HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 03/19/2019 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 046, 2019, APPROPRIAgenda Item 5
Item # 5 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY March 19, 2019
City Council
STAFF
John Phelan, Energy Services Manager
Cyril Vidergar, Legal
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 046, 2019, Appropriating Unanticipated Grant Revenue in the Light and Power
Fund from Bloomberg Philanthropies for Capitalization of the EPIC Efficiency Loan Program.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to appropriate $100,000 in grant award revenues from Bloomberg Philanthropies,
as part of the Bloomberg Mayor’s Challenge, into the Fort Collins Utilities Light and Power fund for the
purposes of continued capitalization of the EPIC Loan program.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Bloomberg Mayors Challenge
In October 2018, Fort Collins became a winner of the 2018 Bloomberg Mayors Challenge and the associated
one-million-dollar prize. The grant agreement supports a three-year performance period through the end of
2021. The project includes an annual review of the budget categories with an opportunity to revise the
amounts, subject to the approval of Bloomberg.
The EPIC program was selected as a winner in the Bloomberg Mayors Challenge for its innovative approach to
providing health and equity benefits for low- and moderate-income renters by improving the energy efficiency
of rental homes. Residential property owners can take advantage of the EPIC Program’s easy streamlined
steps to make their homes more comfortable, healthy and efficient. Partnering with Colorado State University,
Fort Collins will also document the health and wellbeing benefits of improved indoor air quality over time.
Fort Collins Utilities' award-winning EPIC Loan Program helps rental and owner-occupied property owners
invest in energy-efficiency improvements through an easy, streamlined “assessment-to-upgrade” process. This
includes flexible term loans and low-interest rates. EPIC loans are repaid on the owner’s Fort Collins Utilities
monthly service bill.
Bloomberg Philanthropies works in over 120 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the
greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts,
Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. In 2016, Bloomberg Philanthropies
distributed $600 million. For more information, go to www.bloomberg.org.
Agenda Item 5
Item # 5 Page 2
EPIC Loan Program and Bloomberg Mayors Challenge Funding
The EPIC Loan program was established in August 2018 as a part of the competition phase of the Bloomberg
Mayors Challenge. The EPIC program has also been referred to as On-bill Financing 2.0 (OBF 2.0). The
programmatic and implementation structure is substantially similar to the OBF program managed by Utilities
from 2013 through 2016. The primary differences are that the EPIC Loan program is utilizing third party capital
from a variety of sources, and that the Bloomberg Mayors Challenge project will focus on implementing
efficiency upgrades in rental properties and the measurement of indoor air quality effects which will be
completed with Colorado State University.
The first of the following tables describes the current and planned sources of the blended capital “stack” with
specific details on the status of each. The second table describes the expected breakdown of the overall
Bloomberg Mayors Challenge funding. The Bloomberg grant agreement includes a limited period after initial
signing to review and revise the work plan and budget in collaboration with personnel from the Bloomberg
Philanthropies. This update will be completed in March 2019, with subsequent delivery of the balance of the
2019 funds. Staff will bring forward a separate appropriation for this next tranche of funds, followed by
subsequent ones in 2020 and 2021 based upon the work plan and associated budget and approval by
Bloomberg.
EPIC Loan Program Capital Sources (preliminary, to be revised Q2 2019)
Description Amount Details Status/Notes
Bloomberg Mayors
Challenge competition
phase
$100,000 Grant Loaned to customers from Aug
2018 to date
Colorado Energy Office
Grant
$200,000 Grant Loaned to customers from Aug
2018 to date, approximately 10%
remaining
Bloomberg Mayors
Challenge Prize, step one
$100,000 Grant Appropriation March 19, 2019 to
be added to available loan capital
Bloomberg Mayors
Challenge Prize, step two
~$600,000 Grant Pending revised budget plan, to
be appropriated Q2 2019
Colorado Energy Office
(CEO) Loan
$1,000,000 Low interest,
1.5 – 2.0%
Pending CEO agreement,
expected Q2/Q3 2019
3rd party capital loan(s) ~$5,000,000 Market interest
based on term,
4 – 6%
Pending structure review and
approval by Council, expected Q2
2019
Total ~$7,000,000 Blended Estimated to support 3.5 years of
EPIC program implementation
Bloomberg Mayors Challenge Funding Summary (preliminary, to be revised April 2019)
Description Amount Status/Notes
Bloomberg Mayors
Challenge competition
phase
$100,000 Loaned to customers from Aug 2018 to date
EPIC Loan capital ~$700,000 Maximize zero cost loan capital from Bloomberg
funds
Agenda Item 5
Item # 5 Page 3
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The funds for this appropriation have been received and entered into the appropriate Utilities account. The
appropriation of these funds will enable Utilities to move forward with the next phases of the project.
Third party capital sources and lenders will be reviewed and approved by Finance Committee and Council
before integration into the EPIC Loan program. The current EPIC Loan parameters include a three-tier interest
rate structure tied to the loan term (3 and 5 years at 3.49%, 7 and 10 years at 3.99%, 15 and 20 years at
4.49%). Concurrent with pending third-party capital agreements’ authorization by Council, staff will review the
current interest rates and may make recommendations for adjustments in order to align the capital stack and
EPIC Loan terms.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Bloomberg Philanthropies Grant Contribution to City of Fort Collins (PDF)
March 12, 2019
The Honorable Mayor Wade Troxell
City of Fort Collins
300 LaPorte Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Dear Mayor Troxell:
Congratulations to the City of Fort Collins on being named a Bloomberg
Philanthropies 2018 Mayors Challenge Winner!
We are pleased to let you know that the contribution of $100,000, sent today by
wire transfer, is the first installment of our three-year $1,000,000 commitment. We are
delighted to partner with the City of Fort Collins to support your winning idea to make
housing safer and more energy efficient for low-income renters by offering landlords a
creative mix of low-cost financing, simplified underwriting, and pre-screened contractors.
Please have your team continue to work with Anne Emig and keep her apprised of
the progress. Per the grant agreement, periodic reports are required and should be sent to
her at anne@bloomberg.org. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Anne
at (212) 205-0126.
Sincerely,
Emma Bloomberg Georgina Bloomberg
ATTACHMENT 1
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ORDINANCE NO. 046, 2019
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED GRANT REVENUE IN THE
LIGHT AND POWER FUND FROM BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES
FOR RESIDENTIAL EFFICIENCY PROJECT LOANS
WHEREAS, under Ordinance No. 033, 2012, the City established a Home Efficiency
Loan Program, also known as On-Bill Utility Financing (OBF), which enabled Fort Collins
Utilities to offer financing and on-bill servicing of customer loans for energy efficiency, water
efficiency and renewable energy upgrade projects; and
WHEREAS, between 2013 through 2016, OBF provided low-cost financing for energy
efficiency, solar photovoltaic, and water conservation improvements, in support of Utilities’
efficiency and conservation efforts, and policy goals from Plan Fort Collins, the Climate Action
Plan and the Energy Policy and Water Conservation Plan; and
WHEREAS, in February 2018, the City was selected as a Champion City as part of the
2018 Bloomberg U.S. Mayors Challenge competition; and
WHEREAS, in conjunction with selection as a Champion City, Bloomberg
Philanthropies awarded the City $1M over three years to further develop a program to improve
energy efficiency of low- to moderate-income rental households; and
WHEREAS, City staff and the City Manager recommend appropriating the Bloomberg
Philanthropies grant award funds to increase participation by low- and moderate-income
households in enhanced OBF loans for residential energy efficiency and renewable energy
upgrade programs administered as the EPIC Loan Program; and
WHEREAS, EPIC Program loans incentivize rental and owner-occupied property
owners to invest in energy-efficient improvements, advancing public benefits to health, safety
and welfare by supporting the City’s progress toward 2030 community energy and climate
objectives; and
WHEREAS, the initial grant distribution of $100,000 requires appropriation in 2019 to
support the EPIC Loan Program; and
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9, of the City Charter permits the City Council to make
supplemental appropriations by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year, provided that the
total amount of such supplemental appropriations, in combination with all previous
appropriations for that fiscal year, does not exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated
revenues to be received during the fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, City staff has confirmed that the appropriation of the Bloomberg
Philanthropies grant award as described herein will not cause the total amount appropriated in
the Fort Collins Utilities’ Light and Power Fund to exceed the current estimate of actual and
anticipated revenues to be received in that fund during the fiscal year; and
-2-
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined it is desirable to enhance the program
incentives and financing options for EPIC/OBF loans and provide flexibility in the
administration of those loans for rental and owner-occupied properties, in furtherance of the
conservation benefits available to ratepayers through City Utility energy efficiency and
renewable energy upgrade programs, as required by Article XII, Section 6 of the City Charter.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That there is hereby appropriated from unanticipated grant revenue in the
Light and Power Fund the sum of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100,000) for
expenditure in the Light and Power Fund for the EPIC residential efficiency project loan
program.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 19th day of
March, A.D. 2019, and to be presented for final passage on the 16th day of April, A.D. 2019.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 16th day of April, A.D. 2019.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk
Colorado State University
health and indoor air quality
research and monitoring
equipment
~$250,000 Scope of work and CSU grant sub-agreement under
development
Grant project overhead
(staff, travel, etc)
~$50,000 Ensure grant performance and required meetings
through 2021
Total $1,100,000