Agenda 01-18-22; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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22 1 Travis Myren said there is a long-term recovery plan that assessed needs, which is a 2 joint, multi-jurisdictional effort. He said this plan lays out a variety of direct services and needs 3 in the community, public and private, that could affect future allocations. 4 Commissioner Hamilton echoed Commissioner Richards's concerns. She said it seems 5 like in a pandemic, there would be more needs. She said the Board may be missing 6 opportunities to get more funds to folks in need. She said the money was intended to help with 7 recovery, and the Board should want to invest now. 8 Commissioner Hamilton asked about the $150,000 going to the welcome center. She 9 wanted to know how that fits with ARPA. She said it is not clear that using funds for promotional 10 things is a good use. 11 Travis Myren said the welcome center is an allowable use since it was impacted by the 12 pandemic. He said the use of the funds would be for a marketing campaign, to get group 13 activities back. 14 Bonnie Hammersley said group activities will help increase revenue, and there has been 15 a significant loss of revenue in the hospitality industry. 16 Bonnie Hammersley said there are direct funds coming into the community for social 17 services and foster care, and the funds being discussed in this item are in addition to those 18 funds. She said the projects identified in Round 1 and Round 2 are clearly eligible expenses. 19 She said the county is being cautious in spending to make sure that all projects are eligible 20 uses. She said the guidelines are constantly changing, which can be frustrating. 21 Bonnie Hammersley said the Board will have the opportunity to make amendments to 22 the recommended budget as part of the budget process in the spring. 23 Bonnie Hammersley said there are other funds coming into the community for workforce 24 development. 25 Commissioner Greene said the visitors' center took a large hit during the pandemic and 26 it is a challenge to encourage people to come back to Chapel Hill. She said they are developing 27 marketing campaigns. 28 Commissioner Bedford referred to the housing helpline coordinated entry specialist, and 29 asked if a position such as this would potentially be folded in to the regular budget funding when 30 ARPA ends. 31 Travis Myren said there will be some programs that will need to be sustained, and they 32 may be integrated into future funding cycles. 33 Bonnie Hammersley said any positions funded with ARPA are time-limited positions and 34 will be eliminated when ARPA funding ends. She said if the positions are needed to continue, 35 she will find more funds. 36 Travis said an example is the state is covering fees for early childcare payments. He 37 said this will likely need to be extended, and is on the county's list for future ARPA funding, but 38 is not needed right now. 39 Chair Price said the hospitality center took a hit, and anything related to the creative arts 40 took a hit. She said tourism is a big percentage of the local economy. She said places around 41 the country are trying to reintroduce themselves, and the county needs to do something to boost 42 the economy. 43 Chair Price said she and the Mayors thought the long-term recovery plan could be 44 presented at the Assembly of Governments meeting in January. 45 Chair Price said NCACC received $10 million from the state to assist local governments 46 with compliance. She said she would like for the Deputy County Manager to work with NCACC 47 to see how they may be able to help. 48 Chair Price referred to page 6, asked if staff could provide the percentage of the 49 populations in each town and unincorporated areas requested housing assistance at a future 50 meeting.