City Council

409 S. Main Street City of Harrisonburg Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Meeting Minutes - Final City Council Tuesday, August 18, 2020 7:00 PM Council Chambers Work Session 1. Roll Call Note: All Council Members were present via virtual Go-To Meeting. Present: 5- Mayor Deanna R. Reed, Vice-Mayor Sal Romero, Council Member Richard Baugh, Council Member Christopher B. Jones and Council Member George Hirschmann Also Present: 3- City Manager Eric Campbell, City Clerk Pam Ulmer and City Attorney Chris Brown 2. Regular Items 2.a. Discussion of the CARES Act funding distribution Mayor Reed stated this work session is to discuss the 2nd round of funding of the CARES Act fund. She stated she feels Council should create a committee that includes community members, non-profit organizations, other organizations in the city and give them the opportunity to recommend how the funding should be used. She stated we need to reach as many people who are in need as much as possible and not duplicate the efforts provided in the first round of funding. She stated Council represents a diverse amount of people and suggested each Council member recommend five individuals/organizations for the committee. Vice Mayor Romero stated he agree, an approach like this would allow for a more equitable process as often a lack of access to information and support exists. He stated by including these groups of people would provide a more accurate pulse on what is happening and a more accurate assessment of the needs of those in the city . He stated this process would be something the communities would appreciate as it would be less political and more about the people. Council Member Jones stated he agrees. He stated often we like to look at other municipalities to see what they are doing, and he reached out to Mayor Sherman Lea, Sr., of Roanoke. He stated they created and task force and shared what the task force considered and recommended. He stated we look at that platform and work from it. Mayor Reed stated she is aware there is a tight timeline on when the funds need to be spent. She asked if the funds need to be actually spent or just distributed by December 30, 2020. Eric Campbell, city manager, stated the funds must either be City of Harrisonburg Page 1 Printed on 9/10/2020 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final August 18, 2020 spent or under contract by December 30, 2020. Larry Propst, director of Finance, stated to clarify, the funds need to be spent or the goods and services need to be delivered or performed by December 31, 2020. Mayor Reed stated we need to act fast. Further discussion took place regarding what Roanoke accomplished, the process to create the committee and the expectations to staff. Mayor Reed stated we should decide what we want to do and then bring it forward to the next meeting on August 25, 2020. Discussion took place regarding bringing names of recommended individuals and organizations to the next meeting. Council Member Baugh stated it seems the vision of this is to get something in place as soon as possible, and we should be able to model after what Roanoke has done. A Motion was made by Council Member Jones, seconded by Vice Mayor Romero, to direct staff and Council to review the Roanoke documents on their recovery task force template and distribution of CARES Act funds in attempt to replicate and duplicate for the city of Harrisonburg to be discussed at the August 25, 2020 City Council Meeting. The motion carried with a unanimous voice vote. 3. Adjournment At 5:22 p.m., there being no further business and on motion adopted, the meeting was adjourned. ________________________ ________________________ CITY CLERK MAYOR City of Harrisonburg Page 2 Printed on 9/10/2020