City Council

450 SPECIAL MEETING - ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL June 30, 2021 11 :30 a.m. A special meeting of the Roanoke City Council was called to order on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at 11 :30 a.m., for the purpose of holding a public hearing to receive citizen comment with regard to the appropriation of funds awarded by the United States through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), that provides government entities support in their response to the impacts of COVID-19, with Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr., presiding. PRESENT: Council Members William D. Bestpitch, Joseph L. Cobb, Robert L. Jeffrey, Jr., Stephanie Moon Reynolds, Vivian Sanchez-Jones, Patricia White-Boyd, and Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr.-7. ABSENT: None-0. The Mayor declared the existence of a quorum. OFFICERS PRESENT: Robert S. Cowell, Jr., City Manager; Timothy R. Spencer, City Attorney; and Cecelia F. McCoy, City Clerk. The Invocation was delivered by Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was led by Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr. The meeting was called pursuant to the following communication from the Mayor: "Pursuant to Section 10, Section 10, Meetings of Council Generally, of the Roanoke City Charter, I am calling a Special Meeting of Roanoke City Council for Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at 11 :30 a.m., and provide you with notice of such meeting, via e-mail and hand delivery. The Special Meeting is for the purpose to hold a public hearing to receive citizen comment with regard to the appropriation of funds awarded by the United States through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), that provides government entities support in their response to the impacts of COVID- 19". (See copy of communication on file in the City Clerk's Office.)  451 AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT: Pursuant to instructions by the Council, the City Clerk having advertised a public hearing for Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at 11 :30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, to receive citizen comments with regard to the appropriation of $32,288,335.50 awarded by the United States through the American Rescue Plan Act to provide government entities support in the response to the impacts of COVID-19, the matter was before the body. Legal advertisement of the public hearing was published in The Roanoke Times on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (See publisher's affidavit on file in the City Clerk's Office.) Council Member Bestpitch offered the following budget ordinance: (#42093-063021) AN ORDINANCE to appropriate funding from the United States Treasury for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-Coronavirus Relief Fund, amending and reordaining certain sections of the 2020 - 2022 Grant Fund Appropriations, and dispensing with the second reading by title of this ordinance. (For full text of ordinance, see Ordinance Book No. 81, page 733.) Council Member Bestpitch moved the adoption of Budget Ordinance No. 42093- 063021. The motion seconded by Vice-Mayor White-Boyd. Mayor Lea asked the City Manager to clarify for the citizens what the Public Hearing was about in reference to the ARPA funding; wherein, Mr. Cowell explained that the City was to be awarded over $64.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds; and over half of those funds $32.3 million have been received with the second half of the funds to be received in approximately one year. He further advised that as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act, different from the Cares Act funds, funds could be used to replace lost public sector revenue and many of the constraints that the program itself carried was simply in using the Rescue Plan Act Funds. Mr. Cowell continued explaining that the matter at hand was really an accounting exercise to claim the lost revenues and not expend any of the dollars for any purpose yet; he referenced the process with the community to determine where best to invest the dollars within the community with maximum flexibility going forward to support the recovery efforts in the community. He further stated that at the July 6 meeting, more information would be shared about the process in terms of engaging with the community, making the determinations and ultimately recommendations; and would come before the Council in September, with discussion on how to spend the dollars. 452 The Mayor inquired if there were persons present who wished to speak on the matter; whereupon, the following individual addressed the Council, by electronic communication means: Will Bulloss, Western Virginia Water Authority, expressed interest in working with the City on how to use American Rescue Plan Act funds. There being no further speakers, Mayor Lea declared the public hearing closed. Council Member Bestpitch commented that it was important for the public to understand the process of appropriating funding. The City Manager elaborated stating that a series of eight focus group meetings with over 100 folks just concluded and at the July 19 Council meeting, the results of the focus group discussions would be shared. Mayor Lea inquired whether a business apply for the funds; wherein, Mr. Cowell replied there were funds in the community provided by the City and State for businesses and the Small Business Development Center has resources available for assistance, with rental payments, etc. There being no additional questions and/or comments by the Members of Council, Budget Ordinance No. 42093-063021 was adopted by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Bestpitch, Cobb, Jeffrey, Moon Reynolds, Sanchez- Jones, White-Boyd, and Mayor Lea-7. NAYS: None-0. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Lea declared the special meeting adjourned at 11 :48 a.m. APPROVED ATTEST: Cecelia F. McCoy Sherman P. Lea, Sr. City Clerk Mayor