On July 18, Greenbelt City Council continued its deliberations on the eventual uses of the $22.88M of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in an effort to disburse them in the most equitable and impactful way for the city and its residents. In defense of the city’s lengthy and painstaking approach, Council member Ric Gordon remarked that many municipalities based their decisions on only a single meeting and public hearing. Council used the current listing of proposed funding prepared by staff, based on its many work sessions and extensive public input. Council was given a chance to rate them each for its urgency, with three being the most urgent, followed by two and one. The work session focused on those given a priority of three and those in the upper twos.
Storm Response
The meeting began with praise from council for the Public Works Department, represented by its new director, Willis Shafer, for their amazing recovery efforts from the recent destructive storm. Mayor Emmett Jordan pointed out that within only 72 hours the city was back to functioning. The city is seeking county assistance through additional chippers and grappler trucks to aid in debris pickup. Recreation Director Greg Varda said that Spring hill Lake Recreation Center (SLRC) and its clubhouse were used to assist and temporarily house any displaced residents, of which there were three.
ARPA Allocations
Interim City Manager Timothy George advised council that the sooner ARPA funds are encumbered for any infrastructure projects the better, as there is a general shortage of equipment and contractors. He warned that if the city waits too long, it may miss the deadline of the end of 2024 and lose its ability to access the funds.
Staff recommended $350,000 for premium pay for essential workers in the form of a stipend or bonus for all those on the front line, either directly or indirectly, during the two years of Covid. $2,080 a year was suggested as a baseline amount, which could be doubled for two years or halved for six months. This was a high priority for council, with Council member Judith Davis characterizing their work as “superhuman.”
Employee-based workforce development was another key item, with a possible $150,000 suggested. This would not be income-based and would encompass any extra training programs for city employees.
Grants and development programs to support Greenbelt businesses and nonprofits was put at $1.5M. These would only be for small, local businesses, not chains.
Food assistance at $250,000 was proposed for Meals-on-Wheels and city food pantries, as food insecurity has been a major issue during the pandemic.
Mental health services were much discussed as there has been a large increase in the need for such services during the stressful pandemic period. CARES and the Greenbelt Assistance in Living (GAIL) program are both on the front line in these efforts, with many on a waiting list for services, and would be thankful for any additional influx of funding for staff or programs. Council proposed $1.5M to CARES to aid in this effort.
CARES has been administering the rental and utility assistance program, for which another $1.5M of ARPA funds is likely. A proposal of $350,000 for temporary case managers who have been handling applications was suggested. City Treasurer Bertha Gaymon said that a single case manager costs the city $81,000 in salary and benefits.
A feasibility/assessment study of the Armory for $120,000 was suggested to ascertain any repair needs and how it could be used, whether for office space or possibly a new firehouse. Any decision will need to wait until the city gains ownership.
Code Enforcement is requesting $15,000 to improve their technology for better service and virtual record keeping. They have resumed their 20 percent yearly rate for rental inspections.
The $250,000 proposed to replace the county’s INET fiber connection, which services the city’s buildings, was deemed necessary.
Other Ideas
Jordan suggested a micro-grant program for anyone seeking to do a community-minded project. Davis added an emphasis on artists, whose livelihoods have suffered during Covid. Jordan also introduced the idea of partial assistance in down payments for new resident homeowners, acknowledging the need to establish an income/home price threshold. George advised research into this to determine any financial objections from mortgage companies.
Council felt that addressing storm water management issues could alone encompass the entirety of ARPA funds. Davis suggested a preliminary study to begin with, yet Shafer cautioned this could be prohibitively costly. Council member Rodney Roberts instead advised addressing the current problems.
Staff set $40,000 for a new Master Plan for Buddy Attick Park. The last one was conducted in 1992.
GAIL has been referring seniors to the county for requests to aid them in retrofitting their homes for safety, allowing them to remain in the city. Some funds could be allocated for this purpose.
An amount of $185,000 was acceptable as a proposed cost for the city’s IT Department for improving its protection from cyber threats.
The $3M suggested for an addition to the Spring hill Lake Recreation Center was deemed a good start, but not sufficient to complete the job. George felt that $100,000 would be a likely cost for a plan. The issue of available recreation amenities in Greenbelt West continues to be a pressing issue.
Council member Colin Byrd suggested a stipend for those seeking any form of higher education. Council rounded out the idea by making it broad, including not only college instruction but vocational training.
Davis put forth the idea of childcare vouchers, with a possible amount of $400,000, as many struggle to both return to work and properly care for their children.
At the meeting’s close, $8.41M had been tallied so far of the total $22.88M. Jordan proposed eventually setting aside $8-10M for city infrastructure, with the remaining $12-14M for resident needs.