Title
Authorization to Apply for Grant from Phoenix IDA Community Development Fund to Develop and Implement HeatReady Phoenix (Ordinance S-45780)
Description
Request authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for and accept funding of up to $50,000 from the Phoenix IDA Community Development Fund to support the development and implementation of HeatReady Phoenix. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
In early 2018, Phoenix was named one of 35 Champion Cities in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge (out of 320 applicant cities) to develop solutions to the most pressing problems facing cities. Phoenix identified rising urban temperatures as such a problem and HeatReady Phoenix as the proposed solution to help the City identify, prepare for, mitigate, track and respond to the dangers of rising urban temperatures, with a focus on low-income communities, people of color and seniors.
On April 9, 2019, City Council unanimously approved the continuing development and implementation of HeatReady Phoenix and its associated projects. Current projects include: We're Cool, which connects low-income and transit dependent residents with cooling centers and heat safety support during times of extreme heat; Community Tree Shade, a volunteer project that supports residents in the planting and maintaining of trees in neighborhoods with less than five percent shade cover; and Manufactured Shade, a project that aims to remove barriers to installing manufactured shade structures that impede the right-of-way.
The City is continuing to partner with Arizona State University and Maricopa County Department of Public Health to provide research, evaluation and metrics expertise and support. Requested funding will be used to purchase trees and supplies, prototyping and outreach materials, surveys and data support, and supplement administrative support.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
On April 9, 2019, City Council unanimously approved the continuing development and implementation of HeatReady Phoenix projects.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Chief Service Officer.