Special Board of Aldermen 09-08-2021 Page 3
public sector, and then water, sewer and broadband infrastructure projects.
The revenue replacement is to replace any reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemics such as revenue
from taxes or miscellaneous general revenue. Cities are permitted to calculate the extent of reduction in revenue as a
four points in time and those are December 31* of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. So we were able to project our
revenue loss for the period December 31, 2020 already.
The next eligible use is the public health response. These expenses can include vaccination programs, testing,
contact tracing, access to health services, public communication efforts, purchases of personal protection, equipment,
and capital investments in public facilities used to meet the pandemic needs. So physical plant improvements to
public hospitals and health clinics are some of the uses there.
The third bucket is going to be addressing the negative economic impacts and as | said, these are two workers,
families, small businesses, impacted industries in the public sector. So this type of assistance can include but not be
limited to food assistance, rent, mortgage, utility assistance, internet access, and job training. Also to small
businesses and nonprofits, you can you can sub out loans or grants to mitigate financial hardships or you can you can
give those to the nonprofits and small businesses that were hurt during the pandemic. They saw declines in revenues
or impacts. You can also offer in-kind assistance to implement COVID-19 prevention or mitigation. There's also a line
for premium pay for essential workers and aid can also be provided to tourism, travel, and hospitality industries that
were all negatively impacted by the pandemic.
The last bucket is the water sewer and broadband infrastructure category. This is to improve access to clean drinking
water, invest in wastewater and storm water infrastructure, and expand broadband access. Eligible costs are for
water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure projects and those costs must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and
the period of performance will run until December 31, 2026, which will provide time to complete projects funded using
these ARPA funds.
In the broadband category. Broadband improvements designed to serve underserved, unserved, or underserved
households and businesses defined as those that are not currently served by a wireline connection are also eligible.
Now we're going to move on to the ineligible uses. So pension funds are ineligible, rainy day funds or financial
reserves. We're not able to replenish any of those. General infrastructure which is spending above the amount
allocated under the revenue loss is not an eligible expense. Also debt service and legal settlements is ineligible.
So now | want to pass it back to Director Cummings. Thank you for your time. He's going to continue with the
presentation. He's going to talk about guiding principles and the community outreach we're planning to do.
Tim Cummings, Economic Development Director
Thank you Cheryl. So the main thrust of why we're here this evening is to start the conversation on whether we can
develop a framework based upon some guiding principles. What I'm suggesting to this body is that we look at projects
with the lens of, you Know, how the funds should be used in a manner where there is a meaningful and lasting impact.
So what do | mean by that, | would like to suggest that when a project is brought before us that it have significant
meaning and we can stand the test of time. | think we should be strategic while deciding how these funds should be
used to improve the community and most importantly, | think we need to be mindful that this is a one-time infusion of
funds and that you should look at this as providing money for once and once only and if there's a reoccurring cost, |
wouldn't necessarily want you to be taking that on unless you knew that you were obligating yourself to future costs
moving forward. So I'm suggesting that these types of guiding principles be the lens that we use while judging the
various projects and the conversation as we as we move forward.
But as | said from the onset, this is the start of the conversation and really it's what do we think, and what does the
community think, and we want to make sure people feel valued and encouraged to participate. So in the memo |
presented to you all, there was some key outreach elements that were developed. One being we put up a webpage
already on the city's website. At the end of this presentation, I'll go to it and I'll show it to you. But there there's a form
where the public can fill out the form and it will be sent into Cheryl and myself and john Griffin basically giving people's
feedback on this draft presentation but then ultimately, the priorities that we’re suggesting.
There is some outreach events, both in person and virtual. So we have to set virtually for September 21° and
September 23". We have an in-person forum set for September 29'". We have a dedicated business forum set up for
September 22"4. That one would be virtual.
