Alderman Conn wins committee's due-pass recommendation to accept $50,000 Bloomberg grant for youth climate microgrants

Alderman Conn presented Board Bill 32 on June 22, asking the Budget and Public Employees Committee to recommend that the Board of Aldermen allow the president's office to accept a Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Initiative grant to seed a Youth Climate Action Fund.

Christina Garmentia, identified as policy director to President Green, told the committee the grant totals $50,000 and will be used to award microgrants to youth-led climate projects. "This is a small grant of $50,000. We'll be giving out between 8 to 40 micro grants between $1,000 and $4,000," Garmentia said, adding the city will partner with local nonprofits to host application workshops and steward projects so they are completed by the next Earth Day.

Committee members asked no substantive questions about program design. Several members asked to be added as co-sponsors during the discussion; the clerk recorded those additions. The clerk also reported there was no public comment, no written testimony and no remote participants with raised hands.

The committee voted on a motion to give Board Bill 32 a "due pass" recommendation to the full board. The motion was moved by the alderman representing the 5th Ward and seconded by the alderwoman representing the 7th Ward. Roll-call votes were recorded as follows: Alderwoman Sier, Vice Chair Browning, Alderwoman Velasquez, Alderman Devote and Chair Aldrey each voted yes, producing a 5-0 favorable tally. The committee's recommendation will be forwarded to the full Board of Aldermen for final action.

The committee had no resolutions for review and adjourned following the vote.