I. RECOMMENDATION:
City Manager recommends Council Authorize City Manager to Allocate and Spend Incorporated Rural City CARES Grant Program Funds as Identified should all funds not be exhausted in previously authorized Small Business Grant Program and Rental Assistance Program.
II. BACKGROUND:
On September 22, 2020, the Fresno County Board of supervisors voted to take $3 million of Fresno County's CARES Act funding and divide it among the incorporated rural cities with the following formula: Fifty percent of the $3 million is divided strictly by population and the other fifty percent is determined by total number of community COVID-19 cases to date.
Coalinga's CARES grant is $136,850.
This money comes with no strings attached from the County of Fresno. What Coalinga uses the money on is up to the City Council. However, there are strings attached from the Federal Government. This money can only be spent on COVID-19 related needs and each dollar must be accounted for and tracked.
The City will be responsible for providing reports to the County of Fresno and the County of Fresno will be responding to the Federal Government.
This money must be spent on or before December 30, 2020.
On October 1, 2020, the City Council authorized the City Manager to expense the funds based on the following priorities:
1. Recoupment of costs not accounted for in the most recently approved budget;
2. Small business grants;
3. Residential Rental Assistance.
III. DISCUSSION:
The Small Business Grant and Residential Rental Assistance Grant application periods have closed and the City only expensed $5,535, to date, between the two programs.
Both are reopening with more lenient eligibility requirement, however, should those funds still not be exhausted, City Manager is recommending the Council authorize the City Manager to include a Residential Utility Assistance Grant and, then, if funds still remain, a meal delivery program for community members ages 60+.
Again, all funds must be spent by December 30, 2020.
1. Recoupment of costs not accounted for in the most recently approved budget;
2. Small business grants;
3. Residential Rental Assistance.
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
1. Do not Authorize City Manager to Allocate and Spend Incorporated Rural City CARES Grant Program Funds as Identified; or
2. Provide other direction.
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no cost to the City. The community will benefit from the grant. |