Following are some of my notes from a panel the Sierra Club sponsored on how recovery bill dollars are being put to use for sustainability efforts. Errors, questions, clarifications may be added as comments.
Caryl Terrell of Sierra Club moderated the following panel:
Al Matano – Dane County Board Supervisors, District 11
Robin Schmidt – Dane County Board Supervisors, District 24
Steve Arnold – City of Fitchburg Common Council, District 4
Bill Clingan – City of Madison Development Director, Community Development Division
I came in as Steve Arnold began to talk about Fitchburg’s “Cool City” status. Steve talked about the recovery bill money’s short deadlines and strict criteria. Fitchburg investigated application for funds in Fitchburg’s new library, Route 14 improvement, Infrastructure for Fitchburg’s green tech village, and Post Road improvement.
Attitude: Optimistic that work in these areas is important regardless of the odds of gaining the stimulus dollars under discussion. Pessimistic regarding gaining stimulus funds with some glimmers of hope in the area of the library since it has a quarter of a million dollars of green features worked into its plan and due to the fact that the library is “shovel ready” – matching stimulus fund criteria.
Steve spoke about sustainability being infused in Fitchburg’s 5 year capital improvement plan – an improvement plan which has helped to give Fitchburg a high bond rating.
Following, we heard from Bill Clingan who gave us a hand-out on the areas that the city is looking at for $2,384,600 in energy block grants that it will be receiving courtesy of the recovery bill.
$1,000,000 for City facilities – energy efficiency changes, renewable energy at Badger Rd. Streets facility, diversion of organic wastes-pilot program to divert residential organic waste from the landfill. Biogas and compost – anaerobic digester technology
and
$1,384,600 for Community Use divided as follows:
$650,000 for Business and economic dev’t.-specifically energy efficiency improvements to commercial, non-profit & manufacturing facilities within the city. Application process to be developed.
$250,000 for residential energy efficiency improvements. Application process under development
$484,600 for training and hiring of unemployed or underemployed people who will perform weatherization projects in one or two neighborhoods chosen by metrics from “Neighborhood Indicators”. “A vendor will be selected through a RFP process with CDBG Commission and Council approval and the Grants Coordinator will monitor the contract”.
Bill said that the city is working on 4 areas in relationship to recovery dollars: foreclosure, homelessness prevention, the energy blog grant, and CDBG funds.
We did not discuss the CDBG model in as much detail (or I was sleepy by then) however I did receive a hand-out of information on this which I will bullet point here:
$534,096 in CDBG funds have been awarded to the city.To be expended –
$37,386 – Foreclosure prevention services – RFP process
$42,727 – Employment services for those facing potential eviction – RFP process
$154,890 – Economic development – creation of jobs that are green in orientation through economic support of businesses [this area seems pretty fuzzy to me…more details likely forthcoming]
$299,093 – Housing Rehab/Infrastructure – repair of affordable housing with energy conservation in mind. Some housing stock needs basic repair before energy measures can be implemented.
Folks I recognized in attendance: Brett Hulsey, Dane County Supervisor and Sonya Newenhouse of MEG.
Original description is below:
Join the Four Lakes Group for a program on opportunities and uses of stimulus funds for environmentally productive purposes. Representatives from three Cool Communities (the Sierra Club’s Cool Cities program at http://www.coolcities.us) have been invited to discuss in particular green uses of stimulus funds. A panel will lead off the questions and discussion. We invite all concerned citizens to attend to learn more about what stimulus funds are coming our way, what the opportunities are, and how you can weigh in to help direct use of these funds. Please feel free to come and share your own questions or concerns. We will also be inviting other officials to participate as audience members. This event will be at the Goodman Community Center off the east side bike path, providing ready access via an environmentally friendly means of access. The panel will be from 6:30 – 8:30 PM and refreshments and snacks will be provided. Please attend and make your voice heard!
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