American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
SPENDING PLAN UPDATE
December 12, 2023
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
1 ARPA: Spending Plan Update
2 RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the City Manager’s Office and the Finance Department that the City Council receive an update of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Spending Plan, and by Resolution: 1) approve a change in the Spending Plan, moving budget totaling $2,000,000, from the Samuel Jones Hall Capital Projects Program to the Hearn Community Hub (HCH) project, and 2) authorize the City Manager to shift funding between programs as needed, not to exceed $500,000 without returning to Council, to comply with Federal Regulations ensuring all ARPA funds are expended within the period of performance.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This item provides an update of ARPA programs following the approval of the ARPA Spending Plan by the City Council in February 2022. Staff also seeks approval to shift funding between programs to address funding needs and requests the City Council’s authorization to allow the City Manager to make future funding shifts between programs, not to exceed $500,000 without returning to Council, to ensure ARPA funds are spent during the period of performance.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
4 AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) SPENDING PLAN As Of 11/01/2023 ARPA Program Title ARPA Budget
ARPA
Expenditures To
Date
Dept. % Spent
ARPA Administration $ 250,000.00 $ 74,163.75 Finance 29.7% Safe Parking Pilot $ 2,568,234.24 $ 1,637,081.64 HCS 63.7% Secure Family Fund $ 100,000.00 $ 81,153.04 HCS 81.2% Homeless Services $ 8,887,230.76 $ 4,106,454.40 HCS 46.2% Child College Savings Accounts (Baby
Bonds) $ 1,567,000.00 $ 787,500.00 PED 50.3% Childcare Support Program Facility Funds $ 2,900,000.00 $ 1,484,850.85 PED 51.2% Small Business Tenant Improvements $ 1,178,000.00 $ 110,419.03 PED 9.4% Universal Basic Income / Guaranteed Basic
Income $ 1,008,000.00 $ 1,008,000.00 PED 100.0% InRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team $ 3,979,000.00 $ 851,639.85 SRPD 21.4% Sam Jones Hall Capital Project $ 2,000,000.00 $ - TPW 0.0% ED Strat Plan Pilot Programs $ 200,000.00 $ - PED 0.0% Hearn Community Hub $ 10,000,000.00 $ 824,468.20 TPW 8.2% Total $ 34,637,465.00 $ 10,965,730.76 31.7%
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
5 Safe Parking Pilot Program
Council Goal / Priority: Reduce Homelessness and its Impacts The Safe Parking Pilot Program provides up to 50 spaces for persons living in recreational and passenger vehicles.
Cumulative totals to date:
• All 50 spaces are occupied
• 30 people on the wait list
• 170 total individuals sheltered
• 65 participants received case management services & developed a housing plan • 19 participants exited to temporary housing
• 33 participants exited to permanent housing
Approximately 64 percent ($1,637,081.64) of the total Safe Parking Pilot allocation has been expended to date.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
6 Secure Family Fund
Council Goal / Priority: Ensure a Safe and Healthy Community For All Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) is a path to citizenship for undocumented youths who are single, under the age of 21, and have experienced abuse, neglect, or have been abandoned by at least one parent. This funding provides a full-time youth immigration attorney and bilingual caseworker to assist clients with attaining SIJS.
Q1 (FY23/24) Outcomes:
• 1 workshop
• 4 community events
• 17 screening appointments completed
• 2 new SIJS cases were opened
Approximately 81 percent ($81,153.04) of the total Secure Family Fund allocation has been expended to date.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
7 Homeless Services Q1 (FY23/24) Outcomes:
Council Goal / Priority: Reduce Homelessness and its Impacts Sam Jones Hall: 313 individuals sheltered, 38 participants exited to temporary housing, and nine participants exited to permanent housing.
Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST): 198 individual contacts, 46 provided shelter or temporary housing, and six obtained permanent housing.
Caritas Family Support Center: 253 adults and children sheltered; 37 families exited to temporary housing and 42 families exited to permanent housing.
Homeless Services Center: 317 individuals visited the drop-in center; 4,576 showers were provided, and 1,518 loads of laundry were washed.
Approximately 46 percent ($4,106,454.40) of the total Homeless Services allocation has been expended to date.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
8 Homeless Services Partnerships
Council Goal / Priority: Reduce Homelessness and its Impacts Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County administers a fund dedicated to supporting families in need of financial assistance to prevent eviction and displacement. 40 participants provided financial assistance, 33 participants maintained or improved housing status, five participants avoided eviction, and three participants exited homelessness.
YWCA Safe House Domestic Violence Shelter for families and individuals experiencing homelessness due to domestic violence. 104 adults and children were sheltered, 44 clients enrolled in a two-year supportive services program, 20 participants exited to temporary housing, and 15 participants exited to permanent housing.
Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) allows for the provision of homeless services on property owned or leased by faith-based organizations. Grant funding supports the operation of two safe parking locations, totaling 18 parking spaces.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
9 Child College Savings Accounts (Baby Bonds)
Council Goal / Priority: Promote Economic and Community Vibrancy The City partners with First 5 of Sonoma County to fund child college savings accounts (aka “Baby Bonds”), which includes $500 in seed funding, plus up to $200 in program incentives. The funds are invested into ScholarShare529, a State of California college savings plan. The funds will be available for withdrawal after the beneficiary graduates from high school and enrolls in a college or career education program Eligible children must be ages zero to five, must be a Santa Rosa resident, and must have a household adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less.
To date, 885 accounts have been opened, including 172 accounts that were opened in Q1 (FY23/24).
Approximately 50 percent ($787,500) of the total Child College Savings allocation has been expended.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
10 Childcare Facility Support Fund
Council Goal / Priority: Promote Economic and Community Vibrancy The goal of the Childcare Facility Support Fund is to leverage local, state, and federal funds to establish a sustainable source of assistance for the development of high-quality childcare facilities.
A total of 39 Letters of Intent (LOI) were submitted to the City by childcare operators:
• 26 LOIs for a minor renovation / repair grant (without increasing childcare capacity) totaling $989,442.
• 4 LOIs for a minor renovation / repair grant, where the renovation will increase the facilities capacity to care for additional children, totaling $155,250.
• 9 LOIs for a major renovation and new construction grant, totaling $1,731,250.
Approximately 51 percent ($1,484,850.85) of the total Childcare Facility Support Fund allocation has been expended to date.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
11 Small Business Tenant Improvement Program
Council Goal / Priority: Promote Economic and Community Vibrancy The primary goal of the Tenant Improvement program is to encourage economic development in Qualified Census Tracts (QCT) that have historically experienced under-investment. The program aims to enhance the physical appearance and commercial viability of storefront businesses. 47 applications for funding were received, awards were capped at $40,000, and staff continues to work closely with applicants to track the progress of each project, disbursing funds as project milestones are completed.
Approximately nine percent ($110,419.03) of the total Small Business Tenant Improvement allocation has been expended to date.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
12 Universal Basic Income Pilot Program
Council Goal / Priority: Reduce Homelessness and its Impacts & Promote Economic and Community Vibrancy In partnership with First 5 of Sonoma County, the Universal Basic Income Pilot Program aims to alleviate financial stressors felt particularly by lower income, pregnant, and parenting families with young children in Sonoma County - particularly those families most impacted by the pandemic.
The cohort of participants consists of 305 households (at least 80 of which are Santa Rosa residents) and participants receive $500 per month, beginning January 2023 through December 2024 (24 months).
All ARPA funding for this program have been obligated and will be disbursed by First 5 to participants in accordance with the disbursement schedule.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
13 inRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team
Council Goal / Priority: Ensure a Safe and Healthy Community For All inRESPONSE is designed to respond to calls for service with a mental health first approach. The team is comprised of a licensed mental health clinician, a paramedic, a homeless outreach specialist, and supported by a wrap-around support services provider. inRESPONSE team members are trained in de- escalation and social work interventions, as well as physical and mental health evaluations.
While inRESPONSE works in partnership with the Santa Rosa Police Department, the inRESPONSE team is unarmed and best equipped to support and provide mental health resources to individuals and families experiencing a crisis. ARPA funding supplements additional funding sources to provide the level of staffing required to mitigate the mental and behavioral health needs of the City.
Approximately 21 percent ($851,639.85) of the total inRESPONSE ARPA allocation has been expended to date.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
14 Sam Jones Hall Capital Improvements
The capital improvements needed at Sam Jones Hall, which includes the installation of additional restroom facilities for clients and improved workspace for shelter staff, will not be completed within the period of performance, and staff recommends reallocating $2,000,000 from this project to the Hearn Community Hub project.
Economic Development Strategic Plan Programs
Council Goal / Priority: Promote Economic and Community Vibrancy The Economic Development Strategic Plan is still under development, and funding will be drawn down during the implementation of specific projects and initiatives that will be outlined in the Strategic Plan, following the Plan’s adoption by the City Council.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
15 Hearn Community Hub
Council Goal / Priority: Ensure a Healthy and Safe Community for All & Build and Maintain a Sustainable Infrastructure
The Hearn Community Hub is a capital project that envisions a six-acre complex that includes multiple community services such as a new Fire Station, a new Sonoma County Library branch, and a multi-faceted community and cultural center. Total project costs exceed ARPA funding, and staff recommends shifting any unused ARPA funding to the Hearn Community Hub project to mitigate the funding gap.
Approximately 8 percent ($824,468.20) of the total Hearn Community Hub allocation has been expended to date.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
16 AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) SPENDING PLAN EXHIBIT A (UPDATED - 12/12/2023)
ARPA Program Title Original ARPA
Budget
Updated ARPA
Budget
ARPA Administration $ 250,000.00 $ 250,000.00 Safe Parking Pilot $ 2,568,234.24 $ 2,568,234.24 Secure Family Fund $ 100,000.00 $ 100,000.00 Homeless Services $ 8,887,230.76 $ 8,887,230.76 Child College Savings Accounts (Baby
Bonds) $ 1,567,000.00 $ 1,567,000.00
Childcare Support Program Facility Funds $ 2,900,000.00 $ 2,900,000.00 Small Business Tenant Improvements $ 1,178,000.00 $ 1,178,000.00 Universal Basic Income / Guaranteed Basic
Income $ 1,008,000.00 $ 1,008,000.00
InRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team $ 3,979,000.00 $ 3,979,000.00 Sam Jones Hall Capital Project $ 2,000,000.00 $ - ED Strat Plan Pilot Programs $ 200,000.00 $ 200,000.00 Hearn Community Hub $ 10,000,000.00 $ 12,000,000.00 Total $ 34,637,465.00 $ 34,637,465.00
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
17 RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the City Manager’s Office and the Finance Department that the City Council receive an update of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Spending Plan, and by Resolution: 1) approve a change in the Spending Plan, moving budget totaling $2,000,000, from the Samuel Jones Hall Capital Projects Program to the Hearn Community Hub (HCH) project, and 2) authorize the City Manager to shift funding between programs as needed, not to exceed $500,000 without returning to Council, to comply with Federal Regulations ensuring all ARPA funds are expended within the period of performance.
ARPA: Spending Plan Update
18 QUESTIONS?