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

Browse Search

17 1 Travis Myren said if Board approves option 1, the requested $100,000 could be added 2 under the "Restart the Arts" item and could be started over the summer instead of waiting until 3 November. 4 Chair Price said that would be her request. She asked if Arts on the Hill will have to wait. 5 Travis Myren said that program could be funded in the first year as well, if the Board 6 would like. He said there is not any time pressure for that item (it is in the planning stage next 7 year), so it was left off the list for now. He said he can provide resources for Arts Commission 8 to give grants over the summer. 9 Commissioner Fowler said she recalled a discussion on $10 million being needed for 10 broadband, and asked if there would be enough in option 2 for that funding. 11 Travis Myren said option 2 would only accommodate $5 million for broadband. 12 Commissioner Greene said when the time comes she would like to make a motion to 13 include the Restart the Arts money mentioned by Chair Price. 14 Commissioner McKee said he would like to go with Option 1 because it provides 15 flexibility if conditions change over the next year. 16 Commissioner Hamilton agreed, and said she wants there to be more flexibility. She 17 said this money can be used for public health and sewer and water, which would be helpful in 18 some communities. She said Option 1 gives time to see about other projects that may be 19 needed. She said she also supports moving the arts up. 20 Commissioner Greene asked if Commissioner McKee would consider a friendly 21 amendment to include arts funding. 22 Commissioner McKee said absolutely. 23 Commissioner Dorosin said he supports option 2, and thinks it is a mistake to not 24 frontload the money. He said the Board should take most aggressive approach possible and 25 there are more needs than can even be accommodated. He said the Board can always adjust 26 as needed, and he believes it is critical for the funds to get back into the community as quickly 27 as possible. 28 Chair Price said the County will not get the money all at one time, and only gets half of it 29 for now. 30 Commissioner Dorosin said option 2 spends more of the currently available money now. 31 He said option 1 leaves at least $2 million on the table. 32 Commissioner Greene said she agrees with Commissioner Dorosin, and will vote with 33 him. 34 Commissioner Bedford said she is leaning towards Option 1, because it gives the Board 35 the opportunity for a quarter-by-quarter approach. She said the Governor just extended the 36 eviction moratorium, and the Board will have a better idea of how much is needed in each 37 category as that ends. 38 Commissioner Dorosin said he does not want the money to go into the rainy day fund, 39 and the Board can make regular budget amendments and look at it every quarter regardless of 40 which plan it approves. He said the question is making a commitment to the community to push 41 the money out as quickly as possible. He said the BOCC is not losing the opportunity to review 42 it at any time with option 2. He said the list of needs, as a result of the pandemic, is well 43 documented, so he is not concerned about misspending. He said the money is meant to 44 address the crisis, and it sends wrong message to say to wait and see how bad things get 45 because things are bad now. 46 Chair Price asked if the dollar amount difference in year 1 spending between the 47 approaches could be identified. 48 Travis Myren said there would be a balance of$16 million after the first year of Option 1 49 for the Board to make decisions about in the future. 50 Chair Price said there is a difference of about $2 million between the options. 51 Travis Myren said yes, and Option 2 would spend all remaining money in year 2.