Committee forwards $75,000 grant appropriation for energy audits and bike parking to council

The Government Operations Committee on May 5 voted to send to the City Council a measure appropriating $75,000 in recently awarded grant funds to pay for building energy audits and expanded bicycle parking.

City staff said the grant covers an energy audit for five city buildings and will fund bicycle parking at schools, parks and downtown sites. "We applied in December of last year...the funds have been awarded to us," said Anya Coleta, a staff member who presented the grant summary. She said planned work includes energy audits of five city buildings — two schools, two golf course buildings and the Innovation Center — and bicycle infrastructure at roughly 15 schools, five parks, several downtown locations and a secure bike-storage facility at the parking garage.

Councilors asked whether schools already had bike facilities; a councilor noted some existing racks but staff said additional capacity is needed. City Manager Deb Lori, filling in for the assistant city manager, said the appropriation would enable staff to move forward with the work plan outlined in the grant application. Committee members moved and seconded the referral; no objection was recorded and the item will appear on the council agenda for second reading.

The appropriation is an implementation step only; details about procurements, exact locations and installation timelines will be determined by staff and brought back with council documents. Staff said the grant was added to the packet the morning of the meeting after the award was confirmed.

For now, the committee's action sends the appropriation to the full City Council for final approval at second reading.