Title
Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2025 Council Approved Budget to Accept and Appropriate the Fiscal Year 2025 Litter Prevention and Recycling Program Grant Awarded by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
This item is a request for allocation of grant funds for the Hampton Clean City Commission ("HCCC"). The HCCC established by City Council in 1978, enlists Hampton's citizens in the effort to clean up litter and to prevent it by educating others. These funds will provide personnel and programming support for the volunteers and their activities directed toward improving the physical environment of the City of Hampton.
Discussion:
The HCCC also works to improve the appearance of the City of Hampton through urban forestry, stormwater and water quality education, solid waste education, and beautification projects. Among the projects the HCCC undertakes are the Adopt-A-Spot Program, which enlists volunteers in keeping Hampton clean and beautiful, and the Keep Hampton Green urban forestry donation fund, which uses private donations to purchase trees and shrubs for public areas of the City. The HCCC also works extensively with youth to lay the foundation for future stewardship of our City.
HCCC Programs include:
Adopt-A-Spot Programs, encouraging citizen participation in removing litter from public areas and in some cases beautifying them
Bay Star Homes & Businesses, through partnership with Hampton Roads Planning District (HRPDC) to promote restoration and protection of our waterways
Beautification, YARDS, encourages citizens to become involved in sustainability efforts through participation in the Beautiful YARDS (Yards Are Really Distinctive Showplaces) Program
Bee City USA – Hampton, educational components for creating pollinator and natural habitat, garden certifications
Cigarette Litter Receptacles Program, a partnership with Keep America Beautiful and Keep Virginia Beautiful in the cigarette litter abatement and education campaign
Clean & Green Business Award, a quarterly recognition of businesses that not only keep their landscapes attractive and clean, but also engage in sound solid waste practices, and support community programs, particularly stewardship programs
Community Appearance & Litter Index, an evaluation tool that tracks the amount of litter at 100 sites in Hampton, first implemented in 2000
Community Cleanups, monthly opportunities for residents to participate in cleanups in or near their neighborhoods
Environmental Tours, tours to promote public awareness of environmental processes
Kayak Cleanups, boating cleanup events to remove directly from waterways.
Keep Hampton Green Fund, an opportunity for residents to contribute to the purchase of trees for public areas.
Litter-Free Events, an effort to encourage organizers to take measures to reduce the amount of litter generated during their events
Neighborhood Pet Waste Stations, a result of partnership with the regional environmental organization HR GREEN, sponsored by HRPDC
Public Education/Outreach Events, that include Buckroe Beach Farmers Market, Buckroe Improvement League Arts in the Park, Creation Care Day, HCS STEM and Volunteer/Career Day events
Rain Barrel Workshops, through partnership with Keep Virginia Beautiful and HRPDS to promote water conservation best practices for residents and businesses
School Appearance Index, an evaluation tool that provides feedback to Hampton City Schools about the general curb appeal of their schools
School Pride In Action Projects, including plastic bag recycling, Earth Day Art Exhibits, recycling education, classroom presentations, and more
Tree Tours, educating residents about our urban forest
Virginia Peninsula Clean Business Forum, a regional recognition and education program shared with James City County, Newport News, and York County, at which the Hampton Clean & Green Business Award winner is recognized
Water Quality Monitoring, at four waterway sites in Hampton, with results reported to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Waterway Cleanups, including regional and state events, which result in the removal of litter from Hampton shorelines and waterways on a regular basis
Youth Programs, encouraging secondary and post-secondary youth to develop leadership skills through participation in Clean City programs
In addition to these programs, HCCC staff and volunteers educate residents through presentations, displays, and public information forums and social media platforms.
In Fiscal Year 2024, HCCC reported the participation of 2,086 volunteers who contributed 11,475 hours of volunteer time at an estimated value of $281,022. Volunteers conducted 513 cleanups, removing approximately 33 cubic yards of litter and debris from public areas, including 40,078 cigarette ends. Also conducted were 2 litter indices (community and schools); 35 youth presentations and 18 adult presentations; 8 youth environmental clubs, 8 environmental education tours; and to extensive public outreach via events and social media.
The Commonwealth of Virginia allocates ninety percent (90%) of the funds collected through three “litter taxes” to a grant program that funds local litter prevention and recycling activities. Every Virginia locality is eligible to receive these annual, non-competitive, non-matching grant funds. Appropriated amounts are based upon a locality’s population and road mileage. The Hampton Clean City Commission was awarded a Litter Prevention and Recycling Program Grant in the total amount of $36,037.00 from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The amount allocated to the City of Hampton for FY2025 does not require matching funds.
Impact:
The purpose of the HCCC is to improve and enhance the physical environment of Hampton and its waterways through beautification and community improvement programs; litter awareness, prevention, and abatement programs; encouragement of ordinance enforcement and guided education to the citizens; and, encouragement of participation in these areas.
The activities of the HCCC volunteers support the following Council Strategic Priorities: Place Making, Living with Water, Educated Citizenry, and Safe & Clean Community. HCCC programs and projects, for example, the Adopt-A-Spot program, waterway cleanups, the Community Appearance and Litter Index, and the Schools Index, will help measure progress in these areas.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve and appropriate funds.
Body
WHEREAS, the Hampton Clean City Commission has been awarded a Litter Prevention and Recycling Program Grant in the total amount of $36,037.00 from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality;
WHEREAS, the grant does not require a local match; and
WHEREAS, the grant award covers the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia hereby amends its Fiscal Year 2025 Council Approved Budget to accept and appropriate the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Litter Prevention and Recycling Program Grant award in the total amount of $36,037.00 and any supplemental funding, to the Grant Fund, with the funds to be spent in accordance with any required grant agreement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council authorizes the City Manager, or her designee, to take any and all actions necessary to accept and implement this grant award and to carry out the purposes of this Resolution, subject to approval by the City Attorney.