Receive a staff presentation and recommendation regarding the second round of American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funding, and provide direction to the City Manager.
Item 01: American Rescue Plan Funding
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MBaker
Council Member
Looking over some of the staff requests for ARP funding and am wanting a little more in depth justification for the following items -
Cyber Security - Is this something we currently feel at risk for or have been experiencing more since Covid? Also, isn't this something that we would likely have to address regularly regardless of Covid?
Five Mile Dam Lights - Was this planned before covid? Is this a project that might be able to use different funds for since it's related to tourism?
Police/Fire/EMS dispatch data conversion - isn't this something that we would likely have to address regardless of Covid?
Antivirus Software - Is this something we currently feel at risk for or have been experiencing more since Covid? Also, isn't this something that we would likely have to address regularly regardless of Covid?
Mobile Message signs - This sounds good but it also seems hard to prove that this outreach is any better...Have we ever tested the effectiveness of this style of outreach in our community? Might we be better off having someone going door to door or other community conversations with these funds?
It seems that we're using some of these funds for things that meet requirements but fail to truly address broader community needs for recovery...The above items account for nearly $921,000 in expenses which I'm surprised we couldn't find a better use for.
I think it would be good to get an update on our Homeless needs assessment, as well as hear about our potential to use that funding for rent or utility relief.
Cyber Security - Is this something we currently feel at risk for or have been experiencing more since Covid? Also, isn't this something that we would likely have to address regularly regardless of Covid?
Five Mile Dam Lights - Was this planned before covid? Is this a project that might be able to use different funds for since it's related to tourism?
Police/Fire/EMS dispatch data conversion - isn't this something that we would likely have to address regardless of Covid?
Antivirus Software - Is this something we currently feel at risk for or have been experiencing more since Covid? Also, isn't this something that we would likely have to address regularly regardless of Covid?
Mobile Message signs - This sounds good but it also seems hard to prove that this outreach is any better...Have we ever tested the effectiveness of this style of outreach in our community? Might we be better off having someone going door to door or other community conversations with these funds?
It seems that we're using some of these funds for things that meet requirements but fail to truly address broader community needs for recovery...The above items account for nearly $921,000 in expenses which I'm surprised we couldn't find a better use for.
I think it would be good to get an update on our Homeless needs assessment, as well as hear about our potential to use that funding for rent or utility relief.
Response to CM Baker:
Looking over some of the staff requests for ARP funding and am wanting a little more in depth justification for the following items -
Cyber Security - Is this something we currently feel at risk for or have been experiencing more since Covid? Also, isn't this something that we would likely have to address regularly regardless of Covid? In response to COVID, the city was forced to expand our infrastructure footprint to support the new teleworking work environment. This has increased our exposure/risk and need to modernize our security platforms. *Under Broadband infrastructure expanded uses, modernization of cyber security is an allowable use of ARP Act funding.
Five Mile Dam Lights - Was this planned before covid? Is this a project that might be able to use different funds for since it's related to tourism? Improvements for additional field lighting have been identified and desired for numerous years, but has not been programmed for funding due to constraints. The lighting will allow fields to be rotated to improve the sustainability of the turf. The fields are a much used resource for youth and families. The additional lights will also provide greater flexibility in the use of the complex and allow us to rotate fields allowing for better maintenance and playability conditions. We have the opportunity to obtain external funding to offset the city’s portion of the project and we are looking for the ARP funds in the amount requested to serve as our match. The request is consistent with ARP use requirements.
Police/Fire/EMS dispatch data conversion - isn't this something that we would likely have to address regardless of Covid? Yes, this request is not directly related to the pandemic but enhances our ability to provide police/fire/EMS services as part of the our ongoing migration to a new CAD/RMS system and is also an aspect of our Community Safety strategic initiative. That being said, this data conversion increases our ability and outreach to better serve our community remotely, during a pandemic or any future events of this nature.
Antivirus Software - Is this something we currently feel at risk for or have been experiencing more since Covid? Also, isn't this something that we would likely have to address regularly regardless of Covid? Antivirus software and Intrusion Protection are key pieces to building a secure environment. These software’s are used to not only protect our city employees that support the community, but also the hundreds of citizens that use our Public Wireless and Library computers to pay their bills, access their bank accounts, workforce development training and apply for jobs.
Mobile Message signs - This sounds good but it also seems hard to prove that this outreach is any better...Have we ever tested the effectiveness of this style of outreach in our community? Might we be better off having someone going door to door or other community conversations with these funds? We have used both forms of outreach and will continue to do both. However, this request will allow the expanded use of the mobile message boards to supplement the other forms of outreach to reach more of our community members.
It seems that we're using some of these funds for things that meet requirements but fail to truly address broader community needs for recovery...The above items account for nearly $921,000 in expenses which I'm surprised we couldn't find a better use for.
I think it would be good to get an update on our Homeless needs assessment, as well as hear about our potential to use that funding for rent or utility relief. The consultants are presenting the final report from the Comprehensive Needs Assessment at the May 3 Council meeting work session. Staff also identified programs to support our houseless neighbors that can be discussed and considered for funding. They are listed on the detailed list staff provided.
Looking over some of the staff requests for ARP funding and am wanting a little more in depth justification for the following items -
Cyber Security - Is this something we currently feel at risk for or have been experiencing more since Covid? Also, isn't this something that we would likely have to address regularly regardless of Covid? In response to COVID, the city was forced to expand our infrastructure footprint to support the new teleworking work environment. This has increased our exposure/risk and need to modernize our security platforms. *Under Broadband infrastructure expanded uses, modernization of cyber security is an allowable use of ARP Act funding.
Five Mile Dam Lights - Was this planned before covid? Is this a project that might be able to use different funds for since it's related to tourism? Improvements for additional field lighting have been identified and desired for numerous years, but has not been programmed for funding due to constraints. The lighting will allow fields to be rotated to improve the sustainability of the turf. The fields are a much used resource for youth and families. The additional lights will also provide greater flexibility in the use of the complex and allow us to rotate fields allowing for better maintenance and playability conditions. We have the opportunity to obtain external funding to offset the city’s portion of the project and we are looking for the ARP funds in the amount requested to serve as our match. The request is consistent with ARP use requirements.
Police/Fire/EMS dispatch data conversion - isn't this something that we would likely have to address regardless of Covid? Yes, this request is not directly related to the pandemic but enhances our ability to provide police/fire/EMS services as part of the our ongoing migration to a new CAD/RMS system and is also an aspect of our Community Safety strategic initiative. That being said, this data conversion increases our ability and outreach to better serve our community remotely, during a pandemic or any future events of this nature.
Antivirus Software - Is this something we currently feel at risk for or have been experiencing more since Covid? Also, isn't this something that we would likely have to address regularly regardless of Covid? Antivirus software and Intrusion Protection are key pieces to building a secure environment. These software’s are used to not only protect our city employees that support the community, but also the hundreds of citizens that use our Public Wireless and Library computers to pay their bills, access their bank accounts, workforce development training and apply for jobs.
Mobile Message signs - This sounds good but it also seems hard to prove that this outreach is any better...Have we ever tested the effectiveness of this style of outreach in our community? Might we be better off having someone going door to door or other community conversations with these funds? We have used both forms of outreach and will continue to do both. However, this request will allow the expanded use of the mobile message boards to supplement the other forms of outreach to reach more of our community members.
It seems that we're using some of these funds for things that meet requirements but fail to truly address broader community needs for recovery...The above items account for nearly $921,000 in expenses which I'm surprised we couldn't find a better use for.
I think it would be good to get an update on our Homeless needs assessment, as well as hear about our potential to use that funding for rent or utility relief. The consultants are presenting the final report from the Comprehensive Needs Assessment at the May 3 Council meeting work session. Staff also identified programs to support our houseless neighbors that can be discussed and considered for funding. They are listed on the detailed list staff provided.
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