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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY AND THE RECYCLING PARTNERSHIP FOR MUNICIPAL RECYCLING SUPPORT
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2021, the federal government authorized the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”), which includes $1.9 trillion in federal stimulus funds to hasten the United States’ recovery from the economic and health effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, specifically, the federal government has authorized and allocated a federal award of approximately $1,000,372,385.00 of ARPA funding to Cook County to assist the County in its recovery from the economic and health effects of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on June 24, 2021, the Cook County American Rescue Plan Act Framework (the “ARPA Framework”) was presented to the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners via Resolution 21-3654 accepted the ARPA federal award allocated to Cook County to assist the County in its recovery from the economic and health effects of COVID-19 in the amount of approximately $1,000,372,385.00; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 21-3654 further authorized the Cook County Budget Director and Comptroller to create and implement a Special Purpose Fund for the ARPA award and other accounting measures to track the acceptance and spending of the federal award; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners authorized the Chief Financial Officer, Budget Director, Chief Procurement Officer and applicable using agencies to issue grants, contracts and agreements for ARPA programs approved via Resolutions 22-3657 and 22-0637; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 22-0637 further authorized up to $25 million in ARPA funding for Sustainable Community programs, including $15 million for hazard mitigation and pollution prevention; and
WHEREAS, to further the goal of hazard mitigation and pollution prevention, the County has allocated approximately $7,000,000.00 of the ARPA Funds to implement NT005: South Suburban Household Hazardous Waste Facility and Satellite Collection Locations, a project which includes a component to support recycling and composting programs in municipalities that currently lack access to such services; and
WHEREAS, as part of the Recycling, Composting & Circular Economy Solutions (“RCCES”) Initiative, the County has allocated $523,345.77 of the ARPA Funds for the purpose of providing residential recycling and/or other waste diversion related support for up to two municipalities; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the ARPA Funds designated for this initiative, the County has allocated $174,500.00 of Cook County Equity Funds for the purpose of providing residential recycling and/or other waste diversion related support to one municipality; and
WHEREAS, The Recycling Partnership is an established non-governmental organization with extensive expertise in providing technical assistance, awarding grant dollars, and developing sustainability education and resources for communities across the United States; and
WHEREAS, Resolutions 22-3657 and 22-0637 provided that any grants issued regarding ARPA programs in an amount over $1 million shall require the approval of the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes DES to utilize ARPA funding and Equity Funding for multiyear terms through Fiscal Year 2026, subject to annual appropriation by the Board, for the municipal recycling support component of the NT005 initiative, to enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with The Recycling Partnership, in the amount of $697,345.77 to facilitate the provision of residential recycling and/or other waste diversion related support for select municipalities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners recognizes that time is of the essence and authorizes the Director of DES to negotiate and enter into the various agreements that outline the specific metric and impact data, and compliance with all ARPA reporting and monitoring requirements with the Subrecipient listed above to implement the above program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Director of DES or its designee to modify the agreements and funding allocations to the Department of Environment & Sustainability’s selected Subrecipient based upon need and utilization.
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