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File #: Resolution 21-2025    Name:
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 3/11/2025 In control: City Council
On agenda: 4/15/2025 Final action: 4/15/2025
Title: Resolution 21-2025: Approving a Subrecipient Agreement between the City of Littleton and Adams County Health Department to join the Colorado Local Entity Air Network (CLEAN)
Attachments: 1. 1. Resolution No. 21-2025, 2. 2. CLEAN Community Partner Agreement

Agenda Date: 04/15/2025

 

Subject:

Title

Resolution 21-2025: Approving a Subrecipient Agreement between the City of Littleton and Adams County Health Department to join the Colorado Local Entity Air Network (CLEAN)

Body

 

From:

James L. Becklenberg, City Manager

Prepared by:

Brent Soderlin, Director of Public Works & Utilities

 

Laura Rosenbaum, Sustainability Coordinator

Presentations:

N/A

 

PURPOSE:

Does city council support a Subrecipient Agreement between the City of Littleton and Adams County Health Department to install air monitoring equipment at two proposed sites in Littleton?

 

LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:

Sustainable Community with Natural Beauty; Vibrant Community with Rich Culture

 

DISCUSSION:

The Love My Air program expands air-monitoring by using low-cost, cutting-edge air pollution sensor technology, equipped with solar, battery storage, and data connectivity. This program aims to inform, educate, and create changes that will allow all of us to love our air. Air monitors measure for common air pollutants-particulate matter (PM2.5, and PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The smaller the particle (PM), the more harmful it is. PM 2.5 is a very fine particle, about 30 times smaller than a strand of hair. PM2.5 comes from vehicle emissions, construction, industries, forest fires, residential burning, and agricultural burning. These sensors do not monitor ozone for a variety of reasons. The Denver Metro Region is an ozone nonattainment area, meaning sensors would always show concerning air quality regarding ozone levels. Our region is not in compliance with federal air quality standards for ozone pollution. These localized air monitors focus on PM and NO2 to raise awareness, increase education, and ultimately empower people to change behaviors to impact air quality and protect themselves on bad air days. In particular, these air monitors help sensitive groups, including people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teenagers. Adams County Health Department is working with schools, parks and recreation partners, and municipalities to collect local air quality data and incorporate air quality education, communication, and programming around our community. These partners make up a network called the Colorado Local Entity Air Network (CLEAN). This Subrecipient Agreement permits the City of Littleton to enter into a partnership with Adams County Health Department to become a member of CLEAN and host two monitors in the community. Each monitor shows localized air quality through a corresponding online dashboard. This information helps raise awareness about air quality concerns through data collection, communications, education, and public outreach.

 

BACKGROUND:

Adams County Health Department, which started as a Tri-County Health Department (Adams County, Arapahoe County, and Douglas County) and has since split, received funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) in 2019 to replicate a program called “Love My Air,” which is housed at the Denver Department of Public Health and the Environment (DDPHE). The program replication was originally housed in the Tri-County Health Department and started with seven PM 2.5 sensors with a goal to replicate the model for schools. During COVID, Adams County Health Department began working with municipalities, recreation districts, and libraries as an expansion of their work with school districts. CDPHE provided additional funding during COVID, and Adams County Health Department expanded to 20 sensors and eight partners by 2022. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Community Air Monitoring Grant and CDPHE awarded Adams County Health Department additional funding to continue to expand and rebrand as CLEAN.

 

Prior Actions or Discussions

                     April 23, 2024, council study session: ESB presented their finalized version of the Environmental Stewardship Action Plan.

                     June 4, 2024, council study session: Council supported and endorsed the Horizon 2027 Strategic Plan, which includes implementing ESB’s Environmental Stewardship Action Plan. Specifically, item 1.2.2, “Air Quality Monitoring and Assessment Program,” with the recommendation from ESB stating: “Add air quality monitors within the city to assess baseline pollution levels and sources,” is directly in ESB’s Environmental Stewardship Action Plan and thus linked to Horizon 2027 and the city’s broader strategic goals.

 

FISCAL IMPACTS:

CLEAN is funded through 2025. This Subrecipient Agreement will cost the City of Littleton no money in 2025. In 2026, CLEAN’s funding model will switch so that participating municipalities and other partners will pay for each sensor. The total cost for the City of Littleton, starting in 2026, is projected to be less than $4,000/year. A future amendment to the agreement will be necessary when the funding model changes.

 

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends council approve the Subrecipient Agreement to host two air monitors in the City of Littleton.

 

ALTERNATIVES:

Council may decide to delay approval of this agreement for additional changes or discussion, which would jeopardize Littleton’s ability to host any air monitors in the foreseeable future. With the grant funding ending this year, installing air monitors without this Subrecipient Agreement and the initial help of CLEAN to install, monitor, and provide resources for the community will be substantially more cost prohibitive.

 

PROPOSED MOTION:

Proposed Motion

I move to approve Resolution 21-2025 approving a Subrecipient Agreement between the City of Littleton and Adams County Health Department to join the Colorado Local Entity Air Network (CLEAN).