American Rescue Plan (ARP) Process
After a lengthy process and multiple prior briefings to the Board of Supervisors, staff presented an initial draft of the ARP Expenditure Plan to the Board of Supervisors on September 7, 2021. This initial draft was utilized as a starting point for the conversation with the Board on how the County might approach allocation of the ARP Funds. Materials related to that prior meeting are included in Attachments A-C.
Staff approached the workshop with the expectation that the ARP Expenditure plan will likely be an iterative process where the plan continues to evolve over the time horizon that the County is allowed to expend funds (through 2024). Though a more extended time horizon, in many ways, this approach is not unlike the process used for the administration of the Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) received through the CARES act that the County undertook in 2020.
The workshop was intended to lead the Board to consensus in advance of inclusion of a recommendation to appropriate funds at the September 28, 2021 budget hearing. Several of the areas of the ARP expenditure plan were suggested to have workgroups formed to determine specific projects that may proceed, which would subsequently return to the Board for approval. These projects may also include competitive bidding which is required per federal regulations in areas with competitive providers, whether those providers are non-profit or commercial in nature and these workgroups would seek advisement as needed from County Procurement. The approach staff laid out was that no expenditures would occur in a given category or project of the ARP plan without prior approval by the Board of the project and approval of a specific amount of funding. Spending reports and recommendations to change the plan would also be brought back to the Board on a proposed semi-annual basis.
As expected during the briefing, staff received direction from the Board on areas where the plan may need to be adapted to meet the Board’s collective priorities and best address community needs and it was requested to return to the Board for an additional review of the ARP expenditure plan prior to the budget hearing on September 28, 2021. While many areas found consensus, there were certain areas that needed to come back before the board for additional consideration.
Updated Staff Recommendation
Based on the updated feedback from the Board of Supervisors, staff have re-evaluated several areas on the plan, summarized below, which will be discussed during presentation of the item:
| Recommended ARP Funding Allocations |
|
| ARP Priority Category |
Activities |
Amount |
Revised Amount |
| Housing/Homeless to Functional Zero |
Increased permanent and transitional housing, farm worker housing, programming, and planning for paying ongoing case worker supports |
$7,500,000 |
$7,500,000 |
| Food Security |
Infrastructure investments and supports to combat food insecurity. |
$3,500,000 |
$3,000,000 |
| Child, Youth and Family |
Health equity, 0-5, behavioral health, upstream investments, childcare, internships, home visiting |
$7,500,000 |
$7,500,000 |
| Mental Health |
Coordinate response and utilization of varied funding streams |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
| Community Parks & Facilities |
County parks and facilities in rural areas |
$3,000,000 |
$3,000,000 |
| Total |
$22,000,000 |
$21,500,000 |
| Strategic Plan Implementation |
Activities |
Amount |
Revised Amount |
| Climate Action Implementation |
The County’s Climate Action Plan is being developed; this would be a set aside for implementing projects identified through that process |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
| Economic Development Plan/Activities |
Development of an Economic Development plan to serve rural and disadvantaged areas and funds for implementation |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
| Aging Needs |
Emergency-related supports for seniors |
$100,000 |
$250,000 |
| Broadband Strategic Plan Implementation |
Set aside funding specifically for Broadband and to leverage toward State funding opportunities |
$1,000,000 |
$500,000 |
| Water/Wastewater Infrastructure |
Planning to leverage State funding in disadvantaged and rural areas |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
| Total |
$3,600,000 |
$3,250,000 |
| Priority Projects |
Activities |
Amount |
Revised Amount |
| Esparto Health Center/Capay Valley Health & Community Center (APPROVED) |
Medical and dental services for an underserved community |
$1,000,000 |
$2,250,000* |
| Crisis Now |
Funding for implementation of 24/7 Crisis Now service |
$3,000,000 |
$3,000,000 |
| Yolo Regional Food Hub (APPROVED) |
Facility to expand aggregating, processing, storing, and distribution locally farm grown produce |
$0 |
$2,000,000 |
| Total |
$4,000,000 |
$7,250,000 |
| Other Funding Uses |
Activities |
Amount |
Revised Amount |
| Revenue Reimbursement |
Can be used for general government expenses or projects that are not eligible for ARP funds |
$5,000,000 |
$3,100,000 |
| COVID Response |
Set aside for current and future COVID-19 emergency response needs |
$2,000,000 |
$1,500,000 |
| ARP Staffing |
Staffing to support ARP projects and ensure execution. Recommended are a program lead and fiscal support, along with consultants, as necessary |
$2,000,000 |
$2,000,000 |
| Reserve |
Funds held in reserve for emerging needs during the ARP plan time horizon. Board can appropriate as needs arise. |
$4,200,000 |
$4,200,000 |
| Total |
$13,200,000 |
$10,800,000 |
| Total Recommended ARP Funding Allocations |
$42,800,000 |
$42,800,000 |
*Health Center already has $250,000 of IGT funding that would fulfill the commitment made as part of the ARP workshop for a total of $2,500,000 to the project.
Two proposals above were approved as part of the workshop on September 7, 2021. Those have been marked accordingly in the table above as APPROVED. `
Additional Proposal Information
As part of the workshop, additional information was requested on certain proposals to allow the Board to deliberate further on the merits of select projects. These proposals and related information are attached to allow for Board review:
- Welcome Baby (Attachment D)
- Crisis Now (Materials presented as a separate item on the 9/14 Agenda)
- Yolo Regional Food Hub (Attachment E)
Recommendation
Staff propose to walk through a summary of changes made to the staff recommendation as shown above since the ARP workshop and determine if the Board is supportive of the changes. The Board may indicate their support for the staff recommendation or may provide additional direction on the initial ARP expenditure plan.
Any board direction received will guide the development of the initial expenditure plan which is still anticipated to be brought back to the Board’s budget hearing on September 28, 2021, where it is expected ARP funds would be appropriated. |