Title
Authorization to Apply for Grant Funds for Temporary Electric Vehicle Program Fellow Staff Position
Description
Request City Council authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, and, if successful, accept and disburse grant funds from Catena Foundation, to fund a temporary Electric Vehicle Program Fellow staff position for a period of two years. The recommendation includes a request for authorization to spend any residual amount over and above the amount required to fully offset salary and benefit costs as program costs for marketing materials and events.
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 the uptake Electric Vehicles and other sustainable modes of transportation by funding an Electric Vehicle Program Fellow to advance programs currently being developed in the Office of Sustainability. These programs include a public electric vehicle buying program, similar to the one piloted in 2018 in the Office of Sustainability, an electric vehicle education and awareness program in partnership with Arizona Public Service (APS), Salt River Project (SRP) and the Arizona Electric Vehicle Association, and a program to expand the network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure to be done in partnership with City departments.
The Catena Foundation has invited the City of Phoenix to submit an application for $240,000 to support a new two-year temporary fellow. Both utilities, APS and SRP, along with the Arizona Electric Vehicle Association are fully supportive of this dedicated role given the need for thoughtful integration with other transportation systems and the need for greater public education and awareness.
Today there are thirty-four electric vehicle models on the market with over a dozen new longer-range models planned for release in 2020. Given the rapidly growing uptake of electric vehicles and ongoing need to improve local air quality, which could be greatly impacted by expanded use of electric vehicles, this dedicated role is timely.
Contract Term
The grant would likely be awarded in the fall of 2019 and extend through the end of 2021.
Financial Impact
The grant would be for $120,000 per year, with the majority of funds covering salary and benefits for the fellow position, with any residual funding going toward the programs managed by the position. No matching funds are required. Grant funds will be managed through the Office of Sustainability.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Transportation, Infrastructure, and Innovation Subcommittee recommended approval of this item by a vote of 4-0 at its Sept. 4, 2019 meeting.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Office of Sustainability.