Title
Request to Apply for and Accept Grant Funds for Temporary Regional Electric Vehicle Program Administrator Position, Create Temporary Position, and Enter Related Contracts (Ordinance S-48817)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, and, if awarded, accept grant funds from Catena Foundation to fund a temporary Regional Electric Vehicle Program Administrator position (Job Code 08750 or similar) to coordinate regional planning efforts and build regional partnerships to apply for federal electric vehicle-related funding and other grant opportunities for a period of approximately two years. Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to create a temporary Regional Electric Vehicle Program Administrator position for the duration of the grant, if awarded. Further request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter related contracts to cover program costs such as marketing materials and events in an aggregate amount not to exceed $75,000. Additionally request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item. The total grant funds applied for will not exceed $300,000.
Report
Summary
The Catena Foundation, a philanthropic non-profit organization based in Colorado and affiliated with the Walton family, is interested in improving air quality in the region by encouraging uptake of electric vehicles and other sustainable modes of transportation by funding a regional Electric Vehicle Program Administrator position for up to two years. If Catena accepts the City's grant application, the position could catalyze regional efforts in applying for federal electric vehicle-related grant opportunities and support coordinated regional planning with other cities, utilities and stakeholders. Catena previously provided the City with funding for a two-year position for the current electric vehicle program manager role. This new funding would be a second round of support specific to supporting regional collaboration.
The Catena Foundation has invited the City of Phoenix to submit an application for up to $300,000 to support a new two-year position and regional planning program. Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project, along with other stakeholders in the region are supportive of this dedicated role given the need for thoughtful integration with other transportation systems and for the forthcoming federal competitive grants related to electric vehicles that will be prioritizing applications that demonstrate regional collaboration.
Contract Term
If successful, the grant would likely be awarded in the fall of 2022 and extend through the end of 2024. The temporary position would begin upon award of the grant and terminate with the expiration of the grant. The term of related contracts would begin no sooner than the award of the grant and terminate no later than the end of 2024.
Financial Impact
Although the actual amount of the grant is subject to the discretion of Catena, the initial grant being applied for is $300,000 to cover both the position and some anticipated program costs. No matching funds are required. Grant funds and the position will be managed through the Office of Sustainability.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Office of Sustainability.