Concord City Council
April 26, 2022

On August 24, 2021, the Council received a presentation on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), affirmed guiding principles for allocating Concord’s ARPA funds, and provided direction to staff on next steps in allocating ARPA funds, including a community engagement plan. To date, Council has approved $8.1 million in initial appropriations. The following table summarizes these allocations. There is approximately $19 million of one-time ARPA funds and $1 million of ongoing Measure V funding available for allocation.

ARPA Use
Category Description FY 2020-21 FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23
COVID-19 Testing for
City employees - $350,000 -
Social Worker for
CORE Team - $183,000 -
Negative
Economic
Impacts
Small Business Relief
program $1,000,000 - -
Revenue
Loss
Provision of
government services
through its employees
funded in the City's
General Fund $600,000 $5,385,837 $500,000
Administrative Community Outreach $111,200
Totals by Fiscal Year $1,600,000 $6,030,037 $500,000
Total appropriations to date $8,130,037
Reserved for future appropriation $18,910,846
Total ARPA Funding $27,040,883
Public Health
Emergency
At the August 24, 2021, City Council meeting, the Council adopted the following guiding principles for use in developing Concord’s ARPA investment plan:

Strategic Priorities – the use of ARPA funds should be informed by the City’s strategic priorities of:
 Long-term Financial Stability
 Economic Development
 Public Health and Safety
 Infrastructure Maintenance
 Customer Service
 Quality of Life
Fiscal Stability Ordinance – uses consistent with achieving the City’s fiscal stability as evidenced in the Council adopted Fiscal Stability Ordinance, which includes:

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 5.a
April 26, 2022
 Maintaining General Fund reserves at a goal level of 30 percent of annual operating expenditures
 Using one-time resources for one-time uses
Capital Project Investment – investments in infrastructure and facility improvements to fund underfunded projects and provide opportunities to reduce ongoing maintenance costs and address environmental sustainability initiatives.

Disproportionately Impacted Constituencies – consider opportunities to assist businesses and individuals/communities affected by the health and/or economic impacts of the pandemic.

Leverage Other Funding Sources – where possible, identify options that might leverage funding outside of those provided to the City.

Collaborative Opportunities – where possible, identify opportunities to partner with other agencies in the region for the benefit of the Concord community.

Taking the Long View – identify projects or uses that can be expended through the end of 2024.

Community Outreach Efforts
To engage residents in a discussion about how the federal funds should be spent to generate the best investments for the community, the City offered several opportunities for people to provide their ideas. The community outreach occurred between January and March 2022, and included the following efforts, and resulted in 1,687 feedback submissions. (See the Management Report Summarizing Feedback Received from Community Engagement, Attachment 1 for more detail):
 One communitywide meeting, open to all, and with interpretation services  Two community focus group meetings, one in English and one in Spanish, with a special effort to engage residents who live in Concord’s qualified census tracts (QCTs)
 A scientifically valid community survey that includes questions related to ARPA investment priorities
 A well-advertised and easily accessible web-based survey open to all  Working in partnership with the Chamber, TSBA, and Visit Concord, the deployment of a focused survey of investment needs within the business community.

A web page has been developed and is available on the City’s website. Information about ARPA, public meetings, and links to surveys are posted here. To inform the community that this effort was on the horizon, staff included an article, “Federal Funds Aid Local Recovery,” in a community update newsletter that was mailed to all Concord

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 5.a
April 26, 2022
addresses on October 1, 2021. The electronic version of this mailer, including a Spanish version, were sent out via the City’s bimonthly e-newsletter on October 13, 2021.

Through its website, e-newsletter, and social media channels, staff continues to inform the community about opportunities to provide feedback. In addition, staff reached out to community-based organizations, including Monument Crisis Center, Monument Impact, and the Noor Islamic and Cultural Community Center, to inform them of these efforts and to request their assistance in getting the word out to the clients they serve.

City COVID-19 Response Costs to Date
In response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has allocated funding from various sources to assist the Concord community to recover. A summary of the funding is below:

Description CARES ARPA CDBG-CV Total
Distance Learning $50,000 - - $50,000
Small Business Assistance $725,000 $1,000,000 - $1,725,000 Housing Support $438,964 - - $438,964
Food Distribution and Residential
Rental Assistance - - $1,559,000 $1,559,000
Social Worker for CORE Team - $183,000 - $183,000
Support to Organization:
(revenue loss, telework
capabilities, PPE, employee
testing, unemployment) $392,929 $7,079,500 - $7,472,429 Total $1,606,893 $8,262,500 $1,559,000 $11,428,393
Analysis
The City, in partnership with the consulting firm Management Partners, engaged the community through a variety of methods including, individual interviews, a dedicated webpage with surveys (in English and Spanish), focus groups, a community meeting, 2022 Citizen Satisfaction survey completed by Godbe Research, and emails. There were a total of 1,687 participants. The detailed breakdown of how the various participant groups provided their feedback is shown on page 6 of the Management Partners memorandum attached to this staff report. (Attachment 1). This report provides a very detailed view of the feedback received by stakeholder group as well as all emails received through March 31. E-mails received from April 1 through April 20 are in Attachment 2. E-mails received after April 20 will be benched for the April 26 Council meeting.

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 5.a
April 26, 2022
Through the City’s community engagement process, five areas emerged of community needs in which the City’s ARPA funding could be invested. The five areas are:

A. Support for the unhoused and mental health
B. Business support
C. Affordable housing/at risk tenant support
D. Support for nonprofit organization
E. City/community improvement projects and public safety Each of these community needs are discussed below.

A. Support for the Unhoused and Mental Health
There was a clear theme amongst all groups providing feedback of a need to provide support to the unhoused in Concord with the goals of connecting the unhoused with support services and minimizing the impacts of the unhoused on the Concord businesses and residential community. In addition, providing mental health services would go along with programs to support the unhoused, as often unhoused individuals have additional issues that require professional mental health assistance. Themes of the services suggested for the City to invest ARPA dollars in include:
 Services for unhoused individuals
 Mental health services
 Safe parking, safe sleeping
 Employment assistance
 Increase emergency shelter capacity
 Tiny home village
Past & Current City Actions
The City Council’s focus on these two topics has increased significantly since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019. Early in the pandemic the City developed a program to provide hotel rooms for the most vulnerable of the unhoused, including the frail elderly, those with significant and life-threatening health issues and families with children. The City successfully assisted 37 unhoused Concord individuals (from 17 families). The City then worked with non-profit partners and transferred these individuals into longer term housing opportunities.

During this same time period, the first year of the pandemic, portable bathrooms and hand washing stations were installed at various locations throughout the City to help meet the hygiene needs of unhoused residents living within the community.

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 5.a
April 26, 2022
Unfortunately, the majority of these facilities were vandalized immediately and repeatedly and it was not feasible to keep them out in the community. So when the City reopened public park restrooms they were removed.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the City worked with a County CORE (Coordinated Outreach, Referral and Engagement) team to offer services to the unsheltered within our community. Concord’s CORE team consists of three-County employees (paid for by the City of Concord). The team provides access into the County homeless service systems. This CORE team works forty hours a week to connect homeless individuals with services, one of the CORE members is a social worker who provides case management for individuals.

When necessary, the City tags and removes encampments consistent with State and Federal law. The primary reasons for removing camps on public property usually relate to ADA (i.e. blocking a public walkway), safety, health, or crime issues. This is a practice the City has been employing since the start of the pandemic, and is consistent with State guidelines.

The City of Concord is also assisting unhoused residents and individuals with severe mental health concerns as described in the bullets below:
 Providing over $300,000 annually to organizations servicing the needs of Concord’s unhoused population.
 Serving as a host city to one of only three County wide full service homeless shelters.
 Funding a full-time County/City MHET team (Mental Health Evaluation Team) to proactively provide referrals to outpatient mental health services and other resources to aid individuals experiencing significant mental health challenges to aid the individuals in avoiding the need for future crisis intervention with the County Mental Health Hospital and/or law enforcement.
 Funding an additional staff position, a Community Services Manager, to work in the City’s housing division to help the Council and community define homeless service goals, facilitate relationships amongst the many non-profit groups providing services within the unsheltered community with a goal of maximizing effectiveness, identify funding opportunities to enhance homeless services and programs and, in general, to help the City continue to make progress on this challenge. This new position is anticipated to be filled this summer.  The City anticipates receipt of approximately $2,932,710 over the first five years of a new State program, called Permanent Local Housing Allocation Grants.

Concord will receive an allocation of $488,785 in the first year and $759,724 in the second. Future allocations may fluctuate from year to year depending on recording fess from the number of real estate transactions. Council has directed

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 5.a
April 26, 2022
the first two years of this funding towards the social worker position on the CORE team and establishing a rapid rehousing program for unhoused individuals and families.
 Actively participating with the County in the development and launching of the Countywide A3 program. The A3 program provides timely and appropriate behavioral health crisis services to Anyone, in Contra Costa County, Anywhere at Anytime; it is the fourth arm of public safety response in the County—joining fire, ambulance and police. It is funded from the recent Countywide use and transaction tax called Measure X and is in the early stages of implementation.

More information can be found on the County’s website.
 Early this year, the Council set aside $2.4 million of one-time dollars to be allocated to support efforts to address/support the homeless population in Concord. The City has not yet made a decision on how to invest these dollars to create a positive impact.
 Earlier this month, the Housing & Economic Development Committee of the Council began a conversation with Concord’s faith based community to look for opportunities to strengthen partnerships and the work of these groups in helping unhoused individuals with services and in transitioning off of the street.  At its April 2, 2022, Priority Setting Workshop, the Council identified creation of a Homeless Strategic Plan as a Tier 1 Priority for next fiscal year (FY 2022-23).

Attached to this staff report is the City’s “Homeless Services Fact Sheet.” (Attachment 3) Please visit www.cityofconcord.org/homelessservices for more information regarding the City’s homeless services.

B. Business Support
During the community engagement period, support for the business community was a recurring theme. The purpose of business support is to help fill the revenue gaps left by the loss of customers, employees, and business closures caused by the pandemic.

In order to receive input from the business community, the City, provided a business survey. The business survey received 430 responses in English and 8 responses in Spanish. The top ideas for assisting the business community are:
 Small Business financial assistance (grants)
 Enhance local economy
 Reduce crime
 Reduce homelessness

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 5.a
April 26, 2022
Past & Current City Actions
The City established a webpage to provide resources to businesses as they navigate the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of the resources the City supports include:
 Adopting the Concord Forward Action Plan, allowing the City to take several actions in support of the Concord business community as they reopened and continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
 A Commercial Rent Relief Program provided $1.0 million in grants to assist 95 businesses to provide commercial rent relief. A total of 186 applications were received resulting in grants to 51 percent of those that applied.  A Temporary and Permanent Outdoor Operations License: the City offers free, temporary licenses for businesses seeking to establish outdoor operations beginning June 9, 2020, through September 30, 2022.  Using State CARES funding, the City also provided 130 business assistance grants for a total of $725,000 to help offset costs incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 289 applications were received, resulting in awards to 45 percent of those that applied.

C. Affordable Housing/At Risk Tenant Support
Stakeholders cited the ability to find affordable housing a challenge in Concord. The loss of a job or other event can easily push residents out of their homes. Stakeholders also cited assisting at risk tenants as a need.

Through the input received by the City, the following emerged as interests and methods for providing affordable housing:
 Create more affordable housing
 Keep people housed
 Rental/utility assistance
 Child care assistance
 Food security
Past & Current City Actions
The City currently has approximately $6 million in unallocated Affordable Housing Funds and has 1,796 “controlled for affordability” affordable units.

Concord has a long history of supporting affordable housing through various activities, including the construction/rehabilitation of multi-family complexes, programs that address habitability issues and excessive rent increases in multi-family units, homeowner rehabilitation assistance, and programs that assist low-income residents with purchasing a home.

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 5.a
April 26, 2022
Over the last few years, the City allocated a total of $7.8 million of affordable housing funds to Resources for Community Development (RCD) for construction of a new 62 unit affordable housing project on Galindo Street. This project used the City’s contribution to leverage other sources of funding, and the “per-door” cost to create the development is just over $ 1 Million per door. The project is expected to start construction in late summer 2022.

The Naval Weapons Station Base Reuse Plan includes the development of 12,000 housing units in its conceptual plan, of which 25% are to be affordable; this equates to 3,000 new affordable units to be added over-time to the City’s inventory of regulatory controlled affordable units.

The City maintains an affordable housing inclusionary program for its ownership projects, and will be asking Council to update its inclusionary housing provisions to include rental units. These regulations require the inclusion of new affordable units in projects with five or more units in size to incorporate affordable units or pay in lieu fees to the City.

The City maintains a list and an interactive map on its Housing Assistance webpage of affordable housing complexes in Concord.

The City annually allocates approximately $425,000 to the Homeowner Rehabilitation Loan and Grant program to ensure that low-income residents, primarily seniors, are able to remain in safe, secure housing. With this annual funding, the City averages assisting 25 households per year.

The City annually allocates approximately $90,000 to support first-time homebuyers for homeownership. With this annual funding, the City averages assisting 3 households per year.

The City is partnering with the non-profit, Covia, to match low-income tenants seeking housing with homeowners who are 55+ who have an extra room to rent.

The City maintains a Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Program for homeowners of mobile homes in order to help moderate mobile home park space rents and promote the affordability of this naturally occurring affordable housing stock.

In addition to the 62 affordable units to be constructed by RCD, the City has approved the 75 unit (20% low and 20% very low-income units) RMG Housing project on Galindo Street, and construction is anticipated to begin later this year. The City also approved an application from Maracor Development, called the Ashbury Apartments, to be located on Ashbury Street at the Church of the Nazarene Site, which consists of 313

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 5.a
April 26, 2022
units of affordable housing. The applicant has indicated he is still working on funding for this project so timing of construction is unknown.

Most residential tenancies in California are now covered by some form of rent and eviction control due to AB 1482, The Tenant Protection Act of 2019. This Act extended a rent "cap" on rent increases and eviction controls statewide.

The State also has an eviction moratorium in place for approximately the last two years, however, those protections have largely expired. Concurrently, the State of California established the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program to assist Californians hit hardest by the pandemic with rent and utility relief payments. Tenants and landlords were able to request up to 18-months in assistance covering the time between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022. As of April 20th, the State’s Housing is Key website dashboard reflects that 1,468 Concord households have been served by this program, receiving an average of $11,282 in assistance (for a total of $16,561,969 into the Concord community). Other Concord residents still have active applications being reviewed and may receive support.

The Council has also taken actions on tenant protections including amending the City’s Residential Tenant Protection Ordinance to include a Rent Registry Program that requires reporting of certain data by multifamily complexes of four or more units. The Residential Tenant Protection Ordinance also allows for, among other things, relocation assistance from the landlord for no-fault just cause evictions and requires that a tenant be provided a written lease with the appropriate minimum lease terms.

In addition to the rental assistance provided by the State, the City of Concord has allocated $1,559,046 of CDBG-CV Act funding to local community services agencies to respond to the increased demand on programs that provide food security and to provide emergency tenant rental assistance to the City’s most at-risk residents.

Subsequently, the Council approved an additional allocation of $375,000 to provide additional tenant emergency rental assistance.

To date the City has expended $620,500 of the City emergency tenant rental assistance dollars and assisted 157 households. The City’s emergency rental assistance program was put on hold while tenants and landlords were directed to the State rent relief program. The City’s program was reinstated April 1, 2022, following the expiration of the State program, so more Concord households will receive assistance.

D. Support for Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofit organizations are defined as those organizations or charities within the city that provide services to the community and do not make a profit providing services. The

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 5.a
April 26, 2022
nonprofit community expressed a common theme of providing more services with decreased funding throughout the pandemic.

While several nonprofits provide services in the other categories outlined in this report, some nonprofits provide services that do not fall within those categories and are noted separately under this category. The following ideas of providing support to nonprofit organizations were received through the community engagement efforts:
 Financial assistance to nonprofits serving the community  Support for arts and culture organizations
 Job training
Past & Current City Actions
The City has 191 nonprofits with business licenses, which indicates they are either located in the City or provide services within the City. Staff believes this is likely an undercount of the number of nonprofits active within Concord, as nonprofits, while required to register for a business license, do not have to pay a business license fee, so many may not register. The City’s main methods of supporting nonprofits is through the allocation of Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Concord/Pleasant Hill Health Care District and Child Care Developer Fee dollars. While the amounts of funding in each of these programs varies year-to-year, in general the City provides approximately $975,000 annually to 23 different non-profits providing a range of services to the Concord community.

Additionally, the City of Concord worked to establish a Family Justice Center in Concord, which provides wrap-around services to victims of domestic violence. The Concord Family Justice Center opened in 2015 and the City continues to contribute $115,000 in financial support to it on an annual basis.

E. Community/City Improvement Projects and Public Safety Another common theme from the community focused on responsibilities the City has to provide services which include needed capital investment in the community and public safety. Many comments received focused on addressing homelessness and the impacts on the community. A related area to this category is public safety. Public Safety relies on the City’s roadways and traffic systems to efficiently deliver services.

Through the input received by the City, the following emerged as way to support this category of community/city improvement projects and public safety:
 Roadway maintenance
 Community cleanliness and impacts of the unhoused downtown  Sidewalk repair, street lighting, traffic lights
 Park improvements

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 5.a
April 26, 2022
Past & Current City Actions
The City adopts 5-Year Capital Improvement Plans (CIP) biennially and prioritizes projects taking into account the City’s available revenues for the various project categories. The current approved CIP, ending June 30, 2022, is $31.7 million. The proposed CIP, beginning July 2022, is $116.3 million and makes significant investment in the City’s streets, roadways, parks and city facilities; however, there remains $12.7 million of unfunded projects, which include projects for roadways, stormwater, traffic signals, parks and city facilities. In addition, the City has been successful or anticipates being successful in receiving grant funds that extend the City’s local resources. At this time, the City has applied for $30.6 million of grants to support transportation infrastructure and these will require matching funds of up to $6.3 million, for which potential funding sources remain to be secured.

Recommendations/Council Direction

1. Receive presentation on community outreach.

At the April 26th meeting, Council is asked to receive the presentation summarizing the community outreach efforts. For additional information and to review specific comments received from the public, please review these resources:
a. Links to the survey results posted to the City’s ARPA webpage:

Resident Survey – English
Resident Survey – Spanish
Business Survey – English
Business Survey – Spanish
Nonprofit Survey - English
b. Appendix 1 to Attachment 1 to the Management Partners Report reflects emails received through March 31 and were incorporated into their report. c. Attachment 2 to this staff report reflects emails received between April 1 and April 20, 2022.

2. Approve ARPA spending categories.

There is $19.0 million of one-time ARPA funding available to be allocated.

Council also directed that $1.0 million of Measure V funds be set aside annually and that the initial allocation of these dollars is to be considered as part of the ARPA Investment Plan.

While ARPA legislation has various categories of allowable expenditures, the most flexible is the Revenue Loss category. This allows the City to spend up to its

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 5.a
April 26, 2022
calculated revenue loss to provide government services with only two exceptions:
the City may not 1) make deposits to pension funds or 2) use ARPA funding to reduce an existing tax. The City’s Revenue Loss calculation exceeds the total ARPA allocation ($27.0 million) the City will receive so the Council may make any legal governmental expenditure with ARPA funds, with the exceptions of deposits to pension funds or offsetting an existing tax.

Using the Council’s adopted Guiding Principles for Investing ARPA funds informed by community feedback, staff recommends allocating the funding into the following five spending categories:
 Support for the Unhoused and Mental Health
 Business Support
 Support to Nonprofits
 Affordable Housing/Tenant Support
 Community/City Improvement Projects and Public Safety

3. Approve dollar amounts allocated to each spending category from the $19.0 million of one-time ARPA funds and $1.0 million of annual, recurring Measure V funds.

Based on the Council’s Guiding Principles and the feedback received from the community, staff is recommending ARPA allocations as presented below:

Category
Proposed
Allocation
Support for the Unhoused/Mental
Health $3,000,000
Business Support $2,000,000
Support to Nonprofits $2,000,000
Affordable Housing/At Risk Tenants $6,000,000
Community/City Improvement
Projects/Public Safety $6,000,000
Total Proposed Allocations $19,000,000
Higher allocations are recommended to the latter two categories as these types of programs and projects require a higher level of funding to make a meaningful impact.

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 5.a
April 26, 2022
Staff is not recommending allocation of the Measure V revenues at this time.

Rather, staff recommends Council defer the investment decisions for the ongoing Measure V revenues until after the ARPA dollars have been allocated to specific programs or projects. Council will have significantly more information at that point on what projects or programs benefit most from re-occuring funding and have an impact in high-priority need areas within the community.

4. Provide direction to staff on next steps for developing a funding allocation process for each spending category.

Council is requested to provide direction to staff on how the City moves from the broad areas of funding by spending category to making decisions on specific projects and programs to fund within each category. Options include:
a. Direct staff to develop a draft investment strategy by spending category. to be brought back before the full Council for consideration. This is the most efficient approach and staff could return by the end of June to Council, if Council were willing to hold a special meeting.
b. Refer the discussion of proposing an investment strategy by spending category to a Council Sub-Committee(s). Then staff would bring a consolidated report on the recommendations to the full Council for consideration, likely in late August or early September. Alternatively, an Ad Hoc Committee could be convened to develop recommendations for full Council consideration. Use of an ad-hoc Council Committee would likely result in a return to the full Council with recommendations in August, when Council returns from break.

Council standing Sub-Committees are as follows:
 Housing and Economic Development (McGallian/Aliano)
 Infrastructure and Franchise (Hoffmeister/Obringer)
 Policy Development and Internal Operations (Aliano/Hoffmeister)  Recreation, Cultural Affairs & Community Services (Obringer/Birsan)  Youth and Education (Birsan/McGallian)
Alternatives
The Council may modify spending categories, funding to each spending category and/or suggest an approach to developing the specific investment approach by spending category that differs from staff’s recommendations.

City Council Agenda Report
Agenda Item No. 5.a
April 26, 2022
Financial Impact
There is no financial impact from the recommendations in this report; However, depending upon what investments ultimately selected, there could be a positive financial impact to the City through direct investment in needed infrastructure, or by creating a local match allowing the City to leverage funds with state or federal grant dollars, and through decreasing the City’s ongoing maintenance costs.

ARPA funds are one-time funds that if not spent or committed by the ARPA deadlines would need to be returned to the Federal Government.

Environmental Determination
None of the activities addressed herein constitute a “project” within the meaning of Public Resources Code Section 21065, 14 Cal Code Regs. Sections 15060(c)(2), 15060(c)(3), or 15378 because none of the activities has the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment; even if any activity was a project under CEQA, each is exempt under 14 Cal. Code Regs. Sections 15061(b)(2), 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(4).

Public Contact
The City Council Agenda was posted. An announcement about this meeting was shared on April 20 through a website e-mail blast to more than 2,600 subscribers, and posted to Concord’s Nextdoor, Facebook, and Twitter accounts.

Attachments

1. Management Partners Community Feedback Report

2. Additional Public Comment received between April 1 and April 20

3. City of Concord Homeless Services Fact Sheet

4. Links to Survey Results:

Resident Survey – English
Resident Survey – Spanish
Business Survey – English
Business Survey – Spanish
Nonprofit Survey - English

1730 MADISON ROAD • CINCINNATI, OH 45206 • 513 861 5400 • FAX 513 861 3480 MANAGEMENTPARTNERS.COM 2107 NORTH FIRST STREET, SUITE 470 • SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95131 • 408 437 5400 • FAX 408 453 6191 To: Valerie Barone, City Manager
Karan Reid, Finance Director
City of Concord
From: Carol Jacobs, Chief Operating Officer
Subject: Concord, California American Rescue Plan Act – Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement
Date: April 20, 2022
Executive Summary
The City of Concord engaged Management Partners to implement a community engagement plan and help the City develop a plan to invest the remaining $19 million from the City’s allotment of $27 million in Coronavirus State and Local Federal Relief Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). At its April 26 Council meeting, the City Council will be asked to provide policy direction to the City Manager regarding the amount of funds that should be allocated to the various categories of uses discussed in this report.

This memorandum summarizes the outcomes of the community engagement efforts. The information is intended to help inform the Council’s deliberations on the investment opportunities for the remaining $19 million in one-time ARPA funds, plus an additional $1 million in ongoing Measure V revenue.

Table 1 presents a summary of the highest priority areas identified based on the results of all community engagement efforts across four stakeholder groups: residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and City Council and staff members.

Table 1. Summary of investment priorities from all community engagement efforts by stakeholder group Stakeholder Group Top Priorities for Investment
Residents  Services for the unhoused and mental health  City/community improvement projects and public safety  Affordable housing/at risk tenant support
 Business support
Attachment 1

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 2

Stakeholder Group Top Priorities for Investment
Businesses  Business support
 City/community improvement projects and public safety  Services for the unhoused and mental health
Nonprofits  Nonprofit support
 Affordable housing/at risk tenant support
 Services for the unhoused and mental health
 Business support
City Council and Staff  Services for the unhoused and mental health  Business support
 Nonprofit support
 Affordable housing/at risk tenant support
 City/community improvement projects and public safety

The following two categories were preferred investment areas amongst the four stakeholder groups:
• Services for the unhoused and mental health
• Business support
Secondary investment areas that received significant support across most groups included:
• City/community improvement projects and public safety • Nonprofit support
• Affordable housing/at risk tenant support
Community Engagement Approach
The community engagement plan was implemented to obtain stakeholder input on how the City’s ARPA funds could best be utilized to assist the community in recovering from the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community Stakeholder Groups and Community Engagement Tools Community stakeholders were identified as four constituencies: residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and City Councilmembers and City staff. The plan also called for engagement of members of the community whose primary language was Spanish.

The community engagement tools included the following:
• Interviews – Management Partners conducted individual interviews with each Councilmember as well as the City Manager and department heads about immediate community needs and specific ideas for potential investment of federal pandemic recovery funding.
• Focus groups – Management Partners facilitated two focus groups conducted via Zoom to hear feedback from residents living in Qualified Census Tracts disproportionately impacted by Covid.

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 3

• Community-wide survey – The City deployed a total of five surveys to seek community and business feedback on ARPA priorities through SurveyMonkey. The surveys included:
o A resident survey (conducted in both English and Spanish) o A business survey (conducted in both English and Spanish) o A nonprofit/community-based organization survey (conducted in English) • Citizen satisfaction survey – The City separately engaged the services of Godbe Research (Godbe) to conduct a citizen satisfaction survey regarding City services. Godbe included questions regarding the City’s potential uses of ARPA funds, and those results were incorporated into the community engagement plan.
• Community meeting – Management Partners facilitated a community meeting conducted via Zoom to hear feedback from the Concord community at large regarding community investment priorities.
• E-mail input to City’s ARPA e-mail account – focus group and community meeting participants, as well as those visiting the City’s ARPA webpage, were encouraged to submit additional correspondence regarding ARPA priorities via email to [email protected].

Table 2 summarizes how the community engagement techniques were used with each constituency:

Table 2. Community engagement tools used, by constituency Constituency Residents Businesses Nonprofits
City Council/
Staff
One-on-one interviews X
Focus group – English X
Focus group – Spanish X
Community-wide survey – English X X X
Community-wide survey - Spanish X X
Citizens’ Satisfaction Survey (Godbe Research) X
Community meeting X X X
E-mail input to City’s ARPA e-mail account X X X

City’s Website – ARPA Webpage
The City created a specific ARPA page on its website located at www.cityofconcord.org/ARPA.

The webpage contains a description of the federal local recovery ARPA funds and asks for community input on how to spend the available funds, next steps and more information. The webpage also includes links to community-wide surveys and an e-mail address to provide input (this is discussed in greater detail in the Community Engagement Results section below.)

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 4

Outreach Strategy
The City engaged in extensive outreach to gather a wide range of input from the community.

The City invited 9,200 households within Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs), areas which have been determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to be the most economically disadvantaged areas, to participate in focus group meetings via direct mail as well as via distribution of postcards at local churches and schools. The focus group invitation postcards, pictured below in Figure 1, also featured the ARPA web page address and a QR code directing community members to that page. The City’s community relations team also extended the invitation through the Nextdoor app.

1. Outreach postcard image

The City leveraged relationships with community partners such as the Chamber of Commerce and Todos Santos Business Association to help publicize the survey, focus group and ARPA

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 5

webpage. Dozens of community-based organization partners were contacted to request their assistance in spreading the word about the community meeting and resident surveys.

To ensure the Concord community was aware of the opportunity to provide feedback, staff included articles and information about ARPA and how to participate through a variety of communications tools, including:
• A Fall 2021 Community Update (mailed to all residents and businesses) • The Fall issue of the City News & Activity Guide (mailed to all) • The Spring/Winter issue of the City News & Activity Guide (mailed to all) • A postcard invitation to the focus groups (mailed to residents in the QCTs) • The City News e-newsletter - 3 issues
• Nextdoor - 4 posts
• Facebook - 4 posts (including a boosted ad)
• Twitter - 4 posts
• Multiple emails to the business community
• Multiple emails to nonprofit partners
• A home page banner ad on the City's website
• A news announcement on the City's website, which was also emailed to subscribers Webpage visitors were encouraged to take one of five brief surveys through SurveyMonkey.

The surveys were also promoted to community members through the City’s e-newsletter, website and social media. The City sent direct information about the business survey to more than 8,000 businesses and owners of commercial properties.

The webpage provided contact information to encourage community members to submit their ideas related to ARPA to a designated email address, mailing address or telephone number.

Links to subscribe to news alerts and the City’s e-newsletter were featured on the City’s webpage, along with links to video of the previous ARPA presentation to the City Council, and community meeting workshop materials such as slide decks and instant survey results.

In collaboration with City staff, Management Partners identified five community needs categories to organize community engagement feedback, listed in order of priority:

Tier 1
• S
upport for the unhoused and mental health
• Business support
Tier 2
• Community/city improvement projects and public safety • Nonprofit support
• Affordable housing/at risk tenant support

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 6

Community Engagement Results
As a result of the community outreach efforts, Management Partners was able to aggregate the feedback of a combined total of 1,687 feedback submissions from the Concord community, as detailed below in Table 3.

Table 3. Total feedback submissions collected during ARPA community engagement Community Engagement Method Individuals Engaged
Interviews with City Council and staff 17
ARPA Webpage Surveys 897
Focus Groups 7
Community Meeting 56
2022 Citizen Satisfaction and ARPA Priorities Survey 678 Funding requests sent to ARPA Email address 32
TOTAL FEEDBACK SUBMISSIONS1 1,687
1Total feedback submissions does not mean unique individuals. Some individuals may have participated in multiple community engagement methods. The number of duplicate submissions was not tracked.

Results from the community engagement efforts are organized according to the engagement tool used, which were:
• Interviews,
• Focus groups,
• Community-wide survey,
• Citizens’ satisfaction survey,
• Community meeting, and
• E-mail input.

Interviews
Table 4 summarizes the initial investment opportunity ideas generated by Council and staff during interviews, organized by community need category.

Table 4. Initial Ideas for Investment Opportunities from Interviews with City Council and Staff Community Need Top Three2 Investment Opportunities per Community Need Support for the unhoused and
mental health
 Identify space for encampments
 Purchase hotels/motels for transitional living facilities  Coordination of services
Business support  Assist small businesses with employee recruitment and retention  Assist with rent and utility expenses
 Address impacts of online sales and unused retail spaces Community/city improvement
projects and public safety
 Provide internet access to the entire community
 Road maintenance, repair potholes

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 7

Community Need Top Three2 Investment Opportunities per Community Need  Parks improvement projects
Nonprofit support  Financial assistance for organizations providing services to the community  Support Family Justice Center facility
 Identify fundraising opportunities
Affordable housing/at risk
tenant support
 Rental assistance
 Purchase homes to increase available affordable housing  Acquire property for affordable housing development
 Address food insecurity
2Table shows the top three opportunities identified in each category, unless fewer were provided.

Focus Groups
The first focus group, conducted in English, was held Monday, February 7, 2022. Participants were asked how their household was impacted by the pandemic, their opinions about the most immediate pandemic-related needs in the Concord community, and how the City might help.

The second focus group, offered in Spanish, was held Wednesday, February 9, 2022. This focus group was attended by just three attendees, and no feedback was provided on funding priorities.

During the two focus group meetings, seven participants provided input regarding immediate community needs and their priorities for future investment that would have the greatest community impact. This input identified the following investments as having the greatest potential impact in Concord:

1. Services for the unhoused and mental health,

2. Affordable housing/at risk tenant support

3. Other
Table 5 displays the potential investment opportunities identified by focus group participants.

Table 5. Potential Investment Opportunities Identified by Focus Group Participants Community Need Top Three Investment Opportunities per Community Need Support for the unhoused  Safe parking lot
 Designated land for camping with coordinated services and security, sanitation and waste management
 Tiny home village
Affordable housing/at risk
tenant support
 Rental assistance to help individuals at risk of losing their housing, keep their housing
 “Basic income” pilot program
 Support individuals and families with sudden job loss  Increase inclusive zoning/mixed use for long-term housing and job development
Other  Establish a community garden and fruit forest at Newhall Park

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 8

Community-wide Surveys
The community-wide online surveys were open between February 9, 2022 and March 11, 2022.

Management Partners aggregated the data from a total of 897 responses that were received from the five surveys.

The three subsections below show the resident (English and Spanish), business (English and Spanish) and nonprofit survey (English) results for the following survey questions:
• Greatest impacts experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, • Lingering impacts or greatest need, and
• Opportunities for investment.

With respect to the greatest impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the following themes emerged from the five surveys:
• Loss of revenue for small businesses (including business closures) • Unemployment
• Difficulty paying rent/mortgage/utilities
• Increase in mental health issues
• Difficulty obtaining food/other supplies
The following themes were seen across the five surveys regarding the question of lingering impacts or greatest need:
• Loss of revenue for small businesses (including business closures) • Loss of customers
• Difficulty paying rent/mortgage/utilities
• Impacts of unhoused community members
• Lack of affordable housing/at risk tenant support
Regarding opportunities for investment of ARPA funds, the following priorities were identified across the five surveys:
• Financial assistance for small businesses
• Addressing impacts of unhoused community members
• Affordable housing/at risk tenant support
• Mental health services
• Roadway maintenance
Resident (English and Spanish) Surveys
The resident surveys were provided in both English and Spanish. The survey conducted in English received 423 responses and the survey conducted in Spanish received 2 responses.

The top five responses regarding the greatest impacts respondents experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic were:

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 9

• Increased public safety and/or community violence concerns • Increased mental health issues
• Impacts of school closures
• Difficulty obtaining food/other supplies
• Loss of employment
The top five responses regarding the lingering impacts or greatest need due to the COVID-19 pandemic were:
• Increased public safety and/or community violence concerns • Impacts of homelessness
• Impacts of school closures
• Lack of affordable housing/at risk tenant support
• Increased mental health issues
Table 6 shows the top five responses regarding the opportunities for investment.

Table 6. Resident Survey Responses Regarding Opportunities for Investment Priority Community Need

1. Roadway maintenance Community/city improvement projects and public safety

2. Services for unhoused individuals Support for the unhoused and mental health

3. Mental health services Support for the unhoused and mental health

4. Affordable housing/at risk tenant support Affordable housing/at risk tenant support

5. Small business economic assistance Business support

Business (English and Spanish) Surveys
The business surveys were provided in both English and Spanish. The survey conducted in English received 430 responses and the survey conducted in Spanish received 8 responses.

The top five responses regarding the greatest impacts experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic by businesses are listed below:
• Decline in revenue
• Loss of customers
• Difficulty paying rent/mortgage/expenses
• Workforce retention/difficulty hiring
• Business closure
The top five responses regarding the lingering impacts or greatest needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic are listed below:
• Decline in revenue
• Difficulty paying rent/mortgage/expenses

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 10

• Loss of customers
• Difficulty hiring employees
• Rising costs
Table 7 shows responses regarding the opportunities for investment.

Table 7. Business Survey Responses Regarding Opportunity for Investment Priority Community Need

1. Financial assistance (grants) Business support

2. Enhance local economy Business support

3. Reduce crime Community/city improvement projects and public safety

4. Reduce homelessness Support for the unhoused and mental health

5. Community cleanliness/desirability Community/city improvement projects and public safety

Nonprofit Survey
The nonprofit survey received 34 responses. The top five responses regarding the greatest impacts respondents’ clientele experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic are listed below:
• Unemployment
• Inability to pay rent
• Increased mental health issues
• Access to public services/facilities
• Difficulty obtaining food/other supplies
The top five responses regarding lingering impacts or greatest needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic are listed below:
• Lack of affordable housing/at risk tenant support
• Increased mental health issues
• Lack of job opportunities
• Impacts of homelessness
• Difficulty obtaining food/other supplies
Table 8 shows responses regarding the opportunities for investment.

Table 8. Nonprofit Survey Responses Regarding Opportunities for Investment Priority Community Need

1. Assistance to nonprofits Nonprofit support

2. Affordable housing/at risk tenant support Affordable housing/at risk tenant support

3. Services for the unhoused Support for the unhoused and mental health

4. Small business economic assistance Business support

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 11

Priority Community Need

5. Mental health services Support for the unhoused and mental health

Open-ended feedback received from community-wide survey respondents is shown in Attachment A, listed in order of frequency by community needs. Additional feedback was received from the surveys that did not rate highly as an ARPA funding priority. To acknowledge all input from community members, a list of these items is provided in Attachment A under “Other”.

Citizen Satisfaction Survey
In late January 2022, Godbe Research conducted a 2022 Citizen Satisfaction and ARPA Priorities Survey. The firm used telephone calls, texts, and email to contact Concord residents, and 678 responses were received. The results of this survey were shared at a City Council meeting on March 8, 2022. Several ARPA-related questions were asked during the survey.

The top three COVID-19 pandemic impacts identified by survey respondents are:
• Feeling less connected to friends and/or community
• Increased mental health issues
• Increased public safety and/or community violence concerns The top three ARPA priorities identified by survey respondents are:
• Public health services
• Mental health services
• Services for unhoused individuals
The top three priorities for direct assistance to households identified by survey respondents are:
• Rent, mortgage or utility assistance
• Emergency assistance for home repairs, weatherization or other needs • Food assistance
Community Meeting
The community meeting was held February 23, 2022 with 56 members of the community participating. Similar to the focus groups, Management Partners provided a brief overview of ARPA, described potential uses of ARPA funds, and asked participants to use Mentimeter, a virtual meeting feedback tool, to rate their priorities (1 = low to 5 = high) among a list of options.

Table 9 below shows the top five investment priorities identified by community meeting participants during the prioritization exercise.

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 12

Table 9. Community Meeting Responses Regarding ARPA Investment Priorities Priority Community Need

1. Services for unhoused individuals Support for the unhoused and mental health

2. Small business economic assistance Business support

3. Mental health services Support for the unhoused and mental health

4. Assistance to nonprofit organizations Nonprofit support

5. Create more affordable housing Affordable housing/at risk tenant support

Since feedback from the prior focus groups and survey results indicated a community preference for services for unhoused individuals, Management Partners asked meeting participants for specific ideas to assist unhoused individuals. When asked, “If Concord was to spend ARPA dollars on supporting the unhoused, which types of investments would you prefer?” a range of responses was received from 51 participants (summary of all responses may be found in Attachment A). The top five responses are included in Table 10.

Table 10. Community Meeting Responses Regarding Support for the Unhoused Priority Community Need

1. Safe parking, safe sleeping Support for the unhoused and mental health

2. Affordable housing/at risk tenant support Affordable Housing/at risk tenant support

3. Mental health resources Support for the unhoused and mental health

4. Employment assistance, job placement and/or
apprenticeship for job readiness Support for the unhoused and mental health

5. Increase emergency shelter capacity Support for the unhoused and mental health

Following the prioritization exercise, participants were split into breakout rooms for guided small group discussions before reconvening with the larger group to report out. The facilitators asked the small groups about the most immediate community needs and specific ideas for investments with the greatest impact.

The common themes that emerged from the breakout room discussions follow in Table 11.

Table 11. Immediate Needs Identified During Community Meeting Priority Community Need

1. Address impacts of the unhoused, especially in the
downtown
Community/city improvement projects and public
safety

2. Services and facilities for the unhoused Support for the unhoused and mental health

3. Small business support Business support

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 13

Priority Community Need

4. Rent increases have priced out families in this
community Affordable housing/at risk tenant support

5. Lack of affordable childcare options Affordable housing/at risk tenant support

Open-ended feedback received by community meeting participants is listed by community need category in order of frequency in Attachment A. Additional feedback was received during the community meeting that did not rate highly as an ARPA funding priority. To acknowledge all input from community members, a list of these items is provided in Attachment A under “Other”.

Email Communication
A total of 32 requests for ARPA funding were received at the [email protected] email address. Management Partners analyzed these email requests for themes, which are identified in Table 12. All email requests received through March 31, 2022 are included in Appendix 1.

Table 12. Email Communication Themes
Priority Community Need

1. Support for arts, culture and nonprofits Nonprofit support

2. Services for the unhoused Support for the unhoused and mental health

3. Capital improvement projects (sidewalk repairs,
streetlighting and traffic lights)
Community/city improvement projects and
public safety

4. Small business counseling and economic assistance Business support

Conclusion
Based upon the community engagement efforts, members of the public identified a number of community needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants identified the following five areas as priorities for federal recovery funding:

Tier 1
• Support for the unhoused and mental health
• Business support
Tier 2
• Community/city improvement projects and public safety • Nonprofit support
• Affordable housing/at risk tenant support

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 14

Next Steps
The results of the community engagement process will be reviewed with the City Council on April 26. At that time, the Council will review the community feedback and the proposed community needs categories that have been identified. Staff will ask the City Council to provide direction on investment options of ARPA funds, including targeted allocations of the $19 million among the five community needs. Management Partners will work with staff to prepare a summary report on the options selected, potential funding amounts and program development considerations (where necessary). We will develop program policy and process documents for implementation of options selected and prepare an implementation action plan.

This process will result in the final ARPA Plan, which will be presented to the City Council for approval at a future meeting.

Attachments
Attachment A – Open-ended Comments by Community Need
Attachment B – Summary of Survey Results
Appendix 1 – Letters received at City’s ARPA email address

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 15

Attachment A – Open-ended Comments by Community Need

Open-ended comments were received from Council and staff interviews, focus group and community meeting participants, and survey respondents. Management Partners aggregated the comments and specific investment ideas by community need and feedback source, and listed them in order of frequency.

Support for the Unhoused and Mental Health
Council and staff
• Identify space for encampments
• Purchase homes/motels for transitional living facilities • Coordination of services
• Leverage federal dollars to house veterans and families • Expand provision of mental health services (CAHOOTS model)

Community Meeting
• Safe parking, safe sleeping
• Mental health services (especially interventions and support for young people) • Employment assistance, job placement, apprenticeship for job readiness • Emergency shelter, increased capacity
• Access to toilets, showers, trash pick-up, electricity and food prep • Purchase a lot for tent encampment, safe parking, tiny homes, and coordinated support services
• Tiny homes
• Counseling and coaching, training, mentorship and case management to prepare for independent living
• Designated area for community groups to support and wrap around services available • Medical assistance
• Buy and convert hotels, motels, small apartments or public buildings • Rehab for those with addictions to drugs, sobriety programs, harm reduction centers • Tenant protections to prevent evictions
• Rehousing within city/county
• Semipermanent housing to get stabilized
• Homeownership program
• Leverage county services
• Connect homeless veterans to benefits
• Navigation and outreach
• Work clothes to develop confidence and improve image
• Training for local restaurants to deal with unsheltered individuals • Services and facilities for the unhoused
• Leverage properties on East Street for a prefab tiny home village • Funding for restaurants to provide food to unhoused (pay it forward)

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 16

• Permanent, legal, safe space for the unhoused (limit business impacts, central location for non-profits to serve, safe and secure at night, ability to store belongings) • Services for veterans -- workforce training, technology training, resource center • Homeless shelters with urban farming
• Transitional housing (city-owned) with case management, mentorship • "Safe place" for homeless individuals that is staffed with social workers • Buy a hotel for homeless individuals
• Vehicle parking
• Housing with wraparound supportive services
• Support for unhoused school age students
• Support Shelter Inc. with sheltering efforts

Survey Results
• Mental health (added stress and isolation and residual anxiety about COVID-19) • Community impacts from homelessness (coming closer and closer to residential areas) • Services/housing for homeless (Transitional or permanent housing, homeless services are not even close to being fully recovered)
• The homelessness is creating a garbage/health hazard throughout Concord • Need a solution that supports medical, financial and chemical dependencies, whatever the issue.
• Navigation center like Fremont
• Access to shelter
• Building tiny homes with wrap around services in coordination with Contra Costa County’s homeless services makes the most sense for one time money to assure an ongoing positive impact
• Buy land for safe parking, organized homeless encampments and then partner with non- profits to run them. Buy 20 homes as set them up as group homes for transitional housing candidates
• Divert homeless to area of clean facilities
• Find creative ways to build housing for people so they are not living on the streets • Housing for homeless and job training for them as well to help them become a productive citizen
• We need something like the very successful Trinity House in Walnut Creek to help homeless
• Purchase land for a tiny home community and have city’s housing department manage it or fund it completely. Cannot depend on nonprofits or faith-based to maintain something when nonprofits fail and have hard times fundraising • Social services for all homeless needs
• This one-time grant should be used to create permanent solutions for those struggling with housing, shelter and mental health

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 17

Business Support
Council and staff
• Assist small businesses with employee recruitment and retention • Assist with rent and utility expenses
• Address impacts of online sales and unused retail spaces

Community meeting
• Small business support (immigrant-owned non-brick and mortar, cover COVID sick leave costs, rental and utility assistance, reduce permit fees) • Support for Monument Corridor community and businesses • Grants for local small businesses, including retail, to cover payroll and rent costs, workforce training

Survey Results
• Decline in revenue
• Loss of customers
• Difficulty making rent, mortgage or utility payments
• Business closure
• Homeless activity/presence impacting the customer base and comfortability with coming back in person
• Desire for business counseling/assistance to grow and sustainably plan • Adapting to inflation costs and supply chain issues (keeping up with the market as it evolves)
• Attracting customers back in person
• Loss of employees and unable to find replacements
• Debt/loan repayments
• Affordable commercial space
• Shop Concord bonus add-on when purchasing a cards
• Assistance to home businesses
• Help for small businesses
• Landlord assistance to maintain property such that living conditions do not deteriorate and rent is not increased to cover cost; especially for those whose tenants have not been able to pay their rent
• Support farmers markets
• Reimburse the Terrapins for the funds they contributed to the city to keep the pool open during the winter months
• Develop a plan to create local jobs in Concord and should attract large businesses to operate in Concord to stimulate the economy and sustain jobs

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 18

Community/City Improvement Projects and Public Safety
Council and staff
• Provide internet access to the entire community
• Road maintenance, fix potholes
• Parks improvement projects
• More police officers
• Building renovations (Don Salvio Pacheco adobe, Concord Historical Society building) • Expansion of the senior center
• Library expansion
• Provide pre-school programming

Community meeting
• Address impacts of the unhoused, especially safety and cleanliness downtown • Domestic and family violence has risen during the pandemic • Improved street lighting, cameras and monitoring
• Traffic light at Monument Blvd./Lacey Lane
• More police presence
• Healthy food for the whole community (disease prevention) • Fund the libraries

Survey Results
• Repair roads and potholes
• Bike lanes and improvements to active and public transportation • Clean up the streets. Garbage and trash is everywhere. We need to have a free pick-up day from our garbage company to help clean up the neighborhoods • Public safety. Crime is up and there needs to be more of a police presence (response time is slow, vandalism, porch pirates, home trespass, blight in the city, cleaning the city streets, dealing with the mentally ill on the streets)
• Develop parks and recreation centers for the community • Upgrade parks
• Traffic light reconfiguration (Lacey Lane and Monument Boulevard) • Increased crime (need to work on prevention and response time, more police to patrol the streets)
• Criminal activity impacting businesses due to increased crime/presence of homelessness • Traffic enforcement. Crack down on speeding (Kirker Pass Road/Concord Blvd). Too many red-light runners everywhere. City needs to invest in red light cameras and start sending out tickets to red-light violators (Concord boulevard between Farm Bureau and Clayton Way)
• Make Concord more walkable
• Repurposing empty buildings (District 3)

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 19

• Sidewalks in neighborhoods (Cowell Road)
• A new/improved library
• Beautify downtown Concord (and the Monument Corridor) to attract more businesses and visitors
• Prosecutors need to enforce the law; criminal behavior must have consequences • Street cleaning
• Improving pedestrian safety
• Outdoor recreation services (soccer field)
• Prosecute criminals. Go after fraudulent claims.
• Public safety and crime prevention
• Start enforcing parking violations (safety hazards) e.g., blocking fire hydrants, double- parking, etc.)
• Senior transportation
• Clean water
• Improve internet access
• Access to community events and spaces
• Civic services (permitting, DMV, library services)
• Ensure city buildings are at appropriate levels of maintenance and security • Expand the play structure at Todos Santos Plaza
• Streetlighting (Sierra Road and Court, Fox Meadow Way) • License plate readers
• More outside dining
• Continue to invest in keeping green spaces clean (Todos Santos, Dave Brubeck Park, Newell Park, etc.)
• Large “bots dots” placed around the city to curb sideshows • Clean up Concord (North Concord, Willow Pass/Port Chicago, etc.) • Power wash the sidewalks around Todos Santos Square and clean up trash on streets and along roadsides. Make sure all trucks’ flatbeds are covered so debris and trash does not fall out and hit cars and litter highways
• Open pool for water aerobics

Nonprofit Support
Council and staff
• Financial assistance for organizations providing services to the community • Support Family Justice Center facility
• Identify fundraising opportunities

Community meeting
• Grants to help support work already being done in the community • Purchase permanent building for the Family Justice Center within the City of Concord

Survey Results

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 20

• Fund non-profits who provide comprehensive homeless services • Assistance to the nonprofit arts and culture sector - grants or donations (Neto Community Network, arts nonprofits)
• Funding for the arts
• Job training
• Financial support for youth sports organizations
• Investment in local organizations that help the community • Contra Costa/Solano Food Bank
• Hire nonprofits to administer programs associated with ARPA funding

Affordable Housing/at risk tenant support
Council and staff
• Rental assistance
• Purchase homes to increase affordable housing units
• Acquire property for affordable housing development
• Redevelop commercial areas for housing
• Address food insecurity

Community meeting
• Affordable housing
• Rent increases have priced out families in this community • Rent control
• Eviction moratorium
• Tenant protections (to prevent homelessness)
• Rental assistance
• Assistance for landlords
• Local ownership investment fund
• Housing first model
• Build more housing stock and put union workers to work • Rental assistance
• Utility assistance
• “Basic income” pilot program
• Support individuals and families with sudden job loss • Inability or difficulty paying rent, mortgage or utilities • Financial assistance to individuals in need (specifically, mental health initiatives, homelessness services and affordable housing and childcare)

Focus group
• Increase inclusive zoning/mixed use for long-term housing and job development

Survey Results

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 21

• Loss of housing or at risk of losing housing
• Worry about future ability to pay mortgage
• Significant rent increases
• Housing costs are too high
• Affordable rental housing for young adults
• Housing for extremely low-income people
• Permit fee waivers for solar, home repairs, and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) projects • 0% interest loans for home repairs
• Easier home buying options so one does not depend so much on high closing costs and down payments
• Increasing housing supply
• Long-term tenant protections
• Public housing
• Rent control
• Services for renter households

Other
Community meeting
• Animal Services (lots of feral cats and dogs running around, need to be neutered and taken care of)
• Arts need help, missed out on funding from the federal government • Establish a community garden and fruit forest at Newhall Park • No more police funding increases
• Prefers ARPA funding to not be spent on infrastructure, not emergency temporary housing
• Consider leveraging the dollars for other ARPA funds, such as grants for renewable energy
• Do not redirect the money to the County or elsewhere, so we lose control of how it is spent. We previously provided the County funding for mental health services, and we are not seeing the benefit.
• Support provision of childcare in the community
• Youth and after school programming

Survey Results
• Provide support for music programs in local schools
• Inability to make long term plans
• Was going to lose my job if I didn’t get vaccine
• Teen excessive phone use
• Court services take longer
• Fund the city's pensions and other liabilities. Reduce taxes / fees. The city is not fiscally responsible.

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 22

• Partially subsidize course fee for learning Transcendental Meditation to help those who struggle, help themselves. Offering this to students, teachers, healthcare workers. • Forced retirement
• Veteran services
• Health care services (stress has worsened health)
• Absentee landlords not monitoring tenants affecting quality of life of residents that want a peaceful drug free environment
• Food access
• Immigration services
• Lack of art and culture for the community
• Youth programming and activities (lack of affordable online youth programs, lack of access to libraries, need safe options)
• Investment in childcare programs and funding (childcare vouchers, subsidies) • Quality, affordable, accessible childcare (including for people above the government subsidized minimum)
• Senior Services (care and senior center services were reduced) • Lack of access to normal activities: restaurants, shopping, movies, theaters, community events, shows, meeting friends, meeting family, celebrating life events or regular holidays
• Job training and education
• Loss of employment
• Severe reduction of income
• At certain times, it was difficult to find rapid COVID-19 tests when needed • Inflation (significant increase in the price of groceries, household items, personal care items)
• Finding and paying for pet care
• Leaking roofs and plumbing issues
• Social services, benefits, housing etc. must be available to all, not just families with kids • Citywide stimulus payments for those affected by the pandemic, making minimum wage or negatively affected financially by the pandemic • Lower taxes due to rising costs of goods due to inflation • City sponsored internships for at-risk teenagers
• Property tax relief
• Truck driving school would create jobs and help supply chain • Educational recovery tutoring
• Gasoline vouchers
• Assistance on finding information and educational programs • Help for the unemployed
• Help obtaining reliable cars
• Help with adults with mild autism
• Hire more people that speak different languages, translate all documents and forms in various languages

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 23

• Market all the resources the city has to offer to the public so we, as a community, can take advantage of these programs
• Non-sports social/recreational/training programs for youth, such as a maker lab with 3D printers, design software, die cut machines, etc.
• Transform Concord into a multicultural hub for the visual and performing arts which would drive more visitors and help small businesses grow • Medical transport

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 24

Attachment B – ARPA Webpage Surveys
The City deployed a total of five brief surveys to seek community and business feedback on ARPA priorities through SurveyMonkey. The following online surveys were open between February 9, 2022 – March 11, 2022:
• Resident survey (conducted in both English and Spanish) • Business survey (conducted in both English and Spanish) • Nonprofit/Community Based Organization survey (conducted in English)

A total of 897 responses were received between the five surveys. Management Partners aggregated the data, specifically combining the English and Spanish responses for the respective resident and business surveys. In collaboration with City staff, Management Partners organized the survey results into seven community needs categories:
• Affordable housing/at risk tenant support,
• Business support,
• Capital/community/city improvement project,
• Nonprofit support,
• Support for the unhoused,
• Public safety.

This attachment is separated into three sections based on the aggregation of survey results:
• Resident (English and Spanish) Surveys
• Business (English and Spanish) Surveys
• Nonprofit/Community Based Organization Survey (English)

No open-ended responses have been included in this attachment as they are included in Attachment A.

Resident (English and Spanish) Surveys
The resident surveys were provided in both English and Spanish. The survey conducted in English received 424 responses and the survey conducted in Spanish received 2 responses.

Of the resident survey respondents, 90.5% were 35 or older and 56% lived in a one- or two- person household. Respondents were asked how their employment status had changed since March 2020 and 6.2% of respondents indicated they were working reduced hours while 10% indicated they were no longer employed, with 5% of the 10% of those who were no longer employed noting they had lost their job. Respondents were asked if their income changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and 26.7% indicated an overall decrease in income with 17.3% of respondents noting it decreased by more than 25%.

Mental health, public safety, education and training, services for the homeless and affordable housing/at risk tenant support were most frequently noted among the top five responses to the

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 25

resident survey. Feelings of isolation, concern about the rise in crime, roadway maintenance and community impacts from homelessness and concern for the unhoused were the most frequent comments provided in open-ended questions.

Respondents were asked how the COVID-19 pandemic had most significantly impacted them; Table 13 displays the top five responses. Respondents were able to choose up to 3 of the 16 choices provided. Of the responses to this question, 19.9% selected increased mental health issues and 18.6% selected increased public safety and/or community violence concerns with

12.3% indicating the COVID-19 pandemic had no significant impact on them.

Table 13. How has the COVID-19 pandemic most significantly impacted you? Order of
Frequency Answer Choice Community Need
Number of Responses
(Percent of Responses)
1 Increased mental health
issues
Support for the unhoused and
mental health 146 (19.9%)
2 Increased public safety
and/or community violence
concerns
Community/city improvement
projects and public safety 136 (18.6%)
3 No impact N/A 90 (12.3%)
Respondents were asked what housing issues had impacted them in the past year. Again, respondents were able to choose up to 3 of the 13 choices provided. Of the responses, 58.9% selected that this question was not applicable to them while 18% noted that homelessness visibly grew in their community and 9% selected a lack of affordable housing.

Table 14 shows responses identifying quality of life services respondents indicated were most negatively impacted during the pandemic and are still not fully recovered. Respondents were allowed to select up to 3 responses from a list of 14. Similar to Table 13, mental health services was the number one priority with 15.6% selecting this choice. While public safety was not a response option for this question, it was the most common response for those who selected the other response option which allowed for an open-ended comment.

Table 14. What quality of life services do you feel were most negatively impacted during the pandemic and are still not fully recovered?
Order of
Frequency Answer Choice Community Need
Number of Responses
(Percent of Responses)
1 Mental health and
behavioral services
Support for the unhoused
and mental health 140 (15.6%)
2 Education and training Other 115 (12.8%)
3 Homeless services
Support for the unhoused
and mental health 98 (10.9%)
Respondents were asked what they thought the greatest areas of need are in Concord; Table 15 shows these responses. Respondents were asked to rank the 14 answer choices in order of

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 26

priority from one to five. The top five selections are shown in Table 15, with public safety receiving the highest number of responses, closely followed by services/housing for homeless and community impacts from homelessness. Interestingly, each of the top five responses fall into a different community need area whereas the previous two tables showed the greatest pandemic impacts fell within the resident needs category.

Table 15. What do you think are the areas of greatest need in your community? Order of
Priority Answer Choice Community Need
Number of Responses
(Percent of Responses)
1 Public safety
Community/city improvement
projects and public safety 205 (10.9%)
2 Services/housing for
homeless
Support for the unhoused and
mental health 199 (10.6%)
3 Community impacts from
homelessness
Community/city improvement
projects and public safety 192 (10.2%)
4 Education (K-12)
Community/city improvement
projects and public safety 191 (10.2%)
5 Affordable housing
Affordable housing/at risk tenant
support 182 (9.7%)

Respondents were asked to select up to three potential uses from a list of 17 choices for the $19 million the City of Concord will receive in ARPA funds. Similar to Table 15, services for homeless individuals was in the top three responses in Table 16. The responses in Table 16 are slightly different than the previous three tables as roadway maintenance rose to the top as a priority for nearly 16% of respondents. However, similar to Tables 13 and 14, services for homeless individuals received the second most responses and creation of more affordable housing received the third most responses.

Table 16. Top three potential uses for $19 million in ARPA funds Order of
Priority Answer Choice Community Need
Number of Responses
(Percent of Responses)
1 Roadway maintenance
Community/city improvement
projects and public safety 187 (15.5%)
2 Services for homeless
individuals
Support for the unhoused and
mental health 159 (13.2%)
3 Creation of more
affordable housing
Affordable housing/at risk tenant
support 140 (11.6%)

Respondents were asked, “If the City were to provide direct assistance to households, what three services would be the most important?” Table 17 shows these responses. Rent, mortgage, or utility assistance received the most responses with 19.6% of respondents selecting this choice.

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 27

This was closely followed by emergency assistance for home repairs, weatherization, or other needs which was selected by 19.5% of respondents. Food assistance was the third choice, with

14.7% of respondents selecting this option.

Table 17. Direct assistance to households
Order of
Priority Answer Choice Community Need
Number of Responses
(Percent of Responses)
1 Rent, mortgage, or utility assistance
Affordable
housing/at risk
tenant support 211 (19.6%)
2 Emergency assistance for home repairs,
weatherization, or other needs
Affordable
housing/at risk
tenant support 210 (19.5%)
3 Food assistance Other 158 (14.7%)

Business (English and Spanish) Surveys
The business surveys were provided in both English and Spanish. The survey conducted in English received 430 responses and the survey conducted in Spanish received eight responses.

Of the business survey respondents, 32.5% of respondents stated they operate a home-based business.

The majority of respondents (78.6%) indicated their business had been in operation more than five years with 41.8% of respondents indicating they had been in operation more than 20 years;

21.4% of respondents noted their business has been in operation one to four years. When asked if respondents thought the City should prioritize financial assistance to economically disadvantaged communities and minorities or women-owned businesses, 51.5% of respondents selected yes, while 25.7% selected no and 22.8% selected unsure. Respondents were also asked if their business had received any loans, grants or financial assistance to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and 30.3% of respondents noted they had received a grant from the federal government, with 19.7% indicating they received a small business loan, 17.3% received a state grant and 11.6% received a local county or city grant.

Table 18 shows responses to the question of how the COVID-19 pandemic most significantly impacted respondents’ businesses. The three most significant impacts of the nine choices are shown below. Decline in revenue was the highest response, with 22.9% of respondents selecting this followed by loss of customers at 18.1% and difficulty making rent or mortgage payments at

13.1%.

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 28

Table 18. How has the COVID-19 pandemic most significantly impacted your business? Order of
Frequency Answer Choice
Community
Need
Number of Responses (Percent
of Responses)
1 Decline in revenue
Business
support 276 (22.9%)
2 Loss of customers
Business
support 218 (18.1%)
3 Difficulty making rent or
mortgage payments
Business
support 158 (13.1%)

Table 19 shows responses to the question of what the City should spend the federal recovery dollars on, specifically as it relates to businesses. Respondents were asked to select their top five priorities, so a weighted average was used for this table. The top three priorities (financial assistance and programs to enhance the local economy) are reflective of what was shown in Table 18 regarding significant impacts (decline in revenue, loss of customers, difficulty making rent or mortgage payments).

Table 19. When it comes to helping businesses, what do you think the City of Concord should spend federal recovery dollars on?
Order of
Priority Answer Choice Community Need
Weighted
Average
1 Financial assistance for
mortgage, rent or utilities Business support 9.14
2 Financial assistance for payroll Business support 8.29 3 Programs to enhance the local
economy Business support 7.47
4 Programs to reduce crime
Community/city improvement
projects and public safety 7.33
5 Programs to reduce
homelessness
Support for the unhoused and
mental health 7.10

The remainder of the questions asked on the business surveys were open-ended and those responses are provided in Attachment A.

Nonprofit and Community-Based Organization Survey
The nonprofit and community-based organization survey was provided in English and received 34 responses. The majority of respondents indicated that their organization has been serving the Concord community for more than five years (91.2%) with 32.5% selecting they have been in operation 21 to 40 years and 17.6% in operation more than 40 years.

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 29

Table 20 shows responses to the question of how the respondents’ clientele have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents were asked to select up to three responses for this question and loss of employment was the top selection with 17% followed by a tie between difficulty or inability to pay mortgage or rent and increased mental health issues at

11.7%.

Table 20. How has the COVID-19 pandemic most significantly impacted the clients you serve? Order of
Frequency Answer Choice Community Need
Number of Responses
(Percent of Responses)
1 Loss of employment Other 16 (17.0%)
2 (tie)
Difficulty or inability to pay
mortgage or rent AND Increased
mental health issues
Affordable
housing/at risk
tenant support 11 (11.7%)
3 Other Other 10 (10.6%)
Respondents were asked what quality of life services they believed were most negatively impacted during the pandemic and are not fully recovered; respondents were allowed to select all that applied. The top five responses are shown in Table 21. The top three responses are similar to the responses provided in the resident and business surveys, but education and training, and youth, family and social services were also highlighted.

Table 21. What quality of life services do you believe were most negatively impacted during the pandemic and are still not fully recovered?
Order of
Frequency Answer Choice Community Need
Number of Responses
(Percent of Responses)
1 Employment Other 12 (14.7%)
2 Mental health and
behavioral services
Support for the unhoused and
mental health 17 (11.3%)
3 Homeless services
Support for the unhoused and
mental health 14 (9.3%)
4 Education and training Other 12 (8.0%)
5 Youth, family and
social services
City/community improvement
projects and public safety 11 (7.3%)
Table 22 shows what respondents determined to be the top five greatest needs in the Concord community. Affordable housing was selected as the greatest area of need; it was also in the top five areas of greatest need in the resident survey. Homelessness was the fourth priority, and this need was in the top five for the resident survey.

Table 22. What do you think are the areas of greatest need in the Concord community? Order of
Priority Answer Choice Community Need
Number of Responses
(Percent of Responses)
1 Affordable
Housing
Affordable housing/at risk
tenant improvement 25 (14.9%)

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 30

Order of
Priority Answer Choice Community Need
Number of Responses
(Percent of Responses)
2 Mental Health
Services
Support for the unhoused and
mental health 17 (11.3%)
3 Job Opportunities Other 18 (10.7%)
4 Homelessness
Support for the unhoused and
mental health 17 (10.1%)
5 Food Access Other 11 (6.5%)
Table 23 shows the top three potential uses for the $19 million the City of Concord will receive in ARPA funds. Assistance to nonprofit organizations was the top potential use selected by respondents. Similar to the resident survey, affordable housing and unhoused support were identified in the top three potential uses.

Table 23. Top three potential uses for $19 million in ARPA funds Order of
Priority Answer Choice Community Need
Number of Responses
(Percent of Responses)
1 Assistance to nonprofit
organizations Nonprofit support 22 (22.4%)
2 Creation of more
affordable housing
Affordable housing/at risk
tenant improvement 12 (12.2%)
3 Services for homeless
individuals
Support for the unhoused and
mental health 11 (11.2%)
Respondents were asked, “If the City were to provide direct assistance to households, what three services would be the most important?” Responses to this question are shown in Table 24.

Similar to the resident survey, rent, mortgage or utility assistance was the top choice with 25.8% of respondents selecting it. Cash assistance was the second priority with 16.1% and counseling and legal aid to prevent eviction or homelessness with 12.9%.

Table 24. Direct assistance to households
Order of
Priority Answer Choice Community Need
Number of Responses
(Percent of Responses)
1 Rent, mortgage or utility
assistance
Affordable housing/at
risk tenant support 24 (25.8%)
2 Cash assistance Other 15 (16.1%)
3 Counseling and legal aid to
prevent eviction or homelessness
Affordable housing/at
risk tenant support 12 (12.9%)
The last question on the nonprofit survey was open-ended and those responses are summarized in Attachment A.

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 31

Appendix 1 – Letters Received at City’s ARPA Email Address Letters received to the City’s ARPA email address are included in this Appendix. Table 25 below lists who the letter is from, name of the group they are affiliated with (if applicable), what they are requesting, and which community need the request belongs to. The table is in order of the letters in this appendix. Please note, some people provided multiple responses (some from the same person, but different group affiliation) so each response is listed separately in the table.

Table 25. Letters Received at City’s ARPA Email Address Name Group and Affiliation Request Community Need
Arts
Alliance
Concord
Arts Alliance Concord ARPA Fund Request for $500,000 for nonprofit arts organizations in Concord and
detailed budgets. Includes letters of support
from:
• Solo Opera
• B8 Theatre
• Concord Art Association
• California Arts Advocates
• Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce
• Visit Concord
• US Bank
Nonprofit support
Sylvia
Amorino
Solo Opera, Founder
and Artistic Director
$500,000 for nonprofit arts organizations in
Concord
Nonprofit support
Miguel
Gonzalez
Concord Resident Funding for arts nonprofits in Concord Nonprofit support Catherine
Hensiek
Concord Resident Support for the arts sector Nonprofit support Bill Hensiek Concord Resident Support for the arts sector Nonprofit support Melissa Rea Greater Concord
Chamber of
Commerce, Director of
Operations and
Marketing
Support for arts organizations in Concord Nonprofit support Carol
Longshore
Concord Resident Establish a Culture Center to cover music, theater and history
Nonprofit support
Leonard C.

Ramirez
Veterans Accession
House, Executive
Director
Funding to support the development and
management of a local Urban Victory Garden
that will cultivate certain vegetables for
nonprofits organizations to supplement food
stocks used to feed homeless persons totaling
$1,008,774
Nonprofit support

Tamara
Hunter
Putnam Clubhouse,
Executive Director
$200,000 to support the Putnam Clubhouse
initiative to serve adults living with and
Nonprofit support

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 32

Name Group and Affiliation Request Community Need
recovering from serious and persistent
mental illnesses
Edi Birsan Concord City Council $250,000 to buy 20 or more twenty-foot containers that are outfitted with amenities
to provide temporary shelter for people
experiencing homelessness
Support for the
unhoused and
mental health
Edi Birsan Concord City Council Purchase an acre of land and offer it to a non- profit to run an organized and screened
homeless encampment location
Support for the
unhoused and
mental health
Brian Black Concord Resident Use ARPA funding to take the first step in defining the term “homelessness;” establish a
working group spending 9-12 months are a
variety of homeless tasks and initiatives
totally $545,000
Support for the
unhoused and
mental health
Leonard C.

Ramirez
Veterans Accession
House, Executive
Director
Funding for the acquisition of three medium-
priced houses within Concord to be used to
reduce the local condition of Veteran
homelessness totaling an estimated
$3,164,809
Support for the
unhoused and
mental health
Dan
Middleton
Concord Resident Repurpose one or two of the properties on East Street for mini-homes for homeless
individuals and families
Support for the
unhoused and
mental health
Dan
Middleton
Concord Resident Restaurant voucher program so people can pay restaurants to feed those experiencing
homelessness
Support for the
unhoused and
mental health
John Pamer Diablo Valley Federal
Credit Union, Chief
Executive Officer
Tiny homes as a partial solution to
homelessness
Support for the
unhoused and
mental health
Adam Toth-
Fejel Concord Resident Speed bumps on North 6th Street
Community/city
improvement
projects and public
safety
Janice
Cameron
Concord Resident $1-$2 million for residential sidewalk repairs Community/city improvement
projects and public
safety
Noni Fanfa Concord Resident Street lighting specifically in North Todos Santos
Community/city
improvement
projects and public
safety
Tim Carr Concord Resident Around $10,000 for a Dog Run for Sun Terrace Park
Community/city
improvement
projects and public
safety
Jo Ferlatte Concord Resident Around $10,000 for a Dog Run for Sun Terrace Park
Community/city
improvement

Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement Page 33

Name Group and Affiliation Request Community Need
projects and public
safety
George
Fulmore
Concord Resident New traffic signal with crosswalks at the intersection of Lacey Lane and Monument
Boulevard
Community/city
improvement
projects and public
safety
Ajay Goel
CrossFit Endzone
Owner
$2 million for grants for small businesses;
$15,00 per grant Business support
Fraidoon
“Fred”
Jamshed
International Foods
Commissary Owner
Assist local food truck owners and caterers
who do not have a brick-and-mortar location
with rent, utilities and lost income Business support
Nicky
Lecher
LunchboxWax,
Franchise Owner
Set aside funding to help small businesses
meet the financial obligation of the
Supplemental Sick Pay and rent relief Business support John Pamer
Diablo Valley Federal
Credit Union, Chief
Executive Officer Local small business grants Business support John Pamer
Diablo Valley Federal
Credit Union, Chief
Executive Officer QR Code development Business support Edi Birsan Concord City Council $3 million for Afghan refugee housing:
purchase three, four-bedroom homes in
Concord
Affordable
housing/at risk
tenant support
John Pamer Diablo Valley Federal
Credit Union, Chief
Executive Officer
Set aside money to help Concord residents
afford a home
Affordable
housing/at risk
tenant support
Tim Carr Concord Resident Funds to help young families with their day care expenses, possibly in coordination with
the Contra Costa Child Care Council
Affordable
housing/at risk
tenant support
Leonard C.

Ramirez
Veterans Accession
House, Executive
Director
Funding for a Veterans Resource Center
totaling $160,265
Other
Anthony
Nichols
Concord Resident Support for MDUSD to assist with their revenue short falls
Other

3/3/22, 11:53 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAE… 1/1 Refugee Housing:

Edi Birsan <[email protected]>
Tue 2/22/2022 5:10 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

We have refugee’s from Afghanistan that are in desperate need for housing.  They will not be the first folks in such need.

I suggest that we place 3 million dollars aside to purchase 3 4bedroom homes in Concord and then place an ADU in the back yard of each.

Units would remain the property of the City and handled through a management agreement with a Non-Profit.  The units would be used to temporarily house refugee families probably for as long as 3 years to get them stable and able to move out.   Rent would be set at 25% of their net income.

Figure on $800,000 for the house, 175,000 for the ADU and 25,000 for the non-profit to monitor.

3/3/22, 11:50 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAF… 1/1 Proposal #1 for ARPA funds
John Pamer <[email protected]>
Thu 2/24/2022 3:14 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
Cc: Edi Birsan <[email protected]>
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

1. Set aside money to help Concord residents afford a home Model Program: hps://www.10news.com/news/making-it-in-san-diego/millions- available-to-help-san-diegans-buy-their-first-homes
2 minute video: hps://x-default-
stgec.uplynk.com/ausw/slices/935/790551469ef2448b6dfa541303db12/935da76b 4b084e1b8f50de44351145f0/935da76b4b084e1b8f50de44351145f0_e.mp4 Use local lenders to process and fund the applicaons, and to service the loans once made so that the City doesn’t need to create an agency of its own If there is interest in pursuing this idea, we would be happy to meet with city staff and officials to discuss.

Thank you,
John Pamer
Chief Execuve Officer
Diablo Valley FCU
1051-A Detroit Avenue
Concord CA 94518
925-771-5602 (office)
925-642-2748 (cell)

3/3/22, 11:51 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAP… 1/2 Fw: ACRA Funds
Ortega, Jennifer <[email protected]>
Wed 2/23/2022 11:21 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
Jennifer Ortega
Community Relaons Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3272
www.cityofconcord.org
From: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 3:18 PM
To: Ortega, Jennifer <[email protected]> Subject: FW: ACRA Funds

Joelle Fockler, MMC | City Clerk
City of Concord | Website: www.cityofconcord.org
( (925) 671-3390 | * [email protected]

From: Ajay Goel <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 11:51 AM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc: Melissa Rea <[email protected]>; William Chan <[email protected]> Subject: ACRA Funds

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Joelle,

I was encouraged by Melissa Rea to share my ideas with you about my proposal to support small businesses in Concord. I would love to see a grant program, similar to what was done last year. Below are some thoughts. Please let me know if you have any questions.

As we near the 2 year anniversary of the start of the pandemic, we are starng to understand how to get back to a level of normalcy with Covid. This return to normalcy, however, is something that small businesses in Concord are sll trying to find a way to get back to. The shutdowns and the restricons over the past 2 years have been devastang and many businesses are working to get their head above water. Between debt incurred, labor shortages, and inflaon, the recovery is going to take quite a while. This is why I propose using approximately $2M of the ACRA funds for grants for small businesses.

The basic rules for applicaon are as follows:
· $15000 grant Page 52 of 240
3/3/22, 11:51 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAP… 2/2 · Business Must be Physically Located in Concord and have a Concord Business License · 25% or more revenue loss from the Q1 2019 to Q1 2022 or proof of exisng debt with their landlord · No more than 25 employees as of March 1, 2022
· Priority will be given to the following business types:
o Retail
o Restaurants
o Personal service establishments, specifically: hair salons and barber shops, nail salons, day spas, and fitness studios
I own a gym in Concord, and I am $19K in debt and we are 50% below revenue compared to the months before the pandemic. A grant like this could be a huge boost to alleviang debt, purchasing new equipment/supplies, and hiring an addional employee. For businesses like myself, this grant would be a significant aid in boosng business while also funneling this money into the City’s economy. I hope you will consider using this money to help the Mom and Pop businesses like myself.

Thanks.

Ajay Goel
CrossFit Endzone Owner
www.crossfitez.com
925-808-8862

3/22/2022 Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAJe… 1/1 (No subject)
[email protected] <[email protected]>
Tue 3/15/2022 10:56 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Hello,
I am writing to you on behalf of many food truck owners and caterers that are using third party facilities and have no brick-and-motor location but nonetheless have more expenses than the brick-and-mortar entities. They have to pay commissary and commercial kitchen rents as the health department requires them to operate from a permitted facility.

Additionally, they have to pay for business license and permits to operate in each city plus location fees, event organizer fees and truck maintenance.

These vendors were devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic as all the offices that they relied on for lunch time business closed. All the banquet halls closed and their catering events were canceled. Most of these vendors are owner operated and their livelihood depends on it and all of them are minorities and hesitant to ask or apply for assistance when help is available from the governmental agencies.

I own International Foods Commissary where more than 30 of these vendors operate from. I have done my best to help them stay in business by differing their rent and cutting their other fees at least in half. Unfortunately most of these vendors will not be able to remain in business unless they receive assistance from municipalities. Some of these vendors did apply for the grant from the City of Concord for past due rent but non got selected to receive the grant.

These vendors and their families are in great need, deserve and would greatly appreciate any assistance that they can receive in order to stay in business. On behalf of these vendors, I ask you to consider and explore all possible venues to help these vendors with their rent, utilities and lost income.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for any questions or suggestions that you may have.

Regards,
Fraidoon "Fred" Jamshed
Ph: 925-4-iFoods (925-443-6637)
Ce: 925-207-0065
Em: [email protected]

3/14/2022 Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAH… 2/8 On Fri, Mar 11, 2022 at 6:23 AM Edi Birsan <[email protected]> wrote:

Thanks for your concern.  I have copied in the ARPA request line Edi Birsan
510 812 8180
Join me on Facebook
Take survey at www.pulseofconcord.com
for City Council stuff
[email protected]

On Fri, Mar 11, 2022, 12:00 AM Adam Toth-Fejel <[email protected]> wrote:

Please can some of the ARPA funds be used to put up some speed bumps on North 6th Street.

The people racing down the road have already killed countless pets and might kill a child soon.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Higbee, Christopher <
[email protected]>
Date: Thu, Mar 10, 2022 at 4:18 PM
Subject: RE: R21131 - Civic Center Area Speeding Concerns To: Adam Toth-Fejel <
[email protected]>
Cc: Patel, Virendra <[email protected]>

Hello Adam,

Attached is the City’s Speed Hump Review and Installation Process. Generally, depending on project size, speed hump costs vary between $8,000 and $11,000 per hump.

Thank you,

Chris K.S. Higbee, PE
[email protected]

From: Adam Toth-Fejel <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2022 3:41 PM
To: Higbee, Christopher <[email protected]> Cc: Patel, Virendra <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: R21131 - Civic Center Area Speeding Concerns

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Additional information regarding petition and cost would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you

3/3/22, 11:46 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAC… 1/1 FW: ARPA funds
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Thu 2/24/2022 6:02 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>

Joelle Fockler, MMC | City Clerk
City of Concord | Website: www.cityofconcord.org
( (925) 671-3390 | * [email protected]

From: primadivah <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 4:01 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: ARPA funds

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

My proposal is to allocate 1 to 2 million for residential sidewalk repairs.

This would be available for owner occupied homes only, who have lived in the residence 20 years or longer.

The Grant for repair would be on a sliding scale based on income level.

This could either go into the existing rehabilitation housing fund, or as a new stand alone fund.

It is time for Concord to have a Sidewalk Sale!

Thank you,

Janice Cameron

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

3/3/22, 11:52 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAF… 1/3 FW: ARPA Recommendation for City Council - Meeting February 23, 20022 Carrera, Robert <[email protected]>
Wed 2/23/2022 5:19 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
Cc: Fockler, Joelle <[email protected]>; Ortega, Jennifer <[email protected]>; Suvansin, Marie <[email protected]>
Hello,

This local business owner called me yesterday to provide her feedback on ARPA funding, as she cannot aend tonight’s community meeng. I advised her to put her input into wring and send it to me.

Please see that this message gets forwarded to the City Staff overseeing this input process, to consultants, and to City Council.

Thank you,

Robert

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 5:19 AM
To: Carrera, Robert <[email protected]>
Cc: Peter Lane <[email protected]>; [email protected] Subject: ARPA Recommendaon for City Council - Meeng February 23, 20022

To Mr. Robert Carrera and The Concord City Council -

My name is Nicky Lecher, I am a small business owner in the City of Concord, and unfortunately, may bot be able to aend the February 23 ARPA Meeng. Please accept this recommendaon and I appreciate if this could be share with aendees on the Zoom Meeng.

For small businesses in California pandemic expenses connue to build even as case rate come down.

Most recently, the recent Supplemental Covid Sick pay enacted by the State, with no offsets in taxes or grants is adding expenses to our business even as Covid declines. For our business, the retroacve Covid Sick Pay will add $14,400 to our 10 person payroll in Concord. That is huge impact especially for a solon that has to pay sick leave AND at the same tome has ZERO revenue coming in for that me. So for service based business the CA Covid Sick pay actually costs about 2x-3x what it looks like. It will, if fully used, eliminate any profits (the cost + lost revenue) that we were hoping to make in what is supposed to be a recovery year. This is almost impossible to finance especially aer loosing 100% of revenue during our 8 months of salon closures.

As a result of the expansion of the covered supplemental sick leave making employers responsible for paying 100% of salaries for anyone who had been out retroacvely to January 1, 20 22 unl September 2022 this year this will be yet another unforeseen addional expense for every small business operator in the City of Concord. Unlike the federal sick leave salary reimbursement or payment for staff which was offset by credits, California is not providing any aid to help with incurring these expenses. This is a triple financial impact for a small business: (1) staff who were out did not produce revenue, (2) staff that were out are paid their regular salary and (3) staff sick me sll needs to be reimbursed as well as they are not using it up for being out with Covid. We thought we survived the pandemic and managed to

3/3/22, 11:52 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAF… 2/3 rehire staff to try and rebuild our business, but now the State is pung our future in jeopardy with the retroacve nature and very high expense of this law.

Every small business has been forced to deal with other detrimental impacts of Covid including the struggles in hiring and increase training expenses, increase cost of goods and recurring monthly rental obligaons. Small business owners could benefit from addional rent relief from City to help them with monthly expenses they face every day.

We appeal to the staff of City Council to accept our recommendaon to set aside funding( and come up with criteria) to help small businesses meet the financial obligaon of the Supplemental Sick Pay.

Spending a poron of the funds on (1) relief for the Supplemental Sick Pay and (2) Rent Relief would meet the intended purpose of the American Rescue Plan Act 2021 and the City of Concord would help offset the impact of COVID within our community. Small business in the City of Concord as sll in jeopardy and need the help from our City and County.

Kindly confirm receipt of email and submission to City Council for ARPA Meeng, February 23, 2022.

I appreciate the support of Council and the City of Concord.

Sincerely,
Nicky Lecher

Nicky Lecher | LunchboxWax®
Franchise Owner
[email protected] | www.lunchboxwax.com
+1 (203)948-0338

From: Carrera, Robert <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2022 3:12 PM
To: Suvansin, Marie <[email protected]>
Subject: Take Our Survey: Invesng ARPA Funding to Support Concord Businesses

Dear Measure V Commercial Rent Relief Program Applicant,

Please take this survey to provide input on how the City of Concord should invest federal ARPA funding to support businesses. We would appreciate your unique perspecve on how to help exisng tenants remain in Concord. Take it here: hps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JFDBWQT.

In addion, you are invited to aend a communitywide meeng on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. on Zoom to discuss this further. The log-in details are available at www.cityofconcord.org/ARPA.

The results of this public outreach will help the City of Concord design programs to directly benefit businesses. If you have concerns or ideas to improve the business climate in Concord, we highly encourage you to take the survey and aend the meeng if your schedule allows.

Thank you,

Robert C. Carrera
Economic Development Specialist
City of Concord, CA

3/3/22, 11:50 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAL0… 1/1 Proposal for ARPA funds # 2
John Pamer <[email protected]>
Thu 2/24/2022 3:17 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
Cc: Birsan, Edi <[email protected]>
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

1. Local small business grants
Added incenve to start or expand a business in Concord:

Establish a commission to oversee funds, work with local business bankers to vet applicants
Could do "Shark Tank" style pitch events
Funds for working capital or facilies
Funds for business equipment
Payroll
If there is interest in pursuing this idea, we would be happy to meet with city staff and officials to discuss.

Thanks,

John Pamer
Chief Execuve Officer
Diablo Valley Federal Credit Union
1051-A Detroit Avenue
Concord CA 94518
925-771-5602 (office)
925-642-2748 (cell)

3/3/22, 11:49 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAA… 1/1 Proposal for ARPA funds # 4
John Pamer <[email protected]>
Thu 2/24/2022 3:23 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
Cc: Birsan, Edi <[email protected]>
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

4. Quick Response codes or QR codes are custom made machine-readable coded images (typically black and white squares) used for storing URLs, or other informaon for reading by camera on a smartphone
Signs, sckers, posters displaying QR code throughout the city where an individual can scan a code and get redirected to the City of Concord website. Website to display a directory of resources, businesses, and informaon focused within Concord. It may have categories ranging from Medical, Financial, to the City of Concord affairs, all the informaon, in just one scan
There are websites available that will monitor and keep track of the traffic vising the website and give out useful informaon such as the number of mes the QR code has been scanned, what hours of the day are most frequented and the types of devices that are accessing the informaon
Informaon is power, having quick access throughout the city could familiarize our diverse communies with a more in-depth knowledge of what Concord and local businesses are able to offer.

If there is interest in pursuing this idea, we would be happy to meet with city staff and officials to discuss.

Thanks,

John Pamer
Chief Execuve Officer
Diablo Valley Federal Credit Union
1051-A Detroit Avenue
Concord CA 94518
925-771-5602 (office)
925-642-2748 (cell)

3/3/22, 11:46 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAJx… 1/1 Suggestion for the ARPA funds - Day Care
Tim Carr <[email protected]>
Thu 2/24/2022 4:42 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
My suggestion is attached via PDF.

Tim Carr [email protected]
Concord resident Sun Terrace.
3721 Hillsborough dr.
(925)270-0970

3/14/2022 Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAG… 1/1 Re: ARPA Nextdoor vote on Dog Run for Sun Terrace Park
Hoffmeister, Laura <[email protected]> Sat 3/12/2022 9:34 PM
To: Tim Carr <[email protected]>
Cc: ARPA <[email protected]>; Birsan, Edi <[email protected]>; Obringer, Carlyn <[email protected]>; McGallian, Tim <[email protected]>; Aliano, Dominic <[email protected]>; Barone, Valerie <[email protected]>; Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Thanks for the input I have included staff on this response so they are aware as well.

Vice Mayor Laura Hoffmeister
Sent from my iPad
On Mar 12, 2022, at 12:22 PM, Tim Carr <[email protected]> wrote:
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

I previously sent in an Arpa Funds suggestion on a Dog Run (fencing) in the back. of Sun Terrace Neighborhood park. So to find the public view, I posted this Poll in Nextdoor Sun Terrace only viewers. It has been up for a for a few weeks.
69% For it.
35 votes total.

I think this is the link on ND
https://nextdoor.com/p/w_ZW2ML2gjm5?view=detail
Tim CarrSun T errace • 27 Feb
Poll: Should the City make a Dog Run in back of Sun Terrace Park? Montreal Circle and Vancouver Way. There is a large dirt area in back of park near Freeway. This would be fencing and perhaps a water station, trash can. For it or against it? Dog Run for Sun Terrace Park?
Yes, for a Dog Run
69%
No do not install a dog run.
31%
36 votes
Tim Carr [email protected]
(925)270-0970

3/3/22, 11:43 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQABt… 1/3 Fw: Dog run in Sun Terrace park- with pictures
Tim Carr <[email protected]>
Sat 2/26/2022 4:51 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>; Obringer, Carlyn <[email protected]> I forgot to attach some photos and simple sketch.

3/3/22, 11:43 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQABt… 2/3 Tim Carr  [email protected]
(925)270-0970
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Tim Carr <[email protected]>
To: ARPA <[email protected]>; Carlyn Obringer <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2022, 08:35:25 AM PST
Subject: Dog run in Sun Terrace park

Rough sketch of potential dog park for Sun Terrace Neighborhood Park

A dog park of 500 linear feet (or 15,625 square feet) with a traditional 4 foot chain link fence is estimated to cost around $10,000 for materials and installation.
• An ideal dog park would consist of a 5 foot tall enclosure of at least 500 linear feet. The fence should be equipped with a double-gated entry to keep dogs from escaping and to facilitate wheelchair access. • Cleaning supplies, including covered garbage cans, waste bags, and pooper- scooper stations need to be obtained prior to usage • If space allows, it is preferable to provide separate areas for small and large dogs. This will enable large dog owners to allow their pets to run freely, while protecting smaller dogs who may not be suited to the enthusiastic play of larger breeds.
• A watering station should be considered but is not required

3/3/22, 11:43 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQABt… 3/3 Sun Terrace Park is 2.6 acres, at the corner of Vancouver Way and Montreal Circle.  Amenities include a turfed area for free play and a children's playset.  Their is a large field of grass. Currently dog owners run their dogs on the large playing field as there is no fenced in area like a dog run.  There is a great area in the back of the park close to the freeway to build a dog run area. It is long so balls could be chased.  It is under the trees so shade would be there in the summer.  Simple fencing could be installed and if possible a tap for water.

Currently not much grass is growing back there- and the area is unused.

Tim Carr [email protected]
(925)270-0970

3/3/22, 11:41 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAE… 1/2 Street Lighting
Obringer, Carlyn <[email protected]>
Tue 3/1/2022 4:31 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>; Noni Cell <[email protected]> Thank you, Noni,
I have copied the ARPA email address so that your email request can be included in the public record.

Best Regards,
Carlyn
Carlyn Obringer
Councilmember, District 2
City of Concord
From: Noni Fanfa <[email protected]>
Date: February 27, 2022 at 4:12:20 PM PST
To: Carlyn Obringer <[email protected]>
Subject: Street Lighting
Hi Carlyn
The lighting of streets pertaining to the North Todos Santos neighborhood would certainly benefit the merchants of downtown.  I know I don't go to dinner or downtown if I have to walk home in the dark.  With the minimal to no lighting it is scary if not hazardous.

Our beautiful park cannot be utilized to its fullest when people are not comfortable being there.

Please pass this along to the powers that be who can do something about this.  Our city is growing and gentrifying and only good can come from this.

Best,
Noni Fanfa
925 818 1431 cell
"Comfort is a beautiful place,
but nothing ever gets done there"
Unknown

3/3/22, 11:42 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAB… 1/3 Re: Dog run in Sun Terrace park
Obringer, Carlyn <[email protected]>
Sun 2/27/2022 8:22 PM
To: Tim Carr <[email protected]>; ARPA <[email protected]>; Jo Ferlatte <[email protected]> Thank you for taking the me to again email me about this and send this thoughul suggeson to the ARPA email address, Jo. I wanted to confirm receipt and let you know that this idea will be given due consideraon with the other ideas submied. If you have other neighbors who support this idea, it would also be helpful for them to contact the City has well. They can feel free to email me and the ARPA email address just as you have done.

Thanks again,
Carlyn
Carlyn Obringer
Councilmember, District 2
City of Concord
From: Jo Ferlae <joferlae@a.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2022 8:55 AM
To: Tim Carr <[email protected]>; ARPA <[email protected]>; Obringer, Carlyn <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Dog run in Sun Terrace park

Hello All,

My name is Joseph Ferlatte and my family, and I have been a resident of the Sun Terrace area for about a year and a half now. I am writing this email as an advocate of placing a dog park in the rear of Sun Terrace Neighborhood Park. As Mrs. Obringer knows, I previously was willing to do a lot of the foot work to get this dog park established by approaching nonprofits for funding and contacting city leaders to promote the idea. However, I have since changed my motivation for requesting this park be established.

Since moving to this area I have had numerous experiences with neighbors having their dogs off leash in this park (9 in the last year). On multiple occasions those dogs have left the park to aggressively approach my dogs who are on leash and are walking on adjacent streets to the park. Residents in Sun Terrace not only have their dogs off leash at the park, but it also happens in the front of their houses as well. They assume they can control their dog but almost always, they have to apologize for their dog's behavior. It has gotten so bad I cannot walk my dogs with my children for fear of an encounter. I have reported this issue multiple times to Animal Control (no response), to the County Sherriff (spoke to an officer and got a case number but have never seen an actionable effort) and reported specific incidents to the police (a supervisor returned my call and advised me "we do not have the staff to respond to these incidents"). I was actually recommended by this supervisor to carry "pepper spray or bear spray" to keep myself safe. I have never seen any enforcement to the city code that is written for this park even though I have been able to give specific times that which multiple residents are in Sun Terrace Neighborhood Park with dogs off leash (between 8-10 AM, daily, unless it is very cold). I should note that this park is rarely used by any residents in the area other than those using it for off leash dog use.

It is my concern that the message that is being sent by the lack of enforcement of City Code is that certain residents have the "privilege" to disobey city ordinance. At least by having a dog park placed there, there will be a safe place for their dogs to enjoy roaming freely. In turn, other residents who choose to walk their dogs off leash, residents whose children are enjoying the neighborhood and don't want to be bothered by dogs or are afraid of dogs, all can feel safe. The current behavior by some of these neighbors engaged in using the park for off leash dog use is a HUGE problem for this neighborhood and comments regarding it can be observed on the social media site, Next Door. A number of folks have verbalized feeling "disrespected and unsafe".

I also would have to believe that from my own experience, with the amount of times that I have attempted to get action taken on enforcing this city code, that should their ever be an incident where one of my leashed dogs or one of my children is injured because of this problem, that there would likely be some city liability involved in the

3/3/22, 11:42 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAB… 2/3 incident. It is my belief that the best way to mitigate this problem, since enforcement of the code has been verbalized as not in police budget, is placing a dog park at Sun Terrace Neighborhood Park. -- Jo Ferlatte MSW, ACM-SW
On Saturday, February 26, 2022, 08:45:18 AM PST, Tim Carr <[email protected]> wrote:

Jo, I sent this to the ARPA group. The City has $19M in ARPA funds, and is asking for ideas how to use it.

Perhaps now they can afford a run. If you would like to second my idea, Carlyn is our district council member and the ARPA email is below.

Tim Carr [email protected]
(925)270-0970
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Tim Carr <[email protected]>
To: ARPA <[email protected]>; Carlyn Obringer <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2022, 08:35:25 AM PST
Subject: Dog run in Sun Terrace park
Sun Terrace Park is 2.6 acres, at the corner of Vancouver Way and Montreal Circle.  Amenities include a turfed area for free play and a children's playset.  Their is a large field of grass. Currently dog owners run their dogs on the large playing field as there is no fenced in area like a dog run. So the field is not the cleanest area for kids to play.

There is a great area in the back of the park close to the freeway to build a dog run area. It is long so balls could be chased.  It is under the trees so shade would be there in the summer.  Simple fencing could be installed and if possible a tap for water and a trash can left in the fencing.

3/3/22, 11:42 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAB… 3/3 Currently not much grass is growing back there- and the area is unused.

Tim Carr [email protected]
(925)270-0970

3/3/22, 11:44 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQALt… 1/2 Traffic Lights at Lacey Ln
[email protected] <[email protected]>
Sat 2/26/2022 2:35 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Dear sir or madam:

The purpose of this email is to express my support for a new traffic signal with crosswalks at the intersection of Lacey Ln and Monument Blvd in Concord. Among my reasons in support of this project are the following:

· There are probably 1,000 Concord residents living in the Lacey Ln, Lacey Ct, Frisbie Ct area off Monument Blvd. These residents matter. An infrastructure improvement that would benefit their abilities to get to work and/or take their kids to schools, etc., would help them greatly in their efforts to recover from the COVID pandemic. A project to install the traffic lights and crosswalks should be seen as a project worth doing with some of the $19 million that has been allocated to Concord by our federal government.
· Many trying to go to work or otherwise wanting to drive across Monument Blvd from Lacey Ln, especially on weekday mornings, find it very hard to cross Monument. With a traffic signal there, this difficulty would be eliminated. Also, pedestrians would be able to SAFELY walk across Monument Bvld, a task that can be very dangerous at that site now. · A new traffic light and pedestrian walkway would aid residents in that area to recover from the Pandemic in many ways.
· This area of Concord has to be one of most dense areas of Concord. A new traffic signal there with crosswalks would be a great improvement to their small area of the city. And, it would clearly be a visible result of the spending of the $19 million.
· A new traffic signal at Lacey is strongly supported by many residents in the Lacey Ln area, plus Ms Silvia Barajas, the Manager of Los Rancheros Supermarket and Taqueria at 1099 Riganti Dr., which is just off Monument Blvd.

Other merchants at the 1500 Monument shopping center, which is directly across Monument Blvd from Lacey Ln, and near the Los Rancheros Supermarket will surely agree with her on this.

Respectfully,

George Fulmore Page 71 of 240

ARPA FUND REQUEST

To

THE CITY OF CONCORD

From

ARTS ALLIANCE CONCORD

Proposal Includes:
• ARPA Letter of Request
• Detailed Budgets from Alliance Organizations
• Suggested Locations for Arts Venue in Concord
• Benefits to Concord’s Economic Development
• Why the Arts Matter in California
• Support Letters from Businesses
• Mission Statements of Alliance Organizations

March 11, 2022

Mayor Dominic Aliano
Vice Mayor Laura Hoffmeister
Councilmember Edi Birsan
Councilmember Tim McGallian
Councilmember Carlyn Obringer

Dear Concord City Council Members-

As members of the arts and culture sector, we respectfully request $500,000 in ARPA funding support for nonprofit arts organizations in Concord to stabilize our operations in the aftermath of the pandemic. Our industry was one of first closed- almost two years- and last to reopen.

Our venues were shuttered, and even when reopened at the end of 2021, were at reduced capacity and lower attendance. Many of us had to close or cancel shows and suffered economic loss of funds already spent on these events. In addition, we experienced loss of work/income and decrease in grants/donations.

Our request directly corresponds with the City’s priorities for ARPA funds which are intended for organizations disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and Covid-19 closures. The American Rescue Plan clarifies eligible use of funds for assistance to small businesses, nonprofits, and hard-hit industries like tourism, travel, and hospitality of which arts and culture can be described as part of all and essential to the recovery of our community. Funding the arts is a high return investment of which our community will greatly benefit. The arts bring people to Concord for our events and stimulate economic well-being to other businesses such as surrounding restaurants, shops, bars, parking, etc.

You would not be alone in making this investment for arts and culture. Some recent examples include $16 million for arts & culture in San Francisco including investments in a guaranteed income pilot for artists, $5 million in Orange County, CA, $600,000 to Davis, $1 million to Oakland, $2 million to Berkeley, and a smaller rural community such as Nevada County, CA, granting $476,000 to arts and culture organizations. Several of these communities have a smaller population than Concord at 125,000 persons.

ARTS ALLIANCE CONCORD
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ AAC is a coalition of performing and visual arts nonprofits serving Concord, Ca.

Our Request:

PART ONE
$200,000 distributed once- to be used over a two-year period of time:

2022:
$100,000 split three ways to Solo Opera, B8 Theatre, and Concord Art Association (Unrestricted funds for operating, workforce development, and/or project costs for immediate economic recovery). Budgets for each organization are attached.

2023:
$100,000 split three ways to Solo Opera, B8 Theatre, and Concord Art Association (Unrestricted funds for operating, workforce development, and/or project costs for immediate economic recovery). Budgets for each organization are attached.

PART TWO
$300,000 for longer economic stability and future events in Concord.

To be distributed now for One Shared Rental Space for an Arts Center (which could include a performing area, rehearsal space, and art gallery.)
OR to be divided between the three organizations for:

1. Venue/ Venue Rents/Rental Utilities and other costs associated with rentals (Ex. Retail lease space in Concord, Concord Historical Society, Todos Santos Park, etc.)

2. PA system- rental or purchase for outside events
(For park concerts at Historical Society, Todos Santos and/or other outside venues

3. For other nonprofit arts groups needing assistance not yet part of the alliance.

Most importantly, we understand there are many social justice issues that need the attention of the City. We are only asking that you also realize the importance of art and culture to our community. The arts foster joy and sense of belonging- bringing us all together- which is so needed for us all to heal us coming out of the pandemic.

Thank you for your support in keeping the arts alive in Concord!

Sincerely,
Organizational Members of Arts Alliance Concord:
-Solo Opera
-B8 Theatre
-Concord Art Association

Letters of Support, Budgets, and Other Information Attached

2- Arts Alliance Concord ARPA request to City of Concord

BUDGETS

From

ARTS ALLIANCE CONCORD

NOTE: The visual arts- CAA- request attached is less than the one third allotted.

We would ask that the remaining amount of their third not used by them be given towards our proposal’s PART TWO venue costs (rent, utilities, etc.) for which they will share in gallery and classroom space. Thank you.

SOLO OPERA-PROJECTED EXPENSE BUDGET

If approved for our Arts Alliance Concord request for $500,000 ARPA funds, Solo Opera (as one of three partners in the coalition) would receive from the $200,000 in PART ONE of the request- approx. $33,300 to be used in 2022 and $33,300 to be used for 2023- for a total of approx. $66,600. See below for a breakdown of how this PART ONE money would benefit our organization, as well as the City of Concord.

PART TWO would be an investment in our Alliance’s longevity and help us continue to produce future events in Concord. This $300,000 funding could be split three ways between our three organizations for future venue rental monies/event costs including sound equipment rental and/or used towards one shared Concord venue we can all use free of rent for events such as shows, concerts, rehearsals, classes, meetings, or art gallery space.

Most of the Part One funds will be used, as the ARPA funds were intended, to recover from the losses we incurred due to the pandemic and two-year closures for immediate recovery to our business. They will be used towards Project Production Costs as well as Overhead Costs to keep our business going. However, if the entire amount is received, a large portion- almost a third- will also be used to further our mission of serving Concord residents - creating economical development to our city in the forms of income to other city businesses/organizations, help and outreach to low/moderate income residents, and creating jobs through our projects.

HOW OUR $66,600 WILL BE SPENT:
(Please also see separate attached expense budgets for full costs of our 2022-2023 Season)

• $10,000 towards Production Costs for The Four Note Opera-2022 (outreach to seniors and others) • $25,600 towards Production Costs for The Three Feathers- 2023 (main stage opera for families/children) • $11,000 to Overhead Costs for 2022-2023 (not including payroll expenses and Workers Compensation Insurance which are seen in our Two-Year Season Budget.) • $20,000 towards Concord Events over the next several years (if funding is received.) As of now, we do not have any money in our budget for this outreach. So, the ARPA funds would truly help us begin a tradition of bringing more art and classical music to Concord. Breakdown below:

1. $4,000- Free tickets for low/moderate income Concord residents to The Three Feathers

2. $11,000 (approx.) to create an Opera in the Park in Todos Santos Plaza (Date TBD but most likely early/mid. Summer 2023 because of timing of funding, to coordinate with our The Three Feathers opera, time to market the event and work with the Todos Santos surrounding businesses to highlight them.) Known Costs to date would include:
a) $1,000-an estimate from Lisa Potvin of the City of Concord for fees and permits, etc. (more depending on if security is needed),
b) $4780 approx. bid from Third Ear Sound Company (recommended by Lisa Potvin) for sound set up, equipment, and crew for the event. Copy of bid available upon request. c) $4600 for performers (4 singers and pianist) and payroll costs/production costs for 1-2 three- hour rehearsals plus one-hour show (The cost would increase for longer show or more singers.) d) $620- approx. -Marketing costs (If printed program is needed, costs will be more.)

3. If money is left after researching and ear marking true costs of an Opera in the Park, then $5,000 could be for The Four Note Opera -one performance at an indoor Concord venue based on availability of performers and venue schedules. (Costs include brush-up rehearsals, performer fees, royalties, venue/piano rental, rehearsal rental space, programs, payroll etc.)

PROJECTED PRODUCTIONS EXPENSES

THE FOUR NOTE OPERA- 2022- Traveling outreach opera for seniors and others Costs shown are for preparation/ one performance at a free venue already booked. Extra performance could be given to Concord residents if suitable venue was found and funding given to cover costs- ex.- Concord Senior Center.

4 Singers and 1 pianist ($1000 each) $5000 AB5 payroll costs, workers comp, etc. $1000 Other costs-Props/Costumes Pieces/Royalties/Vocal Scores/Rehearsal Space, etc. $1000 Videographer $1000 Extra performance (fee for performers to a Concord venue that has free rental with piano on location after 09/11/22, if payment to venue had to be made or rental for piano, it would be more like $5000) $2000 Total $10,000

THE THREE FEATHERS- 2023- Main stage opera for families/children

Outreach-Tickets for disadvantaged persons -low-moderate income (Concord residents) $4000 AB5 costs (approx. cost of payroll expenses, worker’s comp. etc.) $10,000 Music Salaries (10+ paid singers, volunteer chorus, 1 pianist, 1 conductor, 21- piece orchestra) $50,000 Royalties/Music Rental-$500 x 2 performances $1000 Graphics and Design/ Bulk Mailing/Printing/Marketing $4000 Costume Rentals/Purchases/Designer $5000 Supertitles Operator $500 Sets/Projections Design and Building $15,000 Production Crew/TD/Truck Rental $2000 Lighting Designer/Crew $2000 Stage Manager and Stage Director (volunteer) $1500 Make-up/Wig Designer $1500 Videographer/ Photography $2500 Rehearsal Space (8-10 days) $1000 Theatre Rental Deposit and Rental (2 performances) $20,000 _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Total $120,000

Concord Art Association, P .O. Box 641, Concord, CA 94522 concordartassociation.org

April 5, 2022

Mayor Dominic Aliano
Vice Mayor Laura Hoffmeister
Council Member Edi Birsan
Council Member Tim McGallian
Council Member Carlyn Obringer

Dear esteemed City Council:

Concord Art Association is pleased to partner with Solo Opera and B8 Theater in a collaborative request for ARPA funds. In the absence of a City Arts Commission, our three organizations have worked together to prepare our requests for funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2020-2021.

We understand that the intention of the ARPA funding is to assist businesses and non-profits like ours, recover from the drastic financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of event cancellations and venue closures, both the visual and performing arts have lost considerable revenue during 2020 and 2021.

Our three organizations have brought value to the City of Concord for years. ARPA funds will enable us to continue to serve residents and businesses, and to attract visitors to our community.

Concord Art Association requests for its own purposes: for 2022, $11,300 and for 2023, $9800.

In recognition that the economic impact of COVID-19 devastated the performing arts in our community, Concord Art Association urges the council to allocate to Solo Opera and B8 Theatre, the full amount they requested for 2022 and 2023.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
John Nakanishi, President
Patti St Denis, Vice-president
Sharon Petersen, Treasurer
Catherine Hensiek, Secretary

Attachment: Request for ARPA Funds for 2022 and 2023

cc: Solo Opera, B8 Theatre

Concord Art Association, P .O. Box 641, Concord, CA 94522 concordartassociation.org

Request for ARPA Funds for 2022 and 2023

Concord Art Association is a 501c3 non-profit organization, that works to cultivate and enrich the creative lives of local artists and Concord area residents through exhibits, education, public art, and community giving. Our ability to accomplish our mission has been impacted by the COVID pandemic and economic downturn.

CAA raises funds through several means:
• Membership fees and raffles at member meetings
• Fees for Art Shows
• Special Events such as the dinners at Spaghetti Factory pre-COVID

Our ability to raise funds through these means has been impacted by COVID in several ways:
• Ongoing closure of the free meeting space at the Concord Library where CAA met for decades • Loss of art show fees due to cancellation of events in 2020 and 2021 • Inability to host major fund-raising events due to COVID restrictions

In the meanwhile, expenses have increased:
• To return to in-person member meetings and events for the public, we now must rent spaces. In October 2021, our first in-person meeting at Concord Community Park cost $296. • To ramp up shows for 2022 to increase revenue, CAA needs to purchase free-standing grids for art display which will require a larger storage space than we now rent. • Recognizing the classroom closure impact on students, CAA increased the amount of our teacher grants and started a scholarship program for art students at Diablo Valley College.

2022 Funds needed to recover from impacts of COVID pandemic and economic slowdown.

Space Rental for Member and Public Meetings $2400
Grids for Art Display at Temporary Locations $3000
Storage Space (increased cost) $900
Teacher grants plus DVC Scholarships $5000

2023

Space Rental for Member and Public Meetings $3600
Storage Space (increased cost) $1200
Teacher grants plus DVC Scholarships $5000

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONCORD ARTS VENUE- INITIAL RESEARCH TO DATE (Updated April 1, 2022)- Property Brochures Available Upon Request

In addition to PART TWO of our ARPA request possibly being used for short -term, one-off rentals at Concord locations (ex. Historical Society Hall and/or Todos Santos Park stage) we are also beginning to research possible lease and for sale properties that may work for a more permanent arts venue. A fixed venue would allow us more flexibility that can’t be achieved at a rental- ex. better scheduling and ability to leave items in place for longer shows such as sets, lighting, drapery, seating, and equipment. We will continue this research over the next month until the City meets on April 26 th to allocate ARPA funds. As you can see from the beginning of our search, our ask from PART TWO for $300,000 would barely cover a small venue for short term lease. Average price is about $27 a square foot. Most landlords want at least a 5-year lease although some may be willing to negotiate. A larger amount from the Council may be needed to guarantee a longer use of an arts venue or one that is more permanent and advantageous to the Concord arts groups, landlords, surrounding businesses, and community.

1. Ethan Allen Building - 20,000 sq ft (First Choice- A gorgeous landmark in Concord and a perfect location for an arts venue- near shopping and restaurants at the Veranda and Willows.) They are asking $44,000/month- which includes triple net (but may consider lower as they want it rented.) This venue would be wonderful for an arts center for Concord as it has enough space for a large performing area in the back center, an art gallery/office space on the left side (many of the walls that are up would already be perfect for an art gallery with the lighting and rooms already in place), a rehearsal studio on the front right corner, and a very large storage/warehouse in the back with shelving for props, costumes, sets, and equipment. The venue also contains its own parking lot.

2. 2151 Salvio St.- Suite W –3,300 sq feet. (Second Choice -Much smaller but another wonderful location at Salvio Pacheco Square-downtown right next to Nami, Visit Concord, the park, restaurants, shops, etc.) They are asking $1.95 sq foot monthly + .65 triple net. We may be able to get them down to just over $8000/ month. They would like a 5-year lease , but we would try to offer three years if we received the ARPA monies. Funding for full 5 years would be better for the arts organizations and also the property company. This space has been vacant for a while and would need a lot of work to get it into condition. It would only have enough room for a very small performing space (88-person max limit as is.) There is only one office and no storage space. If movable chairs were used and not fixed seating , the space could also be used as a rehearsal spot and classroom space during off times. Visual art could be hung on some of the walls to also double as a gallery. John Sechser, the Property Manager, said having an arts venue to bring people into the restaurants, bars, shops would be a great asset to the plaza which is needing help to recover from pandemic.

3. We are also looking at other locations, including but not limited to, the Old Bollinger Nail Suite on Salvio - 3800 Sq Feet who are asking $20,000/ month and the old Cost Plus building in the Willows but have not heard back from the Willows leasing office yet.

Benefits to Concord’s
Economic Development

And

Why the Arts Matter
in California

From

ARTS ALLIANCE CONCORD

ARPA Funds to the Arts Create Jobs and Economic Development to the City of Concord

The arts nonprofit sector was one most disproportionately impacted during the Covid-19 pandemic. We were the first to close and last to re-open. Our venues were shuttered for almost 2 years and for most of the time, we were not allowed to perform (even outside) because we work with the public. ARPA funding to our arts organizations would help us begin to recover and heal from the financial losses we sustained due to cancelled shows; lack of jobs, income, grants, donations, ticket sales etc.

In addition to helping Arts Alliance Concord (Solo Opera, B8 Theatre, Concord Art Association) recover from the pandemic, ARPA funds would also assist our coalition in bringing art back to our community. The joy of arts and culture- performing and visual -will help our city heal mentally, as well as financially.

ARPA funds would put our employees, those we hire and do business with, back to work. It would bring jobs to our sector and tourism/hospitality dollars back to our community. Those attending our events would patronize local shops, restaurants, and businesses. For example, a Solo Opera- Opera in the Park could bring locals and others from outside our community into Todos Santos Plaza to enjoy the music and also dine or shop at the businesses surrounding the park. We have also been researching properties that could be leased as a permanent arts venue at the Todos Santos downtown plaza as well as the Veranda/Willows area. Having a fixed arts venue near other businesses would be a benefit to all . One of our employees, our pianist and supertitles operator, Chun Mei Wilson, is a Concord resident of 41 years.

She has been out of work during the pandemic as well. Every job we can offer will help her and her family get back on their feet. When at all possible, we try to hire the talent of local Concord residents first.

Solo Opera events would also benefit all the local businesses we have worked with over our 22 years in Concord. This would include our printer - Galaxy Press, our banks- US Bank and F&M Bank - venues and churches we rent from, our office supply stores, our storage rental facility, and much more! When we stay in business, we patronize so many other businesses here in the city.

We can also further create economic development once we have events in place by highlighting local businesses in show programs, flyers, show announcements, on our social media, etc. We are experts at collaborating and marketing with others. When Solo Opera had our 2019 holiday event at Macy's Concord Dept. Store, we highlighted/marketed about 20 different Concord businesses. When we perform in the Concord Fourth of July Parade, we market sponsors, like F&M Bank, on our Solo Opera banner.

Our alliance has the support of many local organizations who want to see the arts flourish in Concord.

They understand that the arts bring economic development as well as culture to a community. Our letters of support include Californians for the Arts, Concord Chamber of Commerce (of which we are all three members), Visit Concord, and US Bank. Concord Pioneer also has supported us with a Letter to the Editor. An article is promised to us to announce publicly if funds are received from the City.

Thank you for your support in keeping the arts alive in Concord!

https://www.arts.gov/about/news/2022/new-data-show-economic-impact-covid-19-arts-culture-sector

WHY THE ARTS MATTER

IN CALIFORNIA
As of 3/23/2022

CALIFORNIA ARTS FACTS

CA ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR REPRESENTS

7.5% OF STATE'S GDP & 681,211 JOBS
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that the arts and culture sector contributed $225 billion to CA's economy in 2020, representing 7.5% of the state's GDP, 681,211 jobs, and total compensation of $109 billion. $225 BILLION Arts & Culture Sector
$120.4 BILLION Construction
$42.8 BILLION Utlities
In a 2015 study of fifteen cities and counties of CA, nonprofit arts and cultural production generated $4.5 billion in economic activity, 132,705 jobs, and $431.5 million in state and local government revenue. $4.5

BILLION

NONPROFIT

ART IS A

DRIVER OF JUST ONE OF
OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES.

In San Francisco, for example, nonprofit arts groups generated $780.6 million in economic activity. Their audiences of 15.6 million people added another $667.7 million for a total of $1.4 billion in business for the city and county, and this generated $131.1 million in local and state government revenues.

Source: Americans for the Arts, Arts & Economic Prosperity 5, San Francisco report, 2017 How much did California receive in public funding for the arts and culture?
In FY21-22, the state allocated $140 million to the California Arts Council. The California Arts Council also received $1.1 million in federal NEA funds, $1,348,900 through ARPA, and $760,400 through CARES Act. These funds have benefitted over 1,328 artists and arts organizations. Another 260 nonprofit arts organizations received direct grants from the NEA totaling $12,577,000.

Q
A
Source: California Arts Council, Californians for the Arts, & NEA 2022 &$7B 98,721
BONUS: In 2020, total compensation in CA increased by 3% from 2019.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis & National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, 2022 (2020 data collected during the pandemic)

GSP LOST JOBS LOST
California arts and culture value added decreased by 5% between 2019 and 2020. In addition, arts & culture employment decreased by 12%, dropping from 779,932 to 681,211.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis & National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, 2022 (2020 data collected during the pandemic)
&

NATIONAL ARTS FACTS
ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR'S PERCENTAGE OF U.S. ECONOMY (Artists, University Arts, Commercial & Nonprofit Arts Organizations Combined)

GDP & JOBS

ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR REPRESENTS

4.2% OF NATION'S GDP & 4.6 MILLION JOBS
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that nationally the arts and culture sector was a $876.7 billion industry in 2020, representing 4.2% of the nation's GDP, 4.6 million jobs, and total compensation of $446 billion.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis & National Endowment for the Arts, 2022 (2020 data collected during the pandemic)
$876.7 BILLION
$572 BILLION
$341.7 BILLION
Arts & Culture Sector
Transportation
Utilities
LOSS OF REVENUE AND JOBS (Commercial & Nonprofit Arts Organizations Combined) COVID-19 IMPACTGDP LOST JOBS LOST

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS & THEIR AUDIENCESECONOMICS Nationally, the nonprofit arts industry alone generates $166.3 billion in economic activity annually that supports 4.6 million jobs and generates $27.5 billion in federal, state, and local government revenue. $166.3

BILLION

DRIVER OF OUR NATIONAL,
STATE & LOCAL ECONOMY.

NONPROFIT

ART IS A
Spending by arts audiences generated $102.5 billion to local businesses.

Source: Americans for the Arts, Arts & Economic Prosperity 5, 2017 (Prior to COVID-19 pandemic)

PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS & ARTISTS

FUNDING
How much is the federal government investing in the
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)?
Congress allocated $180 million to the NEA in FY22. This amounts to just 54 cents per capita. Ideally, Congress should index $1 per capita funding to the NEA. For COVID economic relief, Congress also allocated $75 million in CARES Act and $135 million in ARPA funding for distribution by the NEA. Additionally, Congress allocated $16 billion to the SBA for shuttered arts venues plus billions more for PPP and EIDL.

Source: Americans for the Arts Action Fund, 2022.

Q
A
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2022 (Data collected during the pandemic) See Americans for the Arts regularly updated COVID-19 Impact on the Arts Research Update. $53.6B 600,000
Between 2019 and 2020, the U.S. arts economy shrank at nearly twice the rate of the economy as a whole. Arts and cultural production fell by 6.4% when adjusted for inflation, compared with a 3.4% decline overall.

BONUS: In 2020, the arts & culture sector ranked 3rd among comparison sectors.

E-MAIL US: [email protected]
VISIT US: ArtsActionFund.org/join
CALL US: 202.371.2830
FOLLOW US: Arts Action Fund | @ArtsActionFund | @ArtsActionFund “We don’t take for granted the privilege of being the state arts agency here in California, where creativity sits at the heart of our identity.Where we have bipartisan support for and understanding of the position of arts and culture within our communities—as a health and wellness asset, a problem-solving resource, and bridge builder.Where the arts and our artists are readily incorporated into our government’s strategy to cope with our modern problems, as part of, and not supplemental to, our collective future.”
—Anne Bown-Crawford, Director of the California Arts Council

THE CALIFORNIA COUNCIL ON THE
ARTS— The mission of the California Arts Council, a
state agency, is to advance California through the arts and creativity. Since its founding in 1976, the Arts
Council has awarded more than 32,000 grants with a
total investment of approximately $400 million.

Executive Director: Anne Bown-Crawford
Chair: Lilia Gonzales Chavez
In California, the arts foster real solutions that are deeply needed in society today.

IN THE GOLDEN STATE, THE ARTS UNITE US
JOIN THE ARTS ACTION FUND FOR FREE TODAY!
To download this factsheet, "Why the Arts Matter
in California," with corresponding resource links
visit www.ArtsActionFund/StateFactsheets
CALIFORNIA ARTS NEED YOU!
From the north to the south, California is rich in arts and cultural programming and leads as the economic capitol
of creativity. California is the State of the Arts.

California is innovative in its use of the arts to solve social issues. For example, as of June 2017, Arts in Corrections, a partnership between the California Department
of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the
California Arts Council provides arts programming in all 35 state adult correctional institutions. In Los Angeles, the Actors’ Gang under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Robbins, has provided theater arts programming
with an emphasis on Commedia dell’Arte techniques for
more than a decade.

Based in Fresno, with service statewide, The Alliance
for California Traditional Arts provides arts
programming focused on the underserved field of
traditional arts, rooted in cultural heritage and
community-based practice. Expressions such as Native
American beadwork, storytelling, songwriting, African
drumming, and American folk guitar and guitarra
ranchera are intended as familiar and culturally
relevant art forms for participants.

California Cultural Districts highlight the cultural
legacy of our state’s most valuable resource—its
diversity. From larger, urban areas to uncharted rural
locations, each district helps grow and sustain
authentic arts and culture opportunities, increase the
visibility of local artists, and promote socio-economic and ethnic diversity through culture and creative
expression. 14 districts serve as California’s inaugural state designated Cultural Districts, highlighting some of the thriving cultural diversity and unique artistic
identities within local communities across California.

CALIFORNIA ARTS FACTS

CALIFORNIA ART

ORGANIZATIONS
Learn more here.

THE ARTS ARE EVERYWHERE!
3/23/2022

ART IN CALIFORNIA
In 2021 the CA State Budget included $60 million one-
time General Fund for the California Arts Council to
implement the California Creative Corps Pilot
Program, a media, outreach and engagement
campaign designed to increase: (1) public health
awareness messages to stop the spread of COVID-19;
(2) public awareness related to water and energy
CALIFORNIANS FOR THE ARTS' mission is to
ensure that the arts are accessible to all Californians; are an ongoing part of the public dialogue and to
encourage Californians to care about the arts as a
critical component of their own lives and the lives of
their communities. We fight for arts resources and
policies that benefit our members and all residents
of California. Our work and support of civic
engagement, arts education, cultural equity and the
creative economy, positively impacts every
community across the state. Est. 2007
Executive Director: Julie Baker
Chair: Ron P. Muriera
Learn more here.

Join here.

To View the Top 10 Reasons to Support the Arts, Click Here.

Support Black Theatre is a grassroots organization
dedicated to the development, enrichment, and
promotion of Black art, Black artists, Black theatres, and Black audiences in Los Angeles
Founded in 1972, the Latino Center of Art and
Culture is a multi-disciplinary cultural center offering Latinx programming, art education workshops, and a
community gathering space
Association of California Symphony Orchestras
California Association of Museums
Latino Arts Network
California Lawyers for the Arts
California Presenters
The Center for Cultural Power
Center for Cultural Innovation
conservation, and emergency preparedness, relief, and
recovery; (3) civic engagement, including election
participation; and (4) social justice and community
engagement.

SUPPORT LETTERS

FOR

ARTS ALLIANCE CONCORD PRoposal

Advancing California through the arts, culture and creativity

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Victoria L Hamilton, President
San Diego Regional Arts & Culture Coalition
San Diego

Edmund Velasco,Vice-President
President, AFM Local 7, Orange County

Dalouge Smith, Treasurer
President & CEO, The Lewis Prize for Music,
San Diego

Eliza Tudor, Secretary
Executive Director
Nevada County Arts Council, Grass Valley

___________________________________________________

Marie Acosta, Executive Director
Latino Center of Arts & Culture, Sacramento

Michael E. Alexander, Director
Campus Programs, CalTech,
Pasadena

Tomas J. Benitez, President
Latino Arts Network of California, Los Angeles

Patrick Brien, Executive Director
Riverside Arts Council, Riverside

Josiah Bruny, CEO,
Music Changing Lives, Moreno Valley

Leticia Rhi Buckley, Senior Civic Strategist
The Music Center, Los Angeles

Heather Angelina Dunn, Partner
DLA Piper LLP US, Oakland

Cara Goger, Executive Director
Mariposa County Arts Council, Mariposa

Kerry Adams Hapner
Director of Cultural Affairs, City of San Jose

Keasha Dumas Heath, Executive Director
The Museum of African American Art, Los Angeles

Gustavo Herrera, Executive Director
Arts for LA, Los Angeles

Jonathon Glus, Executive Director
City of San Diego Commission on Arts and Culture,
San Diego

Jennifer Kane, Executive Director
Arts Connection - the Arts Council of San Bernardino
County, Joshua Tree

Jennifer Laine Executive Director
San Benito Arts Council, Hollister

Debra Lucero Executive Director
Friends of the Arts-Upstate, Redding/Chico

Ron P. Muriera, Owner/Consultant
RPM Consulting

Rachel Osajima, Executive Director
Alameda County Arts Commission
Oakland

Tamaira “Miss Tee” Sandifer, CEO
Studio T Arts Academy, Sacramento

Felicia Shaw, Executive Director
Women’s Museum of California
San Diego

Richard Stein, President & CEO
Arts Orange County, Irvine

Bridget Cantu Wear
Associate Director of Development, Strategic
Partnerships, The Old Globe Theatre, San Diego

Julie Baker, Executive Director

californiaartsadvocates.org

March 11, 2022

TO: Mayor Dominic Aliano
Vice Mayor Laura Hoffmeister
Councilmember Edi Birsan
Councilmember Tim McGallian,
Councilmember Carlyn Obringer

RE: Support for $500,000 in ARP funding to Arts & Culture Organizations

Dear Concord City Council members,

As we enter year three of the pandemic, artists, arts workers, and nonprofit cultural organizations and creative businesses are still in crisis. Performing and visual arts organizations and the live events industry are facing a difficult path to recovery. Johns Hopkins University reports that, as of December 2021, the percentage of job losses at nonprofit arts organizations remains more than 3 times worse than the average of all nonprofits (-12.5% vs. -3.7%).

As you consider how your city will allocate federal ARP funds, we urge you to support the proposal for $500,000 for Arts Alliance Concord an alliance of three nonprofit arts organizations; Solo Opera, B-8 Theater, and Concord Arts Association. The funding is divided in two parts: $200,000 to be granted over two years for the alliance member groups for immediate economic recovery. Part two will be for longer economic stability -$300,000 for venue rental assistance and other items.

The American Rescue Plan clarifies eligible use of funds for assistance to small businesses, nonprofits, and hard-hit industries like tourism, travel, and hospitality of which arts and culture can be described as part of all and essential to the recovery of your community.

Funding the arts is a high return investment of which your community will greatly benefit.

You would not be alone in making this investment for arts and culture. Some recent examples in California include, the City of Sacramento allocating $10 million in ARP funding, City of Oakland $1million and City of Berkeley for $2 million and Nevada County, a county of only 80,000 residents, granting $476,000 to arts and culture organizations.

The arts make our local economies stronger and drive commerce to local businesses. 72% of Americans attend arts or cultural events, such as the theater, museum, zoo, or a musical performance. Arts attendees spend $31.47 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission (meals, retail, and lodging)—vital commerce for local businesses.

Public investment in arts workers & arts organizations is key to the region’s economic recovery. Public funding for arts and creativity is a high-return investment in every town and rural community nationwide, not only in the biggest cities. It is a great example of

government done right that fuels public-private partnerships, and according to the National Endowment for the Arts, leverages $9 in additional funds for every federal dollar invested, and puts tax dollars and decision-making authority into state and local hands.

The arts make our communities healthier. Public investment in arts workers & arts organizations helps our communities heal. A recent study found that the arts result in a 66% improvement in individuals experiencing depression, 50% improvement in anxiety symptoms, and an 83% decrease of stress.

Arts make our communities more equitable. Public investment in arts workers & arts organizations is an urgent equity issue. Studies show that arts + culture make students 5x more likely to graduate higher high school, lower neighborhood crime rates by up to 18%, and increase civic participation by 2x.

California Arts Advocates is the state wide comprehensive lobbying organization for the arts, culture and creative industries and workforce. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Respectfully,

Julie Baker, Executive Director
California Arts Advocates
[email protected]
Partner organization, Californians for the Arts
www.californiansforthearts.org

March 11, 2022

Concord City Council
1950 Parkside Dr.

Concord, CA 94519

Dear Mayor Aliano, Vice Mayor Hoffmeister, and Council Members,

The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce is in support of the various art organizations represented in Concord. The arts have been greatly impacted due to the Pandemic, specifically regarding lack of income, employment, and programming.

We recognize the City of Concord has been awarded American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that are available for the benefit of the community.

The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce asks the City of Concord to consider appropriately dispersing a portion of the ARPA funds to the art organizations in Concord. The arts help bring a community together, which can lead to greater economic vitality within our city.

Sincerely,

Tamara Steiner
Government/Economic Policy Committee Chair, Concord Chamber

Marc Maier,
Chair of the Board, Concord Chamber

Visit Concord | 2151 Salvio Street, Suite T, Concord, CA 94520 [email protected] | 925.685.1182 | VisitConcordCA.com

March 11, 2022

Dear Mayor Aliano and Concord Councilmembers:

I ask you review this LETTER OF SUPPORT of the arts non-profits in Concord, such as Solo Opera, who are looking to the City of Concord for your guidance and support.

The Arts are an integral part of our community, and important to the overall mental and physical well-being of the residents and visitors, as well the positive impact on economic recovery for these non-profit businesses.

Fortunately, the ARPA funds are available for tourism/travel/culture. The Arts bring in a substantial percentage of money to the state ($174.6B) and it is important to get folks in this sector back to work, create jobs, and use the arts to HEAL the community, bringing everyone together again finally after Covid-19, creating social and emotional wellness. The Arts are connected to tourism/travel and people having a reason to visit to a location like Concord/Contra Costa County, to see a show, etc.

When at the shows/events, people spend more money going out to eat, etc., creating event related spending. Since our sector was completely closed for over a year and the last to reopen, we were disproportionately impacted during the pandemic, and will take longer to recover.

We kindly ask you continue to support the Arts in our city.

Warmly,
Elaine Schroth
Elaine Schroth
CEO & President

Visit Concord | 2151 Salvio Street, Suite T, Concord, CA 94520 [email protected] | 925.685.1182 | VisitConcordCA.com

February 22, 2022
Dear City Council:

On behalf of the Visit Concord Board of Directors, we thank you for your interest in seeking community input for how the City of Concord can best utilize $19 million of one-time federal recovery funding.

The federal government is providing stimulus money to help communities such as Concord recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are encouraged that California is one of the forward-thinking states that have placed economic vitality and community engagement at the forefront of our recovery by allocating ARPA funds toward arts, culture and tourism. This allows states to rebuild their tourism market and placemaking/ community engagement.

The hotels and tourism attractions were hard hit in Concord, CA, where hotels, attractions and restaurants closed or provided limited services for a 2 year period. Unfortunately, recovery to the 2019 numbers may not occur until late 2023. As the number 1 hardest hit industry, hospitality and tourism meetings & events, along with corporate, group, and business travel, have caused the hotel occupancy rates to drop to 50% of the 2019 occupancy rates.

ARPA funding requests to help revitalize the hospitality and tourism economy in Concord:

Arts, Culture and Tourism.
• Aid to tourism & hospitality. State trends include prioritizing improvements in tourism and community development projects such as recreation centers, parks, libraries and arts organizations and cultural programs.
• Offer or create projects that enhance the City, thereby bringing in visitors to stay for sports and cultural events.
• Provide incentives/sponsorships to large festival and sporting events to entice overnight stay opportunities in the hotels.
• Support marketing campaigns for the hotels through a wider array of media channels. • Provide funding for hotel research reports for new hotels to attract more visitors into the community.
• Offer training and development - Visitor Center programs for ambassadors, volunteers, community outreach and awareness.

Visit Concord | 2151 Salvio Street, Suite T, Concord, CA 94520 [email protected] | 925.685.1182 | VisitConcordCA.com

Economic Relief and Development.
• State trends are finding ways to restore communities, rebuild their economies, and make them more resilient to future shock.
• Create additional wayfinder signs to promote downtown, parking garages and Concord Visitor Center.
• Create vibrant downtown business district to attract more visitors to a clean and safe downtown.

Workforce Development.

• The pandemic has significantly impacted the financial health and security of businesses and their employees; investments in workforce development allow localities to provide short-term relief and the baseline for long-term growth. • Trends across the country are prioritizing the creation or improvement of job development and career training programs.
• Multiple states used ARPA funds related to workforce development to address education and public transportation needs.

We thank you for your consideration for the benefit of the community – residents and visitors.

Warmly,

Elaine Schroth

Elaine Schroth

CEO & President

Cc: Kirk Smith, SixFlags Hurricane Harbor and Discovery Kingdom Visit Concord Chairman of the Board

Our Request:

PART ONE
$200,000 distributed once- to be used over a two year period of time:
2022:
$100,000 split three ways to Solo Opera, B-8 Theater, and Concord Arts Association (Unrestricted funds for operating, workforce development, and/or project costs for immediate economic recovery).

Budgets for each organization available upon request.
2023:
$100,000 split three ways to Solo Opera, B-8 Theater, and Concord Arts Association (Unrestricted funds for operating, workforce development, and/or project costs for immediate economic recovery).

Budgets for each organization available upon request.

PART TWO
$300,000 for longer economic stability and future events in Concord.

To be distributed now or as needed for:

1. Venue/ Venue Rents
(Ex. Retail space in Concord, Concord Historical Society, Todos Santos Park, etc.)

2. PA system (For park concerts at Historical Society and/or other outside events.

3. For other nonprofit arts groups needing assistance not yet part of the alliance.

Most importantly, we understand there are many social justice issues that need the attention of the City. We are only asking that you also realize the importance of art and culture to our community. The arts foster joy and sense of belonging- bringing us all together- which is so needed for us all to heal us coming out of the pandemic.

Thank you for your support in keeping the arts alive in Concord! Sincerely,
Organizational Members of Arts Alliance Concord:
-Solo Opera
-B-8 Theater
-Concord Arts Association
“Letters of Support” attached
2- Arts and Culture ARPA request to City of Concord Page 93 of 240

Mission Statements

SOLO OPERA
www.SoloOpera.org
Solo Opera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit opera company and a Professional Company Member of Opera America. Founded in 2000 and located in Concord, CA, our mission is to educate, entertain, and enrich the community through our main stage opera productions, concerts, and outreach programs. In addition to performing traditional operatic and musical repertoire, Solo Opera also focuses on 20th-21st century chamber opera, short one act operas, opera in English, and new works by Bay Area composers. We have an active diversity, equity, and inclusion policy that motivates us to work to uplift marginalized groups in our community and diversify our board of directors, staff, audience, and those we hire. Our company also has a special interest in fostering a new generation of opera lovers and bringing opera to those who may not normally be able to attend due to physical or financial limitations. With the help of grantors and sponsors over the years, we have been able to offer many outreach programs and free tickets to youth, seniors, and disadvantaged/disabled persons/groups. In 2016, Solo Opera and our Artistic Director were awarded the Arts Recognition Award from the Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County for our years of dedicated service to the community.

CONCORD ART ASSOCIATION
www.ConcordArtAssociation.org
As a 501c3 non-profit organization, CAA works to cultivate and enrich the creative lives of local artists and Concord area residents through exhibits, education, public art and community giving. Founded in 1963, CAA is the oldest art association in Contra Costa County. Members include artists, crafters, makers, enthusiasts and supporters of the arts.

B8 THEATRE
www.b8theatre.orgs
BE INCLUSIVE — BE CREATIVE — BE ENGAGED — BE CONNECTED
—BE HEARD — BE GENEROUS — BE CURIOUS — BE BRAVE — B8
The mission and vision of B8 The atre Company is to present audiences with new interpretations of established works and to pioneer new theatrical creations. Our productions aim to take an intersectional look at the works we explore- examining perceptions of gender, race, class, age, sexual orientation, and abilities within the framework of the play and larger context of society as a whole. We strive to create an immersive, inclusive environment for our patrons, believing the audience’s involvement is an integral part of every production.

ARTS ALLIANCE CONCORD
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ AAC is a coalition of performing and visual arts nonprofits serving Concord, Ca.

NOTE: This budget estimate is a snapshot of one year of expenses for our organization. Our portion of the ARPA funding of $66,600 from PART ONE of our Alliance request ($33,300 a year for two years) would be used towards our yearly production costs as seen above. The PART TWO funding would be used towards our venue rental.

WHAT B8 THEATRE BRINGS TO CONCORD

B8 Theatre Company (formerly Butterfield 8 Theatre Company) has been performing at a variety of venues in Concord since 2001. As the only live theatre company remaining in Concord, we not only bring quality plays, readings, Improv and classes to the Concord Community, we also bring many patrons from other communities to Concord for performances, meals, after show drinks, and even shopping before the performances. We have also been able to provide a performance space for other small theatres, and improv groups at a reasonable rent, bringing even more performers and audience members into our community and businesses. B8 Theatre offers reduced tickets to seniors, students, teachers, and veterans, as well as offering free tickets to Ygnacio Valley High School (Title I) students, and many Concord seniors in subsidized housing.

B8 Theatre Company works with a diverse population of actors, directors and designers from all over the Bay A rea, including many Concord residents. We hope to continue to work with local talent as well as bringing artists to the Concord Community.

The world has changed drastically during the Covid-19 pandemic, and as a community, we need to heal. We need to heal and recover financially and with the city’s support, we can bring the performing arts back to life in Concord. In turn, the arts will help us heal as humans. It has been said that there is no recovery without creativity; funding the arts in the Concord Community also funds the artists and the audiences in your community. Studies show that cities with an active arts and culture sector are healthier and safer communities to live in. Please support the performing and visual arts in Concord and support the wellbeing of our city at the same time.

3/14/2022 Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAM… 1/1 ARPA Letter
Melissa Rea <[email protected]>
Fri 3/11/2022 11:50 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
Cc: Fockler, Joelle <[email protected]>; Press Log Contact Tamara Steiner <[email protected]>; Marc Maier <[email protected]>
1 attachments (75 KB)
Concord Chamber - Concord Arts Support Letter ARPA Funding.pdf; To Whom it May Concern,

Please find aached a leer regarding the ARPA funding. This is in support of the arts organizaons.

Thanks,

Melissa Rea
Director of Operations & Marketing
Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce
www.concordchamber.com
(p) 925.685.1181

Vice Chair
Community Alliance for the Future
[www.concordchamber.com/community-alliance-for-the-future]www.concordchamber.com/community-alliance-for-the-future

ARTS ALLIANCE CONCORD
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ AAC is a coalition of performing and visual arts nonprofits serving Concord, Ca.

March 11, 2022
Mayor Dominic Aliano
Vice Mayor Laura Hoffmeister
Councilmember Edi Birsan
Councilmember Tim McGallian,
Councilmember Carlyn Obringer
Dear Concord City Council Members-
As members of the arts and culture sector, we respectfully request $500,000 in ARPA funding support for nonprofit arts organizations in Concord to stabilize our operations in the aftermath of the pandemic. Our industry was one of first closed- almost two years- and last to reopen. Our venues were shuttered, and even when reopened at the end of 2021, were at reduced capacity and lower attendance. Many of us had to close or cancel shows and suffered economic loss of funds already spent on these events. In addition, we experienced loss of work/income and decrease in grants/donations.

Our request directly corresponds with the City’s priorities for ARPA funds which are intended for organizations disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and Covid- 19 closures. The American Rescue Plan clarifies eligible use of funds for assistance to small businesses, nonprofits, and hard-hit industries like tourism, travel, and hospitality of which arts and culture can be described as part of all and essential to the recovery of our community. Funding the arts is a high return investment of which our community will greatly benefit. The arts bring people to Concord for our events and stimulate economic well being to other businesses such as surrounding restaurants, shops, parking garages, etc.

You would not be alone in making this investment for arts and culture. Some recent examples include $16 million for arts & culture in San Francisco including investments in a guaranteed income pilot for artists, $5 million in Orange County, CA, $600,000 to Davis, $1 million to Oakland, $2 million to Berkeley, and a smaller rural community such as Nevada County, CA, granting $476,000 to arts and culture organizations.

Several of these communities have a smaller population than Concord at 125,000 persons. Page 101 of 240
3/2/2022 Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAJs… 1/1 FW: ARPA Letter from Solo Opera
Barone, Valerie <[email protected]>
Wed 3/2/2022 4:06 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>; Reid, Karan <[email protected]>; Ortega, Jennifer <[email protected]>; Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>

Valerie Barone, City Manager
City of Concord | Website:
www.cityofconcord.org
( (925) 671-3150 | * [email protected]
1950 Parkside Drive, MS/01, Concord, CA 94519

From: Hoffmeister, Laura <Laura.Hoff[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2022 9:24 AM
To: Barone, Valerie <[email protected]>; Ezell, Jusn <Jus[email protected]> Subject: Fwd: ARPA Leer from Solo Opera

Staff not incl in email

Get
Outlook for Android
From: Sylvia Gonzalez <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2022 3:55:06 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>; Aliano, Dominic <[email protected]>; Hoffmeister, Laura <Laura.Hoff[email protected]>; Birsan, Edi <[email protected]>; McGallian, Tim <[email protected]>; Obringer, Carlyn <[email protected]>
Subject: ARPA Leer from Solo Opera

Hello-

My name is Sylvia Amorino and I am the Artistic Director of Solo Opera, a nonprofit opera company located in Concord since 2000.

We attended the zoom webinar by the City of Concord concerning the ARPA funds the council will be allocating in the future. We were able to speak a bit at the meeting and through our survey, but attached below is a more detailed letter from our organization in support of the arts nonprofit sector in Concord. We hope you will take the time to look it over and consider it in your ARPA decisions.

Thank you all for your work for the community and City of Concord!

PS. The webinar was well done and a great experience to talk to other folks in the community. Thank you for the opportunity to share our ideas and voice.

- Sylvia Amorino
Solo Opera
3537 Bonari Court
Concord, CA. 94519
(925) 685-4945

www.SoloOpera.org

3/14/2022 Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAM… 1/1 ARPA Request for the Arts Nonprofits with Additional Letters of Support Solo Opera <[email protected]>
Fri 3/11/2022 11:09 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>; Aliano, Dominic <[email protected]>; Hoffmeister, Laura <[email protected]>; Birsan, Edi <[email protected]>; McGallian, Tim <[email protected]>; Obringer, Carlyn <[email protected]> To the Concord City Council Members-
Attached you will find an ARPA request letter from the Arts Alliance of Concord- a coalition of arts nonprofits consisting of Solo Opera, B-8 Theater, and Concord Art Association. Our letter also contains attached "letters of support" from other large organizations which support the arts sector in Concord including a letter from Californians for the Arts and Visit Concord. Other letters of support may be also sent in separately towards our request including from the Concord Chamber of Commerce- for which we are all members.

As a constituent of Concord for 38 years, I hope you will follow up our alliance's request for $500,000 for immediate and long term recovery for the arts nonprofits in Concord.

Thank you.

Sylvia Amorino
Solo Opera
3537 Bonari Court
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 685-4945
www.SoloOpera.org

Mayor Dominic Aliano
Vice Mayor Laura Hoffmeister
Concord City Council Members: Edi Birsan, Tim McGallian, Carlyn Obringer 1950 Parkside Drive- MS/01
Concord, CA 94519

February 24, 2022

Dear Mayor Aliano and Members of the Concord City Council-

My name is Sylvia Amorino and I am the Founder and Artistic Director of Solo Opera. We are a Concord 501(c)(3) nonprofit opera company and Member of the Concord Chamber of Commerce. Proudly serving Concord and CCC for over 20 years, we were founded in 2000, with a mission is to educate, entertain, and enrich the community through our main stage opera productions, concerts, and outreach programs. We have an active diversity, equity, and inclusion policy that motivates us to work to uplift marginalized groups in our area as well as continue to grow as an organization.

Our company also has a special interest in fostering a new generation of opera lovers and bringing music to those who may not normally be able to attend due to physical or financial limitations. Our work spans from bringing music to youth in schools, operas to elderly in retirement homes, full productions on the main stage, Concord Fourth of July Parades, concerts at Macys Dept. Store in Concord, free events/free tickets to youth, seniors, disadvantaged or disabled persons, and much more!

I am writing today to ask the City of Concord and its City Council to please consider the Concord arts nonprofit organizations, in their ARPA funding decisions. We have filled out the surveys and joined the evening zoom webinar, as well, with our input. We are asking you to consider grants/funding that would be “unrestricted” so organizations could use the funds for operating expenses as well as projects. Many nonprofits in Concord, like Solo Opera, were left behind in the government covid funding and have not had enough assistance.

The arts nonprofit sector was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic- the first industry to be shut down- with venues closing and public gatherings prohibited. And it was also one of the last to reopen. We lost more than a year and a half of time being completely closed with no work/income, jobs lost, programming cancelled because we work with the public, and donations/grants diminished. Many other business sectors were allowed to be open part time during covid, but the arts were not.

As we reopen, we need assistance now to recover. We don’t want the arts in Concord and Contra Costa County to die off. But without help this could happen. As an added burden, CA has a new labor law, AB5, that was put into place during covid times forcing all businesses to make independent contractors into “employee status”- no matter how long they work- even if for a couple of hours a year. To be compliant, AB5 now adds about 20-30% onto our new budget making reopening even harder for our small nonprofit. Now, more than ever, we need assistance.

Most importantly, we understand there are many social justice issues that need attention of the City, such as the homeless. We are only asking that you also realize the importance of art and culture to our community. The arts foster joy and sense of belonging- bringing us all together. This feeling was so lost during the covid quarantines and is much needed to heal us coming out of the pandemic. Thank you for your support in keeping the arts alive in Concord!

Yours sincerely,

Sylvia Amorino
Solo Opera, President and Artistic Director
________________________________________________________________________________ (925) 685-4945 3537 Bonari Court Concord, Ca. 94519 [email protected] www.SoloOpera.org

3/14/2022 Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAN3… 1/1 Allocation of ARPA Funds to Help the Arts Sector Recover [email protected] <[email protected]> Fri 3/11/2022 8:34 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
Cc: Birsan, Edi <[email protected]>
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Dear City of Concord:

One of the sectors that was very hard hit by the economic downturn and COVID pandemic is the arts sector. Theater venues were shut down; opportunities to hold art shows and cultural events were eliminated. In a city like Concord which is struggling to attract visitors a vibrant arts environment is crucial. Organizations that depended on ticket sales and/or donations are struggling due to a two-year loss of revenue.

As a 37 year resident of this city and a lover of live theater, opera, and art, I urge you to allocate a portion of the ARPA funds to this sector. Everyone in some way or another will benefit from resuscitating the arts in our city.

Please follow the lead of other cities in California to ensure that the arts are alive in Concord.

Thank you for your consideration.

Catherine Hensiek
5050 Valley Crest Dr Apt 72
Concord, CA 94521
510-912-3232
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad

3/14/2022 Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAEZ… 1/1 Support for ARPA Funds for Arts Organizations
Bill Hensiek <[email protected]>
Fri 3/11/2022 9:46 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.” Please use some of the ARPA money to help arts organizations get back on their feet. The pandemic was a disaster for local non- profit performing and visual arts groups. They need help from this fund to continue performances and shows in Concord.

I've lived here with my wife for 37 years. And the city has not been able to support the arts during that time. Please help now! Thank you.

Bill Hensiek
5050 Valley Crest Drive
Concord

3/14/2022 Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAJZ… 1/1 Fwd: Request
Carol Longshore <[email protected]>
Sat 3/12/2022 12:44 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:

From: Carol Longshore <[email protected]>
Date: March 11, 2022 at 4:40:13 PM PST
To: [email protected]
Subject: Request
To Whom It May Concere,
My name is Carol Longshore and I have been a resident of Concord for 74 years. Ever since I was five, I loved this place.

I was told to write you before five today to express my desire to use some of the government grant money we received.

I understand $7,000 is gone and you’re deciding how to distribute the remaining monies.

It would do Concord justice to help establish a Culture Center.

Music, theatre and history.  This City is big enough to support the arts and history.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Carol Longshore
Sent from my iPhone

3/14/2022 Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAPJ… 1/1 Big error
Carol Longshore <[email protected]>
Sat 3/12/2022 5:06 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.” I made a huge mistake on what the city spent.  Not $7,000 but $7,000,000!  I left out a few 00’s!! Carol Longshore
Sent from my iPhone

March 28, 2022
Putnam Clubhouse is located in Concord and serves adults living with and recovering from serious and persistent mental illnesses. We are a free program to participants, we call members.

The ARPA federal government stimulus money intended to help communities recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic perfectly fits our Putnam Clubhouse community.

Many of our members (program participants) have been negatively affected by the economic, social, and health impacts of the pandemic, and even more so that most. Our population lives below the poverty level, suffer from the effects of isolation (more than most), suffer from the stigma of being labeled ‘mentally Ill, homelessness, incarceration, and often struggled with substance challenges.

The isolation that COVID 19 brought and the breakdown in community events had a major impact on our members. We are working as a community to increase our programs, events, activities, and social interactions. People living with mental illnesses are already a vulnerable population for the reasons described above. $200,000 of the ARPA stimulus money will help our community continue to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

Please feel free to contact me at 510-926-0474 for any additional information.

Thank you,
Tamara Hunter
Executive Director
Putnam Clubhouse
Peer Connection Centers (San Pablo, Concord, Antioch)
[email protected]

Veterans Accession House

1 To: City of Concord Mayor’s Office and City Council
From: Leonard Ramirez, Executive Director, Veterans Accession House, 1820 Galindo Street, Suite 210, Concord, 94520

Reference: Proposed to Fund Urban Victory Garden
Date: February 21, 2022

I am writing as a representative of the Veterans Accession House (VAH), a local nonprofit organization providing Transitional Housing for Homeless and At -Risk Veterans. We propose a unique training and employment generating opportunity within the City of C oncord. VAH seeking funding from the City of Concord’s and resource to support the development and management of a local Urban Victory Garden.

The purpose of the project is to identify persons in need of housing services and preparing them for employment through a gardening apprenticeship program. The model project will require the designation of approximately 1-3 acres of city or private land to be used to cultivated certain vegetables to be made primarily available for nonprofit organizations to supplement food stocks used to feed homeless persons within the City of Concord. A portion of the grown vegetables will be sold to local restaurants to generate support for the project and revenue needed to sustain and expand the Victory Gardening project.

The farming project will be used to train and employ local Veterans and persons experiencing housing instability. This project can also employ student leaders from the Contra Costa County College District’s horticultural Department, via the student Work Experience Program . This unique partnership between the City and College District could advance the awareness of the social problem related to homelessness, promote public awareness, and spotlight a more positive image of th e population and the potential for constructive change. This Victory Garden Project offers a potential for the development of a limited pool of trained work ready Veterans and other s, certified as suitable and ready for City and or Private employment as gardeners.

All persons participating in the Urban Victory Garden project will be paid minimum wage as part -time trainees and workers. The project will employ three less than full- time staff to oversee the project. This will include a Project Manager to administrative of the project, a Field Supervis or to provide direct supervision, and a gardener trainer; each to be paid commensurate to their position. The victory garden(s) will consist of traditional open-air farming model and several plastic covered greenhouse structures, each allowing for season specific farming. The City of Concord could provide recycled water resources and fertilizers made of compost vegetation from City Wide gardening waste collection. On a limited basis, the city could provide heavy equipment and operators to turn soil for productive use of identified land.

Veterans Accession House

2 Facilities, equipment and tools needed to perform this operation are as follows: Two large cargo containers, one for equipment storage and one to be used as a based of field operations. One used flatbed or bedded truck for hauling supplies, and a service van for transportation of food products to Adult Shelters, homeless housing programs, food centers and local restaurants. Also essential for the operation of this project is multiple forms of gardening tools, suitable work clothing / gear, small motor gardening equipment, pumps, generators, utility services for powering the containers, water irrigation and the provision for the delivery of a light breakfast and lunch meals for up to as many as 20 project participants.

Cost of project services:

1. One used truck – $15,000.00

2. One mid-sized delivery van - $18,000.00

3. One large sized cargo storage container - $8,000.00

4. One medium size converted cargo container - $12,000.00

5. Two Heavy gaged motorized rototillers - $2,200.00

6. Shovels, hoes, and picks - $1,400.00

7. Three 10 X 30 ft greenhouses - $10,500.00

8. Three 275 Gallon water container and piping - $1,100.00

9. Several heavy-duty water hoses - $500.00

10. Plastic piping for irrigation - $500.00

11. Two gas motorized water pumps - $1,400.00

12. One large gas operated generator - $1,200.00

13. Gasoline for small motors - $3,840.00

14. Gasoline and maintenance for Truck and Van - $6,760.00

15. Quantity of liquid fertilizers - $3,000.00

16. Gardening clothing for 20 participants: boots, overalls, shirts and gloves - $3,000.00 Total = $88,400.00

Veterans Accession House

3 17. Twenty workers at 16 hours per week X 15.00 hr. = $288,000.00

18. One Project Manager at 32 hours per week X $30.00 hr. = $46,080.00

19. One Field Supervisor at 24 hours per week X $24.00 hr. = $27,648.00

20. One Gardener Trainer at 24 hours per week X $22.00 hr. = $ 25,344.00

21. Breakfast for 20 X 3 meals per week at $8.50 per meal = $24,480.00

22. Lunch for 20 X 3 meals per week at $14.00 per meal = $40.320.00 Total = $451,872.00

Total Project First year = $540,272.00
Total Project Second year = $468,472.00

Total Project asking = $1,008,744.00

Respectfully submitted

Leonard C. Ramirez
Chief Executive Officer
Veterans Accession House
www.vahouse.org
[email protected]
(925) 822-3175

3/3/22, 11:44 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAN… 1/1 (No subject)
anthony nichols <[email protected]>
Fri 2/25/2022 4:58 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

How come the MDUSD is suffering from revenue short falls. When the city has been given COVID relief funds to distribute for revenue short falls with in the city. The city council members feel that is not a part of the city. Is that how the federal government feels? They would not be having protests over budget cuts and proposed layoffs and school closures if they had received the covid relief funds the city has? The money specifically stated revenue losses do to covid with in the city not special district or accounting differences. I thing someone from the city needs to pick up a phone and ask if MDUSD is receiving the funds from the federal government or was that a block grant that they expected the cities to distribute to all agencies in the city. The council member I contacted told me that they assumed that the school district got the same funds be because they are a separate board. That's something that they should have been able to answer and the assumption is not adequate since we have active horn honking street jamming protest which would cause me to assume they did not get the money which now that a revenue loss dildo to COVID with in the city of Concord has been identified. Which is pretty clearly spelled out as what the money is to be spent on.  I guarantee you it's a block grant sent to the cities to be distributed not just to the city but all government losses of revenues from Covid. School districts lose $0.05 cents a day per student that students are not in attendence. That's 100%revenue lost until children return to school regularly. At the end of the day concord high is in the city of Concord and the city council member should know if they received stimulus funds or why it may be closing. Saying it's not a part of the city government and assuming they got their own funds. I should not have to be suggesting this. The city has a pile of cash to be spent on lost revenue the schools are cutting budgets because of lost revenue. If they did get the stimulus funds then the city council needs to be asking what happened to it. Identify a covid related loss of revenue with in the city physical boundary not accounting department and use the money as it is intended to cover that loss of revenue. It specifically stated not to create new programs. don't know why I had to be referred to this to make my suggestion when the city counsel member could contact the school district and find out if they need money and then the behind the scenes government accounting practices either resolved the issue or doesn't. If the city schools need help the city should help.

To: Concord City Council
Subject: Suggested allocation of $19 million in one-time federal Covid recovery funding

In response to your request for community input regarding how the City can best utilize $19 million in one-time federal recovery funding allocated to the City, I would suggest that the City contribute a portion of this money to help young families by contributing to their day care expenses.

The State of California has a day care assistance system in place using local organizations to distribute day care assistance. In Contra Costa County this day care assistance is provided through the Contra Costa Child Care Council (https://www.cocokids.org/). However, in addition to State funding, this organization accepts donations. So by the City contributing to this existing funding, the City could make an impact on child care affordability without requiring any internal organizational changes, such as the creation of a new department or the hiring of new City employees.

In order to implement this idea, I would suggest that the City approach this group (or another similar group) with this idea. However, I would also suggest that as part of the offer, the City request that a stipulation be added to this donation requiring that money from this donation be given only to families with Concord addresses.

In addition, the State has an upper income limit for day care assistance of only $6157/month ($73.8K /year) for a family of 3. I believe this income limit is somewhat low, especially in those cases where both parents are working. So given that the State is providing full support to families earning less than this amount but nothing to families earning more than this amount, I am also suggesting that the City stipulate that the City’s donation be used to raise the upper income limit for such families, in order to reach more families with Concord addresses.

So in conclusion, I believe that only a minimal effort would be required of City staff in order to coordinate with the Costa Child Care Council (or similar group) to determine whether adding such stipulations would be feasible. In addition, I would suggest that staff also request that periodic reports be provided to the Council outlining the implementation of this program, and verifying that the City’s donations are indeed going towards the support of our local families’ day care expenses.

I believe that this would be a program that Concord could be proud of.

Concord, CA: Where Families Come First
Tim Carr
Feb 21, 2021
Concord Resident since 1986

1 Proposal: Veterans Resource Center
The Veterans Accession House (VAH) is a nonprofit organization partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provides Transitional Housing to Homeless and At -Risk Veterans. In addition to housing, we provide various services intended to help Veterans secure and keep housing. It is understood that there are many contributors leading to homelessness , and with the right interventions, Veteran Homelessness can be reduced. VAH recognizes that many of the services provided to its residents would be equally critical in the prevention of homelessness. These services include assistance in attaining benefits , budgeting, health care, service claims, pursuit of education and employment development. Because too many veterans do not possess competencies in the use of and or lack access to computer systems to perform essential tasks needed to enter the work force and live-independently, we will offer them the advantage of basic technology to access service. VAH seeks funding that will allow us to provide computer access through the formation of a Veterans Resource Center to support Veterans and break the cycle of homelessness.

The mission of the Veteran Resource Center is to serve as a single point of contact to coordinate comprehensive support services and provide veterans with the necessary resources to successfully transition into civilian life. We plan to do this by providing access to services and benefits through technology combined with career advising, job counseling, educational assessment, making referrals, and connecting them with other community -based organizations. We seek to empower U.S. military veterans, National Guardsmen, Reservists, and dependents with the necessary skills and resources they need to develop self-reliance.

Tasks: VRC will work with program participants to identify needs and assess their readiness to advance in their area of interests.

1. VRS staff will assist veterans in their application for health care benefits

2. VRC staff will connect Veterans to education and training resources.

3. VRC staff will coordinate instruction in technology skill-building Via guest presenters.

4. VRC staff will coordinate onsite instruction on Microsoft Office software .

5. VRC staff will assist veterans in resume development and online applica tion submission

6. VRC staff will explore education options and institutions supporting career goals.

7. VAH Staff will assist Veterans in use of Faxing, Scanning, Storing, emailing applications and resumes.

8. VRC staff will help veterans to access service websites, apply for Disability Claims, Vocational Rehabilitation training through the VA Veterans Employment and Readiness Program .

9. VRC in Collaboration with VAH will assist qualified veterans in Housing Support Services.

The Veterans Resource Center is committed to providing services to Veterans, service members and dependents with a welcoming space, caring staff and peer-to-peer mentorship utilizing Veteran participants from the DVC VA sponsored Student Veteran Work Experience program.

2 Support Items: Approximate costs
Seven Computers $560.00 X 12 = $7,800.00 Monitors $130.00 X 07 = $1,610.00 Two Combo Printers $470.00 X 02 = $940.00 Three Surge Protectors $50.00 X 03 = $150.00 Three Extension Cords $10.00 X 03 = $30.00 Two Power Backup Systems $150.00 X 02 = $300.00 Accessories $300.00 Comcast Internet package $250.00 X 12 = $1,000.00 Network System $600.00 Software prog $93.00 X 12 = $650.00 Anti-Virus $21.00 X 07 = $147.00 Adobe Pro $105.00 X 12 = $1,260.00 Electricity $120.00 X 12 = $1,440.00 Rental Space $600.00 X 12 = $7,200.00 Couche Set $650.00 Reception Desk $250.00 Six Computer Desks $1,500.00 Seven Office Chairs $1,600.00 75 Inch TV Screen $2,698.00 Promotional materials $1,500.00

Subtotal $31,625.00

Staffing Plan
Full-Time Manager $5,120.00 X 12 months = $61,440.00 One Tech Assistants $3,200.00 X 12 months = $38,400.00 Services Coordinator $2,400.00 X 12 months = $28,800.00

Subtotal: $128,640.00

Total $160,265.00

The Veterans Resource Center at 2290 Willow Pass Road, Concord CA will be open for in-person services Monday through – Friday, from 10 am – 6 pm. For more information contact us at (925) 822- 3175 or [email protected]

3/3/22, 11:53 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAMl… 1/4 Project: Contain Homelessness
Edi Birsan <[email protected]>
Tue 2/22/2022 5:06 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
The need for temporary shelter is rather obvious as well as shelter that is mobile to a certain degree.

I propose that we put aside $250,000  to buy 20 or more  twenty foot containers that are outfitted with Air-conditioned, lights, windows, door and flooring with the idea to provide them either to the homeless shelter on Arnold for Expansion as they would be idea for homeless families given the limitations of the shelter.

Further the units could be provided for a non-profit to establish shelter if they can provide the land and the services to operate the shelter.

Some photo’s of the basic units attached.

3/3/22, 11:53 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAMl… 2/4

3/3/22, 11:53 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAMl… 3/4

3/3/22, 11:53 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAMl… 4/4

3/3/22, 11:52 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAJs… 1/1 HOMELESS Acre
Edi Birsan <[email protected]>
Wed 2/23/2022 3:07 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

We should purchase an acre of land and offer it to a non profit to run an organized and screened homeless encampment location.

The non profit community should be solicited to run such a facility and asked to put in funding request with a full outline of services to be given.

Edi Birsan

[email protected]
950 Alla Ave.

Concord, CA 94518
510 812-8180
Please take the survey at
www.PulseOfConcord.com
For City Council things write to
[email protected]

3/3/22, 11:50 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAAz… 1/3 ARPA funds
Brian Black <[email protected]>
Thu 2/24/2022 1:58 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
To whom it may concern,
For your review, proposal from Brian Black.

3/3/22, 11:50 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAAz… 3/3

3/3/22, 11:50 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAAz… 2/3

3/2/2022 Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAK… 2/2 Today I met with Councilmen Edi Birsan. He directed me to submit my proposals for consideration for the competition for the Federal Funds to be distributed for local projects.

Please see attached three separate proposals I submit for consideration.

Best regards,

Leonard

--

Leonard C. Ramirez
Veterans Accession House
Office: (925) 822-3175
Cell: (415) 660-0854
email:
[email protected]
website: www.vahouse.org

--

Leonard C. Ramirez
Veterans Accession House
Office: (925) 822-3175
Cell: (415) 660-0854
email:
[email protected]
website: www.vahouse.org

1 Proposal for Transitional Housing
The Veterans Accession House (VAH) is a Nonprofit organization founded and operated by Veterans. We are officed in Concord and contracted through the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide Service Intensive Transitional Housing in Contra Costa County. Our organization has served the County for over five years. Our mission is to offer a safe, temporary, sober living environment where Veterans can share with like -minded men; regain focus, stabilize , and prepare for their transition into permanent housing. Our case managers work with Veterans to pursue their interests in education, training and or employment. We stive to connect them with services and establish earned benefits, address poor credit ratings, and develop effe ctive financial saving practices. Our program operates housing in Pittsburg and Antioch, with a vision to expand into Central County. This move is critical, as Central County, and Concord specifically, has the highest density of Veterans in the County, representing a statistically disproportionate number of Homeless and or At -Risk Veterans. It is our belief that due to a lack of essential local services and housing options for many Veterans leave our County to neighboring cities where mature service programs offer critical Veterans centric services.

To ameliorate this condition, VAH asks the City of Concord to fund the acquisition of three medium priced houses within the Concord city limits . These houses will be used to reduce the local condition of Veteran homelessness . While not exclusively, those deemed suitable for the program will primarily, and with preference, be Veterans from the Concord community. With this in mind, it should be understo od that many of the Veterans living Homeless in any city are not from the communities that service them. So, we can only hope to service Veterans in general, knowing that doing so will positively impact the greater Veteran population. Each house will be staffed and operated as a congregate living environment; with two houses earmarked for males and the third for female Veterans. This ratio is based on a r eality that a majority of homeless Veterans are male s. A Veteran’s length of stay will be limited to six months to maximize the number of veterans that can be potentially served. How is VAH different from other housing service programs? VAH employs a Service Intensive Transitional Housing model, which incorporates housing and care services as integral and necessary to address a history of Veteran homelessness such as underserving beliefs, poor habits and dysfunctional practices which perpetuate the risk of Homelessness. No resident will be left to their own demise, alone in a hotel room, expected to overcome the exact thinking which

2 contributed to their state of Homelessness. Residents will be provided hot meals and offered opportunities to learn important life skills needed to improve their health, income and housing options toward enduring independent living.

Each Veteran will be assessed for their health needs, connected to medical and behavior health services as needed. Case m anagers will assist them to apply for earned benefits and pensions; encourage and supported education, training and or employment interests. All Veterans will have their budgets reviewed for negative credit r eporting, and individualized savings and money management strategies developed. Veteran will be assisted in connecting with Legal Aid programs and encouraged to resolve court matters. E ligible Veterans will be guided in the application process for Housing and Urban Development -Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) voucher s, and or Supported Services for Veterans Families (SSV F) to financially assistance them at the point of bridging from the VAH program. Critical to the production of services is the requirement for dependable program transportation to shuttle Veterans to interviews, services, medical and legal appointments.

Outcomes for this work will be measured in attainments of services , benefits, training and or employment. Health improvement coupled with shifts in attitudes about abilities to accomplish personal goals. Keystone from any accomplishment is the readiness for placement of each Veteran into permanent housing.

3 The achievement of these program service objectives will be an expan sion in VAH staffing. This staffing support is for one less than full-time House Manager, two part-time Case Managers, and a part-time Field Services Coordinator. The house and service operations will be augmented by existing VAH Administrative and Clinical staff.

Costs: A - Three Houses estimated at $800-900,000.00 X 3 = 2,400,000.00/ $2,700,00.00 B - Purchases and Services

1. One 5 passenger Van leased at $1,404 per month = $16,848.00

2. Auto fueling cost and maintenance $6,600.00

3. Residential liability insurance $6,750.00

4. House Manage annual salary $46,080.00

5. Case Managers annual salaries $61,440.00

6. Field Services Coordinator annual salary $43,008.00

7. Administrative ad Clinical support $92,000.00

8. Clinical Support $12,000.00

9. Utilities Power $14,500.00

10. Water $4,600.00

11. Cable $8,080.00

12. Furnishings $48,000.00

13. Supplies 10,000.00

14. Food Services $74,000.00

15. Alarms services and Security Camera systems $5,300.00

16. Appliances $14,100.00

17. Televisions $1,500.00
Subtotal: $464,809.00
Costs of acquisitions: $2,400,000.00
Cost of Operations: $464,809.00 (Annual)
Total: $2,864,809.00/ $3,164,809.00

Leonard C. Ramirez
Veterans Accession House
Office: (925) 822-3175
Cell: (415) 660-0854
email: [email protected]
website: www.vahouse.org

3/3/22, 11:56 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAO… 1/3 Fwd: Request for your input regarding one-time federal dollars coming to the City of Concord
Ortega, Jennifer <[email protected]>
Sat 2/26/2022 10:32 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:

From: "Obringer, Carlyn" <[email protected]> Date: February 26, 2022 at 1:25:24 PM PST
To: Dan Middleton <[email protected]>
Cc: "Barone, Valerie" <[email protected]>, "Ortega, Jennifer" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Request for your input regarding one-time federal dollars coming to the City of Concord
Hi Dan,
Thank you for taking the me to aend the meeng and to provide these suggesons. And, thank you for leng me know about the challenges with the format of the forum.

I have copied our City Manager and Public Informaon Officer Jennifer Ortega on this response to share the feedback about the forum with them so that we can work to address these issues when we hold future online forums.

Thanks again,
Carlyn
Carlyn Obringer
Councilmember, District 2
City of Concord
From: Dan Middleton <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2022 5:56 AM
To: Obringer, Carlyn <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Request for your input regarding one-me federal dollars coming to the City of Concord

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

3/3/22, 11:56 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAO… 2/3 Hi Carlyn
Thanks for the reminder for this meeting. I attended and wanted to share the feedback I gave in my group.
1- repurpose one or two of the properties on East Street for mini housing for homeless people and families. I think one if them is owned by Hall properties and has been vacant for over 10 years.
2- restaurant voucher program. People can pay restaurants to feed the homless. I do this with the Best Little Donut Shop.. Lilly, the owner keeps a record of the extra money i give her in a journal. When a homeless person comes in she let's them have one item and a coffee. She then reduces my account in her ledger. 100% of the money I give her goes directly to helping people.

Another person in our group said her husband also has an account at the donut shop.

Feedback in the meeting. I do a lot of work helping autistic adults find employment. These neurodivergent individuals would not have been able to participate because chat was disabled. The moderator also wanted everyone to be on zoom. So there was no closed caption for others with disabilities. Also, those who only had a phone could not participate in the polls. The moderator expected everyone to have a computer and phone in order to participate. That shuts out a lot of people especially homeless people.

I ask that we look at the format of these meetings and consider a more inclusive process.

Thanks for listening and see you next Saturday for clean up.

Dan
On Mon, Feb 21, 2022, 7:07 PM Obringer, Carlyn <
[email protected]>
wrote:

Good evening,
I'm emailing you because you are a community leader in District 2. I wanted to make sure that you knew that THIS Wednesday evening there will be a community meeng regarding how to spend the City of Concord's 19M in one-me federal dollars.

The federal government is providing smulus money to help communies recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Concord has $19 million of one-me federal funds available for the benefit of the community. I am seeking your input on how to spend the available funds.

Join a communitywide meeng via Zoom on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. to share your thoughts. This meeng will be conducted in English, and Spanish translaon will be available.

Log in to the Feb. 23 meeng at 6 p.m. using this link and passcode:

hps://cityofconcord.zoom.us/j/85129216890?
pwd=ODBSelNKR1l4Q05CczJ1RzllV3k1Zz09 Page 131 of 240
3/3/22, 11:49 AM Mail - ARPA - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/[email protected]/inbox/id/AAQkAGRiY2YxNjMyLWI3MmQtNDg1MS1hMzQ1LTQ2NzhkZGZjOTQ4YwAQAN… 1/1 Proposal for ARPA funds #3
John Pamer <[email protected]>
Thu 2/24/2022 3:21 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
Cc: Birsan, Edi <[email protected]>
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Explore Tiny Homes as a partial solution to homelessness Idenfy a disused part of CNWS that could host such a village Establish qualificaon requirements to live there such as ongoing job training, community work, etc. (can’t just live there free forever, need to transion to a more permanent soluon)
Could provide exit grant funds (such as first/last months rent) to obtain more permanent housing if the resident completes all requirements of the transition program If there is interest in pursuing this idea, we would be happy to meet with city staff and officials to discuss.

Thanks,

John Pamer
Chief Execuve Officer
Diablo Valley Federal Credit Union
1051-A Detroit Avenue
Concord CA 94518
925-771-5602 (office)
925-642-2748 (cell)

From: Kathy Renfrow <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 1, 2022 10:45 AM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>
Cc: Brian Beckon <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected]; kathy@netocn org <[email protected]>
Subject: ARPA
NETO Community Network
[email protected] or [email protected]
Ci
ty of Concord/ARPA
[email protected]
Dear
Committee,
As y
ou know, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused pervasive disruptions to the business and finance sectors – in Concord, as everywhere else – and many local businesses are suffering unprecedented challenges. Many need capital to sustain operations and grow. Some need affordable workspace. Others need training and mentorship.

Net
o Community Network has developed a strategic plan that can simultaneously meet many of these needs of the local business sector, while adding to the City’s tax base, nurturing an entrepreneurial culture, and generally contributing to a more thriving local economy that offers opportunities for everyone.

With some assistance from the City’s ARPA funds, we can make this a reality.

To
recap, Neto is a Concord-based 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to greater equity in our Central Contra Costa County community. Neto was founded in 2012 as an outgrowth of Monument Community Partners, which itself was founded ten years earlier but then merged with a community development organization to become Monument Impact. Several of the leaders of MCP (including Molly Clark, Harold Blair, Luz Sierra Palomera, and Kathy Renfrow) saw an opportunity to create a new organization with a broader geographic focus beyond just the Monument area of Concord.

Fro
m the beginning, Neto’s strategy has been to develop pathways for people from all walks of life to connect with each other, learn about equity, and then implement strategies to build greater equity. Neto has, over the past nine years:
● Hosted hundreds of public meetings on a wide variety of topics of concern to the community, from education to community investment to voting rights.
● Inspired many activists to engage in numerous ways to advance equity in our community. ● Launched Concord Co-Lab, a pilot co-working and meeting space in Salvio Pacheco Square, which operated from September 2019 until it was shut down due to Covid in March 2020.

Thi
s year, Neto’s board of directors has undertaken a process of strategic planning and believes that now is the time to be more ambitious in our pursuit of equity. We have set our sights on the following goals:
● P
urchase a property of our own, which would ideally serve not only as Neto’s home base but would also serve the broader community of nonprofits and small businesses who need meeting space, co- working space, training, and mentorship
. ● Launch a community investment fund that would be open to investment from anyone in our community regardless of their economic status, would invest in local assets like real estate or growth capital for locally-rooted businesses, and then share profits with community investors, thus creating a true wealth- building opportunity for everyone.

We w
ould like to request a portion of the $19 million be used to help us scale the impact and vision of economic equity where community wealth building is a service to the City of Concord.

Si
ncerely, Board of Directors
Attachment 2

From: Chris Iglesias <CIglesias@unitycounc il.org>
Sent: Monday, April 4, 2022 3:12 PM
To: Aliano, Dominic <Dominic.Aliano@c ityofconcord.org>; Hoffmeister, Laura <[email protected]> ; Birsan, Edi < [email protected]>; Obringer, Carlyn <[email protected]>; McGallian, Tim <Tim.McGallian@c ityofconcord.org>
Cc: Barone, Valerie <[email protected]>; McAuley, Wendy <[email protected]>; Fockler, Joelle <J [email protected]>; Karely Ordaz <kordaz@unitycounc il.org>; Lydia P adilla <l padilla@unityc ouncil.org> Subject: Concord ARPA Request - FINAL
Importance : High

Dear Honorable Members of the Concord City Council,

On behalf of The Unity Council, I am respectfully submitting the attached request for ARPA funding.

Since 2013, we’ve had the pleasure of serving the City of Concord through our Cesar Chavez Headstart Center. We are proud to be a member of the Concord community and would like an opportunity to support more youth and families. If you haven’t visited our Center, we’re happy to schedule a tour.

Thank you for your consideration. Please don’t hesitate to reach out should you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Chris

Chris Iglesias
Chief Ex ecutive Officer
cigles ias @unitycouncil.org
510-535-6900 Office
510-5 99 -6433 Cell

The Unity Council
1900 Fruitvale Avenue Suite 2A
Oakland, CA 94601
www.unitycouncil.org

The Unity Council
1900 Fruitvale Ave, Suite 2A, Oakland, CA 94601
510-535-6900 Office  510-534-7771 Fax  www.unitycouncil.org

April 4, 2022

City Council
City of Concord
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519

RE: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) $1.5M Budget Request

Dear Members of the Council:

On behalf of The Unity Council, I am writing to request $1.5 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to amplify our impact in the City of Concord. We are requesting funds to solidify, expand, and strengthen our Head Start and Early Head Start programs as well as deepen our partnership with the Concord Community.

Specifically, the funds will cover land acquisition costs related to relocation and expansion of our Head Start and Early Head Start programs to a new site. Our lease at 1187 Meadow Lane expires next year. We are requesting funds to acquire a new site that will accommodate relocation of the existing program, provide opportunity for program expansion, and facilitate the program’s long - term financial stability to ensure that it remains a fixture in Concord for decades to come.

Based on our u nderstanding of the current real estate market and our space needs, we anticipate that acquisition costs will total close to $2.3 million, and construction costs another $5 -8 million.

The ARPA funds will leverage $6 – 8.5 million in additional sources, inc luding matching funds for childcare facilities grants from the State.

Moreover, our Head Start and Early Head Start programs are experiencing difficulties with our nutritional food program. Because of low enrollment due to long -term pandemic effects, our reimbursement rate from USDA has dropped significantly and coupled with rising food costs, we have struggled to fully fund our food program. Thus, we’re requesting $200,000 for the next two years for the costs to operate our food program.

Additionally, over the years working closely with the Concord community, we’ve seen a need for a liaison to serve as a point person for Concord families, partners, and stakeholders. A portion of these funds will cover a full-time Community Relations position for two years. This role will serve as a liaison between the City of Concord and The Unity Council Office of the CEO, responsible for leveraging relationships and partnerships to sustain and expand our programs. This role will also support with fundraising efforts. Sustainability is of utmost importance, thus during the two- year period, The Unity Council will actively fundraise to absorb the position once the ARPA funds

The Unity Council
1900 Fruitvale Ave, Suite 2A, Oakland, CA 94601
510-535-6900 Office  510-534-7771 Fax  www.unitycouncil.org

end. Our Fund Development & Communications Department has raised an average of $2.1M per year over the last 5 years. We have four (4) consultant firms on call who work with our team to maximize our revenue sources and are expanding the department in the next few months by hiring two (2) new fundraising positions.

Request Breakdown:

Real estate land acquisition with $6M - $8.5M matching
grants from the State of California

$1,105,000

Support for the food program to offset growing costs to feed children while at the Cesar Chavez Center for
Early Head Start & Head Start Programs for 2 years
$200,000
Concord Community Relations Manager (FTE) for 2
years

$195,000

TOTAL

$1,500,000

About the Concord Cesar Chavez Childcare Center
In 2013, The Unity Council opened the Cesar Chavez Childcare Center to provide high -quality free childcare to families in the Monument Corridor community. Over the past 9 years, the program has grown to serve over 276 families in both center-based and home-based care models on a daily basis.

Our home-based services include home visits and socialization experiences for pregnant mothers, newborns and preschoolers. Home visits help to build a strong relationship between staff and families. Parents and staff develop an educational plan together for the child, and staff support the parents in reaching their own goals and accessing community resources.

Our early childhood education program uses a play-based curriculum designed to meet each family where they are on the path to school readiness and meeting each child’s full potential. Our teachers make every effort to speak with children and their parents in their home language. We offer services in at least eight languages throughout seven head start and early head start sites. Parents are fully engaged and part of their child’s success.

About The Unity Council
The Unity Council is a non-profit Social Equity Development Corporation with a 55-year history in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland, CA. Our mission is to promote social equity and improve quality of life by building vibrant communities where everyone can work, learn, and thrive.

Our programs aim to provide the community with the tools, knowledge, and resources to transform their lives and ultimately achieve their long -term educational, career, and financial goals. These

The Unity Council
1900 Fruitvale Ave, Suite 2A, Oakland, CA 94601
510-535-6900 Office  510-534-7771 Fax  www.unitycouncil.org

holistic programs and services reach more than 11,000 individuals and families annually in five languages in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

Please feel free to reach out should you have any questions. Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,

Chris Iglesias
Chief Executive Officer

From: Matt Harrison <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 6, 2022 10:02 AM
To: Aliano, Dominic <[email protected]>; Birsan, Edi <[email protected]>; Hoffmeister, Laura <[email protected]>; Obringer, Carlyn <[email protected]>; McGallian, Tim <[email protected]>; Barone, Valerie <[email protected]>; McAuley, Wendy <[email protected]>; Fockler, Joelle <[email protected]>; ARPA <[email protected]> Subject: ARPA funding for CYC

Dear Concord City Council,
I am respectfully submitting the CYC request for the ARPA funding. I would also like to offer the opportunity, for each council member and staff, to come and tour our current facilities and see the new proposed site. The potential in our new facility is phenomenal, and I truly enjoy showing it off. It is going to make a difference. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like a tour.

Respectfully,

Matt

--
Matthew Harrison
Executive Director
Community Youth Center
(925) 566-7569

www.communityyouthcenter.org

Dear City of Concord,
The Community Youth Center (CYC) respectfully requests a grant of $1,500,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for our Big C to CYC Conversion Project.

We recognize the steady growth in need for a safe, structured, and reliable location for our youth to develop the academic, physical, and social skills to succeed. CYC has served this need in the Concord area for almost 30 years. Over that time, we have grown our physical location and expanded our offerings. As the needs of the city continue to grow, CYC is undertaking a project that will allow us to meet these demands.

Community Youth Center plans on renovating and moving into the former Big C facilities. This move will allow us to offer new programs, accommodate more youth, and provide a place for our members to safely spend their time after school.

I am confident that this new project will add to the city of Concord and will make CYC the model youth center in the state.

Respectfully,

Matthew Harrison
Executive Director

Executive Summary:

Community Youth Center has been serving Concord since 1995. Over the years, CYC has expanded facilities several times. These expansions have allowed CYC to provide sport specific training areas and a more diverse list of course offerings, in turn allowing more young people to participate, as we work to support our mission.

CYC is in a position where an expansion is once again prudent. CYC has experienced a consistent and continued growth in membership over the last 2 years. The timing of this growth has been fortuitous for CYC.

The facility just down the block, a fitness center formerly known as the Big C, was forced to shut down due to Covid. This facility is owned by the same board president. She has agreed that it is time to use that space to better serve our youth. The CYC will move into the space formerly known as the Big C. This space will allow us to continue to increase enrollment, improve the facilities for our current programs, and add several new programs, including basketball and swimming. In order to do this, the building must be renovated.

Project Proposal:

The facility currently is designed to be a health and fitness center. The space has several large locker rooms, 16 courts for racquetball and squash, a barbershop, massage room, spin room, yoga room, aerobics room, pool, basketball court, and restaurant. For CYC to best use this space, it will require a significant renovation.

This updated facility, in concert with our current programs and staff, makes CYC Concord’s premiere youth center.

The renovation will include, but is not limited to, removing all the racquetball and squash courts to create 3 large open areas where the boxing, cheer, and wrestling programs will move; digging of a pit in the current weight room and creating a large open gymnastics room, allowing space for all gymnastic disciplines; removing the wet room and downstairs men’s locker room that is located next to the functional fitness room, and creating a full combined functional fitness and weight room; removing the women’s wet room and locker room and replacing it with a martial arts center; creating a common area for kids to have a safe space to relax between classes in what is now the restaurant; removing the men’s locker room upstairs and building an updated academic center; adding dressing rooms next to the pool to allow the creation of a swim and water safety program.

By the end of this renovation, Concord’s Community Youth Center will have doubled in square footage, creating one of, if not the most, diverse and substantial opportunities for young people to safely grow and thrive. Most importantly, CYC will do this while still holding true to mission. In short, CYC will become the premiere youth center.

Grant Request:

Community Youth Center is requesting $1,500,000 of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the City of Concord to help fund this renovation. The necessary construction is projected to cost in excess of $7,000,000. We have a commitment from the Hofmann foundation and Steve Gonsolves for funding, and we will also be getting funding from other individual donations and the real estate sales of property CYC currently owns and occupies.

This funding will help us create a safe place for young people after school. One of the most important areas of growth the new location allows is a room that is open for general use. Right now, every room in the CYC is used for classes. There is no place for members to just relax. The renovated building will create this space.

CYC anticipates moving forward with this renovation this calendar year. The project should take approximately a year to complete. Once we move into our new center, we will be able to significantly increase our enrollment.

Organizational Information:

At Community Youth Center we empower local youth by cultivating transferable life skills through academic and athletic performance. We are passionate about creating a safe environment to develop dedication, discipline, desire, and the confidence to pursue excellence in all endeavors.

Our vision has always been to provide the young people in our community the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities and academic support regardless of economic means. We believe all young people deserve the chance to thrive and seek to remove the barriers that prevent many young people from participating in activities that help create well rounded adults. In today’s world, that vision has taken on extra meaning and importance. CYC is a unique place where students are part of a diverse culture, where we seek to meet students where they are in their development, and where students are allowed to grow at their pace in a safe environment. We provide varied levels of instruction, from beginner to elite, and encourage all students to develop the discipline, work ethic, and desire to excel. Our programs emphasize character, discipline, and respect through dynamic and challenging classes. We encourage our members to try several different programs, building flexibility, strength, self-esteem and confidence as they participate. Our academic centers provide subject specific tutors, study strategies, and time management skills. As our members grow in academic success, so does their confidence. Through the development of mind and body, our members create infinite possibilities for their future.

Community Youth Center currently has 1,688 members, including 24% of our members, 410 young people, here on full scholarship. While we welcome people from all communities, by far the largest area served is Concord. We have 810 members who live in Concord, and we work to be part of the greater Concord community. CYC works with the Mount Diablo Unified School District, local law enforcement, and Todo Santos Business Association to help build a stronger overall community.

From: Sylvia Gonzalez <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, April 7, 2022 3:49 PM
To: ARPA <[email protected]>; Obringer, Carlyn <[email protected]>; Aliano, Dominic <[email protected]>; Birsan, Edi <[email protected]>; Hoffmeister, Laura <[email protected]>; McGallian, Tim <[email protected]>; Fockler, Joelle <[email protected]>; Carlyn Obringer <[email protected]> Subject: Updated ARPA Proposal with BUDGETS AND ATTACHMENTS

Hello-

Per the request of one of the City Council Members, Arts Alliance Concord is updating our ARPA proposal/request with the following:

-Budgets from each organization in the Arts Alliance Concord / Venue Search Update -Section on how ARPA funds to the Arts will benefit the economic development of Concord

PLEASE SEE UPDATED PROPOSAL ATTACHED BELOW.

Don't hesitate to let us know if there is any further information you need from our alliance. We would be happy to provide that for you.

Thank you, again, for your time and efforts in considering our proposal for funding.

Sincerely,

- Sylvia Amorino
Arts Alliance Concord, Member
Solo Opera, Artistic Director
3537 Bonari Court
Concord, CA. 94519
(925) 685-4945
www.SoloOpera.org

ARPA FUND REQUEST

To

THE CITY OF CONCORD

From

ARTS ALLIANCE CONCORD

Proposal Includes:
• ARPA Letter of Request
• Detailed Budgets from Alliance Organizations
• Suggested Locations for Arts Venue in Concord
• Benefits to Concord’s Economic Development
• Why the Arts Matter in California
• Support Letters from Businesses
• Mission Statements of Alliance Organizations

March 11, 2022

Mayor Dominic Aliano
Vice Mayor Laura Hoffmeister
Councilmember Edi Birsan
Councilmember Tim McGallian
Councilmember Carlyn Obringer

Dear Concord City Council Members-

As members of the arts and culture sector, we respectfully request $500,000 in ARPA funding support for nonprofit arts organizations in Concord to stabilize our operations in the aftermath of the pandemic. Our industry was one of first closed- almost two years- and last to reopen.

Our venues were shuttered, and even when reopened at the end of 2021, were at reduced capacity and lower attendance. Many of us had to close or cancel shows and suffered economic loss of funds already spent on these events. In addition, we experienced loss of work/income and decrease in grants/donations.

Our request directly corresponds with the City’s priorities for ARPA funds which are intended for organizations disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and Covid-19 closures. The American Rescue Plan clarifies eligible use of funds for assistance to small businesses, nonprofits, and hard-hit industries like tourism, travel, and hospitality of which arts and culture can be described as part of all and essential to the recovery of our community. Funding the arts is a high return investment of which our community will greatly benefit. The arts bring people to Concord for our events and stimulate economic well-being to other businesses such as surrounding restaurants, shops, bars, parking, etc.

You would not be alone in making this investment for arts and culture. Some recent examples include $16 million for arts & culture in San Francisco including investments in a guaranteed income pilot for artists, $5 million in Orange County, CA, $600,000 to Davis, $1 million to Oakland, $2 million to Berkeley, and a smaller rural community such as Nevada County, CA, granting $476,000 to arts and culture organizations. Several of these communities have a smaller population than Concord at 125,000 persons.

ARTS ALLIANCE CONCORD
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ AAC is a coalition of performing and visual arts nonprofits serving Concord, Ca.

Our Request:

PART ONE
$200,000 distributed once- to be used over a two-year period of time:

2022:
$100,000 split three ways to Solo Opera, B8 Theatre, and Concord Art Association (Unrestricted funds for operating, workforce development, and/or project costs for immediate economic recovery). Budgets for each organization are attached.

2023:
$100,000 split three ways to Solo Opera, B8 Theatre, and Concord Art Association (Unrestricted funds for operating, workforce development, and/or project costs for immediate economic recovery). Budgets for each organization are attached.

PART TWO
$300,000 for longer economic stability and future events in Concord.

To be distributed now for One Shared Rental Space for an Arts Center (which could include a performing area, rehearsal space, and art gallery.)
OR to be divided between the three organizations for:

1. Venue/ Venue Rents/Rental Utilities and other costs associated with rentals (Ex. Retail lease space in Concord, Concord Historical Society, Todos Santos Park, etc.)

2. PA system- rental or purchase for outside events
(For park concerts at Historical Society, Todos Santos and/or other outside venues

3. For other nonprofit arts groups needing assistance not yet part of the alliance.

Most importantly, we understand there are many social justice issues that need the attention of the City. We are only asking that you also realize the importance of art and culture to our community. The arts foster joy and sense of belonging- bringing us all together- which is so needed for us all to heal us coming out of the pandemic.

Thank you for your support in keeping the arts alive in Concord!

Sincerely,
Organizational Members of Arts Alliance Concord:
-Solo Opera
-B8 Theatre
-Concord Art Association

Letters of Support, Budgets, and Other Information Attached

2- Arts Alliance Concord ARPA request to City of Concord

BUDGETS

From

ARTS ALLIANCE CONCORD

NOTE: The visual arts- CAA- request attached is less than the one third allotted.

We would ask that the remaining amount of their third not used by them be given towards our proposal’s PART TWO venue costs (rent, utilities, etc.) for which they will share in gallery and classroom space. Thank you.

SOLO OPERA-PROJECTED EXPENSE BUDGET

If approved for our Arts Alliance Concord request for $500,000 ARPA funds, Solo Opera (as one of three partners in the coalition) would receive from the $200,000 in PART ONE of the request- approx. $33,300 to be used in 2022 and $33,300 to be used for 2023- for a total of approx. $66,600. See below for a breakdown of how this PART ONE money would benefit our organization, as well as the City of Concord.

PART TWO would be an investment in our Alliance’s longevity and help us continue to produce future events in Concord. This $300,000 funding could be split three ways between our three organizations for future venue rental monies/event costs including sound equipment rental and/or used towards one shared Concord venue we can all use free of rent for events such as shows, concerts, rehearsals, classes, meetings, or art gallery space.

Most of the Part One funds will be used, as the ARPA funds were intended, to recover from the losses we incurred due to the pandemic and two-year closures for immediate recovery to our business. They will be used towards Project Production Costs as well as Overhead Costs to keep our business going. However, if the entire amount is received, a large portion- almost a third- will also be used to further our mission of serving Concord residents - creating economical development to our city in the forms of income to other city businesses/organizations, help and outreach to low/moderate income residents, and creating jobs through our projects.

HOW OUR $66,600 WILL BE SPENT:
(Please also see separate attached expense budgets for full costs of our 2022-2023 Season)

• $10,000 towards Production Costs for The Four Note Opera-2022 (outreach to seniors and others) • $25,600 towards Production Costs for The Three Feathers- 2023 (main stage opera for families/children) • $11,000 to Overhead Costs for 2022-2023 (not including payroll expenses and Workers Compensation Insurance which are seen in our Two-Year Season Budget.) • $20,000 towards Concord Events over the next several years (if funding is received.) As of now, we do not have any money in our budget for this outreach. So, the ARPA funds would truly help us begin a tradition of bringing more art and classical music to Concord. Breakdown below:

1. $4,000- Free tickets for low/moderate income Concord residents to The Three Feathers

2. $11,000 (approx.) to create an Opera in the Park in Todos Santos Plaza (Date TBD but most likely early/mid. Summer 2023 because of timing of funding, to coordinate with our The Three Feathers opera, time to market the event and work with the Todos Santos surrounding businesses to highlight them.) Known Costs to date would include:
a) $1,000-an estimate from Lisa Potvin of the City of Concord for fees and permits, etc. (more depending on if security is needed),
b) $4780 approx. bid from Third Ear Sound Company (recommended by Lisa Potvin) for sound set up, equipment, and crew for the event. Copy of bid available upon request. c) $4600 for performers (4 singers and pianist) and payroll costs/production costs for 1-2 three- hour rehearsals plus one-hour show (The cost would increase for longer show or more singers.) d) $620- approx. -Marketing costs (If printed program is needed, costs will be more.)

3. If money is left after researching and ear marking true costs of an Opera in the Park, then $5,000 could be for The Four Note Opera -one performance at an indoor Concord venue based on availability of performers and venue schedules. (Costs include brush-up rehearsals, performer fees, royalties, venue/piano rental, rehearsal rental space, programs, payroll etc.)

PROJECTED PRODUCTIONS EXPENSES

THE FOUR NOTE OPERA- 2022- Traveling outreach opera for seniors and others Costs shown are for preparation/ one performance at a free venue already booked. Extra performance could be given to Concord residents if suitable venue was found and funding given to cover costs- ex.- Concord Senior Center.

4 Singers and 1 pianist ($1000 each) $5000 AB5 payroll costs, workers comp, etc. $1000 Other costs-Props/Costumes Pieces/Royalties/Vocal Scores/Rehearsal Space, etc. $1000 Videographer $1000 Extra performance (fee for performers to a Concord venue that has free rental with piano on location after 09/11/22, if payment to venue had to be made or rental for piano, it would be more like $5000) $2000 Total $10,000

THE THREE FEATHERS- 2023- Main stage opera for families/children

Outreach-Tickets for disadvantaged persons -low-moderate income (Concord residents) $4000 AB5 costs (approx. cost of payroll expenses, worker’s comp. etc.) $10,000 Music Salaries (10+ paid singers, volunteer chorus, 1 pianist, 1 conductor, 21- piece orchestra) $50,000 Royalties/Music Rental-$500 x 2 performances $1000 Graphics and Design/ Bulk Mailing/Printing/Marketing $4000 Costume Rentals/Purchases/Designer $5000 Supertitles Operator $500 Sets/Projections Design and Building $15,000 Production Crew/TD/Truck Rental $2000 Lighting Designer/Crew $2000 Stage Manager and Stage Director (volunteer) $1500 Make-up/Wig Designer $1500 Videographer/ Photography $2500 Rehearsal Space (8-10 days) $1000 Theatre Rental Deposit and Rental (2 performances) $20,000 _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Total $120,000

Concord Art Association, P .O. Box 641, Concord, CA 94522 concordartassociation.org

April 5, 2022

Mayor Dominic Aliano
Vice Mayor Laura Hoffmeister
Council Member Edi Birsan
Council Member Tim McGallian
Council Member Carlyn Obringer

Dear esteemed City Council:

Concord Art Association is pleased to partner with Solo Opera and B8 Theater in a collaborative request for ARPA funds. In the absence of a City Arts Commission, our three organizations have worked together to prepare our requests for funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2020-2021.

We understand that the intention of the ARPA funding is to assist businesses and non-profits like ours, recover from the drastic financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of event cancellations and venue closures, both the visual and performing arts have lost considerable revenue during 2020 and 2021.

Our three organizations have brought value to the City of Concord for years. ARPA funds will enable us to continue to serve residents and businesses, and to attract visitors to our community.

Concord Art Association requests for its own purposes: for 2022, $11,300 and for 2023, $9800.

In recognition that the economic impact of COVID-19 devastated the performing arts in our community, Concord Art Association urges the council to allocate to Solo Opera and B8 Theatre, the full amount they requested for 2022 and 2023.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
John Nakanishi, President
Patti St Denis, Vice-president
Sharon Petersen, Treasurer
Catherine Hensiek, Secretary

Attachment: Request for ARPA Funds for 2022 and 2023

cc: Solo Opera, B8 Theatre

Concord Art Association, P .O. Box 641, Concord, CA 94522 concordartassociation.org

Request for ARPA Funds for 2022 and 2023

Concord Art Association is a 501c3 non-profit organization, that works to cultivate and enrich the creative lives of local artists and Concord area residents through exhibits, education, public art, and community giving. Our ability to accomplish our mission has been impacted by the COVID pandemic and economic downturn.

CAA raises funds through several means:
• Membership fees and raffles at member meetings
• Fees for Art Shows
• Special Events such as the dinners at Spaghetti Factory pre-COVID

Our ability to raise funds through these means has been impacted by COVID in several ways:
• Ongoing closure of the free meeting space at the Concord Library where CAA met for decades • Loss of art show fees due to cancellation of events in 2020 and 2021 • Inability to host major fund-raising events due to COVID restrictions

In the meanwhile, expenses have increased:
• To return to in-person member meetings and events for the public, we now must rent spaces. In October 2021, our first in-person meeting at Concord Community Park cost $296. • To ramp up shows for 2022 to increase revenue, CAA needs to purchase free-standing grids for art display which will require a larger storage space than we now rent. • Recognizing the classroom closure impact on students, CAA increased the amount of our teacher grants and started a scholarship program for art students at Diablo Valley College.

2022 Funds needed to recover from impacts of COVID pandemic and economic slowdown.

Space Rental for Member and Public Meetings $2400
Grids for Art Display at Temporary Locations $3000
Storage Space (increased cost) $900
Teacher grants plus DVC Scholarships $5000

2023

Space Rental for Member and Public Meetings $3600
Storage Space (increased cost) $1200
Teacher grants plus DVC Scholarships $5000

NOTE: This budget estimate is a snapshot of one year of expenses for our organization. Our portion of the ARPA funding of $66,600 from PART ONE of our Alliance request ($33,300 a year for two years) would be used towards our yearly production costs as seen above. The PART TWO funding would be used towards our venue rental.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONCORD ARTS VENUE- INITIAL RESEARCH TO DATE (Updated April 1, 2022)- Property Brochures Available Upon Request

In addition to PART TWO of our ARPA request possibly being used for short -term, one-off rentals at Concord locations (ex. Historical Society Hall and/or Todos Santos Park stage) we are also beginning to research possible lease and for sale properties that may work for a more permanent arts venue. A fixed venue would allow us more flexibility that can’t be achieved at a rental- ex. better scheduling and ability to leave items in place for longer shows such as sets, lighting, drapery, seating, and equipment. We will continue this research over the next month until the City meets on April 26 th to allocate ARPA funds. As you can see from the beginning of our search, our ask from PART TWO for $300,000 would barely cover a small venue for short term lease. Average price is about $27 a square foot. Most landlords want at least a 5-year lease although some may be willing to negotiate. A larger amount from the Council may be needed to guarantee a longer use of an arts venue or one that is more permanent and advantageous to the Concord arts groups, landlords, surrounding businesses, and community.

1. Ethan Allen Building - 20,000 sq ft (First Choice- A gorgeous landmark in Concord and a perfect location for an arts venue- near shopping and restaurants at the Veranda and Willows.) They are asking $44,000/month- which includes triple net (but may consider lower as they want it rented.) This venue would be wonderful for an arts center for Concord as it has enough space for a large performing area in the back center, an art gallery/office space on the left side (many of the walls that are up would already be perfect for an art gallery with the lighting and rooms already in place), a rehearsal studio on the front right corner, and a very large storage/warehouse in the back with shelving for props, costumes, sets, and equipment. The venue also contains its own parking lot.

2. 2151 Salvio St.- Suite W –3,300 sq feet. (Second Choice -Much smaller but another wonderful location at Salvio Pacheco Square-downtown right next to Nami, Visit Concord, the park, restaurants, shops, etc.) They are asking $1.95 sq foot monthly + .65 triple net. We may be able to get them down to just over $8000/ month. They would like a 5-year lease , but we would try to offer three years if we received the ARPA monies. Funding for full 5 years would be better for the arts organizations and also the property company. This space has been vacant for a while and would need a lot of work to get it into condition. It would only have enough room for a very small performing space (88-person max limit as is.) There is only one office and no storage space. If movable chairs were used and not fixed seating , the space could also be used as a rehearsal spot and classroom space during off times. Visual art could be hung on some of the walls to also double as a gallery. John Sechser, the Property Manager, said having an arts venue to bring people into the restaurants, bars, shops would be a great asset to the plaza which is needing help to recover from pandemic.

3. We are also looking at other locations, including but not limited to, the Old Bollinger Nail Suite on Salvio - 3800 Sq Feet who are asking $20,000/ month and the old Cost Plus building in the Willows but have not heard back from the Willows leasing office yet.

Benefits to Concord’s
Economic Development

And

Why the Arts Matter
in California

From

ARTS ALLIANCE CONCORD

ARPA Funds to the Arts Create Jobs and Economic Development to the City of Concord

The arts nonprofit sector was one most disproportionately impacted during the Covid-19 pandemic. We were the first to close and last to re-open. Our venues were shuttered for almost 2 years and for most of the time, we were not allowed to perform (even outside) because we work with the public. ARPA funding to our arts organizations would help us begin to recover and heal from the financial losses we sustained due to cancelled shows; lack of jobs, income, grants, donations, ticket sales etc.

In addition to helping Arts Alliance Concord (Solo Opera, B8 Theatre, Concord Art Association) recover from the pandemic, ARPA funds would also assist our coalition in bringing art back to our community. The joy of arts and culture- performing and visual -will help our city heal mentally, as well as financially.

ARPA funds would put our employees, those we hire and do business with, back to work. It would bring jobs to our sector and tourism/hospitality dollars back to our community. Those attending our events would patronize local shops, restaurants, and businesses. For example, a Solo Opera- Opera in the Park could bring locals and others from outside our community into Todos Santos Plaza to enjoy the music and also dine or shop at the businesses surrounding the park. We have also been researching properties that could be leased as a permanent arts venue at the Todos Santos downtown plaza as well as the Veranda/Willows area. Having a fixed arts venue near other businesses would be a benefit to all . One of our employees, our pianist and supertitles operator, Chun Mei Wilson, is a Concord resident of 41 years.

She has been out of work during the pandemic as well. Every job we can offer will help her and her family get back on their feet. When at all possible, we try to hire the talent of local Concord residents first.

Solo Opera events would also benefit all the local businesses we have worked with over our 22 years in Concord. This would include our printer - Galaxy Press, our banks- US Bank and F&M Bank - venues and churches we rent from, our office supply stores, our storage rental facility, and much more! When we stay in business, we patronize so many other businesses here in the city.

We can also further create economic development once we have events in place by highlighting local businesses in show programs, flyers, show announcements, on our social media, etc. We are experts at collaborating and marketing with others. When Solo Opera had our 2019 holiday event at Macy's Concord Dept. Store, we highlighted/marketed about 20 different Concord businesses. When we perform in the Concord Fourth of July Parade, we market sponsors, like F&M Bank, on our Solo Opera banner.

Our alliance has the support of many local organizations who want to see the arts flourish in Concord.

They understand that the arts bring economic development as well as culture to a community. Our letters of support include Californians for the Arts, Concord Chamber of Commerce (of which we are all three members), Visit Concord, and US Bank. Concord Pioneer also has supported us with a Letter to the Editor. An article is promised to us to announce publicly if funds are received from the City.

Thank you for your support in keeping the arts alive in Concord!

https://www.arts.gov/about/news/2022/new-data-show-economic-impact-covid-19-arts-culture-sector

WHAT B8 THEATRE BRINGS TO CONCORD

B8 Theatre Company (formerly Butterfield 8 Theatre Company) has been performing at a variety of venues in Concord since 2001. As the only live theatre company remaining in Concord, we not only bring quality plays, readings, Improv and classes to the Concord Community, we also bring many patrons from other communities to Concord for performances, meals, after show drinks, and even shopping before the performances. We have also been able to provide a performance space for other small theatres, and improv groups at a reasonable rent, bringing even more performers and audience members into our community and businesses. B8 Theatre offers reduced tickets to seniors, students, teachers, and veterans, as well as offering free tickets to Ygnacio Valley High School (Title I) students, and many Concord seniors in subsidized housing.

B8 Theatre Company works with a diverse population of actors, directors and designers from all over the Bay A rea, including many Concord residents. We hope to continue to work with local talent as well as bringing artists to the Concord Community.

The world has changed drastically during the Covid-19 pandemic, and as a community, we need to heal. We need to heal and recover financially and with the city’s support, we can bring the performing arts back to life in Concord. In turn, the arts will help us heal as humans. It has been said that there is no recovery without creativity; funding the arts in the Concord Community also funds the artists and the audiences in your community. Studies show that cities with an active arts and culture sector are healthier and safer communities to live in. Please support the performing and visual arts in Concord and support the wellbeing of our city at the same time.

WHY THE ARTS MATTER

IN CALIFORNIA
As of 3/23/2022

CALIFORNIA ARTS FACTS

CA ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR REPRESENTS

7.5% OF STATE'S GDP & 681,211 JOBS
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that the arts and culture sector contributed $225 billion to CA's economy in 2020, representing 7.5% of the state's GDP, 681,211 jobs, and total compensation of $109 billion. $225 BILLION Arts & Culture Sector
$120.4 BILLION Construction
$42.8 BILLION Utlities
In a 2015 study of fifteen cities and counties of CA, nonprofit arts and cultural production generated $4.5 billion in economic activity, 132,705 jobs, and $431.5 million in state and local government revenue. $4.5

BILLION

NONPROFIT

ART IS A

DRIVER OF JUST ONE OF
OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES.

In San Francisco, for example, nonprofit arts groups generated $780.6 million in economic activity. Their audiences of 15.6 million people added another $667.7 million for a total of $1.4 billion in business for the city and county, and this generated $131.1 million in local and state government revenues.

Source: Americans for the Arts, Arts & Economic Prosperity 5, San Francisco report, 2017 How much did California receive in public funding for the arts and culture?
In FY21-22, the state allocated $140 million to the California Arts Council. The California Arts Council also received $1.1 million in federal NEA funds, $1,348,900 through ARPA, and $760,400 through CARES Act. These funds have benefitted over 1,328 artists and arts organizations. Another 260 nonprofit arts organizations received direct grants from the NEA totaling $12,577,000.

Q
A
Source: California Arts Council, Californians for the Arts, & NEA 2022 &$7B 98,721
BONUS: In 2020, total compensation in CA increased by 3% from 2019.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis & National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, 2022 (2020 data collected during the pandemic)

GSP LOST JOBS LOST
California arts and culture value added decreased by 5% between 2019 and 2020. In addition, arts & culture employment decreased by 12%, dropping from 779,932 to 681,211.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis & National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, 2022 (2020 data collected during the pandemic)
&

NATIONAL ARTS FACTS
ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR'S PERCENTAGE OF U.S. ECONOMY (Artists, University Arts, Commercial & Nonprofit Arts Organizations Combined)

GDP & JOBS

ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR REPRESENTS

4.2% OF NATION'S GDP & 4.6 MILLION JOBS
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that nationally the arts and culture sector was a $876.7 billion industry in 2020, representing 4.2% of the nation's GDP, 4.6 million jobs, and total compensation of $446 billion.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis & National Endowment for the Arts, 2022 (2020 data collected during the pandemic)
$876.7 BILLION
$572 BILLION
$341.7 BILLION
Arts & Culture Sector
Transportation
Utilities
LOSS OF REVENUE AND JOBS (Commercial & Nonprofit Arts Organizations Combined) COVID-19 IMPACTGDP LOST JOBS LOST

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS & THEIR AUDIENCESECONOMICS Nationally, the nonprofit arts industry alone generates $166.3 billion in economic activity annually that supports 4.6 million jobs and generates $27.5 billion in federal, state, and local government revenue. $166.3

BILLION

DRIVER OF OUR NATIONAL,
STATE & LOCAL ECONOMY.

NONPROFIT

ART IS A
Spending by arts audiences generated $102.5 billion to local businesses.

Source: Americans for the Arts, Arts & Economic Prosperity 5, 2017 (Prior to COVID-19 pandemic)

PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS & ARTISTS

FUNDING
How much is the federal government investing in the
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)?
Congress allocated $180 million to the NEA in FY22. This amounts to just 54 cents per capita. Ideally, Congress should index $1 per capita funding to the NEA. For COVID economic relief, Congress also allocated $75 million in CARES Act and $135 million in ARPA funding for distribution by the NEA. Additionally, Congress allocated $16 billion to the SBA for shuttered arts venues plus billions more for PPP and EIDL.

Source: Americans for the Arts Action Fund, 2022.

Q
A
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2022 (Data collected during the pandemic) See Americans for the Arts regularly updated COVID-19 Impact on the Arts Research Update. $53.6B 600,000
Between 2019 and 2020, the U.S. arts economy shrank at nearly twice the rate of the economy as a whole. Arts and cultural production fell by 6.4% when adjusted for inflation, compared with a 3.4% decline overall.

BONUS: In 2020, the arts & culture sector ranked 3rd among comparison sectors.

E-MAIL US: [email protected]
VISIT US: ArtsActionFund.org/join
CALL US: 202.371.2830
FOLLOW US: Arts Action Fund | @ArtsActionFund | @ArtsActionFund “We don’t take for granted the privilege of being the state arts agency here in California, where creativity sits at the heart of our identity.Where we have bipartisan support for and understanding of the position of arts and culture within our communities—as a health and wellness asset, a problem-solving resource, and bridge builder.Where the arts and our artists are readily incorporated into our government’s strategy to cope with our modern problems, as part of, and not supplemental to, our collective future.”
—Anne Bown-Crawford, Director of the California Arts Council

THE CALIFORNIA COUNCIL ON THE
ARTS— The mission of the California Arts Council, a
state agency, is to advance California through the arts and creativity. Since its founding in 1976, the Arts
Council has awarded more than 32,000 grants with a
total investment of approximately $400 million.

Executive Director: Anne Bown-Crawford
Chair: Lilia Gonzales Chavez
In California, the arts foster real solutions that are deeply needed in society today.

IN THE GOLDEN STATE, THE ARTS UNITE US
JOIN THE ARTS ACTION FUND FOR FREE TODAY!
To download this factsheet, "Why the Arts Matter
in California," with corresponding resource links
visit www.ArtsActionFund/StateFactsheets
CALIFORNIA ARTS NEED YOU!
From the north to the south, California is rich in arts and cultural programming and leads as the economic capitol
of creativity. California is the State of the Arts.

California is innovative in its use of the arts to solve social issues. For example, as of June 2017, Arts in Corrections, a partnership between the California Department
of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the
California Arts Council provides arts programming in all 35 state adult correctional institutions. In Los Angeles, the Actors’ Gang under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Robbins, has provided theater arts programming
with an emphasis on Commedia dell’Arte techniques for
more than a decade.

Based in Fresno, with service statewide, The Alliance
for California Traditional Arts provides arts
programming focused on the underserved field of
traditional arts, rooted in cultural heritage and
community-based practice. Expressions such as Native
American beadwork, storytelling, songwriting, African
drumming, and American folk guitar and guitarra
ranchera are intended as familiar and culturally
relevant art forms for participants.

California Cultural Districts highlight the cultural
legacy of our state’s most valuable resource—its
diversity. From larger, urban areas to uncharted rural
locations, each district helps grow and sustain
authentic arts and culture opportunities, increase the
visibility of local artists, and promote socio-economic and ethnic diversity through culture and creative
expression. 14 districts serve as California’s inaugural state designated Cultural Districts, highlighting some of the thriving cultural diversity and unique artistic
identities within local communities across California.

CALIFORNIA ARTS FACTS

CALIFORNIA ART

ORGANIZATIONS
Learn more here.

THE ARTS ARE EVERYWHERE!
3/23/2022

ART IN CALIFORNIA
In 2021 the CA State Budget included $60 million one-
time General Fund for the California Arts Council to
implement the California Creative Corps Pilot
Program, a media, outreach and engagement
campaign designed to increase: (1) public health
awareness messages to stop the spread of COVID-19;
(2) public awareness related to water and energy
CALIFORNIANS FOR THE ARTS' mission is to
ensure that the arts are accessible to all Californians; are an ongoing part of the public dialogue and to
encourage Californians to care about the arts as a
critical component of their own lives and the lives of
their communities. We fight for arts resources and
policies that benefit our members and all residents
of California. Our work and support of civic
engagement, arts education, cultural equity and the
creative economy, positively impacts every
community across the state. Est. 2007
Executive Director: Julie Baker
Chair: Ron P. Muriera
Learn more here.

Join here.

To View the Top 10 Reasons to Support the Arts, Click Here.

Support Black Theatre is a grassroots organization
dedicated to the development, enrichment, and
promotion of Black art, Black artists, Black theatres, and Black audiences in Los Angeles
Founded in 1972, the Latino Center of Art and
Culture is a multi-disciplinary cultural center offering Latinx programming, art education workshops, and a
community gathering space
Association of California Symphony Orchestras
California Association of Museums
Latino Arts Network
California Lawyers for the Arts
California Presenters
The Center for Cultural Power
Center for Cultural Innovation
conservation, and emergency preparedness, relief, and
recovery; (3) civic engagement, including election
participation; and (4) social justice and community
engagement.