Agenda Date: 03/17/2026
Subject:
Title
Resolution 13-2026: Approving a Subrecipient Agreement between the City of Littleton and Adams County Health Department to continue partnership with the Colorado Local Entity Air Network (CLEAN)
Body
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From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
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Prepared by: |
Brent Soderlin, Director of Public Works & Utilities |
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Laura Rosenbaum, Sustainability Coordinator |
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Presentations: |
N/A |
PURPOSE:
Does city council support the continuation of the Subrecipient Agreement between the City of Littleton and Adams County Health Department to keep the current air monitoring equipment at two 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. 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 continue to be a member of CLEAN and host two monitors in the community through a regional shared dashboard model. 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. The EPA funding was to sunset starting in 2026. The City of Littleton budgeted to fund the air monitors through the current cost-sharing dashboard, and it is continuing as planned.
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.
• April 15, 2025, council regular session: Council approved Resolution 21-2025 to join CLEAN and install two air monitors in the City of Littleton with the understanding that they would cost money starting in 2026.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
This agreement acknowledges that CLEAN’s funding model will switch to paid through a cost-sharing dashboard. The total cost for the City of Littleton, starting in April 2026, is projected to be about $4,900/year. Without CLEAN and the cost-sharing model, the City of Littleton would pay an additional $1,000/year for the exact same services.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommend council approve the Subrecipient Agreement to continue hosting two air monitors in the City of Littleton.
ALTERNATIVES:
Council could delay approval of this agreement for further changes or discussion, however doing so would impact the operation of Littleton’s current air monitors. As the EPA grant funding is ending this year, this subrecipient agreement offers the City of Littleton the ability to continue to cost-share a dashboard and host our local air monitors at a lower cost than without this agreement.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Resolution 13-2026 approving a Subrecipient Agreement between the City of Littleton and Adams County Health Department to continue partnership with the Colorado Local Entity Air Network (CLEAN).