Title
Request to Increase the Community Enhancement Program Award Cap
Body
RECOMMENDED ACTION (Motion):
Staff recommends that the Enhancement Grant Program Committee increase the Program award cap from $25,000 to $50,000.
BACKGROUND:
Oregon City and Metro entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) in 1988 for the Metro Enhancement Grant Program. Through this IGA, Metro collects community enhancement fees at the Metro South Transfer Station and the City administers the program though a committee. From 1988 to June 30, 2015, Metro has provided the City with the collected community enhancement fee of $0.50 per ton of solid waste going into the Transfer Station. On July 1, 2015, the collected fee was increased to $1.00 per ton, of which the City has been a recipient. With the increase of $1.00 per ton, the City will be advertising available funding of $350,000 for 2018 grant awards.
Due to a variety of reasons, there have been several requests from community members to raise the cap of individual grant awards from $25,000 to $50,000. These reasons include the needed capacity for larger projects, the increase of collection from $0.50 per ton to $1.00 per ton and the increased cost of construction since the time the $25,000 cap was initiated.
The City will advertise for the next grant cycle once an award cap is determined by the Enhancement Grant Program Committee.
BUDGET IMPACT:
Amount: $350,000
FY(s): 18/19
Funding Source: Community Enhancement Program