title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY AND SOUTH SUBURBAN MAYORS AND MANAGERS ASSOCIATION FOR BROWNFIELDS REMEDIATION
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 $10,000,000.00 of the ARPA Funds for NT019 Neighborhood Revitalization Brownfield Remediation initiative, to expand the County’s current Brownfield program, under which the Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability (“DES”) investigates underutilized or vacant sites, develops remediation/reuse alternatives and conducts or provides funding for the remediation of sites to redevelop and return them to productive use; and
WHEREAS, the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (“SSMMA”) is uniquely equipped to quickly and efficiently execute work on behalf of the Brownfield program, in light of its strong municipal relationships and prior experience managing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency brownfield grants; 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.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes DES to utilize ARPA funding for multiyear terms through Fiscal Year 2026, subject to annual appropriation by the Board, for the NT019 Neighborhood Revitalization Brownfield Remediation initiative, to enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, in the amount of $1,000,000.00 to facilitate the recruitment of new brownfield sites and execute remediation activities for identified sites in south suburban Cook County; 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. end