EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: October 18, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
BY: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
SUBJECT: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding Recommendations Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1. Accept the staff report regarding the potential allocation of remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds;
2. Provide direction on staff funding recommendations; and
3. Direct staff to return to the City Council in January 2023 with a detailed Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) process associated with a community funding opportunity.
Background
On September 20, 2022, the City Council provided direction regarding the allocation of the remaining portion of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Please see Attachment 1 – Staff Report from September 20, 2022, for more information regarding ARPA and the Guiding Principles established by the City Council. The City Council directed staff to focus on the following areas when formulating ARPA funding recommendations:
1. Improving the City’s infrastructure;
2. Strategies to address the City’s structural deficit; and
3. Direct assistance to the community.
By way of this staff report, staff seeks further direction from the City Council on how to best invest the remaining portion of the City’s ARPA funding.
Analysis
Staff completed a comprehensive review of the City Council priorities, within context of the Guiding Principles, to identify potential items that could be funded by ARPA funds. Attachment 2 provides an overview of the staff recommendations.
Recognizing that each of the items identified on Attachment 2 will require a dedicated contracting and City Council approval process, it is expected that staff would start bringing specific items for City Council consideration in late November or early December 2022.
Direct Assistance to the Community
Staff recommends the City Council allocate $350,000 as a community resource fund which may be available to local community groups through a competitive application process. Staff further recommends the City Council provide direction to return in early 2023 with specific processes and parameters for how this funding may be distributed.
Fiscal Impact
No fiscal impact.
Public Notice
The public was provided notice by making the agenda and report available on the City’s website and on a bulletin board located at City Hall: 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Environmental
The action being considered does not constitute a “Project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378 (b)(5), in that it is a government administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
Attachments
A. Staff Report from September 20
B. ARPA Funding Recommendations