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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 12/14/2021 - Memorandum From Seonah Kendall And Sarah Meline Re: Pandemic Relief Funding Overview (5)Financial 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 Page 2 of 2 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