Label
Council Member Komives
Title
Authorizing the City of Toledo to enter into an agreement with the Lake Erie Foundation to fund up to one third of the cost for Phase Two of a Lake Erie Economic Impact Analysis and a Western Lake Erie Report Card; to authorize agreements for these projects; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
Toledo City Council finds it necessary to continue its efforts to protect Lake Erie in the wake of harmful algal blooms. Lake Erie's western basin is the source of the City's drinking water. It is crucial to reduce algal blooms that threaten public safety by producing toxins in the lake and its tributaries. Likewise, the Lake is used extensively for recreational purposes including fishing and boating. It is therefore pertinent to work cooperatively with regional entities also affected by the algal blooms and to conduct research that will aid in resolving the crisis.
City Council believes that working with the City of Oregon and Lucas County to fund a Lake Erie economic impact analysis and western Lake Erie report card study is a practical and beneficial endeavor. The study will provide the City and its partners better economic data in order to best demonstrate the value of a healthy Lake Erie. The report card grading system will provide benchmarks to record the progress or lack thereof in reducing the nutrient loads of nitrogen and phosphorus in runoff that causes the algal blooms.
The City of Toledo, the City of Oregon, and Lucas County will each provide funding for one third the cost of this project. The ordinance will provide funds not to exceed $55,000. The expectation is that the final cost will be lower than this amount, and the communities will continue to seek additional grant funds that would reduce the cost. The economic study and report card study will be conducted by Key Logistics and the University of Maryland. The Lake Erie Foundation will serve a coordinating role with the communities and the...
Click here for full text