Agenda - 09-02-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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31 1 Sportsplex. He said revenue replacements are only intended to break even, and just gets those 2 funds back to zero. 3 Travis Myren said this makes the total requests about $7 million, plus the $3.2 million 4 that is already in the Manager's recommended budget, for a total of$10.266 million. He said 5 depending on amendments that are adopted Tuesday night, staff can go back and relook at the 6 plan, if the Board prioritizes other items. 7 Commissioner McKee said he sees personnel positions being funded with one-time 8 money. He asked if there is a plan for what happens after 2024, when all ARPA money has to 9 be spent. He asked if there is a plan if the County does not recover as quickly as anticipated. 10 He said he is always leery of accepting grant money for employment positions. 11 Travis Myren said these examples are the same as a grant funded position. He said the 12 conundrum is that in order to do the programs, the staff is needed to implement them, so 13 program expenditures are part and parcel to having staff available to fund the program. 14 Bonnie Hammersley said these positions were created because of COVID-19, and when 15 hired, the employees were advised that they are attached to grant money, and are time-limited 16 employees. She said if the need is still there when money is gone, staff will have to look at 17 other ways to fund the positions. 18 Commissioner McKee said his point is that residents may expect the County to continue 19 to fund these programs years down the road. 20 Bonnie Hammersley said it is everyone's hope that, while the programs may still be 21 needed, it will not be at this current level. 22 Commissioner Bedford suggested moving forward with the $3.2 million in the 23 recommended budget, discuss amendments at the next meeting, and include any that cannot 24 wait until September or October, include those. She said she needs more time to think about 25 the allocation that is available between now and June 15 at the last meeting. 26 Travis Myren said there will be other federal funds flowing through the Department of 27 Social Services (DSS) and Housing, and an internal task force is working to insure those funds 28 interact correctly with ARPA. He said staff does not yet know the amounts of this other funding. 29 He said if the Board wants to follow Commissioner Bedford's suggestion he can put something 30 together that will be a one year funding plan, with only the items that would be continuation 31 funding for June, July, and August, plus what is in the current recommended budget. 32 Commissioner Dorosin said he is interested in a two-year plan, but also in putting more 33 funds in, frontloading a bit. He said more money is needed sooner, as the need has never been 34 greater than it is now. He said he would like to push harder on high need areas, like housing. 35 Chair Price asked if the Board should accept this report, and Commissioners can 36 communicate their highest priorities to staff in the coming days. 37 Travis Myren said what may be more helpful is for staff to put together the plan 38 Commissioner Bedford described, and/or the one Commissioner Dorosin described to review at 39 the next meeting. 40 Commissioner Fowler clarified that only $14 million could be spent in the first year. 41 Travis Myren said that is the upper limit for the fiscal year. 42 Commissioner Dorosin said he would like to make it a two-year plan with more money. 43 Commissioner Greene agreed with front-loading money, and sees wisdom is going one 44 year at a time. 45 Commissioner McKee clarified the $14 million max in the first year, including any 46 Commissioner Amendments. 47 Travis Myren said yes, that is the max. 48 49 5. Options to Expand Affordable Housing Incentives and Opportunities 50 The Board discussed options to expand affordable housing incentives and opportunities 51 in Orange County.