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

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16 1 total $4 million request in the first year and are spread over a span of three years instead of two 2 years. 3 4 Over the summer, staff will continue to monitor and review opportunities to use ARPA funding in 5 partnership with other jurisdictions, to leverage outside funding, and to structure other potential 6 funding sources in a way that serves residents with the most appropriate programs while 7 maintaining the County's flexibility to respond and adapt as conditions and needs dictate. For 8 example, some departments are currently aware of potential streams of funding for programs 9 that are also eligible for ARPA expenditures. In an effort to prioritize funding sources and 10 streamline access to those programs, a team of County department directors will be convening 11 bi-weekly to ensure efficient and user friendly processes. 12 13 The Housing and Community Development Department also requested a total of$4 million 14 annually in direct assistance to households throughout the County. However, during the past 15 year, municipalities have contributed federal funds as well as local funds to help support their 16 residents. This partnership would allow the County to potentially repurpose funds currently 17 designated for emergency housing support. County staff have initiated discussions with Town 18 staff about jointly funding this program, but the Towns may not make final funding 19 recommendations until later in the summer. County staff have also been exploring a cost share 20 framework to support the Street Outreach, Harm Reduction, and Deflection program that would 21 be sustainable in the long run after federal funding is exhausted. 22 23 Finally, the County's Broadband Task Force is closely monitoring State and Federal programs 24 where the County's ARPA investments may leverage outside funding support. That group will 25 continue to meet over the summer to recommended a design and implementation approach that 26 can be executed swiftly and can leverage those outside funding partnerships. 27 28 Travis Myren reviewed the background information for the item, and indicated this is a 29 follow up from the Board's discussion on June 8, 2021. He said the revenue replacement for 30 the Sportplex and Visitors Bureau is unique to this round of ARPA funding and allows use of 31 federal funds to replace lost revenue as a result of the pandemic. He said the amounts are 32 estimates for the end of FY 2021 that will prevent a fund deficit. He said the County will only 33 apply what is required to prevent a fund deficit, and the balance would be available for 34 repurposing when this is reviewed in the fall. 35 Travis Myren reviewed the second option, which shows all ARPA funding accelerated in 36 the first three years of the spending period. He said allocations would roll over if not used. He 37 said the County can only spend up to $14.4 million in the first year, so broadband expenditures 38 are spread over two years and EHA expenditures are spread over three years to account for 39 this limitation. 40 Commissioner Dorosin said in the background information for option 2 it says payments 41 are reduced by $750,000 but does not see that reflected in the attachment. 42 Travis Myren said in order to stay under the $14.4 million maximum he had to take out 43 $750,000 out of the first year of EHA programming in order to push it out across three years 44 instead of two. 45 Commissioner Dorosin clarified there would not be a net loss of$750,000. 46 Travis Myren said no. 47 Chair Price said she asked to see the funding for the Arts Commission included in the 48 proposals. She said it is in the second schedule, but not exactly what she was hoping for. She 49 asked if it is possible to get some of that funding in FY21-22 in order to jumpstart some 50 economic development. She said the Arts were the hardest hit industry, and the request from 51 Arts Commission is not huge. She said she would like to have it in year one.