HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 12/14/2021 - Memorandum From Seonah Kendall And Sarah Meline Re: Pandemic Relief Funding OverviewFinancial Services
215 North Mason Street
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
DATE:December 7, 2021
TO:Mayor and City Councilmembers
THRU:Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager
Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager
Travis Storin, Chief Financial Officer
FROM:SeonAh Kendall, City Recovery Manager
Sarah Meline, Recovery Policy and Engagement Specialist
RE: PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDING OVERVIEW
This memorandum provides a summary of federal pandemic relief funding received by the City of Fort
Collins and how, if any, of these funds were used to backfill city operations.
BACKGROUND:
Councilmember Ohlson asked for a brief summary of year-to-date proceeds and spending to share with
the full Council.
The City of Fort Collins has received multiple funds from federal and state programs to support
pandemic response and recovery since March of 2020. These funds have been used to strengthen and
expand programs that aid residents and businesses, and to support ongoing City operations. As the City
continues to respond to the pandemic and craft a Recovery Plan, the allocation of these funds are a key
tool to accomplish recovery goals and support ongoing needs.
CARES CVRF:
The 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act established a $150 billion
Coronavirus Relief Fund (CVRF), which was distributed to communicates throughout the U.S. The City
received these federal dollars through the County, as a subrecipient of the State of Colorado in 2020.
SUMMARY OF CARES FUNDING RECEIVED BY THE CITY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - $16.9M:
Northern Colorado Regional Airport
Coronavirus Relief Fund (CVRF) - $9.0M: Received
through DOLA, used for pandemic response
Federal Transportation Agency (FTA) - $8.7M - Used for
ongoing Transfort operations, offsetting General Fund
expense in 2020
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - $1.4M:
Department of Justice (DOJ)- $0.1M: Used for Police
Overtime and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
TOTAL CARES FUNDING: $36.1M
The $9M of CVRF funding was allocated in the following ways:
30% - Organization funding supported safe service delivery by the City.
30% - Business / Economic Recovery funding supported economic recovery and business
reopening.
40% - Residential Support / Social Recovery funded human service project to support
community response.
For the 30% supporting the organizations, costs ranged from supporting hybrid, telework capabilities
(hardware and software) for staff and public areas, office area reconfigurations, enhanced cleaning, the
emergency operations center (EOC), emergency family medical leave (EFML) and sick leave, increased
unemployment costs, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) match requirement for Poudre
Fire Authority and personnel reimbursements for work diverted to the pandemic response.
Although CVRF was not utilized to re-hire or backfill positions, these funds were used to enhance
critical, emergency needs at the beginning of the pandemic. Examples of enhanced services that
required additional personnel that utilized CARES CVRF:
Camp Fun Quest (Recreation) – additional part-time counselors to support the increased
enrollment in day camp and learning loss mitigation support.
Grants Specialist – 2 part-time specialists to support Economic Health, Social Sustainability and
the Recovery Office in the distribution of grant funding.
COVID Specialists – 2 part-time specialists - contact tracer and communication specialist
Recovery Manager – 1 full-time manager reassigned. The vacant position was backfilled.
All CARES funds will be spent by the end of the year, before the December 31, 2021, deadline set by
DOLA.
SUMMARY OF ARPA FUNDING RECEIVED BY THE CITY:
State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) -
$28.1M: Received directly from US Treasury
Federal Transportation Agency (FTA): $7.9M:
Public transportation to prevent layoffs and severe
cuts to transit services
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG –
HOME) - $2.9M: Provide supportive services and
safe, socially distant housing solutions
Shuttered Venue Operators Grants - $1.9M:
Small Business Administration Office of Disaster
Assistance program to aid hard-hit venues
Environmental Protection Act (EPA) - $200K:
Air quality monitoring and pollution clean up
Institute of Museum and Libraries - $50K:
expanded education and wellness program
TOTAL ARPA FUNDING (TO-DATE): $40.45M
ARPA STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND:
The federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) established $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 relief funding.
The Act included $350 billion toward the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program, in which
$28.1M has been allocated to the City of Fort Collins.
In May of 2021, City Council appropriated approximately $4.2M of the $28.1M to be used for short-
term response efforts to be spent in the next 12-18 months. In addition, City Council, in the adopted
2022 City Manager Recommended Budget, approved an additional $3.6M of ARPA fund allocations.
Remaining ARPA funds are expected to be allocated in the 2023-2024 budget cycle, after the Recovery
Plan adoption in Q1 2022.
Although ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds were also not deployed in the City to backfill
positions, these funds will be used in specific circumstances to enhance programs and services
supported.
Examples of enhanced services that have identified additional personnel that will utilize ARPA funds:
Police Services Mental Health Support
Team (5)
City Planner (1)
Cultural Services Community Program
Manager (1)
Business Connectors (4)
Sustainability Recovery Specialist (1)
Data Recovery Specialist (1)
Financial Services
215 North Mason Street
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
fcgov.com
STATE OF COLORADO ARPA FUNDS:
The State of Colorado has allocated $1.3 billion of ARPA funding for transformational project
submission requests. These one-time funds must be spent on COVID-19 related efforts and have the
same spending restrictions as other SLFRF funds.
Staff was able to clarify in the 3:1 match requirement with the State. If projects are within the Qualified
Census Tract, has a tie to COVID impacts, and/or data showing that these support underserved sectors
and community, the match requirement is reduced. However, the State would still like to see some level
of match by counties, municipalities, and other partners.
Preliminary projects identified in early conversations are:
Youth transitional housing/services, which would include potential partnership with K-12
workforce training and/or Future Labs.
North College supportive services, which could include services for those experiencing
homelessness, trade skills workforce training, etc. similar to a project in Denver.
The City is working collaboratively with Larimer County and other regional partners to formulate ideas
for submission to the state. Preliminary ideas will be discussed 12/17/2021 with the application due to
the State on 1/13/2022.
Attachments:
1.CARES CVRF Report
2. City of Fort Collins ARPA Allocations to Date
3. Recovery Planning and ARPA Funds – Talking Points
Updated 12/07/2021
City of Fort Collins ARPA Allocations to Date
Ordinance No. 079, 2021: Short-Term Response: $4.2M allocated
Project Name Dollar Amount
Eviction Legal Fund $20,000
Direct Assistance for Utilities Customers* $460,000
24/7 Shelter at Fort Collins Rescue Mission $30,000
For Fort Collins Campaign & Website $ 190,000
Business and Entrepreneur Center* $400,000
City of Fort Collins Special Events Recovery Grant* $ 125,000
Small Business Grants* $1,060,000
Recovery Communication and Administration* $600,000
Learning Loss Mitigation & Developmental* $400,000
Homelessness Initiatives and Support Services $760,000
Poudre Fire Authority Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) $150,000
Remaining Short-Term ARPA Funds (saved for overage/shortage/additional PPE) $22,846
TOTAL $4,217,846*
*Includes personnel support for the program
ARPA Funded Projects in Adopted 2022 Budget: $3.6M allocated
Project Name Dollar Amount
Eviction Legal Fund $220,000
Parking Structure Critical Preventative Repairs- Enhanced $745,400
Expanded Technical Assistance for Small Business $30,000
Childcare System Support $170,000
Innovative Fort Collins Challenge $100,000
Economic Health Strategic plan $100,000
5.0 FTE - Mental Health Response Team build out; 1 Sergeant and 4 Officers $809,170
1.0 FTE Contractual - City Planner $81,258
Expanded Community Outreach and Engagement $55,000
Increased Funding for the Reduced Fee Scholarship Program $100,000
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Office - Professional Services Increase $25,000
Language Access Services for City Council Meetings and High Priority Civic
Engagement Events $34,560
Affordable Housing Fee Credit Fund $350,000
Homelessness Initiatives Increase $201,000
Human Service Program Increase $150,000
1.0 FTE Contractual - Cultural Services Community Programs Manager with Program
Support $169,575
Cultural Services Access Fund for Low-Income Residents $185,000
Municipal Court Services-Mental Health, Addiction, and Teen Diversion Services $75,000
Total $3,570,963*
Updated 12/07/2021
Other ARPA Funds Received: ~ $11.6M
Project Name Department Dollar Amount
Assistance for People Experiencing Homelessness
CDBG - HOME
Social Sustainability $2.6M
Air Quality Monitoring and Pollution Clean Up Environmental Services $200K
Public Transportation Transfort $7.6M
Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program Cultural Services
(Lincoln Center)$1.9M
Institute of Museum and Library Services Cultural Services
(The Gardens at Spring Creek) $50K
Total ~ $12.35M
Additional available funds in housing, such as emergency rental assistance, mortgage and utility assistance,
National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities, Low Income Home and Energy
Assistance and Water Utility Bill Assistance, Paid Sick Leave Credit and Economic Development
Administration. Staff will continue to explore available funding opportunities.
Total ARPA Funds Received to Date
Total ARPA funds received by the City of Fort Collins up to December 7, 2021, is an estimated $40.5M.
Page 1 of 2
City of Fort Collins Recovery Planning and ARPA Funds
The following provides background and key information about the City’s Recovery Planning efforts and
spending of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds.
Recovery Plan:
Purpose: The purpose of the Recovery Plan is to help guide resilience and recovery as our community
continues to respond and move beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a crucial step in laying out what
the community needs most to build back better.
In addition, this plan will be utilized as a framework to help allocate remaining ARPA funds in the 2023-
2024 budget. ARPA funds are not the driver of this plan, they are just one tool to help accomplish
recovery goals. Additional funds and resources will be needed to build back better.
Vision: Fort Collins residents and businesses are able to participate in a resilient, vibrant and inclusive
future.
Highlights:
Acknowledging that not all in our community were in a stable or thriving place before the
pandemic, the goal of recovery is not simply to return to “business as usual”, but to work to
build back better
Over the past 6 months, we have been working to have robust community engagement with
residents, businesses, nonprofits and other stakeholders
o Engagement was centered in equity
Sought to hear from historically under-represented groups and those most
impacted by the pandemic
o Staff worked closely with Larimer County / other regional partners to expand
engagement and share what was heard
o Paid partnerships with local community connectors allowed engagement with
vulnerable groups, including;
Latinx community members, those living in manufactured housing, LBGTQ+
community members, those experiencing homelessness and youth
Staff are working to create a draft plan that reflects priorities and needs identified through
engagement, centered around Economic Recovery, Community & Equity and Health and
Environmental Resilience
Timeline:
City Council Work Session – January 11, 2022 – review draft Recovery Plan
City Council Regular Session – February 15, 2022 - Final Recovery Plan will presented to Council
for potential adoption
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ARPA Funds
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) includes funding for a variety of sectors
Childcares, utility/water bills, libraries, small businesses, support for people experiencing
homelessness
$360 billion ARPA funds allocated for local government
o Fort Collins received $28.1 million
o Larimer County received approx. $69 million
o State of Colorado also received funds
Additional ARPA funds, beyond the $28.1 million are coming into the City for specific programs,
including;
o Assistance for People Experiencing Homelessness - $2.6 million (HOME-ARP)
o Air Quality Monitoring and Pollution Clean Up - $200K
o Public Transportation - $7.6 million
o Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program - $1.2 million
Short-Term ARPA Funds:
$4.2 allocated by Council for short-term response and immediate needs
Funded projects include a continuation of programs begun or expanded in 2020, including the
Eviction Legal Fund, Direct Assistance for Utilities Customers and Small Business Grants.
2022 Budget:
An additional approximately $3.6 million of ARPA funds were allocated as part of the Adopted 2022
Budget. Funded projects help support ongoing pandemic response and recovery.
o Eviction Legal Fund
o Childcare System Support
o Economic Health Strategic Plan
o Human Service Program Increase
o Cultural Services Access Fund for Low-
Income Residents
Remaining Funds: The remaining ARPA funds are expected to be allocated in the 2023-2024 budget.
State Funding:
State of Colorado has allocated $1.3 billion ARPA funding for transformational project submission
requests
o Must be spend on COVID-19 related
efforts
o Leverage public-private partnerships
o Catalyze transformational change, fill in
gaps
o 1 time funding
Northern Colorado formulating ideas for submission
o City staff working closely with Larimer County and other regional partners
Timeline:
Preliminary ideas due 12/13/2021
Application due 01/13/2022
Additional updates to Council throughout process