DATE: May 5, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Accepting the Clean Air Center Program Grant and Appropriating $25,000 for the Purchase of a Five-Year Supply of Air Filters for the Downtown and Weekes Libraries
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council adopts the attached resolution (Attachment II) accepting the Clean Air Center Program Grant from the Bay Area Air District (Air District) and approving the appropriation of $ 25,000 for the purchase of a five -year supply of air filters for the Downtown and Weekes Libraries.
SUMMARY
The City of Hayward received a grant from the Air District to designate the Downtown Library and the Weekes Library as Clean Air Centers1 for a five-year period. Clean Air Centers provide community members with a safe place to seek relief during periods of intense wildfire smoke or poor air quality. Under the terms of the grant agreement, the Air District will reimburse the City for the cost of a five-year supply of air filters, with a total reimbursement amount not to exceed $24,788. Staff is requesting authorization to accept the grant and appropriate an additional $25,000 in the FY 2026 Recycling Fund (Fund 232) budget to cover the cost for the air filters.
FISCAL IMPACT
This agenda item will result in savings of $24,788 to the City’s General Fund.
The Air District grant will pay for air filters for the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) syst ems at both libraries for five years . The filters are normally funded through the General Fund and t he cost of a five-year supply of HEPA -certified air filters is $24,788. In accordance with the grant agreement , the City will be reimbursed by the Air District approximately two months after the City purchases the filters. No additional staff
1 https://www.baaqmd.gov/funding-and-incentives/public-agencies/clean-air-centers
time will be required to upgrade or maintain the air filtration systems and the libraries will not be required to be open to the public beyond normal hours of operation.
BACKGROUND
On October 2, 2019, Governor Newsom signed AB 836, Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Center for Vulnerable Population Incentive Pilot Program.2 The purpose of the p rogram is to upgrade ventilation systems and provide air filtration equipment to establish Clean Air Centers throughout California. These centers offer community members a safe place to seek relief during periods of intense wildfire or poor air quality. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) was directed to administer the program and allocated grant funding to air districts statewide to implement AB 836.
In September 2025 , the City of Hayward entered into a Clean Air Center Program Grant Agreement with the Air District. Under the agreement, both the Downtown Library and the Weekes Library are required to operate as Clean Air Centers during their regular business hours for a five-year period and submit annual maintenance logs for the ir air filtration systems. Each facility must maintain a filtration system capable of using HEPA certified filters rated MERV 13 or higher to ensure the provision of safe, clean air is provided to the public. A facility’s designation as a Clean Air Center remains in effect regardless of any future changes to its operational hours.
DISCUSSION
The grant requires that the City purchase a five-year supply of eligible air filters at once. The Air District will reimburse the City upon submission of receipts confirming the purchase. The Air District’s deadline to spend all program funds from CARB is September of 2026.
Staff is requesting the City Council accept the grant with Air District and approve an appropriation of $25,000 from the Measure D Aug mentation account for the purchase of a five-year supply of HEPA certified air filters rated MERV 13 or higher for the Downtown and Weekes Libraries , enabling the City to submit receipts and obtain reimbursement in accordance with the terms of the grant agreement.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
There is no Economic Impact associated with this item.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This agenda item is not associated with a specific project identified in the Strategic Roadmap, but it supports the priority of Champion Climate Resilience & Environmental Justice.
2 https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/wildfire-smoke-clean-air-center-grant
SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES
The Clean Air Centers will provide clean air and relief for the community during times of intense wildfire or poor air quality.
PUBLIC CONTACT
No public contact has been made regarding this agenda item. In the near future, the Downtown and Weekes Librar ies will be added to CARB’s California Clean Air Center webpage.3
NEXT STEPS
If the City Council adopts the attached resolution, staff will proceed with the purchase of a five-year supply of eligible air filters for the Downtown and Weekes Libraries , enabling the City to request reimbursement in accordance with the purchasing requirements of the Grant Agreement with the Air District.
Prepared by: Stephanie Dumont, Sustainability Specialist Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager
Recommended by: Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works
Approved by:
______________________________
Jennifer Ott, City Manager
3 https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/cleanaircenters