TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Tom Kisela, City Manager
1. Subject
title
Adoption of Resolution No. 11612 approving the City’s application, projects, and all other documents related to the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grant.
body
2. Summary
In November 2023, the Orange County Council of Governments approached the City of Orange and requested the City participate in a coalition comprising of other municipalities and non-profit organizations so the Orange County Council of Governments may secure funding through an Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grant. Resolution No. 11612 memorializes the Orange City Council’s approval of the proposed projects, scopes of work, and all other documents necessary to facilitate funding through the Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grant.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 11612. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Orange, California, approving the City’s application, projects, and all other documents necessary to facilitate the United States Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grant secured through the Orange County Council of Governments.
end
4. Fiscal Impact
None.
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 3: Enhance Public Communication Strategy and Quality of Life.
6. Discussion and Background
In November 2023, the Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG) approached the City about an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grant (Brownfield Grant) opportunity. With OCCOG serving as lead agency, the Brownfield Grant provides participating entities the opportunity to, among other items, conduct mitigation studies to improve sites where previous uses may have led to environmental contamination.
To participate in the Brownfield Grant, in November 2023, the City signed a letter of intent to participate as a coalition member. A year later, the City signed a Memorandum of Agreement so the City may engage with OCCOG, OCCOG’s contracted consultant, Neighborhood Works of Orange County, and the cities of Garden Grove and Santa Ana to identify possible sites and projects eligible for the Brownfield Grant.
Through this collaborative approach, the City identified two projects in Orange that may be eligible for the Brownfield Grant funding - the Grijalva Park Masterplan Update (Masterplan Update) and a Market Feasibility Report (Market Feasibility Report) for Yorba Park. Both projects are discussed in turn.
Masterplan Update
The Masterplan Update has been programmed in the City’s Capital Improvement Program for several years. The Brownfield Grant will give the City the opportunity to complete this project, and with a completed masterplan, avail itself of other grant opportunities to put the masterplan amenities into place.
Market Feasibility Report
In recognizing that Yorba Park was once used as a landfill, the Market Feasibility Report will look at Yorba Park’s soil stability, geotechnical reports, potential site contamination, and recommended remediation actions while analyzing all potential uses on the site.
The EPA approved Grijalva and Yorba Parks as eligible sites. Scopes of work have been created for the Masterplan Update and the Market Feasibility Report. However, prior to moving forward on both projects, staff recommends the City Council approve Resolution No. 11612.
Resolution No. 11612 authorizes the City Manager to sign all Brownfield Grant documents and memorializes the City’s approval of the Brownfield Grant application, potential projects, and all other documents necessary to facilitate the grant.
7. ATTACHMENTS
• Resolution No. 11612
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Assessment Cooperative Agreement with Orange County Council of Governments
• Brownfield Letter of Committment
• Memorandum of Agreement
• Grijalva Park Masterplan Update Scope of Work
• Yorba Park Market Feasibility Report