Title
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Update(B)
Explanation
Attachment A - “City of Gainesville ARPA SLFRF Project Funding Summary through July 14, 2022” provides an overview of the current appropriated and earmarked ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) funded projects. GSG, the City’s General ARPA consultant, has worked with Staff to determine funding eligibility under the ARPA program.
The following projects have been allocated funding by the City Commission:
• Aid to Non-Profit Organizations - $6,981,322
Since April 21, 2022, when the City Commission approved the Community Foundation of North Central Florida’s recommendation to fund 36 nonprofit organizations totaling $6,981,322 (Agenda #211074), Staff has held one-on-one sessions with every nonprofit to discuss their application, budget, ARPA reporting requirements and draft agreements. Through July 6, 2022, 10 nonprofits are reviewing their draft agreements and 8 nonprofit agreements are in process of being fully executed. The remaining nonprofit agencies are still working on finalizing their expenditure plans.
• East Side Urgent Care Center - $2,250,000:
o The triparty agreement between the City, Alachua County and UF Health Shands was approved by the Shands Board of Trustees.
o City staff held a neighborhood workshop to begin the required land use and zoning changes to facilitate the clinic construction, mobility hub, and associated uses on the site. The land use and zoning proposals will be heard by the City Plan Board at their July 28th meeting and by the Commission by September.
o Design for the clinic and site planning for the property is underway. City staff and UF Shands have been meeting regularly to work on preliminary site layout.
• Energy Rehabilitation - $1.9 million:
Staff has implemented changes to GRU’s LEEPplus program to use ARPA funds to offer more comprehensive energy improvements and broaden the eligibility criteria which allow more of our neighbors to benefit from the program. Since the updated LEEPplus went live on May 2, 2022, it has been met with a very positive response with 77 applications received since that date. Staff continues to market and promote the program through advertising campaigns, and Community Events (GRU in the Neighborhood, City Services Fair). In addition, Staff has composed a targeted outreach plan to ensure we are reaching our neighbors who are most in need of assistance.
• Vision Zero - $1,250,000:
The ARPA funded Vision Zero projects are underway:
o NW 8th Avenue/6th Street Lane Re-purposing - $250,000: design concept was finalized with FDOT on June 30, 2022 with construction expected to begin Spring 2023.
o 10th/12th One-Way Pairs - $250,000: design process underway.
o NE 3rd/Waldo Road - $350,000: design process underway.
o SE 18th Street Sidewalk - $300,000: not yet started.
o SW 6th Street - $100,000: design complete and evaluating implementation options with the Public Works Department.
• Community Resource Paramedicine (CRP) Program - $1 million:
The CRP program in conjunction with the City's Procurement Division has began purchasing equipment, that allows for the expansion and enhancement of services, enabling the program to increase the capacity of those served in the Individualized Care, Population Resilience, Community Engagement, and Preventative Health Programs. As of July 5th, 2022; The City's Department of Transportation, Fleet Division, has ordered two ambulances with an expected delivery date of May 2023; A Method of Sole Source (MOSS) has been completed for the cardiac monitors and the vendor, Zoll, provided an updated quote which is under legal review. The Advanced Life Support (ALS) bags and ALS drugs have been ordered, however, are delayed by national backorders with an expected delivery date in early August 2022. Minus some ancillary backordered accessories, radios, CF33s, office equipment, and cell phones have been received and placed into service. Bids were received for the Power Stretcher and are under review by City Legal and Risk to evaluate insurance requirements, shipping terms, and indemnification. A final RFP has been completed for the Electronic Health Record/Mobile Integrated Health System. Solicitations are being completed for the remaining hardware (RT Lamp, I-Stat machine, Power loader) and software (1st Due) pending bids and proposals from applicable vendors.
• Community Land Trust - $1 million:
Bright Community Trust, Inc. and staff are currently working on a budget plan and timeline for implementation of a community land trust.
• Eviction Protection & Assistance - $1 million:
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a variety of programs at the Federal, State and local levels to provide different types of homeowner assistance: rental assistance to prevent eviction, mortgage assistance to address delinquencies and prevent defaults/foreclosures, and utility assistance, to name a few. The State’s Florida Homeowner Assistance Fund provides $676,102,379 in financial assistance to the state of Florida through the United States Department of the Treasury, and this program is underway. Due to additional programs being available to Gainesville neighbors, Staff recommends that these funds be released to the General ARPA category for affordable housing towards the $8 million earmark.
• National League of Cities One Nation/One Project - $648,176:
City Staff is working with community partners to form a series of decision-making committees to ensure public participation in the One Nation/One Project initiative with a special emphasis on: youth and communities impacted by gun violence; community leaders and local youth service providers; city staff across multiple departments; partnership initiatives including: SPARC352 & the Partnership for Reimagining Gainesville; and key local anchor institutions including: The University of Florida’s College of the Arts (and Center for Arts in Medicine); the Alachua County Public Schools; and Santa Fe College.
Together, the above community members, organizations and initiative-representatives will create a plan for a series of artist and community-driven arts programs, events, and creative works all in relation to a project with the nation-wide theme “There’s no place like home”. Youth, artists and other community members will be compensated for their time working on this project. The initial collaborative cultural event will take place no later than September of 2022. The entire process will culminate in a major cultural/arts event in the Summer of 2024 which will occur simultaneously with projects taking place in each of the other 8 cities around the country in the One Nation/One Project cohort.
For this initiative, the process is as important as the product. A key mission of the One Nation/One Project pilot is to create sustainable processes and relationships which will a) center community and artists in creative place-making endeavors, b) lead to ongoing collaboration, c) bolster and build our thriving local cultural arts scene, and d) generate community arts infrastructure that will far outlast the two-year duration of the project.
• Violence Intervention- $621,483:
In the community oriented Details, GPD is currently executing over-time details (4 Officers, every Friday/Saturday) that will be oriented to focus on the violent crime problems in the Downtown area. A Gun buy-back detail is planned for July 23rd at Williams Temple Church of God (628 NW 7th Avenue). For the Community Education Efforts and the Forensic Truck, GPD is in the process of moving forward with the purchases of the requested equipment that will be provided to the Fiscal Department. The position of the Public Safety Coordinator (Police Athletic League Coordinator) will be created with the guidance of the Human Resource Department.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - $300,000:
After completing a needs review, GFR is working with the City’s Procurement Division to create a strategic reserve of PPE to ensure continuous operations during this pandemic and future epidemics. As of July 5th, 2022, bids have been solicited for COVID test kits, surgical masks, N95 masks, face shields, tyvek suits, nitrile gloves, and hand sanitizer with responses expected by late-July. Work specifications are being completed on the remaining items (surveillance kiosks and hand sanitizer).
• Utility Debt Forgiveness - $250,000:
GRU is currently conducting a review of additional accounts that could be eligible for funding assistance due to adverse impacts of the pandemic. It is expected that these accounts, if found eligible, would be settled in the next several weeks.
• Human Rights Coalition - Community ID - $35,000:
The Human Rights Coalition grant award agreement is in process of being fully executed.
• Nonprofit Capacity Building - $18,678:
City Staff is working with the Community Foundation of North Central Florida to develop grant writing and capacity building workshops for local nonprofits.
The following projects are earmarked for ARPA funding by the City Commission:
• Affordable Housing - $8,000,000
At the June 16, 2022 City Commission meeting (Agenda #210267), the City Commission approved earmarking $8 million of ARPA funds for Affordable Housing. Staff is currently working on an Affordable Housing Work Plan including funding scenarios, and it is expected to be presented to the City Commission at the July 28th General Policy Committee meeting.
• Homeless Outreach - $400,000:
GRACE Marketplace presented an update on the Homeless outreach program at the April 7, 2022 City Commission meeting. It is anticipated that $400,000 earmark in ARPA funding will not be needed until October 1, 2022.
The following projects are recommended for Unrestricted/Revenue Replacement ARPA funding by the Interim City Manager:
• General Government Services Set-Aside - $4,016,228
• Language Access / GINI - $500,000
• Gainesville For All - $350,000
• Central Receiving Facility - $250,000
• Feasibility studies for the Cultural Arts Center and Sportsplex/8th and Waldo - $250,000
Strategic Connection:
Goal 1: Equitable Community
Goal 2: Sustainable Community
Goal 3: A Great Place to Live and Experience
Goal 4: Resilient Local Economy
Goal 5: “Best in Class” Neighbor Services
Fiscal Note
Project and administrative expenses will be funded by the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds allocated to the City of Gainesville by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The City received its first half of the $32.4 million allocation ($16.2 million) on June 14, 2021. The second tranche is expected in June 2022.
Recommendation
The General Policy Committee:
1. Approve releasing $1 million of ARPA funding for the Eviction Protection and Assistance program to the General ARPA funding category for Affordable Housing initiatives.
2. Approve $4,016,228 for a General Government Services Set-Aside out of the Unrestricted/Revenue Replacement ARPA category.
3. Approve $500,000 for the Language Access / GINI initiative out of the Unrestricted/Revenue Replacement ARPA category.
4. Approve $350,000 for Gainesville For All out of the Unrestricted/Revenue Replacement ARPA category.
5. Approve $250,000 for the Central Receiving Facility out of the Unrestricted/Revenue Replacement ARPA category.
6. Approve $250,000 for feasibility studies for the Cultural Arts Center and Sportsplex/8th and Waldo out of the Unrestricted/Revenue Replacement ARPA category.