; provide financial support up to $10,000 for a local resilience leadership event; and invite an elected official to a second Resilient Cities Summit.
The project scope will focus on enhancing community resilience during social, economic, and environmental change, as well as furthering the implementation of the SA Tomorrow Plans through continued community engagement. The project will entail hosting a community workshop and developing educational materials for residents and stakeholders on the concept of resilience. Next steps and essential outcomes will be identified to build overall resilience throughout San Antonio.
ISSUE:
The City of San Antonio received an unsolicited invitation to participate in the NLC Leadership in Community Resilience Program along with $10,000 to support a local resilience leadership event. Due to a short timeframe for accepting participation, Office of Sustainability Chief Sustainability Officer agreed to participate in the program pending City Council approval. Participation in the Program will help continue the essential work of implementing the SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan.
The NLC grant fits into the implementation of SA Tomorrow as:
• Resilience is one of five cross cutting themes in the Sustainability Plan and the Comprehensive Plan and was identified as a high priority issue for the community.
• Outreach, education and engagement are crucial to the implementation and brand awareness of the SA Tomorrow Initiative.
ALTERNATIVES:
The funding provided by this grant supports the important work of implementing the SA Tomorrow Plans. Should City Council choose not to ratify the acceptance of this participation in the Leadership in Community Resilience Program and the acceptance of grant funds, it would limit implementation efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Office of Sustainability is requesting City Council to ratify the submission of the Participation Agreement and acceptance of $10,000 for a local resilience leadership event for a term beginning September 29, 2016 and ending July 31, 2017.
This grant does not require a cash match and there is no impact on the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an Ordinance authorizing the acceptance of funds totaling $10,000 along with the ratification of the submission of a participation agreement by the Office of Sustainability to continue to implement strategies in the adopted SA Tomorrow Plans.