Thread by @shayshinecastle

Next, we've got a possibly even shorter presentation on what Boulder might be doing with its federal COVID $$.

Presentation here: www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/ARPA_Upda…

This is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Boulder expecting $20.5M, over two payments this year (this month, actually) and next.

What did ARPA $$ go to? Stimulus payments, enhanced unemployment assistance, tax credits, SNAP & WIC expansion, and homeowner and rental assistance;

Testing and vaccines, childcare, education, mental health and other forms of emergency aid, assistance for public health workers

And more.

Like rPPP/EIDL grants/loans expansion, EDA grants, industry-specific support and small business initiatives

There's also $$ that went to state and local gov't, based on population. That's what Boulder is talking about tonight. The city expecting $10M in a few weeks; the second $10M will be in June 2022.

Boulder can use this money on:
COVID-19 public health expenditures

Negative economic impacts (rebuilding the public sector capacity and speeding the recovery of tourism/hospitality sectors)

Serving the “hardest hit”* populations impacted by the crisis

Premium pay for essential workers (public and private employers)

Investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure

Replacing lost public sector revenue

The city has until the end of 2024 to spend these dollars

You may remember that we chatted about ARPA in our financial update not that long ago. Council was interested in paying essential and low-income workers, particularly.

The city already developed "guiding principles" for this money, too:
City Organizational and Financial Recovery
Community Recovery
Economic Recovery
Transformative Infrastructure

Trying to find that link for ya'll but idk where it is

Staff is going to submit its funding proposals to council in July/August. It will be in an information packet, so it will technically be public, but won't be presented at a council meeting.

The first PUBLIC public look at possible ARPA projects will be in the second adjustment to base budget in August.

But I'll write about the proposals when I see them.

Joseph: Are you working with Planning Board (council got an email) have you seen the requests or opportunities to help residents? Mortgage, taxes and utility assistance or critical home repair needs were apparently among the Planning Board suggestions.

"Yes, absolutely we are researching those potential uses of funds," says Mark Woulf. We're working with our Housing & Human Services team. "We know there's still need out there, but we want to make sure that need gets to the right places."

Apparently Young had the same question.

Young: Are there any specific infrastructure projects you're looking at funding?
Woulf: Nothing specific at the moment. The $$ can be used for water, wastewater and broadband.

We're also hoping for another larger infrastructure package from the feds, Woulf says, so we need to plan well.

Brockett also was going to ask about the Planning Board recommendations.

Confused why the Planning Board would even be weighing in on this and not, like, the Human Relations Commission...? But I haven't seen the email.

Brockett: Is council's first opportunity to weigh in during the August adjustment to base?
Yes, Woulf says, that's "the first chance to get into a deeper discussion."

Brockett: Leave some "latitude" for us to weigh in as we hear from the community.
Woulf: Bc we're bringing it before the 2022 budget process, I think there will be a good opportunity.

Yates wants to make sure the city coordinates RE: infrastructure, since the city will be putting an infrastructure tax extension on the ballot. boulderbeat.news/2021/05/29/no-…

Wallach: I would urge you not to "bake in" final proposals too fully. People are very interested in this.
Woulf: We anticipate much more process than with CARES funding, bc we have longer to spend it.

That had to be spent in a matter of months, if you recall.

Another quick one. We're already done and moving on.
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