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HomeMy WebLinkAbout18.22-382SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 22-382 RESOLUTION (CARRIED 7-0 LOST _______ LAID OVER _______ WITHDRAWN _______) PURPOSE: APPROVE ALLOCATION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUNDS TO OSHKOSH COMMUNITY ENTITIES INITIATED BY: CITY MANAGER WHEREAS, the city of Oshkosh (“City”) was allocated approximately $20.5 million in Federal funds under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for various eligible purposes including, among other things, public infrastructure projects, as well as support to entities negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; and WHEREAS, on September 28, 2021, the Common Council for the City of Oshkosh adopted Resolution 21-498, creating parameters for usage of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds; and WHEREAS, Resolution 21-498 specified that funds spent on non-City programming or direct assistance should be about 25 percent of all ARPA expenditures, which represents approximately $5.1 million of the total ARPA allocation; and WHEREAS City staff solicited project proposals from Oshkosh entities that provide services to residents not normally provided by the city of Oshkosh, particularly those who may have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; and WHEREAS, City staff reviewed applications and suggestions for ARPA funds, taking into consideration ARPA allocation guidelines adopted by the Federal Government, goals identified in the city’s Strategic Plan, needs identified by the general community, and goals established by the Common Council for the City Manager; and WHEREAS, based on a review of the applications from community entities in Oshkosh, the City Manager is prepared to make recommendations on a limited number of ARPA funding requests. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Oshkosh, that the community entities identified on “Exhibit A” are hereby approved for funding in the amounts shown through funds allocated to the city of Oshkosh through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA); and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proper City officials are hereby authorized to take those necessary steps to implement said allocations by preparing and executing the appropriate agreements to ensure that the allocations are made consistent with the subject applications. Funds for this purpose are hereby appropriated from the subject account: 0224-0010-6417, ARPA City Council 3rdParty Payments Exhibit A SUGGESTED USE:REQUESTED AMOUNT (est.) RECOMMENDED AMOUNT Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Shelter (capital program)350,000$ 350,000$ ADVOCAP Eviction Prevention Program 130,480$ 130,480$ Boys and Girls Club Facility Expansion 2,500,000$ 1,000,000$ 2,980,480$ 1,480,480$ Proposed ARPA allocations for nonprofits City Hall, 215 Church Avenue P.O. Box 1130 Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130 http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager DATE: September 9, 2022 RE: Approve Allocations of America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds to Oshkosh Community Entities ($1,480,480) BACKGROUND In 2021, the city received notification that it would be receiving approximately $20.5 million in funds under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). After a review of the various types of eligible projects, Council directed staff to allocate 75% of the ARPA funds to infrastructure projects, and the remaining funds to nonprofit entities and non-infrastructure purposes. The remaining 25% is slightly over $5.1 million. In June of 2021, staff solicited proposals from citizens and area nonprofits. Now that some time has passed and some ARPA funds have been made available through other sources, Council has asked that I bring forward recommendations on the use of the remaining 25% allocation for nonprofit purposes. Because of the time that has elapsed since these initial proposals were made, I have followed up with several nonprofit agencies to determine their current needs and the status of their initial applications. Following those meetings, I gave these groups the opportunity to make amendments to their initial request if necessary. Following a review of the current needs, I have identified five nonprofits that I believe meet several criteria for addressing both short and long-term goals established by Council. As the attached sheet indicates, I reviewed short term goals established under ARPA and annual goals that Council has set forth for me, as well as long-term goals as established through long range plans of the city, including our Strategic Plan. The short term goals that staff identified are as follows:  Help those with immediate needs  Help those directly impacted by COVID-19  Compliant with federal ARPA regulations  Politically acceptable to the Council and Community  Ability to leverage ARPA funds with other revenue sources  Avoid duplication of effort with other agencies and avoid duplication of ARPA funds The long-term goals identified through various long-range plans include the following:  Strategic plan goals  Long term visible impact  Long-term benefit to individuals and community  Long-term relief to those repaying ARPA funds in the future. Based on input I received as well as requests for additional information, I am not presenting the grant allocations for COTS ($250,000) and the Oshkosh Food Co-op ($220,000) at this time. Each group is collecting additional information that they will provide to Council for consideration, which I expect to be on September 27. Meanwhile, I am recommending three (3) grants totaling $1,480,480 as follows: Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Center-Capital Campaign for Expanded Facility and Services - $350,000 The Christine Ann Center recently announced a capital campaign to purchase the Beach Building next to their current location, and move its operations to that building. The Christine Ann Center currently serves as an emergency shelter for domestic abuse victims. However, their capacity does not allow for a transitional housing program for their clients and family members. It is proposed that the Christine Ann Center will purchase the Beach Building and convert the first floor to their office space and meeting area, with the second floor becoming their emergency shelter, and the third floor their transitional housing. The Christine Ann Center is requesting $350,000 in ARPA funds to be used towards their $5 - 6 million capital campaign. Because of the large capital investment for this project, they are seeking ARPA funds that will be used to leverage donations from the private sector and philanthropic community. While the Christine Ann Center was financially impacted by Covid, their long-term concern is that the number of clients in need is increasing and options for transitional housing are shrinking. As a result, they are pursuing ARPA funds exclusively for their capital campaign, not for any ongoing expenses or lost revenues that they experienced during the Covid emergency. Advocap - Eviction Prevention Program - $130,480 One of the key elements identified in the Homeless Continuum Report is to help individuals at economic risk to avoid homelessness by proactively helping them with eviction prevention. Advocap is collaborating with multiple organizations, including the Winnebago Conflict Resolution Center, Legal Action of Wisconsin, and the Winnebago Apartment Association to develop an eviction prevention program that connects at risk households with access to the Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance (WERA) Program which may provide direct funds to assist households. No ARPA funds are being proposed in this application for rental assistance. Rather, the program will fund a temporary prevention specialist to assist individuals with access to available programs to prevent eviction proceedings and provide access to WERA funds that may provide rental assistance as needed. The key to this program is to preempt evictions by providing the necessary services that places these individuals at risk of eviction. The city’s ARPA funds will be used specifically for Oshkosh residents. Advocap will seek funds from other entities to assist non-Oshkosh residents. Because Advocap‘s proposal utilizes other agencies, I felt that this was a more efficient allocation of funds to a single entity that would coordinate services with a variety of providers. This grant would leverage ARPA funds to acquire WERA funds for rental assistance if needed. Boys and Girls Club Expansion - $1,000,000 As Council is aware, the Boys and Girls Club has been working on an expansion plan to improve its facilities to serve approximately 3,000 individuals in the Oshkosh community who need various types of services, including an afterschool program and related social services for at-risk youth. Covid has caused an increase in poverty, and the Oshkosh Boys and Girls Club serves youth who are in need of basic services. The Boys and Girls Club works with various social service agencies to connect its participants with these agencies to become self-sufficient, and contributing adults when they are finished with school. The City of Oshkosh works closely with the Boys and Girls Club to assist in this area, primarily through our Police Department. The Boys and Girls Club is proposing to make available rooms that will be used by various social service groups and city agencies. The idea is that city ARPA funds would assist in funding some of these rooms that would provide services to city residents. This would enable the city to expand its service area beyond its traditional buildings and provide services directly where they are needed. The Boys and Girls Club has a capital campaign of approximately $15.6 million. The Boys and Girls Club has requested $2.5 million in ARPA funds. While the club’s needs are significant and provide many services, I am recommending funding of $1 million at this time. As stated earlier, there are many yet to be determined needs as a result of Covid, and I want to be sure that we do not allocate all of our funds and be prevented from addressing future needs.