The Houston Health Department (HHD) requests City Council approval of an ordinance authorizing and approving an electronic grant application offered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring for Communities grant. HHD received notification from EPA of a funding opportunity to conduct ambient air monitoring of pollutants of greatest concern in communities with environmental and health outcomes disparities stemming from pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic in the City of Houston. The project period is from November 2022 to October 2025. The total anticipated award amount is $499,982.00; HHD will provide an in-kind match of $67,085.00. The city is not required to provide cash matching funds.
HHD also requests City Council authorize the Mayor to execute all related contracts, agreements, amendments, and documents with the approval as to form of the City Attorney in connection with the grant application and to authorize the Director or his designee to act as the City’s representative with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, and to accept and expend all subsequent supplemental awards, if any, and to extend the term and/or budget and project period not to exceed 5 years.
The department will address health outcome disparities from pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic. Program services will monitor air pollutants of greatest concern in communities with disproportionate and adverse health outcomes. The program will forge partnerships with communities to promote monitoring their own air quality. This alliance will leverage existing air quality monitoring expertise, expand use of community monitoring advisory groups, and allow the community’s voice to be heard on the air quality monitoring.
______________________________
Stephen L. Williams, M.Ed., M.P.A.
Director - Houston Health Department