Title
Environmental Protection Agency for Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program FY 2020 (Ordinance S-46327)
Description
This report requests the City Council to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, accept, enter into an agreement, and disburse a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant, under the Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program FY 2020. Additionally request to authorize the City Controller to disburse the necessary funds. The deadline to submit the application is Feb. 26, 2020.
Report
Summary
Current emissions control technologies are available for solid waste fleet that can achieve near zero emissions. While the current diesel solid waste fleet complies with federal and state standards, the City can further reduce the fleet's environmental impact by continuing to convert trucks to those that feature ultra-low oxides of nitrogen CNG engines. The intent of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant program is to provide grant funding to assist in offsetting the cost of replacing higher polluting diesel emission engines with cleaner burning CNG engines to reduce harmful emissions. Reducing vehicle emissions from the municipal fleet will demonstrate the City's committment to lead by example toward the 2050 sustainability goal of clean air.
The EPA - Region 9 will administer the Federal DERA Grant Program. If awarded, funding will be provided to purchase new low emission fleet vehicles to replace old, higher-polluting fleet vehicles with 2020 models or newer.
Staff anticipates obtaining grant funds for the replacement of older vehicles with 2020 or newer models. The grant funds up to 35 percent of the new vehicle cost.
The application to EPA - Region 9 is due Feb. 26, 2020. The estimated project period for awards resulting from this solicitation is expected to begin on or about Jul. 1, 2020, with an expected project completion date of Jun. 30, 2022.
The Public Works Department was recently awarded a $1 million grant under the same DERA grant program for Fiscal Year 2019-20 and has initiated orders on the nine trucks being replaced. This new application would provide funding for up to an additional 10 trucks to be replaced in Fiscal Year 2020-21.
Contract Term
Up to two years beginning on or about July 1, 2020.
Financial Impact
The federal funds amount requested for this proposal is $1,204,000. If grant funds are awarded in full, the City would need to match up to $2,236,000 in funding. This match would be funded using the vehicle replacement fund in the Public Works Department budget.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Public Works Department.