To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Participation in Grant application to the Bay Area Air District from their Local Community Benefits Fund for Benicia and Surrounding Communities
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to participate as a co-applicant in applying for and accepting, if awarded, a grant of up to $1.2 million from the Bay Area Air District Reinvesting Penalties for Air Improvement and Resilience grant program to develop with The Watershed Project, the lead applicant, an environmental stewardship academy benefiting designated eligible communities from Rodeo to Pittsburg.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% Grant funds. The Opportunity grant has a maximum award of $5,000,000. The Watershed Project will apply for up to $1.2 million. These funds will be allocated between the lead applicant, The Watershed Project, and the County as described in detail below. The allocation to the County would be $315,000 and includes administrative costs. No County matching funds are required.
BACKGROUND:
The Bay Area Air District (Air District) adopted the Community Benefits Penalty Funds Policy to directly support communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution. Penalty funds and other funds from enforcement actions are administered through the Bay REPAIR (Reinvesting Penalties for Air Improvement and Resilience) program and are allocated to the Local Community Benefits Fund or the Regional Community Benefits Fund. The Local Community Benefits Fund reinvests back in the specific community affected by the air quality violations that led to the penalty. The Local Community Benefits Fund may also invest mitigation funds that are more limited in their scope. The Local Community Benefits Fund Program Goals are to:
? Reduce air pollution or mitigate its impacts, improve public hea...
Click here for full text