Label
ARPA Funds - Land Bank Transformative Brownfield Redevelopment Projects
Department of Economic Development
Brandon Sehlhorst (x1692)
Revised
Title
Authorizing the appropriation and expenditure of an amount not to exceed $7,574,152 from the Local Fiscal Recovery Fund for clean-up, demolition and redevelopment of brownfield sites; authorizing the Mayor to enter into an amended agreement with the Lucas County Land Bank for said purpose; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
The City of Toledo has been allocated $180.9 million through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to address the public health and economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the Toledo Recovery Plan, established under Ordinance 530-21, $6 million was initially allocated for the clean-up, demolition, and redevelopment of brownfield sites. Subsequently, Ordinance 605-22 authorized the appropriation and expenditure of $3,722,078 to the Lucas County Land Bank for these efforts on five sites.
With the State of Ohio's unprecedented investment in the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program and the Ohio Building and Site Revitalization Program, the City amended its Toledo Recovery Plan under Ordinance 444-23. This amendment reallocated $5,296,230 in ARPA funds to support brownfield redevelopment as matching funds for the City's grant applications to these state programs.
The City and the Lucas County Land Bank recognize the importance of collaboration to address environmental issues, protect public health and safety, and create new development opportunities. This partnership was formally strengthened through the First Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding, which highlights brownfield remediation as a key area of collaboration. Together, the City and the Land Bank have applied for several state grant programs aimed at transforming some of the most blighted buildings and under-utilized sites. So far, the Land Bank has secured $11,547,437 in state grants for eight significant brownfield redevelopment projects, all of which require a local funding match.
This ordinance seeks to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $7,574,152 in ARPA funding to the Lucas County Land Bank to support the clean-up, demolition, and redevelopment of eight key brownfield sites. Attached are detailed documents outlining the proposed investment and timeline for these transformative projects.
Summary
NOW THEREFORE Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the appropriation of $7,574,152 is authorized from the unappropriated balance of the Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to Account Code 2021-16400-5DEVELOPMTNEI and the expenditure of same is authorized for providing funding to the Lucas County Land Bank for clean-up, demolition and redevelopment of eight transformative brownfield redevelopment projects.
SECTION 2. That the Mayor is authorized to enter into an amended agreement with the Lucas County Land Bank for the purposes authorized in Section 1, upon terms and conditions consistent with American Rescue Plan Act regulations and otherwise acceptable to the Director of Law and the Director of Economic Development.
SECTION 3. That the Finance Director is authorized to draw warrant or warrants against the above Account Code in an amount not to exceed $7,574,152 in payment of the above-authorized obligations upon presentation of the proper documentation.
SECTION 4. That this Ordinance, being an emergency measure, shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that the Ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property and for the further reason that this Ordinance must be immediately effective in order to timely provide funding eight brownfield remediation projects.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 11, nays 0.
Passed: October 9, 2024, as an emergency measure: yeas 11, nays 0.
Attest:
Julie A. Gibbons Carrie Hartman
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: October 9, 2024
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor