The city has commenced its community engagement program on the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, with the goal of soliciting ideas from all the city’s residents and groups in an effort to use the funds in the most strategic and necessary ways. On December 20, 2021, city staff and Michelle Ferguson, vice president of Raftelis, the city’s consulting group, presented a draft community engagement plan outlining eligible uses, stakeholders to be targeted and effective communication avenues. All this is in order for the city to ascertain specific needs for this financial opportunity where federal relief funds have been disbursed directly to a municipality to use as it sees fit, according to approved criteria.
Greenbelt’s Share
ARPA was signed into law on March 11, 2021, and allocated $362 billion in total. In all, Greenbelt will receive $22.88 million, half of which has been allocated, with the second half due this year. All allocations must be made by the end of 2024, yet 2026 is the final deadline on actual use of funds thus planned. Any money not used must be returned to the federal government. The city is permitted to accrue usable interest on the funds, with City Treasurer Bertha Gaymon saying that a separate account can be set up to better track it as well as the spending.
Restrictions
All fund usage must be related to the effects of the pandemic. The six eligible areas are: support public health response, replace public sector revenue loss, water and sewer infrastructure, address negative economic impacts, premium pay for essential workers and broadband infrastructure. Some areas that are ineligible are: offsetting of tax reductions, pension funds and debt service. ARPA money should be for one-time projects, not ones requiring ongoing funding, this being best addressed by a city’s budget.
At present, the only ARPA funds that have been allocated and spent are rent and utility assistance ($522,964), mortgage and homeowner association fee assistance ($6,370) and business assistance ($400,000). The latter has ended its application process and, said Economic Development Coordinator Charise Liggins in a separate interview, “We are currently coordinating check disbursements with the grant recipients.”
Multiple Targets
While not a huge part of the city’s financial responsibility, water and sewer, and especially stormwater management, were a frequent possible use discussed. Regarding the latter, the looming challenges of climate change with increased precipitation and flooding made a full appraisal and upgrade of the city’s aging system an important area to explore.
Playgrounds and parks, as well as improvement of the city’s broadband (as many now work from home), Covid-testing kits for all residents, upgrading of HVAC systems for small businesses, the rehiring of frontline employees furloughed or laid off due to budget, and the transportation system (as it affects residents getting to work) were other possibilities to review as permitted by ARPA criteria.
The city has use of the services of the Hagerty Consulting Group, hired by the state, to whom the city can bring questions about fund usage.
Feedback Routes
At this stage, the communication channels to be used for gathering feedback are: the city website; possibly Bang The Table, an online townhall-type platform (costs $5,000, which can be paid through ARPA); a community newsletter; social media; email distributions; online surveys; the Greenbelt News Review; and personal outreach with existing relationships. Already, an ARPA page has been added to the city website.
As community feedback is so crucial, council and staff are focused on reaching the more underserved and underrepresented parts of the city. New channels may need to be employed to meet this need. It was noted that getting a 100 percent response is unrealistic, but the effort will still be made.
Acting City Manager Timothy George expected that, by the second council meeting in January, a working schedule of community forums, an update on current outreach and an estimated cost for the entire effort can be presented. He envisioned a two-to-three-month process beginning in January and ending in March. Meetings may be in-person, but more likely will be virtual, with all being available to stream live or view online later. The city website and the Greenbelt News Review will provide a listing.
Care Paramount
Along with the recommendations to prioritize non-recurring expenditures and partnering with other communities and agencies making use of the ARPA funds, the Government Finance Officers Association reiterated the guideline to “take time” and exercise “careful consideration” in this huge responsibility and boon to the city.