Department of Community Development
Reference: Support for 2023 USEPA Brownfield Assessment Grant Application
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of City Council
Through: Michael P. Martinez, City Manager
Prepared By: Mike Tylka, AICP, Assistant Director of Community Development
Date Prepared: November 4, 2022
PURPOSE:
To secure a resolution of support for a City of Brighton grant application for a 2023 United States Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) Brownfield Assessment Grant (“Grant”).
STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS:
● Strong Local Employment Opportunities
● Recognizable and Well-Planned Community
● Innovative, Data-Driven, Results-Focused Government
● Financially Responsible
● Strategic, Supportable Infrastructure
● Strong Regional Relationships and Partnerships
● Sustainability
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this Grant is to assess environmental conditions of public and/or private properties located within the City of Brighton. Assessment grants provide funding for a grant recipient to inventory, characterize, assess, conduct a range of planning activities, develop site specific cleanup and redevelopment plans, and conduct community involvement related to brownfield sites. Per the USEPA, “A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” Community-Wide Assessment Grants are capped at a maximum of $500,000 for use over a four-year grant period with no match required or anticipated.
City staff is working in partnership with staff from the Brighton Urban Renewal Authority (“BURA”) and the Brighton Economic Development Corporation (“EDC”) on the Grant application. If awarded, staff has identified the Brighton Chamber of Commerce and the Brighton Housing Authority (“BHA”) as additional potential community partners. If awarded, property owners anywhere within the City would have the ability to seek funding from the Grant award for the aforementioned activities. Staff is focusing on the North Main Corridor in the application narrative as an example area in need. A catalyst site in this area could be the “Cannery” site at 238 N. Main Street. Staff identified this Grant as one worth applying for as, if awarded, it could provide direct positive impacts for Brighton’s businesses and property owners. A major goal of the Grant is to help get current underutilized properties back to a state where they are contributing to the locale’s economy and tax rolls (revitalization).
The Grant application is due on November 22, 2022, and the City will be notified with the results of the selection process in late Spring of 2023.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff is recommending approval of the attached resolution.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION:
Approve, amend, or deny the proposed resolution.
ATTACHMENTS:
● Proposed Resolution