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Home My WebLink About6.b. 2017 Metropolitan Council Green Infrastructure Pilot Grant Program Application EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Utility Commission Meeting: June 19, 2017 AGENDA ITEM: 2017 Metropolitan Council Green Infrastructure Pilot Grant Program Application AGENDA SECTION: New Business PREPARED BY: John Morast, Interim Public Works Director AGENDA NO. 6.b ATTACHMENTS: Application APPROVED BY: JM RECOMMENDED ACTION: None – informational Discussion ISSUE Water problems such as water quality, water quantity, and wastewater infrastructure issues facing the region today are often addressed as separate individual concerns and are not tied to other urban planning issues associated with land use, transit development, water infrastructure, and parks and green space. In response to the region’s water-related programs and the need to find innovative solutions that provide multiple benefits, the Metropolitan Council (Council) will implement a pilot green infrastructure grant program effective May 8, 2017. BACKGROUND Applications for the green infrastructure grant program must be received no later than July 17, 2017. Commissioner Demuth would like to discuss the application further. 2017 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION Water problems such as water quality, water quantity, and wastewater infrastructure issues facing the region today are often addressed as separate individual concerns and are not tied to other urban planning issues associated with land use, transit development, water infrastructure, and parks and green space. In response to the region’s water-related programs and the need to find innovative solutions that provide multiple benefits, the Metropolitan Council (Council) will implement a pilot green infrastructure grant program effective May 8, 2017. The Metropolitan Council is interested in working with communities to implement integrated solutions directed at solving our region’s water-related problems in ways that provide multiple benefits, maximize the extent of positive impacts, and are technically sound. Taking an integrated approach to solving water-related problems will mean thinking about all aspects of water impacting the areas when determining the best solutions for the situation. This approach promotes the concept of a community looking at wastewater issues, storm water issues, water supply issues together to determine the most efficient and cost effective way to address the issues to: • Protect the quality and quantity of the region’s water resources; • Prioritize the need for improving aging infrastructure; • Protect the economic vitality of the region, cities, and neighborhoods; and • Protect natural ecosystems and park systems. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to metropolitan area communities. The Council has $1,000,000 available for the pilot grant program. Grant(s) will be awarded on a competitive basis to metropolitan area communities. The number of communities receiving the grant will depend on the projects proposed. The Council may divide the $1,000,000 for this grant among multiple projects or it may select a single project to receive the full $1,000,000. THE COUNCIL WILL ENCOURAGE ALL SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO SOLICIT AND INCLUDE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES (MCUB) FIRMS IN GRANT FUNDED ACTIVITIES THAT MCUB FIRMS CAN PERFORM. THE COUNCIL WILL REQUIRE ALL GRANTEES TO REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF THESE EFFORTS. A LIST OF MCUB FIRMS IS AVAILABLE ON THE COUNCIL’S WEBSITE. APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN JULY 17th, 2017. Application Process • Applicants must be communities located in the seven-county metropolitan area. • Communities with have ten weeks to submit grant applications. • Metropolitan Council will notify applicant(s) of grant award(s) on or before August 31, 2017. • Successful applicants will be required to submit detailed project work plans and budgets which will be included as exhibits in the standard grant agreements. • The Council will encourage all successful applicants to solicit and include Metropolitan Council Underutilized Businesses (MCUB) firms in grant funded activities that MCUB firms 1 can perform. The Council will require grantees to report on the results of these efforts. A list of MCUB firms is available on the Council’s website. • No project expenses incurred before agreement execution will be eligible for reimbursement by the Metropolitan Council. • No payments will be made that would cause total compensation to exceed the total grant amount. Examples of water-related problem solutions eligible for funding include but are not limited to: • Private property mitigation of service lateral replacements and foundation drain and sump pump disconnections that reduce inflow and infiltration to our wastewater infrastructure • Water supply projects such as low flow plumbing fixture installations and irrigation management systems to help stretch water supplies • Installing low impact development projects that reduce the volume of stormwater and/or improve water quality • Utilizing green infrastructure to manage flooding, help to recharge our aquifers, and revitalize neighborhoods • Water reuse or other projects that diversify and stretch our water resources while fostering climate resilience • Deploying advanced technologies and projects that support multiple water benefits (such as fixing a wastewater issue while addressing a surface water issue) while reinforcing and improving decision-making on all levels Evaluation Criteria Proposals will be evaluated based on the extent and degree to which they identify or address the following criteria: • Multiple Benefits: Extent to which the proposed project: o Solves/addresses multiple regional or community water-related problems o Shows the connectedness of all water o Protects, maintains, or restores water quality and quantity • Extent of Impacts: Extent to which the proposed project: o Results in long-term benefits to the community or region o Positively impacts lower income areas • Technical Basis: Extent to which the proposed project: o Reflects technological knowledge, standards, and best practices o Measures impacts of solutions (beyond those required) • Project Timeline: o Readiness of the project to start o All projects need to be completed by December 31, 2019 The Grantee must be able to identify and quantify at a watershed level the water impacts and outcomes expected as a result of project implementation. If you have any questions, please contact Judy Sventek at judy.sventek@metc.state.mn.us or 651- 602-1156. 2 ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ Legal Name of Project Sponsor: Designated Project Representative: Mailing Address, E-Mail Address, & Telephone Number of Project Sponsor: Project Title: Total Project Cost: __________________________ Grant Request Amount: ______________________ How do you intend to identify and quantify at a watershed level the water impacts and outcomes expected to result from implementation of this project? What impacts do you expect? Project Summary (Provide a short description of the project, goals, objectives, budget, and project timeline.) (Continue on back, if necessary-please do not exceed four pages) 3