1 of 2
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A THREE YEAR CONTRACT
WITH GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY TO PERFORM ECOLOGICAL STEWARDSHIP WITH
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO PERFORM LITTER COLLECTION EVENTS
UTILIZING STORMWATER FEES AND CALIFORNIA BEVERAGE CONTAINER
PAYMENT PROGRAM FUNDS
AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 5168
WHEREAS, on May 18, 2018, the City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement in an amount not to exceed $14,127.49 with Grassroots Ecology to grow a plant palate for Cooley Landing Construction Phases 4 and 5, and the City entered into the contract to purchase these plants from Grassroots nursery, which specializes in native plants that do not contain the pathogen, phytophthora; and WHEREAS, Grassroots Ecology (under its former name, Acterra) has an ongoing Memorandum of Understanding with the City to provide programs at Cooley Landing Environmental Education Center performing ecological stewardship activities; and WHEREAS, Grassroots Ecology has been engaged in litter abatement cleanup efforts at Cooley Landing since 2016; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes the environmental and aesthetic value of the City's urban parks and the benefits to public health, meeting of mandatory compliance requirements for stormwater pollution prevention, and enhanced vibrancy that litter abatement will provide this and future generations; and WHEREAS, California Beverage Container Payment Program funds are designated for programs that enhance community awareness of beverage container recycling, and efforts to enhance the collection of this material; and WHEREAS, stormwater fees are collected for the express use of meeting the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit requirements, including therein section C.10 relating to trash abatement and protection of the waters of the state; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to financially contribute to this charitable organization to reimburse them for services that complement and enhance the City's stormwater compliance mandates, as well as removal of litter in Cooley Landing Park and Runnymede Drainage system, and other areas where litter threatens water quality, with the added community benefit of community engagement, encouraging volunteerism, expanding ecological education opportunities, and building community pride; and WHEREAS, the City Council through Resolution No. 5168 authorized a five-year contract with a not-to-exceed $9,000 per month with Grassroots Ecology which is being replaced; and
2 of 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OFEAST PALO ALTO HEREBY authorizes the City Manager to:
Execute a three (3) year agreement with Grassroots Ecology, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with a not-to-exceed total amount of $45,000, ($15,000 per year) for the purposes of coordinating cleanup events in the City, funded with $27,000 from the Stormwater Impact Fund, and up to $18,000 from the CalRecycle Beverage Container Payment Program
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Resolution No. 5168 is hereby rescinded.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 5th day of April, 2022.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Rubin Abrica, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
James Colin, Acting City Clerk Valerie J. Armento, Interim City Attorney