Label
DPU03162021ENVIROMENTALJUSTICEGRANT
Environmental Services
Karen Granata (x3952)
Reviewed
Title
Waiving the competitive procurement requirements of TMC Chapter 187 and authorizing the Mayor to enter into agreements with Blue Conduit Services for the purpose of identifying lead lines and with Freshwater Future for related community education efforts; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
The City of Toledo was awarded a Using Artificial Intelligence to Reduce Lead Exposure and Promote Environmental Justice Program grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The acceptance of grant funds and the authorization to expend those grants funds was approved by Ord. 479-20.
This ordinance requests authorization to enter into agreements with Blue Conduit Services for the purpose of identifying lead lines and with Freshwater Future for related community education efforts.
Blue Conduit Service, a company based in Ann Arbor, MI, is a leading expert in the use of machine learning to inventory and locate lead service lines. Blue Conduit pioneered the use of predictive modeling for lead service lines inventory in Flint, MI. The successful application of statistical methods to locate service lines will helped the city save millions of dollars in avoiding unnecessary excavations and allowed the city to target efforts at homes with the highest likelihood of having a lead service line. Their work has been published academic articles on the use of machine learning to locate lead service lines, consulted state environmental regulators on how to best use statistics to meet updated Lead and Copper rule requirements, and implemented these methods in more than 30 towns across two states. Blue Conduit has secured funding from The Rockefeller Foundation that allows them to bring this solution to Toledo at a substantially reduced cost.
Freshwater Future has been a catalyst for community action that strengthens policies designed to safeguard the waters of the Great Lakes for nearly 25 years by providing funding, professional capacity building assistance, and a rich network of support to over 2000 citizens’ groups in both urban and rural communities across the Great Lakes region. Freshwater Future will work with grassroots community groups in Toledo to reach residents in the most vulnerable neighborhoods to disseminate information and educational materials about lead in water; proper filter use and maintenance; reducing exposure during lead line replacements; and community participatory actions for water quality control. Freshwater Future has staff members who are Toledo residents with deep ties to several of the targeted communities, starting from a position of shared trust. In addition, they will provide funding for the citizen science testing of resident wells.
The fiscal impact of this ordinance is as follows:
- The total amount of funds requested: $170,000
- The expenditure budget line item: 2016-38000-6G00307STDSTD.
- New revenue generated (operational revenue, grants, if any):
- Are funds budgeted in the current fiscal year (yes/no)? no
- Is this a capital project (yes/no)? no
- If yes, is it new or existing (new/existing)? new
- What section of the City’s Strategic Plan does this support?
o Excellence in Basic Services (yes/no): yes
o Quality Community Investment (Livable City, Development) (yes/no): yes
o Workplace Culture & Customer Service (yes/no): no
o Environment (yes/no): yes
Summary
NOW, THEREFORE, Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the mayor is authorized to enter into an agreement with Blue Conduit Service for $120,000 for the purpose of identifying lead lines and with Freshwater Future for $50,000 for the purpose of community outreach as part of the Using Artificial Intelligence to Reduce Lead Exposure and Promote Environmental Justice Program grant.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds and determines it is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive procurement requirements of TMC Chapter 187 for the reason that it is in the best interest of the City of Toledo to contract with Blue Conduit Service and Freshwater Future as these firms are recognized industry leaders and have been approved by the grant provider, the Environmental Protection Agency.
SECTION 3. That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency and shall be in force and effect from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that this ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property of the city and for the further reason that this Ordinance must be immediately effective in order to implement this program within the Environmental Protection Agency’s designated time schedule.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas _____, nays _____.
Passed: _________________, as an emergency measure: yeas _____, nays _____.
Attest: ________________________ ____________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: _____________________ ____________________________
Mayor
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of an Ordinance passed by Council ________________________.
Attest: ________________________
Clerk of Council