University City may shift $130,000 from EV charging match to street repairs if grant is lost

City staff told the University City City Council on July 13 that a previously awarded grant for electric-vehicle charging stations in the Delmar Loop may not be obligated by Sept. 30, putting the city’s matching funds at risk and prompting a temporary reallocation proposal.

City manager (referenced in the packet exchange as Brooke / Miss Sharp) said staff recommends reassigning $130,000 from the EV charging-station match to the street maintenance program because litigation by a third-party entity has delayed obligation of grant funds; if the grant funds are not obligated by Sept. 30 they will be lost, the manager said. The manager described two streets (Jackson and Melrose) that public-works staff identified as repair candidates for roughly $109,000, with the remainder earmarked for pothole patching across the city.

Council members asked which streets would be covered; the manager and public-works director confirmed Jackson and Melrose were selected from a ward-by-ward list and that remaining funds would be used for pothole patching. The manager said that if the grant becomes available the city intends to return the $130,000 from the EDRST fund to cover the EV charging match so the Loop special business district’s requested deployment can proceed.

Council approved the CIP budget transfer by voice vote. The transfer authorizes using the $130,000 for street maintenance in light of the grant uncertainty; the manager said staff will return to council if the grant situation changes.

The council did not take a separate final vote on deploying EDRST funds; the manager signaled intent to seek council approval to restore the EV match later if the grant is retained.

Next steps: staff will schedule repairs if the transfer is finalized and will notify council if the grant is obligated before Sept. 30.