Title
Dept/ Agency: Economic and Housing Development
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Grant Agreement
Purpose: To execute Grant Agreement to Accept Grant Funds to support the development of vacant Green Acres land into the Frederick Douglas Park.
Entity Name: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Green Acres Program
Entity Address: 501 East State Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08625
Grant Amount: $750,000.00
Total Project Cost: $1,000,000.00
City Contribution: $250,000.00
Other Funding Source/Amount: $0.00
Grant Period: Upon adoption and shall terminate two (2) years from the date of execution of the Grant Agreement
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale (X) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
List of Property: (if applicable)
(Address/Block/Lot/Ward)
Frederick Douglas Park/Block 2563/Lots 1 and 76/Central Ward
Additional Information:
The Municipal Council authorized the filing of the grant application as Resolution 7R2-a adopted on February 22, 2019.
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WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program (the “NJDEP”), provides loans and/or grants to municipal and county governments and grants to non-profit organizations for assistance in the acquisition, development, and stewardship of lands for outdoor recreation and conservation purposes; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark (the “City”) wishes to develop vacant Green Acres land into the Frederick Douglas Park (the “Project”), having both passive and non-passive park activities; and
WHEREAS, on February 22, 2019, the Municipal Council adopted Resolution 7R2-a (as amended) authorizing the Mayor and/or his designee, the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development to make an application to the NJDEP for grant funds in the amount of Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($750,000.00) (“Grant Award”) to fund the Project; and
WHEREAS, as a result of this application, the City has been awarded a Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($750,000.00) grant by the NJDEP for the redevelopment of the Frederick Douglas Park; and
WHEREAS, in order to obtain the grant award, the City must execute a Grant Agreement (#0714-19-003) with the NJDEP for the period commencing upon adoption of this authorizing resolution and terminating within two (2) years of execution of the Grant Agreement; and
WHEREAS, in order to apply for the NJDEP Grant, the City was required to pledge a local share amount of 25% of the Project Cost, which is Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($250,000.00); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution 7R2-a adopted on February 22, 2019, the City pledged to contribute the required cash match/local share amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($250,000.00) (the “Cash Match”) from its Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund towards the Project; and
WHEREAS, on November 29, 2011, the Municipal Council adopted Resolution 7R3-a(S) authorizing Old Third Ward Redevelopment, LLC (the “Redeveloper”), to become the designated redeveloper of the Project, and the Redeveloper will bear the actual cost, in excess of the Grant Award, for the building of the Frederick Douglas Park; and
WHEREAS, it is not anticipated that the Cash Match will be drawn down, and if any portion of the Cash Match is actually drawn down and spent, Old Third Ward Redevelopment, LLC agrees to reimburse the City any portion of the Cash Match that is actually spent; and
WHEREAS, in order to receive the Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($750,000.00) grant, the NJDEP also requires the execution of a Developer Compliance Checklist certifying to compliance with certain federal and state regulation requirements regarding the development of the Frederick Douglas Park; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to receive the Grant Award and therefore finds it in its best interest to execute the Grant Agreement and any other required documents including, but not limited to Developer Compliance Checklist.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor and/or his designee, the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development are hereby authorized to accept grant funding in the amount of Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($750,000.00) from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection-Green Acres Program.
2. The Mayor and/or his designee, the Corporation Counsel are hereby authorized to enter into and execute the Green Acres Project Agreement and any supplemental documents and/or amendments thereto, in substantially the same form as attached hereto, including, but not limited to the Development Compliance Checklist with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, to receive and expend the Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($750,000.00) grant award from the NJDEP for the development of vacant Green Acres land into Frederick Douglas Park, for the period commencing upon adoption of this resolution and terminating within two (2) years of execution of the Grant Agreement; a copy of the Grant Agreement is attached hereto and made a part hereof.
3. The cash match/local share for this Grant Award in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($250,000.00) shall be allocated from the City’s Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund and shall be reimbursed to the City by Old Third Ward Development LLC, the designated redeveloper of Frederick Douglas Park, if any portion of the Cash Match is spent in building the Park.
4. Attached is a full Certification of Funds from the Director of the Department of Finance stating that there are available, sufficient and appropriate funds in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($250,000.00), for the purposes set forth herein and the line appropriations which shall be charged as follows:
Bus. Unit Dept. ID Div/Proj. Acct. # Bud Ref.
NW026 BS 32710 B2019
5. The Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development shall submit a certified copy of this resolution to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Green Acres Program.
6. The Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development shall submit a complete copy of the Grant Agreement and any associated documents to both the Corporation Counsel and the Business Administrator for review, approval, and signature.
7. The Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development shall submit a fully executed copy of the Grant Agreement and any other supplemental documents in the Office of the City Clerk.
STATEMENT
This resolution authorizes the Mayor and/or his designee, the Corporation Counsel and/or the Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development, to enter into and execute an agreement with, and accept grant funds from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program in the amount of $750,000.00 for the development of vacant Green Acres land into Frederick Douglas Park in the Central Ward.