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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 05/25/2021 - FORT COLLINS RECOVERY PLANDATE: STAFF: May 25, 2021 SeonAh Kendall, Economic Health Manager Travis Storin, Chief Finance Officer WORK SESSION ITEM City Council SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION Fort Collins Recovery Plan. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to provide an overview of the City Recovery Plan and how to integrate the funding from the American Rescue Plan Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to advance a r esilient, vibrant, inclusive future for Fort Collins residents and businesses. GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED Does Council agree with the recommended allocation of the 15/85 split of American Rescue Plan funding to address current needs while developing the City Recovery Plan? BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Historically, the United States has focused disaster preparedness and recovery on nonbiological natural and man - made disasters such as floods, fire and acts of terrorism tha t impact a specific geographic location for a finite period of time. Unlike other disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic created both a public health crisis and an economic crisis that is geographically dispersed, regularly evolving and impacts everyone. Last year, the City and community activated quickly to respond to ensure that our residents, employees and businesses were safe. In May 2020, the City received $9M of the Coronavirus Relief Fund (“CVRF”) from the State of Colorado to address the public health a nd economic crisis. Chart 1 highlights some of the activities and programs supported with CVRF to address the immediate needs of the pandemic. Chart 1: Response in 2020 May 25, 2021 Page 2 CARES CVRF SPENDING TIMELINE COVID-19 Pandemic 1 First known case in Northern Colorado 2021 WRAP UP, LOOKING FORWARD? APRIL MAY JUNE JULYAUGUST OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER VirtuVisit program launched Small Business Assistance Program Northside Aztlan Non-Congregate Shelter Opens City receives $9M in CARES CVRF Funding CARES Lead Team Formed Stay at Home Order Begins De-escalation Training Mind Matters Exhibit Opens NoCo Nosh Partnership Launches CARES Dashboard Launches Vaccine Distribution Begins Camp FunQuest Programs Begin CARES Act Eviction Legal Fund Launches Utilities Assistance Program Begins Community Assistance Grant Awarded Outdoor Dining Expansion COVID-19 Wastewaster Testing Begins PPE Distribution for businesses and nonprofits EOC Established Stay at Home Order Ends City Face Coverings Requirement Begins SEPTEMBER MARCH Keep NoCo Open Launches Statewide Mask Mandate enacted Keep NoCo Open Answer the Call ForFortCollins.com NoCo Recovers.com Inclusive community engagement RECOVERY PLAN As the shift from response to recovery happens, we are aware we cann ot return to the pre-pandemic status quo. Recovery is a multi-faceted, multi-year process requiring strategic nimbleness to address the needs of today and the future. Successful recovery is broader than simply restoring infrastructure, services and the tax base. As our community continues to heal, the vision for recovery is that all Fort Collins residents and businesses are able to participate in a resilient, vibrant and inclusive future. The recovery plan will connect existing community plans (City Plan, Strategic Plan, Council Priorities) with the needs of our community to allow a comprehensive and integrated approach to recovery. The recovery plan will include: • Metrics - understanding the transactional and transformational change needed through data an d lived experiences to drive strategies and tactics. • Plan Scan - connect and leverage existing community plans to support recovery. • Engagement - integrate into existing summer 2021 engagement efforts surrounding the 2022 Strategic Plan and 2022 budget, utilizing intentional engagement strategies that center on inclusion of hard -hit, under- resourced, and marginalized communities, businesses and individuals. This will be a two -phased approach: 1) seek understanding, feedback and ideas through lived exper iences; and 2) verify alignment from feedback and recommendations within the draft recovery plan. Attachment 3. • Inclusive Recovery Framework - a recommended framework that aids in decision-making opportunities, including the utilization of the American R escue Plan Act’s (“ARPA”) Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (“FRF”). The overarching Guiding Principles are the lens through which all policies and programs should be created to achieve recovery. These Guiding Principles are: • Livability: Help our community rebound and thrive. • Sustainability: Apply a triple bottom line lens to recovery. • Community: Ensure a robust, inclusive and welcoming engagement to inform the recovery plan. • Connect existing plans. • Leverage federal, state and local funds to advance recovery. • Address current and long-term needs for our community through funding and transparency. Not all in our community were in a good place pre-pandemic and the economy’s recovery continues to be uneven. May 25, 2021 Page 3 Racial, gender, social and economic barriers exist. Unemployment in the Fort Collins - Loveland Metropolitan Service Area (MSA) for February 2021 was at 6% or about 12,900 compared to 2.6% in February 2020. The largest sectors of unemployment are Accommodation and Food Services (16%), Retail Trade (13%), Construction (13%) and Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (11%). Chart 2. An example of understanding data to understand impact is reviewing the December 2020 national unemployment figures. The national net job losses in December 2020 is 140,000, the disaggregated data exposes that 156,000 job losses were held by women and men gained 16,000 jobs during the same time. Equity and inclusion will continue to be at the forefront of our recovery effor ts to ensure inequities are not unintentionally exacerbated by recovery policies. Chart 2: Unemployment by Sectors for the Fort Collins - Loveland MSA, February 2021 ALIGNMENT WITH CITY STRATEGIC PLAN • NLSH 1.1 Improve and increase availability and choice of quality housing that is affordable to a broad range of income levels. COVID-19 has exacerbated housing affordability throughout the country. Nonprofit partnerships have played a critical role in the response, precovery and the future recovery to a ddress priority human service needs. • NLSH 1.4 Advance equity for all, leading with race, so that a person’s identity or identities is not a predicator of outcomes. The City acknowledges that there are inequities experienced by Fort Collins community members, and we recognize that diversity, equity and inclusion are foundational to sustained economic prosperity May 25, 2021 Page 4 • ECON 3.1 Facilitate government and local partners to achieve effective regional economic resilience. Economic activity does not stop along municipal borders. Partnering on issues such as childcare access, workforce support, affordable housing and infrastructure can create more expansive, long -term solutions. • ECON 3.3 Systematically engage the business community with an emphasis on starting, sust aining and renewing businesses. Ninety-eight percent of businesses in Fort Collins are small businesses (100 employees or fewer). The pandemic has exposed both the vulnerability and importance of small businesses to local and regional economies. Entrepreneurship and home ownership are two potential opportunities to lessen the racial wealth gap. NOTE: The intent of the recovery plan is to guide recovery based on the needs and priorities of the Fort Collins community. The funding discussed below is an opportunity to achieve the objectives of the plan. AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT In March 2021, President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) stimulus package, including direct support for education, transportation, agriculture, small bu siness and others. Additionally, ARPA includes $350 billion for state and local fiscal recovery funds to address the pandemic recovery. The funds will be distributed in two tranches, with 50% delivered in 2021, and the remainder delivered no earlier than one year later. It is not yet known the requirement(s) to request the 2nd tranche of funds. Of the state and local fiscal recovery funds, the City will receive $28,118,971. On May 10, 2021, the US Treasury Department released its Interim Final Rule (‘Rule”) on the use of these fiscal recovery funds. The Rule provides greater flexibilities than the Coronavirus Relief Fund (“CVRF”) for mitigation efforts; addresses adverse economic impacts and inequalities; provides premium pay for essential workers; and puts money toward infrastructure improvements. PROPOSED DISTRIBUTION As mentioned above, the COVID-19 pandemic is not like any disaster we have seen, there is no defined stop or geographical limitation - the pandemic has impacted everyone. As staff continue to partner with the community in the development of the recovery plan, we acknowledge there is immediate need and we will need to be intentional in utilizing ARPA funds to build a resilient, inclusive, and vibrant future for all Fort Collins residents and businesses. The negative impacts of the pandemic have not stopped, and there are still immediate needs within the community. Staff is recommending a 15/85 allocation of ARPA funds. While the recovery plan is being developed, staff is requesting 15 percent of the ARPA funds to be allocated to address current needs. The remaining 85 percent will assist in achieving the mid to longer term community recovery plan objectives. Staff would bring forward an appropriation of the 15% (approximately $4.2M) to be use d to address the immediate needs of the community, the same way the CVRF was utilized in 2020. Once the recovery plan is finalized staff would bring back an additional appropriation for the remaining 85% based on the recommendations and needs identified in the recovery plan. NEXT STEPS 1. Review and interpret the US Treasury Guidance - May 2021 2. Develop process and procedure for the current community needs, within the ARPA guidelines - Q2 and Q3 - 2021 3. Develop the recovery plan and the inclusive framework for recommendations - Q2 - Q3 - 2021 4. Review with Council and community the recovery plan recommendations - Q4 - 2021 May 25, 2021 Page 5 ATTACHMENTS 1. CARES CVRF Impact Report 2020 (PDF) 2. Recovery Engagement Plan (PDF) 3. ARP State & Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Fact Sheet (PDF) 4. Powerpoint Presentation (PDF) CARES CVRF FUNDING IMPACT REPORT March 18, 2021 CONTACT SeonAh Kendall, CPA City Recovery Manager skendall@fcgov.com Blaine Dunn Interim Accounting Director bdunn@fcgov.com@fcgov.com Erin Zimmermann Grant Manager ezimmermann@fcgov.com ATTACHMENT 1 CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 2 BACKGROUND 3 FUNDING SUMMARY 4 CARES Grants and Amounts Awarded 4 CVRF Funding Allocations 5 Timeline of Projects 5 ORGANIZATION/ DIRECT CITY RESPONSE 6 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) 6 Remote Work and Office Reconfigurations 6 COVID Testing/ Lab Center 6 CARES Dashboard 7 BUSINESS SUPPORT/ ECONOMIC RECOVERY 8 Keep NoCo Open Campaign 8 Restaurant Outside Dine-In Expansion 8 Nosh Noco Food Delivery Partnership 9 PPE Distribution for Fort Collins Small Businesses and Nonprofits 10 Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP) 10 RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT/ SOCIAL RECOVERY 12 FunQuest Summer Program 12 Utility Assistance Program 13 VirtuVisit program 13 Mind Matters Museum Exhibit 14 Legal Defense Fund 14 Housing & Homelessness Shelters 15 Community Assistance Grant Program 16 KEY TAKEAWAYS—LESSONS LEARNED 17 Summary 17 Outcomes 17 Lessons Learned 18 Long-term recovery planning 18 CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 3 BACKGROUND On March 9, 2020, the first COVID-19 case in Larimer County was announced. Within a week, as cases rose throughout the county, state and nation, Fort Collins saw schools, businesses and public space closures that were happening across the country, followed by a statewide Stay-at-Home Order through April. The City of Fort Collins responded both to the immediate crisis and the ongoing response to move toward recovery. Emergency health orders and regulations were put into place and continued to evolve throughout the pandemic. This included, but was not limited, to authorizing emergency purchases, suspending Transfort fare collection, suspending utilities disconnects, changing sign codes, and issuing a public face covering order. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020 by Congress. The CARES ACT established a $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund (CVRF), which was distributed to communities throughout the United States. On May 18, 2020, Governor Polis signed Executive Order D2020 070, Directing the Expenditure of Federal Funds Pursuant to the CARES, to establish the CVRF for those communities that have less than 500,000 population. Through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), this fund would reimburse costs to Counties, Municipalities and Special Districts. Through an intergovernmental agreement with Larimer County, and other municipalities within the county, the City was allocated $9,015,692 to respond and address the COVID-19 public health pandemic. The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of how the City’s CARES funding was used to support COVID-19 relief efforts and help inform the path toward recovery. TYPES OF CARES FUNDING A Recovery Executive Team was formed to provide strategic oversight and guidance, including the deployment of the CARES CVRF funds. A City Recovery Manager position was hired to focus on the connection of response and long-term recovery within the overall city organization and community. Additionally, staff were redeployed to support the coordination, logistics and operations, and cross-departmental structure put into place. The Mayor and City Council made the strategic decision to utilize the CVRF to respond to the immediate COVID health crisis, advance community strategic objectives and support our community small businesses, nonprofits and residents. The majority of the funding was deployed directly into our community. Funding allocation was structured with 30 percent going to keeping our City organization safe, 30 percent to support businesses/economic recovery and 40 percent for direct social and residential recovery. CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 4 FUNDING SUMMARY CARES Grants and Amounts Awarded While this report focuses on the use of CVRF, it was one of several forms of CARES funding received by the City of Fort Collins and our region. Under the CARES Act, there were dedicated funds for transportation and emergency services (police). Below is a high-level summary of additional CARES funds received. Total CARES Funding: $36.1M FAA $16.9 M CVRF $9.0 M FTA $8.7 M CDBG $1.4 M DOJ $0.1 M • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Northern Colorado Regional Airport • Coronavirus Relief Fund (CVRF) • Federal Transportation Agency (FTA) - Used for ongoing operations and offset contributions from General Fund in 2020 • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) • Department of Justice (DOJ) -Used for Police Overtime and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 5 CVRF Funding Allocations Timeline of Projects CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 6 ORGANIZATION/ DIRECT CITY RESPONSE Outcome: Provide safe service delivery and support for employees and the community Emergency Operations Center (EOC) The virtual Fort Collins Operations Center was activated on March 9, 2020 in response to the pandemic. The pandemic and wildfires highlighted the need to have a formal emergency operation center. Technology and processes were developed to ensure the safety of employees and the community while effectively coordinating response efforts. Remote Work and Office Reconfigurations By the end of March 2020, the majority of City staff began working remotely due to the statewide Stay-at-Home order. The City invested in infrastructure (additional computers, monitors, peripherals etc.) and additional IT support to enable telework capabilities. Many critical City services continued to operate during the Stay-at-Home order, and since late-spring of 2020, some employees have transitioned back to working onsite due to the nature of their work. To keep employees and community members safe, workspaces were reconfigured, and additional cleaning services and safety measures were implemented. COVID Testing/ Lab Center The City of Fort Collins partnered with Larimer County and Colorado State University to support free COVID-19 testing. Additionally, Fort Collins Utilities partnered with Colorado State University and other partners to test wastewater samples for SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 infection. This collaboration was part of a broader Front Range effort to test the wastewater of over 65% of Colorado’s population. Wastewater sampling served as another early warning indicator to aid in decision-making for public health officials. CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 7 CARES Dashboard An interactive CARES Dashboard was created to provide a transparent snapshot of how the City’s CARES CVRF funds were being utilized to support pandemic response and recovery. Additional outreach related to the overall impact of CARES CVRF funding included: • The City Manager’s Column in the Coloradoan, December 2020 • Press releases throughout 2020 and into 2021 • Regular reports to City Council CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 8 BUSINESS SUPPORT/ ECONOMIC RECOVERY Outcome: Deepened relationships with the business community and response to critical business needs Keep NoCo Open Campaign NoCoRecovers.com was created to provide a single source of up-to-date information on potential funding resources available to support the business community of Northern Colorado. The site served as a hub for other tools including the Keep NoCo Open educational campaign, ongoing COVID-19 impact surveys, public health summaries, and recovery indicators and metrics. Keep NoCo Open encouraged businesses and community members to take action and follow safety guidelines to keep the community open for business. Restaurant Outside Dine-In Expansion The City of Fort Collins created a temporary program with a streamlined permitting process to expand options for restaurants, retail, and bars to operate in outdoor patio settings adjacent to their businesses, including parking lots, sidewalks and street parking spaces. City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places, in partnership with the City’s Engineering, Streets, and Traffic Operation Departments, as well as the Downtown Fort Collins Creative District and the Jason and Lucy Greer Foundation for the Arts, hired local artists to paint 15 temporary murals on the concrete barriers around outdoor dining areas throughout Downtown. Number of approved outdoor permits in Fort Collins: 48 Number of temporary concrete barrier murals: 15 196+ unique marketing components created and distributed across Northern Colorado Shawna Turner, Artist at Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant Chris Bates, Artist at Beau Jo’s East CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 9 Nosh Noco Food Delivery Partnership Due to capacity restrictions and public health concerns, the City of Fort Collins launched a program to assist local restaurants and incentivize community members to support their favorite restaurants by partnering with Nosh Noco, a local restaurant delivery service, owned by Northern Colorado restaurants. The program paid the restaurant portion of the delivery fees and the first $0.50 of the delivery fee charged to Fort Collins community members. TESTIMONIALS “This has helped us so much, any little boost is huge for us. We are so new we haven’t qualified for any grants or funding so it helps immensely” “I think the program was beneficial as it highlighted the importance of partnerships between locally owned business. Keep it local.” HIGHLIGHTS • As of February 5, 32 restaurants added to the Nosh platform since program launch • Nosh sales went from an average of $4,300/week to $5,700/week signifying a change in consumer behavior since program launch • Total amount of businesses who received free menu photo shoots through the partnership: 16 Yes 72% No Response 19% No 9% Did you see an increase in orders after the City- Nosh partnership launched in late November? Less than 20% 50% 20-40% 25% Over 80% 13% 41-60% 9% 61-80% 3% What percentage of your dining room revenue have you been able to re-coop through delivery or takeout? Los Comales Stuft CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 10 PPE Distribution for Fort Collins Small Businesses and Nonprofits The City of Fort Collins held PPE distribution events for small businesses and nonprofits needing safety supplies. Businesses were able to pick up 1 box of items that included: 100 adult masks, 12 8oz. hand sanitizer bottles, 1 gallon hand sanitizer (used for refills), 10 clear masks, nitrile reusable gloves (variety of sizes), 2 face shields, 1 reusable spray bottle, and 1 bottle of dish soap. Children masks and eye protection glasses were also available. A total of 95 boxes were given out. Extra supplies were given to the Chamber of Commerce for distribution to their members. The City of Fort Collins also helped develop, NoCoSafetySupply.com, the region’s PPE marketplace in coordination with the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce and WTF Marketing. Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP) Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP), administered by the City’s Economic Health Office, provided relief to 205 small businesses disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program targeted our smallest, long-standing businesses, focusing on reaching those that had not been able to obtain other forms of assistance. The funding helped offset the significant, temporary loss of revenue and impact of public health orders. The funding reimbursed the costs of business interruptions and supported rent, utilities, and purchases of PPE. The City prioritized inclusive business engagement and utilized different mediums of outreach to ensure monies were spent where most needed, including hiring local cultural brokers and engagement staff. In 53 workdays, more than 130 contacts were made with more than 90 businesses. This included more than 50 bilingual engagements. CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 11 SUMMARY OF SBAP FUNDING Approved Applications Initial Award Bonus Award Total Award Highest Award Average Award Round 1 77 $666,073 $181,205 $847,279 $15,000 $11,004 Round 2 69 $482,530 $166,000 $648,530 $12,500 $9,399 Sole P 30 $112,369 $0 $112,369 $4,500 $3,746 Round 3 29 $145,000 $145,000 $290,000 $10,000 $10,000 205 $1,405,972 $492,205 $1,898,177 $9,259 TESTIMONIALS FROM RECIPIENTS “I have three employees and myself. When I shared with them that the City had helped us with this money, two cried and one just said that this made her feel less alone. I know I cried; this pandemic has left us all so isolated, and knowing that the City cared if we continued to stay in business was a huge morale boost for all four of us.” “To not have to worry about our rent, we were able to focus on making sure our staff were taken care of and were able to keep their jobs.” CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 12 RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT/ SOCIAL RECOVERY Outcome: Supported innovation and adaptability to meet the most critical community needs and keep people in their homes FunQuest Summer Program Camp FunQuest is a well-established summer day camp program run by the Recreation Department, which pre-COVID was budgeted to run June 1 – August 14. CARES dollars were not initially deployed to support this program, however additional staff were hired to support lower ratios and smaller cohorts due to COVID-19 guidelines for childcare. In the fall, the program then shifted to providing remote learning support for students when the school district was in virtual and hybrid phases. FUNQUEST PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • 855 weekly enrollments between June 1-August 14 • Up to 100 children attended daily • 1,705 total students served June 1 – December 30 CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 13 Utility Assistance Program The City’s Utilities CARES Act program provided financial assistance for both residential and commercial customers with past due utility bills. $547,648 was distributed to 1,323 residential and 43 commercial customers. ADDITIONAL ACTIONS TAKEN BY UTILITIES • Late fees and reconnection fees were paused beginning in since April 2020. • Utilities disconnects were suspended since April 2020. • The Utilities Payment Assistance Fund distributed $323,591 to 847 income-qualified customers with past-due bills. • Donation campaign raised $61,380 (record amount). Allowed more income-qualified customers to be supported. • Additional Payment Assistance Fund distribution agencies recruited to build capacity for distributing funds. • Staff worked with local partners to provide additional “gap” funding to customers who owe more than $1,000. VirtuVisit program The VirtuVisit program, launched at the end of October 2020, connects isolated older adults to family, friends and volunteers supporting them. The no cost program provides seniors with user- friendly digital tablets and startup support by trained volunteers. After training, participants are more easily able to connect with friends and family and attend virtual classes, appointments and events. One VirtuVisit participant, a 101-year-old hospice patient, is now able to visit with her family on a regular basis because of the program. Numerous program participants shared that the ability to connect virtually with family and friends, along with critical services was very important during the pandemic. 32 Participants As of Early Jan. 2021 26 Volunteers CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 14 Mind Matters Museum Exhibit In October 2020, the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery opened the special exhibit “Mental Health: Mind Matters”. The goal of the interactive exhibit was to build a greater understanding of the importance of mental health and create a safe space for important conversations about mental illness during the crisis. The exhibit was free to the community. Legal Defense Fund City staff allocated CARES Act funding for a mini-grant program with a competitive application process to identify and contract with community partners for eviction avoidance education programs, outreach, legal clinics, and direct client representation for Fort Collins community members. 8 Community partner organizations coordinated efforts, providing: • Outreach materials • Self-advocacy training sessions • Free legal advice • Representation of clients facing eviction due to COVID-19 • 4,320 informational flyers distributed in English & Spanish • 28 families kept in housing through direct legal representation and legal advice from the Colorado Poverty Law Project • 150 calls received by Fuerza Latina hotline related to housing insecurity, rent assistance, legal assistance, landlord communication support or other housing issues. • Callers were directed to resources offered by community partners funded by CARES. • 3 Know Your Rights training sessions held • 2 virtual legal clinics • Reached approximately 150 residents* *97 of those reached from targeted populations based on factors that contribute to vulnerability to housing instability due to COVID-19 • 3 eviction cases from Fort Collins went to court hearing, supported by direct legal representation and legal advice from the Colorado Poverty Law Project Housing & Homelessness Shelters The City, through the Social Sustainability Department (SSD), supported COVID-19 response work of local homelessness service providers by deploying CARES-CVRF to both congregate and non- congregate shelters. These projects focused their pandemic response work on the safety of those experiencing homelessness in our community. A non-congregate shelter program, hosted at a local hotel, supported those most at-risk of complications due to COVID-19. Congregate shelters expanded capacity to allow for increased physical distancing and safety protocols. Northside Aztlan Center Emergency Shelter Program In late March, Northside Aztlan Community Center was transitioned into a 24/7 shelter that allowed for proper physical distancing and safety protocols. A temporary outdoor shelter space was also approved in Heritage Park and officially opened in mid-April. Both indoor and outdoor shelters operated into mid-June. All told, the indoor shelter served 7,432 overnight guests and provided over 30,901 meals. Fort Collins Rescue Mission Temporary Shelter at Blue Spruce The Fort Collins Rescue Mission temporarily moved to a larger space, Blue Spruce, where it has serviced up to 150 men per night since early November 2020. Catholic Charities Temporary Shelter for Women and Families Catholic Charities built a temporary heated structure in their parking lot for women and families to stay warm and protected while waiting to enter the shelter each evening. In November and December of 2020, 2,025 women and 167 families were sheltered overnight. Homeward Alliance Expanded its daytime hours at the Murphy Center and was able to purchase heaters for their outdoor seating area. Non-Congregate Shelter (NCS) A non-congregate shelter, setup at a local hotel in August 2020, provided safe, temporary housing for our community’s most vulnerable people experiencing homelessness. The NCS was created for those 65+ and/or with medical conditions at highest risk of complications from COVID-19. From August-December 2020, NCS provided safe shelter for 51 people, 16 were successfully moved into permanent housing. The Food Bank provided 8,608 lunches and dinners, and Precision provided 2,027 hours of on-site security. CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 16 Community Assistance Grant Program The City, through the Social Sustainability Department, launched a community response grant program in August 2020 and deployed CARES-CVRF funding assistance to 17 local organizations. Selected projects focused their pandemic response work toward childcare, food insecurity, housing stability and various vulnerable populations including seniors, community members with a disability, and victims of domestic violence and abuse. In total, $954,000 was awarded to the local community through this program. “The funding supported additional site staff to ensure that students had the support they needed, including implementing enrichment activities, troubleshooting challenges with online learning access, and supervising free-learning time.” - Fort Collins Museum of Discovery FUNDING BY THE NUMBERS CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 17 KEY TAKEAWAYS—LESSONS LEARNED Summary Key themes of resiliency, innovation, and collaboration emerged across all the projects and programs supported by CARES funding. Resilience meant drawing on the capacity to meet short- and long-term community needs. Staff utilized innovative problem-solving and approached programs and services in new and different ways. Furthermore, there was an ongoing commitment to adaptability as community conditions and needs changed. The importance of continued collaboration internally, as well as with external partners was one of the biggest takeaways. Outcomes Stronger Connection to the community. • Connected to the community in new ways. • Held virtual City Council meetings and hosted remote listening sessions in English and Spanish. • Sparked more authentic conversations with community members about needs and struggles. • Strengthened existing partnerships and formed new ones with external partners and businesses throughout the City and the region. • Deepened business engagement to support businesses that have traditionally been underserved. Delivered critical services with greater impact. • Delivered critical services to our community’s most vulnerable, which would not have been possible without CVRF funding. Adapted new work environment to meet emerging priorities. • Balanced flexibility and adaptability with the funds with consistent framework and process. • Hired and redeployed staff for implementation/ management on projects. • Balanced coordinating processes across the City and providing autonomy to design and manage projects. • Implemented rapid-cycle continuous improvement processes. • Prioritized the greater good of the organization. • Balanced leadership oversight and mid-level management autonomy to enable responsive decision-making. CARES CVRF March 26, 2021 Page | 18 Lessons Learned Demonstrated opportunities for internal efficiencies. • Found that a-typical funding structures like CARES require adaptation to processes as they do not always fit the traditional reporting structure of the City. • Created a greater need for cross-departmental and cross-service area coordination. Weekly project manager meetings were a successful way to share information and project stories. Bringing in the financial analysists sooner in the process would help streamline systems, as well as having a lead financial coordinator on the grant. • Highlighted opportunity to reevaluate personnel structures and utilize temporary staffing positions, in some cases to deploy underutilized employees to add greater value. • Consolidated process for reporting and storytelling would have created efficiencies. Magnified the gaps that exist within the community. • Elevated the need for an equity office, as well as new and different programs and approaches to address root issues in the community. • Highlighted greater opportunity to leverage internal and external experts to drive programs and funding. • Demonstrated a greater opportunity to leverage partners in the development and cocreation of projects to lead to better outcomes and to break down silos. Examples include Colorado State University, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development Authority (DDA), nonprofit partners, equity leaders, and boards and commissions. • Created ongoing need for adaptability to navigate challenges of ever-changing policies, requirements, and deadlines at the State and Federal level. • As competitive funding opportunities continue to become available, a need will remain to stay informed on key legislative and policy changes and priorities. Long-term recovery planning In January of 2021, the City began shifting into recovery planning. The City’s Recovery Plan will involve analyzing existing city plan(s), conducting a gap analysis, alignment with regional recovery efforts, and engaging the community on what is most needed to build an equitable and resilient recovery plan for the City. The American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, has established $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 relief funding to hit American cities across the nation, including $350 billion in aid to state and local governments. Colorado will receive $6 billion for state and local governments, which includes $27.5 million for the City of Fort Collins. This funding will be used to address the pandemic and its negative economic impacts. All funding must be spent be spent by 2024. The structural economic and social changes brought on by COVID-19 will continue to inform strategic direction and decision-making as the City continues the path of resiliency. Plans are underway to align funding with community needs. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PLAN PROJECT TITLE: FORT COLLINS COVID-19 RECOVERY PLAN OVERALL PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT LEVELS: INFORM, CONSULT, INVOLVE KEY AUDIENCES: Residents, employees, employers, business owners, property owners, renters, non-profit organizations, community partners, Business Associations, City of Fort Collins departments / staff, City Council, PSD, CSU, interested members of the public and local organizations. PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: •Gather community input and needs to inform creation of recovery plan. •Explain plan goals, scope, process and purpose of recovery and recovery planning. •Provide information about existing conditions, policies, and highlight COVID response / recovery work that has already been done (dovetail with CARES storytelling and outreach efforts already occurring). •Connect with and gather feedback from underrepresented groups, focus on inclusive engagement and language access. •Incorporate feedback from other recent and ongoing engagement process to help inform recovery (data from City Plan, Our Climate Future etc. and include recovery as a topic in Community Survey and BFO). •Gather guidance on vision, guiding principles and framework of the recovery plan. •Gather ideas for recovery programs, identify community needs for recovery and a future that is resilient, vibrant and inclusive. •Develop clear recovery plan and recommendations to achieve vision based on community feedback. KEY STAKEHOLDERS: Fort Collins Community Members, Local Businesses and Business Owners, Business Associations, PSD, Boards and Commissions, Community Partners, City departments. Specific partners may include: •CDNS •EHO •EPS •Cultural Services •Larimer County •REDI •SSD •CSU •OEDIT •State of Colorado, e.g., DOLA, CRO, etc. •FC Utilities •CDOT •Affordable Housing & Human Service Providers •La Familia •Larimer County Food Bank •Murphy Center •Catholic Charities •Chamber of Commerce •Meals on Wheels •Boys & Girls Club •Neighborhood HOAs •Larimer County Workforce Dev. Ctr. •United Way •Neighbor to Neighbor •Larimer county Public Health and the Environment •Bohemian Foundation •Mighty Arrow Foundation (New Belgium) •Visit Fort Collins •Federal Transit Administration •NFRMPO ATTACHMENT 2 BUDGET: $30,000 (for outreach and communications) TIMELINE: April 2021 – September 2021 PHASE 1: Develop engagement process, set up tools to gather community feedback on recovery vision and incorporate recovery related feedback from other engagement efforts. April: Determine Plan development process and engagement plan. Identify and begin connecting with stakeholders, including internal City departments needed for plan development. Form Recovery Plan Team. May: Update For FoCo OurCity page to be hub for recovery engagement. Establish idea board, surveys and other tools to gather feedback on what recovery looks like. Work with internal team to begin planning process, connect and gather feedback from key stakeholders. Begin to summarize recovery-related feedback from outreach efforts done in the last year (City Plan, Our Climate Future, Parks Master Plan, etc.) PHASE 2: Continue engagement efforts and shift into analysis and plan development. June: Continue outreach to stakeholders, shift more generalized outreach to focus on gathering ideas and feedback across the vision categories. July: Analyze engagement and identify gaps or missing populations, maybe some communications around that the plan is being developed, but focus on plan writing. PHASE 3: Further community engagement, specifically around draft plan. Incorporate final feedback and present to Council for potential adoption. August: Engagement around draft plan – both from the public and stakeholders (gut check, what are we missing, what are we not etc.). September: Incorporate final engagement feedback, Finalize and present plan to Council for adoption. IMPLEMENTATION: Details TBD PHASE 1: April - May Develop engagement process, set up tools to gather community feedback on recovery vision and incorporate recovery related feedback from other engagement efforts. Identify and begin connecting with stakeholders, including internal City departments / contacts o Form Recovery Team o Connect with internal stakeholders / identify City staff who can help with engagement efforts o Identify external stakeholders, assess which stakeholders have already shared feedback related to CARES spending or other COVID response efforts - Develop framework to gather feedback from stakeholders (Survey, matrix etc.) - Update For FoCo Our City Page o Update content, add additional content related to CARES funding impacts and other response/recovery stories o Make this page the hub for recovery engagement o Establish idea board and survey to gather feedback on what recovery looks like. - Incorporate recovery questions into other ongoing City engagement efforts – Community Survey and BFO - Pull and begin to summarize recovery-related summarize recovery-related feedback from outreach efforts done in the last year (City Plan, Our Climate Future, Parks Master Plan, etc.) Engagement Tools and Techniques: Engagement OurCity.fcgov.com – ForFoCo page - Idea board - Develop Survey (to post in May/June) Incorporate data and community feedback from previous COVID/ CARES Surveys - Business survey Incorporate community feedback related to recovery for use in Recovery Plan - OCF - Community Survey - Outdoor dining survey Recovery-focused questions in other engagement process: - Community Survey - BFO engagement Plan Scan Meetings with internal stakeholders Meetings with key community stakeholders – business associations, PSD, CSU Communication OurCity For FoCo CityNews Fcgov.com Business, Social Services, Neighborhood Services, Utilities and other city webpages / communication resources available to stakeholder departments Social Media For Fort Collins / NoCo Recovers Website City Newsletters (business, CAP, COVID etc.) Through community partners PHASE 2: June - July Continue engagement efforts and shift into analysis and plan development. - More extensive stakeholder outreach - Shift more generalized outreach (OurCity) to focus on gathering ideas and feedback related to vision categories / plan framework - Continue/finalize summarizing relevant engagement around recovery from other City engagement efforts - Shift to analysis of gathered feedback, more specific plan development o Communicate that first engagement phase is over, but community will have another chance to give feedback once draft plan is developed Engagement Tools and Techniques: Engagement OurCity.fcgov.com – ForFoCo page - Survey and other tools Continued stakeholder meetings Communication OurCity For FoCo CityNews Fcgov.com Business, Social Services, Neighborhood Services, Utilities and other city webpages / communication resources available to stakeholder departments Recovery-focused questions in other engagement process: - Community Survey - BFO engagement Potential Additional Engagement Options: Open houses / Workshops Targeted workshops Listening sessions Virtual presentations & idea workshops Roadshow to City Departments Social Media For Fort Collins / NoCo Recovers Website City Newsletters (business, CAP, COVID etc.) Through community partners Magazine advertisements Direct Mail Radio PHASE 3: August - September Further community engagement, specifically around draft plan. Incorporate final feedback and present to Council for potential adoption. - Gather additional community and stakeholder feedback around draft plan o Survey / other quick “gut check” tool o Rection to plan, what are we missing? - Final plan calibration - Plan approval, adoption and publishing - Outreach around plan adoption, including sharing commitments to updates and transparency - Develop plan for sharing updates about Recovery Plan implementation and recovery process Engagement Tools and Techniques: Engagement OurCity.fcgov.com – ForFoCo page - Surveys (different versions based on time available to give feedback) Additional meetings and listening sessions Potential Additional Engagement Options: - Additional meetings and listening sessions Communication OurCity For FoCo CityNews Fcgov.com Business, Social Services, Neighborhood Services, Utilities and other city webpages / communication resources available to stakeholder departments Social Media For Fort Collins / NoCo Recovers Website City Newsletters (business, CAP, COVID etc.) Through community partners 1 FACT SHEET: The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Will Deliver $350 Billion for State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal Governments to Respond to the COVID-19 Emergency and Bring Back Jobs May 10, 2021 Aid to state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments will help turn the tide on the pandemic, address its economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the launch of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to provide $350 billion in emergency funding for eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments. Treasury also released details on how these funds can be used to respond to acute pandemic response needs, fill revenue shortfalls among these governments, and support the communities and populations hardest-hit by the COVID-19 crisis. With the launch of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, eligible jurisdictions will be able to access this funding in the coming days to address these needs. State, local, territorial, and Tribal governments have been on the frontlines of responding to the immense public health and economic needs created by this crisis – from standing up vaccination sites to supporting small businesses – even as these governments confronted revenue shortfalls during the downturn. As a result, these governments have endured unprecedented strains, forcing many to make untenable choices between laying off educators, firefighters, and other frontline workers or failing to provide other services that communities rely on. Faced with these challenges, state and local governments have cut over 1 million jobs since the beginning of the crisis. The experience of prior economic downturns has shown that budget pressures like these often result in prolonged fiscal austerity that can slow an economic recovery. To support the immediate pandemic response, bring back jobs, and lay the groundwork for a strong and equitable recovery, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, designed to deliver $350 billion to state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to bolster their response to the COVID-19 emergency and its economic impacts. Today, Treasury is launching this much-needed relief to: •Support urgent COVID-19 response efforts to continue to decrease spread of the virus and bring the pandemic under control; •Replace lost public sector revenue to strengthen support for vital public services and help retain jobs; •Support immediate economic stabilization for households and businesses; and, •Address systemic public health and economic challenges that have contributed to the inequal impact of the pandemic on certain populations. The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provide substantial flexibility for each jurisdiction to meet local needs—including support for households, small businesses, impacted industries, essential workers, and the communities hardest-hit by the crisis. These funds also deliver resources that recipients can invest in building, maintaining, or upgrading their water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. ATTACHMENT 3 2 Starting today, eligible state, territorial, metropolitan city, county, and Tribal governments may request Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds through the Treasury Submission Portal. Concurrent with this program launch, Treasury has published an Interim Final Rule that implements the provisions of this program. FUNDING AMOUNTS The American Rescue Plan provides a total of $350 billion in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to help eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments meet their present needs and build the foundation for a strong recovery. Congress has allocated this funding to tens of thousands of jurisdictions. These allocations include: Type Amount ($ billions) States & District of Columbia $195.3 Counties $65.1 Metropolitan Cites $45.6 Tribal Governments $20.0 Territories $4.5 Non-Entitlement Units of Local Government $19.5 Treasury expects to distribute these funds directly to each state, territorial, metropolitan city, county, and Tribal government. Local governments that are classified as non-entitlement units will receive this funding through their applicable state government. Treasury expects to provide further guidance on distributions to non-entitlement units next week. Local governments should expect to receive funds in two tranches, with 50% provided beginning in May 2021 and the balance delivered 12 months later. States that have experienced a net increase in the unemployment rate of more than 2 percentage points from February 2020 to the latest available data as of the date of certification will receive their full allocation of funds in a single payment; other states will receive funds in two equal tranches. Governments of U.S. territories will receive a single payment. Tribal governments will receive two payments, with the first payment available in May and the second payment, based on employment data, to be delivered in June 2021. USES OF FUNDING Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provide eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments with a substantial infusion of resources to meet pandemic response needs and rebuild a stronger, more equitable economy as the country recovers. Within the categories of eligible uses, recipients have broad flexibility to decide how best to use this funding to meet the needs of their communities. Recipients may use Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to: 3 • Support public health expenditures, by funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff; • Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector; • Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic; • Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have borne and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors; and, • Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet. Within these overall categories, Treasury’s Interim Final Rule provides guidelines and principles for determining the types of programs and services that this funding can support, together with examples of allowable uses that recipients may consider. As described below, Treasury has also designed these provisions to take into consideration the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency on those hardest-hit by the pandemic. 1. Supporting the public health response Mitigating the impact of COVID-19 continues to require an unprecedented public health response from state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments. Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provide resources to meet these needs through the provision of care for those impacted by the virus and through services that address disparities in public health that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Recipients may use this funding to address a broad range of public health needs across COVID-19 mitigation, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and public health resources. Among other services, these funds can help support: • Services and programs to contain and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including:  Vaccination programs  Medical expenses  Testing  Contact tracing  Isolation or quarantine  PPE purchases  Support for vulnerable populations to access medical or public health services  Public health surveillance (e.g., monitoring for variants)  Enforcement of public health orders  Public communication efforts  Enhancement of healthcare capacity, including alternative care facilities  Support for prevention, mitigation, or other services in congregate living facilities and schools  Enhancement of public health data systems  Capital investments in public facilities to meet pandemic operational needs  Ventilation improvements in key settings like healthcare facilities 4 • Services to address behavioral healthcare needs exacerbated by the pandemic, including:  Mental health treatment  Substance misuse treatment  Other behavioral health services  Hotlines or warmlines  Crisis intervention  Services or outreach to promote access to health and social services • Payroll and covered benefits expenses for public health, healthcare, human services, public safety and similar employees, to the extent that they work on the COVID-19 response. For public health and safety workers, recipients can use these funds to cover the full payroll and covered benefits costs for employees or operating units or divisions primarily dedicated to the COVID-19 response. 2. Addressing the negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency The COVID-19 public health emergency resulted in significant economic hardship for many Americans. As businesses closed, consumers stayed home, schools shifted to remote education, and travel declined precipitously, over 20 million jobs were lost between February and April 2020. Although many have since returned to work, as of April 2021, the economy remains more than 8 million jobs below its pre- pandemic peak, and more than 3 million workers have dropped out of the labor market altogether since February 2020. To help alleviate the economic hardships caused by the pandemic, Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds enable eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to provide a wide range of assistance to individuals and households, small businesses, and impacted industries, in addition to enabling governments to rehire public sector staff and rebuild capacity. Among these uses include: • Delivering assistance to workers and families, including aid to unemployed workers and job training, as well as aid to households facing food, housing, or other financial insecurity. In addition, these funds can support survivor’s benefits for family members of COVID-19 victims. • Supporting small businesses, helping them to address financial challenges caused by the pandemic and to make investments in COVID-19 prevention and mitigation tactics, as well as to provide technical assistance. To achieve these goals, recipients may employ this funding to execute a broad array of loan, grant, in-kind assistance, and counseling programs to enable small businesses to rebound from the downturn. • Speeding the recovery of the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors, supporting industries that were particularly hard-hit by the COVID-19 emergency and are just now beginning to mend. Similarly impacted sectors within a local area are also eligible for support. • Rebuilding public sector capacity, by rehiring public sector staff and replenishing unemployment insurance (UI) trust funds, in each case up to pre-pandemic levels. Recipients may also use this funding to build their internal capacity to successfully implement economic relief programs, with investments in data analysis, targeted outreach, technology infrastructure, and impact evaluations. 5 3. Serving the hardest-hit communities and families While the pandemic has affected communities across the country, it has disproportionately impacted low-income families and communities of color and has exacerbated systemic health and economic inequities. Low-income and socially vulnerable communities have experienced the most severe health impacts. For example, counties with high poverty rates also have the highest rates of infections and deaths, with 223 deaths per 100,000 compared to the U.S. average of 175 deaths per 100,000. Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds allow for a broad range of uses to address the disproportionate public health and economic impacts of the crisis on the hardest-hit communities, populations, and households. Eligible services include: • Addressing health disparities and the social determinants of health, through funding for community health workers, public benefits navigators, remediation of lead hazards, and community violence intervention programs; • Investments in housing and neighborhoods, such as services to address individuals experiencing homelessness, affordable housing development, housing vouchers, and residential counseling and housing navigation assistance to facilitate moves to neighborhoods with high economic opportunity; • Addressing educational disparities through new or expanded early learning services, providing additional resources to high-poverty school districts, and offering educational services like tutoring or afterschool programs as well as services to address social, emotional, and mental health needs; and, • Promoting healthy childhood environments, including new or expanded high quality childcare, home visiting programs for families with young children, and enhanced services for child welfare-involved families and foster youth. Governments may use Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to support these additional services if they are provided: • within a Qualified Census Tract (a low-income area as designated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development); • to families living in Qualified Census Tracts; • by a Tribal government; or, • to other populations, households, or geographic areas disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. 4. Replacing lost public sector revenue State, local, territorial, and Tribal governments that are facing budget shortfalls may use Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to avoid cuts to government services. With these additional resources, recipients can continue to provide valuable public services and ensure that fiscal austerity measures do not hamper the broader economic recovery. 6 Many state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments have experienced significant budget shortfalls, which can yield a devastating impact on their respective communities. Faced with budget shortfalls and pandemic-related uncertainty, state and local governments cut staff in all 50 states. These budget shortfalls and staff cuts are particularly problematic at present, as these entities are on the front lines of battling the COVID-19 pandemic and helping citizens weather the economic downturn. Recipients may use these funds to replace lost revenue. Treasury’s Interim Final Rule establishes a methodology that each recipient can use to calculate its reduction in revenue. Specifically, recipients will compute the extent of their reduction in revenue by comparing their actual revenue to an alternative representing what could have been expected to occur in the absence of the pandemic. Analysis of this expected trend begins with the last full fiscal year prior to the public health emergency and projects forward at either (a) the recipient’s average annual revenue growth over the three full fiscal years prior to the public health emergency or (b) 4.1%, the national average state and local revenue growth rate from 2015-18 (the latest available data). For administrative convenience, Treasury’s Interim Final Rule allows recipients to presume that any diminution in actual revenue relative to the expected trend is due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Upon receiving Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, recipients may immediately calculate the reduction in revenue that occurred in 2020 and deploy funds to address any shortfall. Recipients will have the opportunity to re-calculate revenue loss at several points through the program, supporting those entities that experience a lagged impact of the crisis on revenues. Importantly, once a shortfall in revenue is identified, recipients will have broad latitude to use this funding to support government services, up to this amount of lost revenue. 5. Providing premium pay for essential workers Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provide resources for eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to recognize the heroic contributions of essential workers. Since the start of the public health emergency, essential workers have put their physical well-being at risk to meet the daily needs of their communities and to provide care for others. Many of these essential workers have not received compensation for the heightened risks they have faced and continue to face. Recipients may use this funding to provide premium pay directly, or through grants to private employers, to a broad range of essential workers who must be physically present at their jobs including, among others:  Staff at nursing homes, hospitals, and home-care settings  Workers at farms, food production facilities, grocery stores, and restaurants  Janitors and sanitation workers  Public health and safety staff  Truck drivers, transit staff, and warehouse workers  Childcare workers, educators, and school staff  Social service and human services staff Treasury’s Interim Final Rule emphasizes the need for recipients to prioritize premium pay for lower income workers. Premium pay that would increase a worker’s total pay above 150% of the greater of the state or county average annual wage requires specific justification for how it responds to the needs of these workers. 7 In addition, employers are both permitted and encouraged to use Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to offer retrospective premium pay, recognizing that many essential workers have not yet received additional compensation for work performed. Staff working for third-party contractors in eligible sectors are also eligible for premium pay. 6. Investing in water and sewer infrastructure Recipients may use Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to invest in necessary improvements to their water and sewer infrastructures, including projects that address the impacts of climate change. Recipients may use this funding to invest in an array of drinking water infrastructure projects, such as building or upgrading facilities and transmission, distribution, and storage systems, including the replacement of lead service lines. Recipients may also use this funding to invest in wastewater infrastructure projects, including constructing publicly-owned treatment infrastructure, managing and treating stormwater or subsurface drainage water, facilitating water reuse, and securing publicly-owned treatment works. To help jurisdictions expedite their execution of these essential investments, Treasury’s Interim Final Rule aligns types of eligible projects with the wide range of projects that can be supported by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Recipients retain substantial flexibility to identify those water and sewer infrastructure investments that are of the highest priority for their own communities. Treasury’s Interim Final Rule also encourages recipients to ensure that water, sewer, and broadband projects use strong labor standards, including project labor agreements and community benefits agreements that offer wages at or above the prevailing rate and include local hire provisions. 7. Investing in broadband infrastructure The pandemic has underscored the importance of access to universal, high-speed, reliable, and affordable broadband coverage. Over the past year, millions of Americans relied on the internet to participate in remote school, healthcare, and work. Yet, by at least one measure, 30 million Americans live in areas where there is no broadband service or where existing services do not deliver minimally acceptable speeds. For millions of other Americans, the high cost of broadband access may place it out of reach. The American Rescue Plan aims to help remedy these shortfalls, providing recipients with flexibility to use Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to invest in broadband infrastructure. Recognizing the acute need in certain communities, Treasury’s Interim Final Rule provides that investments in broadband be made in areas that are currently unserved or underserved—in other words, lacking a wireline connection that reliably delivers minimum speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. Recipients are also encouraged to prioritize projects that achieve last-mile connections to households and businesses. Using these funds, recipients generally should build broadband infrastructure with modern technologies in mind, specifically those projects that deliver services offering reliable 100 Mbps download and 100 8 Mbps upload speeds, unless impracticable due to topography, geography, or financial cost. In addition, recipients are encouraged to pursue fiber optic investments. In view of the wide disparities in broadband access, assistance to households to support internet access or digital literacy is an eligible use to respond to the public health and negative economic impacts of the pandemic, as detailed above. 8. Ineligible Uses Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provide substantial resources to help eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments manage the public health and economic consequences of COVID-19. Recipients have considerable flexibility to use these funds to address the diverse needs of their communities. To ensure that these funds are used for their intended purposes, the American Rescue Plan Act also specifies two ineligible uses of funds: • States and territories may not use this funding to directly or indirectly offset a reduction in net tax revenue due to a change in law from March 3, 2021 through the last day of the fiscal year in which the funds provided have been spent. The American Rescue Plan ensures that funds needed to provide vital services and support public employees, small businesses, and families struggling to make it through the pandemic are not used to fund reductions in net tax revenue. Treasury’s Interim Final Rule implements this requirement. If a state or territory cuts taxes, they must demonstrate how they paid for the tax cuts from sources other than Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds—by enacting policies to raise other sources of revenue, by cutting spending, or through higher revenue due to economic growth. If the funds provided have been used to offset tax cuts, the amount used for this purpose must be paid back to the Treasury. • No recipient may use this funding to make a deposit to a pension fund. Treasury’s Interim Final Rule defines a “deposit” as an extraordinary contribution to a pension fund for the purpose of reducing an accrued, unfunded liability. While pension deposits are prohibited, recipients may use funds for routine payroll contributions for employees whose wages and salaries are an eligible use of funds. Treasury’s Interim Final Rule identifies several other ineligible uses, including funding debt service, legal settlements or judgments, and deposits to rainy day funds or financial reserves. Further, general infrastructure spending is not covered as an eligible use outside of water, sewer, and broadband investments or above the amount allocated under the revenue loss provision. While the program offers broad flexibility to recipients to address local conditions, these restrictions will help ensure that funds are used to augment existing activities and address pressing needs. City Recovery Plan05.25.2021Travis Storin, Chief Financial OfficerSeonAh Kendall, City Recovery ManagerATTACHMENT 4 2Questions for CouncilRecovery Vision: Fort Collins residents and businesses are able to participate in a resilient, vibrant and inclusive future.Does Council agree with the recommended allocation of the 15/85 split of American Rescue Plan Funding to address current needs while developing the City recovery plan? 2020 ResponseCoronavirus Relief Fund Impact3 4CARES CVRF Spending TimelineFirst known case in Northern Colorado2021WRAP UP,LOOKINGFORWARD?APRIL MAY JUNEJULYAUGUSTOCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBERVirtuVisit program launchedSmall Business Assistance ProgramNorthside Aztlan Non-CongregateShelter OpensCity receives $9M in CARESCVRF FundingCARES Lead Team FormedStay at Home Order BeginsDe-escalationTrainingMind Matters Exhibit OpensNoCo Nosh Partnership LaunchesCARESDashboardLaunchesVaccine Distribution BeginsCamp FunQuest Programs Begin CARES Act EvictionLegal Fund LaunchesUtilities Assistance Program BeginsCommunity Assistance Grant Awarded Outdoor Dining ExpansionCOVID-19WastewasterTesting BeginsPPEDistribution for businessesand nonprofitsEOCEstablishedStay at Home Order EndsCity Face Coverings Requirement BeginsSEPTEMBERMARCHKeep NoCo Open LaunchesStatewide Mask Mandate enactedKeep NoCo Open Answer the CallForFortCollins.comNoCoRecovers.comInclusivecommunityengagement CARES Recap5Outcome:Provide safe service delivery & support for the community & employeesExamples:• Emergency Operations Center• Remote work and office reconfigurations• COVID testing/lab center• PPE for staffOutcome:Supported innovation & adaptability to meet the most critical community needs & keep people in their homesExamples:• FunQuest Summer Program• Utility Assistance Program• VirtuVisit program• Legal defense fund• Shelters / Housing assistance• Community assistance grant programsOutcome: Deepened relationships with the business community &response to critical business needsExamples:• Keep NoCo Open Campaign• Restaurant outside dining expansion• NoCo Nosh food delivery• Small Business AssistanceProgram• PPE distribution for small businesses and nonprofitsOrganization29%Economic / Business30%Social / Residential41% 6Outlook on Recovery27%63%11%23%62%14%020406080100Aug '20 May '21Confidence in Recovery of NoCoEconomy over next 6-12 monthsUpNeutralDown American Rescue Plan- 8American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)• Other funds available within (ARPA)for:• Childcare, utility/water bills, libraries, small business, support for people experiencing homelessness and broadband•Collaboration with partners and the State vital to leverage all funds available for thecommunity and avoid duplication of funds$410BStimulusChecks$360BGovernment$246BExtended Unemployment Programs$194BOther$176BEducation$143BExpanded Tax Credits$123BCOVID-19Response$105BHealth$59B SmallBusiness$56B Transportation$16B Agriculture$360B Allocated for GovernmentSK11SM16 Slide 8SK11Is this a backup slide?SeonAh Kendall, 5/11/2021SM16Should this slide go before the fort collins specifics?Sarah Meline, 5/13/2021 9ARPA State & Local Fiscal Recovery Fund•$28.1M allocation for Fort Collins•1sthalf to be received May 2021• Considerable broader definition of eligible expenses vs. CARES• Have until December 31, 2024, to spend• Programs/timing/leveraging for utilization - TBD 10HealingInclusiveResilientVibrantResponseRecovery$28.1M allocation for Fort CollinsResponse vs. Recovery 11Response vs. Recovery$4.2M15%$23.9M85%Proposed Allocation of Funds$28.1M allocation for Fort CollinsRESPONSE & PRECOVERYRECOVERY 12Response vs. Recovery$4.2M15%$23.9M85%RESPONSE•Triage/relief efforts•Short-term: Address immediateneeds• Activate dollars with staff-drivenprocess; similar to CARES CVRF distribution•Re-entry•Resources: grants, loans and communication•Timeline:12-18 monthsProposed Allocation of ARPA FundsRECOVERY•Build back better•Long-term:Intentional, strategic planning• Aligns with community feedback and Recovery Plan•Stabilization and growth•Resources:technical assistance, innovation, grants, infrastructure (traditional and human)•Timeline:19 months and beyond Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Uses13DISALLOWED:• Contributions to pension funds• Offset direct or indirect taxes• Debt service• Legal settlements • Financial reservesALLOWABLE(BUT NOT LIMITED TO):• Responding / mitigating health response• Address negative economic impacts• Provide equity-focused services to address disparities• Necessary investments in water, seweror broadband infrastructure• Revenue replacement• Essential worker premium pay or grants Recovery Plan- 15Recovery for AllK-SHAPED RECOVERYPRIOR TOCOVID-19RECESSION RECOVERYRecovering:• Technology• Online Retail• Home Improvements• Work from AnywhereNeeding Assistance:• Travel & Tourism• Food Services• Work on Site• Marginalized Community members 16Recovery Plan VisionHEALING INCLUSIVE RESILIENT VIBRANTDEFINITIONThe process of making or becoming sound or healthyagain.An intention or policyof including people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized.Inclusion requires removing barriers so all can thrive.The ability to better avoid, withstand or recover from difficult conditions of various scales.A sense of place and belonging for all. Full of energy andenthusiasm.Fort Collins residents and businesses are able to participatein a resilient, vibrantandinclusive future. 17Recovery Plan Guiding PrinciplesGUIDING PRINCIPLESLIVABILITY:Help our community rebound and thriveSUSTAINABILITY:Apply a triple bottom line lens to recoveryCOMMUNITY:Ensure a robust, inclusive, welcoming engagement to inform the recovery planConnect existing plans (City Plan, Strategic Plan, Council Priorities)Leverage Federal, State and Local funds to advance recovery*Addressimmediate(response and precovery) and long-term(recovery) needs of our community through funding and transparency 18Recovery Plan TimelineMayJunJulAugSeptOctNovDecAnalyze data; draft planPublicengagementCouncil work sessionPotentialCounciladoptionReview US TreasuryGuidance; 1sttranche of APRA rec’dNeedsassessment;ApplicationProcessDistributeshort-termFundsReporting & Compliance Review forshort-term FRF Develop processes forlong-term ARPAPrepare for 2ndtrancheof funds*PublicengagementRECOVERY PLAN DEVELOPMENTMay - NovemberRECOVERY PLAN DEVELOPMENTMay - NovemberARPA PROCESSMay ‘21 – Dec ‘21 & beyondARPA PROCESSMay ‘21 – Dec ‘21 & beyond 19Questions for CouncilRecovery Vision: Fort Collins residents and businesses are able to participate in a resilient, vibrant and inclusive future.Does Council agree with the recommended allocation of the 15/85 split of American Rescue Plan Funding to address current needs while developing the City recovery plan? For More Information, VisitTHANK YOU!Ourcity.fcgov.com/forfoco 21Eligible Equity-Focused Servicesw/ ARPA 22Back Up: #BuildBackStrongerCOApril 2021, State of Colorado listening tours: Build Back Stronger to assist prioritization of State's federal ARPA allocationQuestions asked:• What is one big idea you think could contribute the most to the economic recovery?• What are the top 3 investments you think should be prioritized and how do you see them leveraging Colorado's (or regional) unique contexts to support economic recovery?• If we maximized our use of federal + state programs and Colorado's assets, what should the world look like for Coloradans in 2-5 years and beyond?