City Council Agenda Report
October 6, 2026
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Alexander Hamilton, Deputy City Manager
Jana Stuard, Director of Finance/City Treasurer
Michael Johnson, IT Manager
Jennifer Hernandez, Administrative Services Supervisor
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 26-59 - BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR AMERICAN RESCUE
PLAN ACT FUNDED PROJECTS
Background:
On March 10, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) which included State and Local Fiscal Recovery (“SLRF”) funds to support state and local governments as they faced the impacts of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. The City was allocated $28,046,746 in ARPA funding, all of which was obligated toward eligible uses in accordance with U.S. Department of the Treasury requirements as of December 31, 2024.
The City allocated ARPA funding across 26 eligible projects developed to address community and operational needs consistent with ARPA regulations. Three projects have been completed under budget, leaving $490,694 available for re-obligation towards other eligible ARPA projects.
Projects with Funding Available for Re-obligation
The projects with available funding are summarized in Table 1 on the following page.
City Council October 6, 2026
Resolution No. 26-59 ARPA Budget Amendment Page No. 2
Table 1: ARPA Projects with Funding Available for Re-Obligation ARPA
Project # Project Name Project Budget Expendituresto-date Amount
Remaining
Proposed for
re-obligation
1.7C4219 Website
Enhancement $50,000 $48,940 $1,060
2.361219
Aid to Impacted
Industries
Signage
$182,600 $32,966 $149,634
7.1T1219 Scan & Digitize
Plans $470,000 $130,000 $340,00
Total Proposed for Re-obligation: $490,694
Project No. 1.7C4219 - Website Enhancements:
Project No. 1.7C4219 – Website Enhancements was timely obligated through an agreement with Revize LLC and was completed under budget, leaving $1,060 in ARPA funding available for reobligation to another active ARPA project.
Project No. 2.361219 – Aid to Impacted Industry Signage:
Project No. 2.361219 – Aid to Impacted Industry Signage was timely obligated through an InterAgency Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with the Community Development Department, approved by the City Council in December 2024.
The project was established to upgrade and enhance wayfinding signage around the Norwalk Entertainment Center in response to impacts associated with the COVID-19 public health emergency. Due to ongoing construction in the area and the December 31, 2026 expenditure deadline for ARPA funds, $149,634 remains available for re-obligation to other active ARPA projects.
If approved, an amendment to the Inter-Agency MOU with the Community Development Department will be required to reflect the revised ARPA project budget.
Project No. 7.1T1219 – Scan & Digitize Plans:
Project No. 7.1T1219 – Scan & Digitize Plans was timely obligated through an agreement with Viatron Systems Inc. The project was established to scan and digitize various City records and documents for retention and improved accessibility.
The project is anticipated to be completed under budget, leaving $340,000 in ARPA funding available for re-obligation to other active ARPA projects. If approved, an amendment to the City Council October 6, 2026
Resolution No. 26-59 ARPA Budget Amendment Page No. 3
agreement with Viatron Systems Inc. will be required to reflect the revised project budget and carry out the remaining work.
Proposed Re-Obligation:
Of the original 26 projects, 12 are currently in progress. The following four active projects are being proposed to have remaining funding from the completed or, substantially completed projects, identified above to the following four active ARPA projects:
• 1.7C5219 - Cable Program Equipment Upgrade
• 1.7C8219 - Security & Safety Improvement Project
• 7.1T5219 - Software Upgrades
• 7.1T6219 - Technology Hardware Upgrades
Project 1.7C5219 - Cable Program Equipment Upgrade:
Project No. 1.7C5219 Cable Program Equipment Upgrade was timely obligated by the December 31, 2024 obligation deadline through an Inter-Agency MOU with the Communications & Public Affairs Department approved by the City Council in December 2024. The project was established to obtain equipment and make upgrades to the City's Cable TV infrastructure to enhance streaming capabilities.
To facilitate the timely expenditure of ARPA funds and provide flexibility to obtain additional minor equipment necessary to complete the project, staff is proposing to re-obligate $1,060 in remaining funding from Project No. 1.7C4219 Website Enhancements to Project No. 1.7C5219 Cable Program Equipment Upgrade. If approved, an amendment to the Inter-Agency MOU with the Communications & Public Affairs Department will be required to reflect the revised ARPA project budget.
Project 1.7C8219 - Security & Safety Improvement:
Project No. 1.7C8219 – Security & Safety Improvement Project was timely obligated by the December 31, 2024 obligation deadline through an Inter-Agency MOU with the Public Safety Department approved by the City Council in December 2024 and subsequently amended in June 2026. The project was established to provide security upgrades at City Hall.
Staff is proposing to re-obligate $175,859 to Project No. 1.7C8219, consisting of $149,634 from Project No. 2.361219 - Aid to Impacted Industry Signage and $26,225 from Project No. 7.1T1219 Scan & Digitize Plans. The additional funding will support completion of the planned security and safety improvements and facilitate the timely expenditure of ARPA funds.
If approved, an amendment to the Inter-Agency MOU with the Public Safety Department will be required to reflect the revised ARPA project budget.
City Council October 6, 2026
Resolution No. 26-59 ARPA Budget Amendment Page No. 4
7.1T5219 - Software Upgrades:
Project No. 7.1T5219 Software Upgrades was timely obligated by the December 31, 2024 obligation deadline through an agreement with IBE Digital. The project was established to support software upgrades and related services for Citywide technology systems, including procurement and the implementation of Microsoft 365 (See Table 2 for details).
Staff is proposing to re-obligate $234,274 in remaining ARPA funding from Project No. 7.1T1219 Scan & Digitize Plans. The additional funding will support ongoing software renewal costs, upgrades, and related services associated with the City's Citywide technology systems.
7.1T6219 - Technology Hardware Upgrades:
Project No. 7.1T6219 Technology Hardware Upgrades was timely obligated by the December 31, 2024 obligation deadline through an agreement with IBE Digital. The project was established to support Citywide technology hardware upgrades and related services.
Staff is proposing to re-obligate $79,501 in remaining ARPA funding from Project No. 7.1T1219 Scan & Digitize Plans. The additional funding will support hardware purchases to support ongoing hardware upgrade needs.
Projects No. 7.1T5219 - Software Upgrades and No. 7.1T6219 - Technology Hardware Upgrades are separate ARPA projects included under the City's existing agreement with IBE Digital, which was approved by the City Council in July 2023 for a total amount of $2.1 million. Project No.
7.1T6219 currently has $80,919 in ARPA funding that has not yet been incorporated into the IBE Digital agreement. If approved, Amendment No. 1 to the agreement will increase the agreement by $394,694, consisting of $234,274 in re-obligated funding for Project No. 7.1T5219, $79,501 in re-obligated funding for Project No. 7.1T6219, and $80,919 in existing Project No. 7.1T6219 funding. The proposed amendment of $394,694 would support the purchase of software and hardware upgrades as detailed on Table 2 below.
Table 2: Breakdown of Proposed Software/Hardware Upgrade Costs Item Cost
Software Upgrades
Microsoft Windows Licensing $193,813
Microsoft Server Software Licensing $26,940
Labor $13,520
Software Subtotal: $234,273
Technology Hardware Upgrades
Hardware Purchases $128,707
Tax on Hardware (10.5%) $13,514
Labor $18,200
Technology Hardware Subtotal: $160,421
Grand Total Software/Hardware Upgrades $394,694
City Council October 6, 2026
Resolution No. 26-59 ARPA Budget Amendment Page No. 5
The proposed re-obligation and contract amendment with IBE Digital will allow the City to leverage available ARPA funding to support eligible citywide software and technology hardware costs.
Utilizing ARPA funds for these costs will facilitate the full expenditure of the City’s ARPA allocation while minimizing the impact to the General Fund for ongoing software renewals, upgrades and technology hardware needs.
Summarized in Table 3 on the following page is the proposed ARPA Budget reallocation.
Table 3: ARPA Proposed Changes
ARPA
Project # Project Name Description Project Budget
Proposed
Increase/
Decrease
Revised
Project
Budget
1.7C4219 Website
Enhancement
Software and
services for the
City's new
website
$50,000 ($1,060) $48,940
2.361219
Aid to
Impacted
Industries
Signage
Wayfinding
signage $182,600 ($149,634) $32,966
7.1T1219 Scan &
Digitize Plans
Scanning
services of
large city files
$470,000 ($340,000) $130,000
1.7C5219
Cable
Program
Equipment
Upgrade
Upgrades to the
City's Cable TV
infrastructure
$382,632 $1,060 $383,692
1.7C8219
Security &
Safety
Improvement
Project
Security
Upgrades at
City Hall
$742,000 $175,859 $917,859
7.1T5219 Software
Upgrades
Services for
software
upgrades to
Citywide
(Microsoft 365)
$1,061,219 $234,274 $1,295,493
7.1T6219
Technology
Hardware
Upgrades
Services for
hardware
upgrades
Citywide
$1,116,181 $79,501 $1,195,683
Total $4,004,632 $4,004,632
City Council October 6, 2026
Resolution No. 26-59 ARPA Budget Amendment Page No. 6
Fiscal Impact:
Approval of the proposed re-obligations will facilitate the timely expenditure of available funding with the ARPA expenditure deadline and have no fiscal impact on the City’s General Fund.
The remaining unspent ARPA funds totaling $490,694 will be reallocated to active ARPA projects as reflected in Table 2.
Citizens Advised:
N/A
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
The recommended action will further the City’s Strategic Plan Goal 3: Partner with our stakeholders to create and sustain a resilient and economically prosperous City with opportunity for everyone.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommend City Council:
a. adopt Resolution No. 26-59, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2026/27 ADOPTED
BUDGET TO TRANSFER FUNDS FOR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDED PROJECTS, in the amount of $490,694; and
b. authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Inter-agency Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Community Development Department, on behalf of the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney; and c. authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the agreement with Viatron Systems Inc. decreasing the agreement by $340,000; and
d. authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Inter-agency Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Communications & Public Affairs Department, on behalf of the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney; and e. authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to the Inter-agency Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Public Safety Department, on behalf of the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney; and
f. authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the agreement with IBE Digital increasing the agreement by $394,693, and additional amendments, provided there is funding in the budget and it is within the City Manager’s signing authority, on behalf of the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Attachments:
Resolution No. 26-59