Placement: New Business
Action Requested: Discussion
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Recommended Prioritization of the American Rescue Plan Allocation to the City of Port St. Lucie and Federal Legislative Update
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Submitted By: Kate Parmelee, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Innovation
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of a high-performing city government organization.
Executive Summary (General Business): The 117th Congress convened on January 3, 2021. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed into law on March 11, 2021 and allocates direct aid to local governments, including municipalities. Staff will provide initial recommended project allocations and will provide an update on key federal legislative priorities.
Presentation Information: A 10 minute presentation will be provided by Andrew Seth of Sustainable Strategies DC and Kate Parmelee, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Innovation.
Staff Recommendation: Request that the Council hear the update and support the policy measures as presented.
Background: The 117th Congress convened on January 3, 2021. An update on key federal issues will be provided for the Council’s review and direction.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed into law on March 11, 2021. The $1.9 trillion package is intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including the public health and economic impacts. On May 10, 2021 the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the launch of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to provide $350 billion in emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments. Treasury also released details on the ways funds can be used to respond to acute pandemic-response needs, fill revenue shortfalls among state and local governments, and support the communities and populations hardest-hit by the COVID-19 crisis. The City of Port St. Lucie is able to access funding direct from the Treasury Department and was allocated $24,739,425. The State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds will be disbursed in two funding cycles. The first cycle will be 50% of the total funding and directly provided to the recipients no later than 60 days after enactment, or before May 10, 2021. The second cycle will be the remainder of the funds and directly provided no earlier than 12 months after receipt of the first payment. The deadline to spend all funds is December 23, 2024.
Staff will provide a presentation that outlines eligible uses of the funds, other funding sources made available to the City through the American Rescue Plan and will provide initial recommendations. In addition, staff will provide an update on other federal legislative issues including Surface Transportation Authorizations, community project requests and other funding opportunities.
The Florida League of Cities recently published the 2021 Federal Action Agenda. In addition to advocating for direct federal COVID-19 relief for all cities, the 2021 Federal Action Agenda includes other timely federal issues of importance to Florida cities such as investing in infrastructure, reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, the new FEMA risk rating system, cybersecurity and the FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act. Staff has provided a copy of the final legislative agenda in the attachments.
Issues/Analysis: N/A
Financial Information: N/A
Special Consideration: N/A
Location of Project: N/AAttachments:
1. PowerPoint Presentation on the American Rescue Plan and Federal Legislative Update (to be submitted following incorporation of recently released guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department)
2. American Rescue Plan: Summary Spreadsheet of Recommended Allocations (to be submitted following incorporation of recently released guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department)
3. Florida League of Cities Federal Action Agenda
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: N/A
Legal Sufficiency Review:
N/A