Agenda Date: 08/06/2024
Subject:
Title
Resolution 88-2024: Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City of Englewood for a Shared Green Business Program
Body
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From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
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Prepared by: |
Lucy Lucero, Executive Assistant |
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Presentations: |
Mike Gent, Deputy City Manager |
PURPOSE:
Does council wish to support an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City of Englewood for a Shared Green Business Program to provide technical assistance programs to local businesses in complying with State of Colorado requirements and meeting sustainability goals of businesses.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Sustainable Community with Natural Beauty; High-Quality Governance; Robust and Resilient Economy
DISCUSSION:
In 2024, the City of Englewood began implementing a Green Business Program to provide technical assistance programs to local businesses in complying with State of Colorado requirements and meeting sustainability goals of businesses. This program connects to the State of Colorado’s Green Business Network (ICGBN), a voluntary network run by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). In the spring of 2024, the City of Englewood hired a part-time Green Business Coordinator to implement a green program in Englewood. Later in spring of 2024, Englewood City Council approved an IGA to share the coordinator with the City of Sheridan. Littleton has expressed interest in sharing the coordinator position with the City of Englewood, and, if approved, the coordinator position will now be full time. Partnering with the City of Englewood to support sharing a program coordinator for sustainability-related projects and initiatives is financially efficient and will enable Littleton to meet State of Colorado requirements. Staff recommends funding this program with single-use bag fee revenues, which are limited by law to programs supporting waste diversion.
A key component of the Green Business Program for all engaged municipalities, is to provide information to and engage with the local business community. Partnering with the Communications and Economic Development Departments in each city, the Green Business coordinator will actively meet with local businesses to provide them with information on green business ideas and programs as well as technical assistance for state and other grant funding opportunities. The coordinator will also be responsible, in conjunction with each city, for developing and tracking data towards metrics to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of Green Business Programs providing support to local businesses.
The City of Littleton established the Environmental Stewardship Board as an advisory board to provide input to city council and staff on natural environment stewardship priorities for the community. Participation in this program is consistent with Environmental Stewardship Board’s values and action plan which includes:
• Thoughtful Urgency: Reversing climate change must happen now, and not at the expense of high-quality decision making.
• Collaboration: Littleton must leverage local, regional, state, national, and global partnerships.
• Optimism: In the face of significant challenges, we embrace solutions and maintain faith in a better future.
BACKGROUND:
The Green Business Program is designed to support, encourage, and recognize organizations that focus on operational sustainability. It supports municipalities and other organizations in increasing the efficiency and sustainability of businesses through assessing opportunities for growth, recognizing successes, and providing connections to other businesses across the state. The Green Business Program focuses on a two-pronged approach of technical assistance and recognition of organizations for best practices that lead to resource reduction.
Littleton’s responsibilities will be for payment to City of Englewood of a fixed sum of not to exceed $119,000 under the terms of the agreement. Littleton also agrees to:
• Determine the location of the work of the Englewood Green Business Coordinator and times that would work best for Littleton so long as the requested hours do not negatively impact the ability to perform adequate services for Englewood.
• Identify a Littleton employee to provide direction and oversight to the Green Business Coordinator, while providing duties for Littleton. The Englewood Sustainability Program Coordinator shall serve as the supervisor for the Green Business Coordinator, but Littleton shall provide direction specific to projects and initiatives performed for Littleton as identified in Article II, Section 2 of this agreement.
• Littleton, represented by the Deputy City Manager, will communicate with Englewood, represented by the Sustainability Program Manager, on a monthly basis to discuss any questions or concerns about the services being provided under this Agreement, as well as being available on an as-needed basis for any issues that may arise.
Prior Actions or Discussions
Action Plan Item 2.2.5: “Empower (sustainability coordinator) with resources and strategic partnerships to take action and make measurable impacts. Part of this position will be to directly connect residents and businesses to sustainability resources.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
Littleton will provide the City of Englewood with $17,128 in 2024 and $51,386 in 2025 and 2026, subject to annual appropriation. Beginning in 2025, the amount paid to the City of Englewood may increase due to employment and benefits costs. Any increase in payment shall not exceed 5% and shall require the written approval of both cities.
As of July 29, 2024, we have collected $65,606from the single use bag fee revenue in 2024, and we will collect additional revenue for five more months in 2024. We collected $75,446 in 2023 from the single use bag fee revenue. HB 21-1162 provides the following limitations on use of the fees: A municipality or county may use its portion of the carryout bag fee revenues to pay for its administrative and enforcement costs and any recycling, composting, or other waste diversion programs or related outreach or education activities.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that council approve the resolution and intergovernmental agreement.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the city decides not to move forward with this IGA, it would be more difficult for Littleton to manage the Shared Green Business Program and most likely could not financially sustain and maintain a full-time position in 2024. Sharing the costs will move the Shared Green Business Program forward immediately rather than delaying the goals of our Environmental Stewardship Board.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Resolution 88-2024 approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Englewood and the City of Littleton for a Shared Green Business Program.