HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 02 Cares Act{00016958:1}
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 9/14/2020
Meeting Type: Work Session
Staff Contact/Dept.: Nathan Bell / Finance
Staff Phone No: 541-726-2364
Estimated Time: 20 Minutes
S P R I N G F I E L D
C I T Y C O U N C I L
Council Goals: Provide Financially
Responsible and
Innovative Government
Services
ITEM TITLE:
CARES ACT FUNDING CHECK-IN
ACTION
REQUESTED:
Provide feedback to staff on potential uses of the CARES Act funding.
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
The State of Oregon has allocated $1.8 million for the City of Springfield with a
requirement that the funds be expended by December 30th, 2020 or be returned to
the State. City staff has put together a list of qualified CARES Act expenditures for
the Council to consider.
ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: Potential Uses of CARES Act Funding
DISCUSSION/
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
In response to the Coronavrius Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Federal
Government passed the Coronavirus AID, Relief and Economic Security (CARES)
Act to help ease the economic impacts of the pandemic. Included in the CARES
Act was financial assistance for local governments.
The City was reimbursed approximately $450,000 of its $1.8 million allocation and
an additional $200,000 has been expended but not yet reimbursed. Some of the
types of expenses include personal protective equipment, small business financial
assistance, hygiene supplies, signage, and remote work equipment like cameras and
wifi hotspots. Staff estimates approximately $450,000 will be needed for the EOC
response through the end of the year, leaving approximately $700,000 of the
allocated funds unspent.
There is an opportunity to use some of the remaining CARES funding for other
projects that will improve City’s response to the pandemic. For example, upgrades
to the City’s EOC technology could help us respond to the current pandemic and
the next emergency. Improvements to city hall meeting room technology can assist
with community participation at public meetings that are held in a remote format.
The Council may also consider facilitating a second round of small business loans
or grants.
In an effort to maximize our use of these funds, City staff has prepared a list of
potential uses for these funds that would qualify for CARES reimbursement. City
staff is asking for Council’s guidance on which uses serve the highest and best use
for the citizens of Springfield.
Potential CARES Act Uses
Project One Time Ongoing
Video Conferencing Systems in Meeting Rooms:
Council Chambers 75,000 7,500
Jesse Maine Room 17,000 1,700
Library Meeting Room 60,000 6,000
Additional Meeting Rooms (each)12,000 1,200
Uprade EOC Technolgy in Justice Center Meeting Room 137,500 13,750
Business Assistance 200,000 -
More Secure Employee Remote Work IT Solution 250,000 30,000
Total 751,500 60,150
$ Estimate
Attachment 1, Page 1 of 1