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Consider Approving American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for Downtown Projects.
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Staff: |
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Dwight Bassett, Director |
Economic Development and Parking Services |
Overview:
We ask Council to approve the items below so we can begin the work as quickly as possible. The Downtown Partnership desires to proceed with the RFP to select a company to implement the Clean and Green program so that it can be operational in the coming months. We want to begin the mobility planning as phase one and the streetscape enhancement plan as phase two of a process to help guide conversations about how we use Franklin Street. Successfully implementing Downtown Together and making downtown improvements will help us move our revitalization forward and implement this plan.
1. Streetscape Enhancement Mobility Plan ($500,000): This plan will create an opportunity to collect feedback from the residents, property owners, and business owners on their interests in how to create a street that makes it safer for pedestrians, more inviting outdoor dining and makes it the most beautiful street in North Carolina. It will also provide an actionable plan for landscaping and design.
2. Clean & Green ($300,000): The funding will allow us to create a two-year project for a two-member ambassador team that will help us keep downtown clean as our pedestrian foot traffic increases and will have two ambassadors on the street able to help visitors find a place to eat, or answer a question about how to get to campus.
3. Old Town Hall Planning ($50,000): The Old Town Hall building is currently in poor condition, but with the approved hotel building coming and the park space with it, the Town needs to have a plan for repairing the building so a new public user can come in, activate the park, and create a great public use in the building.
4. Peace & Justice Plaza Planning ($50,000): Peace & Justice Plaza is the most important civic site in town. It is the place we memorialize our local heroes who have devoted their lives to making our community and the world a better place. The town needs to study how to improve this plaza and, ideally, find a way to raise the memorial out of the ground so these names are not under our feet.
5. Downtown Together Projects ($100,000): The town and university have partnered together on many improvements on East Franklin Street and S. Columbia Street post Covid, including planting trees, installing new planters, and refurbishing old planters. This fund would allow us to fund projects like: improving Varsity Alley before it becomes one of the main entrances to downtown from the Rosemary St. Deck and implementing portions of the Downtown Together plan. We hope UNC will match these funds as they have done previously.
ARPA Funding Allocation:
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law a $1.9 trillion stimulus plan known as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. Local governments will receive $130.2 billion in aid, known as the Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, which will be split among counties, metropolitan cities, and non-entitlement units of government. The Town of Chapel Hill was allocated an award of $10,668,497. One half, $5,334,248, was received in May 2021 and the other half, $5,334,249, was received in June 2022. Enactment of the attached project ordinance amendment would recognize the second half of the ARPA allocation of $5,334,249 and appropriate $1,000,000 for the downtown projects described above and the remainder of $4,334,249 in a reserve account for future project designation.
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Recommendation(s): |
That the Council recognizes the second ARPA payment of $5,334,249 and approves $1,000,000 of these ARPA dollars to continue our Downtown Together implementation.
Decision Points
• Authorize the use of ARPA funds for the projects described above.
Key Issues:
• Downtown enhancement and beautification
• Economic development for the innovation hub
• Strengthening our downtown businesses
Fiscal Impact/Resources: $1 million ARPA funding for Downtown Together implementation.
Where is this item in its process?
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Attachments: |
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• Resolution |
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• Project Ordinance |
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• Draft Staff Presentation |
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) DOLLARS FOR DOWNTOWN PROJECTS (2022-11-16/R-9)
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill was allocated an ARPA award of $10,668,497. One half, $5,334,248, was received in May 2021 and the other half, $5,334,249, was received in June 2022; and,
WHEREAS, enactment of the attached project ordinance amendment would recognize the second half of the ARPA allocation and appropriate $1,000,000 for the downtown projects described above; and
WHEREAS, Council participated and help fund the Downtown Together planning; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill desires to see our downtown revitalized, and
WHEREAS, downtown improvements will help the Town attract investment and new companies to support our downtown businesses, and
WHEREAS, the implementation of Downtown Together is an important next step.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the allocation of money to support the projects listed below from ARPA funding and directs the work to proceed.
1. Streetscape Enhancement Mobility Plan ($500,000
2. Clean & Green ($300,000):
3. Old Town Hall Planning ($50,000):
4. Peace & Justice Plaza Planning ($50,000):
5. Downtown Together Projects ($100,000):
This the 16th day of November, 2022.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUND (2022-11-16/O-2)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that pursuant to Section 13.2 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, that the American Rescue Plan Fund Ordinance provide funding for projects related to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic funded from the U.S. Treasury is hereby amended to read as follows:
“SECTION I
The projects as authorized by the Town Council include various recovery and economic projects funded from the American Rescue Plan Act, for a variety of projects related to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
SECTION II
The Manager of the Town of Chapel Hill is hereby directed to proceed with implementation of these projects within terms of funds appropriated here.
SECTION III
Revenues anticipated to be available to the Town to complete the project are hereby amended as follows:
SECTION IV
Amounts appropriated for capital projects are hereby amended as follows:
SECTION V
The Manager is directed to report annually on the financial status of the project in an informational section to be included in the Annual Budget, and shall keep the council informed of any unusual occurrences.
SECTION VI
Copies of this amended projects ordinance shall be entered into the minutes of the Council and copies shall be filed within five days of adoption with the Manager, Business Management Director, and Town Clerk.”
This the 16th day of November, 2022.
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The Agenda will reflect the text below and/or the motion text will be used during the meeting. |
presenter
PRESENTER: Dwight Bassett, Director of Economic Development
RECOMMENDATION: That the Council recognizes the second ARPA payment of $5,334,249 and approves $1,000,000 of these ARPA dollars to continue our Downtown Together implementation.