Item:
Title
Approval Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 21BCC000091 to Recognize $188,000 in Grant Revenue from The City of Durham to Soil and Water Department and Increase the Expenses to Implement the Southeastern Sustainability Community Fund Project
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: March 8, 2021
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve budget amendment No. 21BCC000091 recognizing $188,000 in grant revenue from the City of Durham to the Soil and Water Department increase the expenses to collaborate with the City of Durham on a Southeast Sustainable Communities Fund (SSCF) grant. The project's primary goals are to address climate change by reducing stormwater runoff, streambank erosion, and flooding in low-income neighborhoods in the Ellerbe Creek Watershed of Durham and improving energy and water efficiency in homes in these same neighborhoods. The proposed project will install stormwater mitigation measures such as downspout disconnections, cisterns, rain gardens on homes and properties, and planting trees and stabilizing streambanks along streams that are vulnerable to erosion and flooding. It will weatherize homes in those same neighborhoods, install water-saving devices, and provide homeowners with information about available incentives for further energy savings. An important secondary goal is to provide disadvantaged students with an opportunity to learn green infrastructure job skills through participation in the Bionomic Education Training Center (BETC) program and job shadowing with Rebuilding Together of the Triangle staff.
The Soil and Water Department requests that the BOCC approve the Draft MOU (attached to this budget amendment) with the City of Durham for the $188,000 to be used as outlined in the grant request (see attached final grant document & budget). In summary, $100,800 would be allocated to the Durham Public Schools Career & Technical Education to pay for extended employment contracts for teachers to supervise the BETC STEM program implementation and provide students with stipends. $30,000 would be used to purchase supplies and materials; $57,200 would be allocated to the Department for Contract services for Best Management Practices(BMPs) implementation.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: The requests align with Goal 1, Goal 3, Goal 4, and Goal 5.
Resource Persons: Michael Dupree, Agribusiness & Environmental Services Manager, Eddie Culberson, Director Soil and Water Conservation Department
County Manager's Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board approve this budget amendment No. 21BCC000091 recognizing $188,000 grant revenue from the City of Durham to Soil and Water Department and increase the expenses to implement the Southeastern Sustainability Community Fund Project.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________