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Consider American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding for Community-Based Budgeting Projects.
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Staff: |
Department: |
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Amy Oland, Director |
Business Management |
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Sarah Poulton, Senior Project Manager |
Town Manager’s Office |
Overview: Town Council set aside $500,000 of the total ARPA funding of $10.7M for a community-based budgeting pilot. Staff performed an extensive outreach campaign and received over 1,300 total votes on 21 potential projects. Staff will present a recommended funding allocation for community-based budgeting projects based on the community’s voting.
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Recommendation(s): |
That the Council enact the attached project ordinance amendment that allocates funding for electric leaf blowers and mowers for Parks and Recreation; a greenway connector from the new Tanyard Branch affordable housing neighborhood to the Tanyard Branch trail; sidewalk repairs needed for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements; and a van for Parks and Recreation program users needing ADA accommodations which received the most votes through the community-based budgeting initiative.
Decision Points:
• Staff will present the following scenario for the remaining ARPA funds:
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Project |
Total |
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Electric Leaf blowers and mowers for Parks and Recreation |
$142,000 |
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ADA sidewalk repairs |
$100,000 |
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Tanyard Affordable Housing connector greenway |
$200,000 |
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ADA van for Parks and Recreation programs |
$72,000 |
Key Issues:
• ARPA funding must be obligated by December 31, 2024.
• Staff informed Town Council on the approach of receiving input on Town projects using the remaining $500,000 of ARPA funding set aside for a community-based budgeting pilot at their April 19, 2023 meeting (<https://chapelhill.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=35834&GUID=197ED6B7-3603-4161-9369-2464FC187640>)
• There are $14,000 of unused OWASA-awarded ARPA funds from their original allocation due to customers paying their water bill debt.
• Staff have performed over 50 hours of in person events, talked with nearly 300 people, and received 1,039 responses to an online survey asking for the public’s favorite projects.
• Projects were chosen based on total number of votes received.
Fiscal Impact/Resources: Allocate $514,000 of ARPA funding towards electric leaf blowers and mowers for Parks and Recreation; greenway connector from the new Tanyard Branch affordable housing neighborhood to the Tanyard Branch trail; sidewalk repairs needed for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements; and a van for Parks and Recreation program users needing ADA accommodations.
Where is this item in its process?
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Attachments: |
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• Project Budget Ordinance Amendment |
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• Draft Staff Presentation |
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUND (2023-05-10/O-4)
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 10th day of May, 2023.
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The Agenda will reflect the text below and/or the motion text will be used during the meeting. |
presenter
PRESENTERS: Amy Oland, Business Management Director
Sarah Poulton, Senior Project Manager
RECOMMENDATION: That the Council enact the attached project ordinance amendment that allocates funding for electric leaf blowers and mowers for Parks and Recreation; a greenway connector from the new Tanyard Branch affordable housing neighborhood to the Tanyard Branch trail; sidewalk repairs needed for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements; and a van for Parks and Recreation program users needing ADA accommodations.