HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/18/2019 08 Solarize Yakima Campaign MOU with Spark Northwest to\'4\lyy tbxk ik 1
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEM ENT
Item No. 8.
For Meeting of: June 18, 2019
ITEM TITLE: Resolution authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding with Spark
Northwest for the Solarize Yakima Campaign
SUBMITTED BY: Randy Beehler, Communications and Public Affairs Director- 901-
1142
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
At the Council's December 4th, 2018 regular meeting, the Council unanimously directed City staff
to pursue having the City partner with Spark Northwest, a non-profit organization that supports
local efforts to simplify the process for residents of Washington State and Oregon communities
to invest in solar energy.
Included in the June 18th Council regular meeting agenda packet is a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) between the City and Spark Northwest regarding a campaign entitled
Solarize Yakima. As demonstrated in the MOU, the City will incur little if any out-of-pocket
expenses for the Solarize Yakima campaign. A moderate amount of City staff time will likely
need to be invested in order to coordinate committee recruitment, campaign promotion, and the
reservation of meeting space.
ITEM BUDGETED: NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Partnership Development
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL: ier City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt resolution.
BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
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ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
Memo-Solarize Yakima Campaign Memorandum of
6/1312019 Corer Memo
Understanding
D Resolution-Spark Nridhvgnst-City of Y*.iira MOU E;13/2019 Cow;Memo
D Spark Northwest-City of Yakima IMOU 6[12/2019 Cithicr Memo
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To: Yakima City Council
From: Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler
Subject: Spark Northwest Partnership
Date: Thursday, June 13'h, 2019
Council members,
At the Council's December 4th, 2018 regular meeting, the Council unanimously directed City staff to
purse having the City partner with Spark Northwest, a non-profit organization that supports local
efforts to simplify the process for residents of Washington State and Oregon communities to invest
in solar energy.
Founded in 2001, Spark Northwest, formerly known as Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic
Development, works with a local project manager, typically from a local organization, utility, or
governmental entity, to provide training, technical assistance, and workshop presentations to
facilitate a group purchase program called Solarize Northwest. Through the Solarize Northwest
program, local residents are able to join forces to collectively select a solar contractor and, through
a group purchase, significantly reduce the high upfront cost of installing residential solar systems.
Included in the June 18th Council regular meeting agenda packet is a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) between the City and Spark Northwest regarding a campaign entitled
Solarize Yakima. As demonstrated in the MOU, the City will incur little if any out-of-pocket
expenses for the Solarize Yakima campaign. A moderate amount of City staff time will likely need
to be invested in order to coordinate committee recruitment, campaign promotion, and the
reservation of meeting space.
The City's role in the Solarize Yakima campaign would primarily consist of serving as the "face" of
the campaign by helping to recruit volunteers to serve on a campaign committee and by promoting
the campaign through the City's various communications platforms. The City may also be asked to
provide meeting space for campaign workshops.
The cost of the Solarize Yakima campaign is estimated to be about $25,000 to $30,000, all of
which will be paid for by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and distributed by the
Washington State Department of Commerce. Spark Northwest staff will serve in the role of
campaign manager.
Solarize Northwest campaigns typically last about nine months. A campaign begins with the
recruitment and training of committee volunteers. A solar installer is then selected by the
committee. Workshops are conducted to educate community members about the process of solar
conversion. Installations then occur during a period of time with a specific end date.
Please let me know if you have questions or need additional information about this issue prior to the
Council's June 18th regular meeting.
[Type here]
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RESOLUTION NO. R-2019-
A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with Spark Northwest for the Solarize Yakima
project.
WHEREAS, the City is a municipal corporation duly formed and existing under the laws of
the State of Washington with City Hall located at 129 North Second Street, Yakima, Washington
98901; and
WHEREAS, Spark Northwest is duly formed and existing as a tax-exempt, nonprofit
organization under the section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
WHEREAS, Spark Northwest will be conducting the Solarize Yakima project beginning in
July 2019 in an effort to encourage the adoption of solar energy by residents of Yakima; and
WHEREAS, the City will assist in the Solarize Yakima project by performing certain
community outreach and education to residents and business owners in Yakima; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the residents
of the City of Yakima to execute the attached agreement and enter into a partnership with Spark
Northwest, now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute the attached and incorporated
Memorandum of Understanding with Spark Northwest for the Solarize Yakima project.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 18th day of June, 2019
Kathy Coffey, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sonya Clear Tee, City Clerk
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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Relating to the Solarize Yakima Project
This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (the "MOU") is entered into by and among Spark
Northwest, the City of Yakima (the "Community Partner) as partners for the Solarize Yakima
Project (the "Project"), effective as of the last date set forth on the signature page (the "Effective
Date"). The foregoing parties are collectively referenced as the "Parties" or singularly as a
„Party."
1. General.
a. Purpose. In connection with the Project, Spark Northwest has selected the
Community Partner to perform community outreach and education to residents and business
owners in the City of Yakima (the "Participating Community"), with support and assistance of
the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments, who has entered into a separate agreement with
Spark Northwest to implement the project. In the course of the Project, a solar installation
company (the "Installation Partner") will be selected by a volunteer committee of residents
through an appropriate public bidding process, with assistance from Spark Northwest. The
purpose of this MOU is to confirm the Parties' collaboration on the Project and each Party's
respective roles and responsibilities related to the Project, as further described in the attached
Exhibit A, said Project to take place beginning June 20, 2019 and ending December 31, 2019,
unless terminated earlier as provided below.
b. Intent. The Parties only intend Sections 1, 2, and 3 be legally binding on the
Parties. Exhibit A of this MOU is not intended to be legally binding, but rather to merely constitute
an expression of the Parties' mutual intent with respect to the Project. Any additional legally
binding relationship will be separately entered into pursuant to one or more definitive written
agreements between two or more of the Parties where appropriate. This MOU does not give rise
to the obligation of any Party to enter into any additional agreements nor consummate any future
transactions with any other Party related to the Project or otherwise.
2. Terms and Conditions.
a. Trademarks; Outreach Materials.Any educational, marketing, outreach or online
materials created or provided by Spark Northwest related to the Project, including templates,
(collectively, "Outreach Materials"), may display the name, trademark, logo, and other identifying
information of Spark Northwest, the Community Partner, and the Installation Partner. Such use
shall be reviewed and approved by each Party prior to dissemination. Each Party retains
ownership of its respective trademarks, logos and other identifying information, with the goodwill
from any use inuring to the owner's benefit. Except for the Community Partner trademarks,
service marks, logos, and other identifying information contained in Outreach Materials, Spark
Northwest will own the Outreach Materials, and grants the Community Partner a license to use
and distribute the Outreach Materials solely for the purposes of advancing the Project and
promotional efforts related to solar energy and solar installations. The Outreach Materials shall
not be used or distributed for commercial purposes and shall only be used during the effective
term of this MOU.
b. Feedback. The Community Partner shall provide to Spark Northwest any
feedback, suggestions or comments provided to Spark Northwest related to the Project, Spark
Northwest's Solarize Northwest Program or the Outreach Materials, including Feedback provided
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in the course of the Project, a Solarize Workshop (as defined on Exhibit A) or in the post-Project
evaluation (the "Project Evaluation").
c. Privacy and Data. The Community Partner acknowledge and agree that Spark
Northwest may add to the internal Spark Northwest mailing list: (i) participants in workshops
related to the Project, (ii) residents or business owners that install solar systems through the
Project, and (iii) individuals or entities that register on the Spark Northwest website. Notice will be
provided to potential participants, prior to such workshops, installations and registration, that they
are being added to the mailing list. Each such person or entity will have the ability to unsubscribe.
The Community Partner and the Installation Partner further acknowledge and agree that Spark
Northwest will publish online, in a publicly-accessible forum, and in reports to Spark Northwest
donors, anonymous, aggregated information on residents and business owners that install solar
systems through the Project, e.g., as it pertains to system type and system size.
d. Revocation of Permission to Use Logo. The City shall have and shall retain the
right to revoke permission to use the City logo at any time, throughout the effective period of this
MOU. The City shall provide notice, in writing, to the Parties that the right to use the City logo
has been revoked and the effective date of revocation(revocation can be effectively immediately).
The Parties shall immediately cease and desist distribution of all materials containing the City's
logo on the effective date of the revocation, and shall destroy all copies of Outreach Materials still
in their possession that contain the City logo.
3. Miscellaneous.
a. Term and Termination. The term of this MOU will start on the Effective Date and
end on the earlier of (i) the date on which the Project is complete or (ii) five (5) business days'
after a Party gives the other Parties written notice of termination. No Party will have any liability
as a result of terminating this MOU. In the event one Party terminates this MOU, the effect of
the termination is that the entire MOU is terminated with respect to all parties and all obligations.
b. Notices. Notices may be provided by electronic or physical mail. The person(s)
identified on the signature page of this MOU will receive notices on behalf of their respective
Party. The Parties may change the person to whom notices will be sent by giving notice, in writing,
to the other Parties.
c. Governing Law. The laws of the State of Washington govern this MOU. If federal
jurisdiction exists, the Parties consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the federal courts in
Yakima County, Washington. If not, the parties consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the
Superior Court of Yakima County, Washington.
d. Assignment. No Party can assign this MOU without the other Parties' prior written
consent.
e. Waiver. A Party's delay or failure to exercise any right or remedy will not result in
a waiver of that or any other right or remedy unless expressly waived in writing.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]
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This MON has been executed by the Parties through their duly authorized officers as of the
Effective Date,
Spark orthwest
Date
Ti -: Executive Director
Name: Jennifer Grove
Email: jennifer sparknorthwestorg
After June 30, 2019, send notices to:
Linda Irvine, Program Director
linda• sparknorthwestorg
Community Partner: City of Yakima
Date
Title:
Name:
Email:
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Exhibit A
EXPECTATIONS:
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
(Non-binding per Section 1(b) of the MOU)
Spark Northwest and Yakima Valley Conference of Governments
• Provide overall project management, partner communications, and status reports to
ensure Project deliverables are met within budget and on time.
• Assist community volunteers with drafting the request for proposals ("RFP") from solar
installers and interviewing and selecting solar installer(s) using a process that is
consistent with City of Yakima RFP procedures.
• Manage the Project's overall branding, including providing logos and templates and
hosting the Project website.
• Create one version of project outreach materials.
• Host an introductory Project workshop for volunteers and the Community Partner.
• Update curriculum for workshops for the public ("Solarize Workshop").
• Manage the registration process of residents and business owners that install solar
systems through the Project and maintain the participant database.
• Provide technical and educational assistance relating to solar installations, federal and
state policies, and financial incentives.
• Report on the Project to Spark Northwest funders.
• Manage the Project Evaluation with the Community Partner and the Installation Partner.
• Recruit volunteers and coordinate volunteer assignments.
• Work with volunteers and the City of Yakima to market the program and generate
attendance at the Solarize Workshops, including printing and distributing outreach
materials.
• Host and deliver Solarize Workshops with the Installation Partner and other community
partners.
• Assist with Spark Northwest's reporting on the Project to Spark Northwest's funders.
• Participate in the Project Evaluation.
Community Partner: City of Yakima
• Attend introductory Project workshop.
• Provide City venues for meetings and workshops, as available.
• Assist Community Partner to market the program and generate attendance at the
Solarize Workshops.
• Provide press interviews as needed under coordination by the Project partners.
Installation Partner(to be selected)
• Fulfill solar installations and pricing in accordance with the accepted proposal.
• Manage all site evaluations, work contracts and solar system installations for residents
and business owners that install solar systems through the Project.
• Manage leads regarding residents and business owners that may participate in the
Project in a fair and equitable manner, as agreed upon prior to the Project's launch.
• Execute customer contracts between the participating residents or business owners, on
the one hand, and the Installation Partner, on the other hand.
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* Provide customer service before and after customer installations, as if residents or
business owners that participate in the Project were customers in the ordinary course of
business.
* Maintain and keep current real-time data on residents and business owners that
participate in the Project in Spark Northwest's customer management system.
* Participate in Project meetings and community outreach.
w Participate in and help conduct Solarize Workshops.
* Aam|at with printing of materials and other community outreach support as requested by
Spark Northwest
* Work with Project partners to publicize the campaign and provide press interviews as
needed under coordination by Project partners.
* Participate in the Project Ewa|uotion.