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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.17.2020 SP Minutes @4:00MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT STANDING c9LIF0COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO P.O. Box 711 (City Hall, 400 Grand Avenue) South San Francisco, California 94083 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2020 4:00 p.m. Teleconference via Zoom Community Development Block Grant Standing Committee conducted this meeting in accordance with California Governor Newsom's Executive Orders N-29-20 and N-63-20 and COVID-19 pandemic protocols. Call to Order. Time: 4:00 p.m. Roll Call. PRESENT: Councilmember Nicolas and Councilmember Coleman AGENDA REVIEW None. REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENTS None. MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 1. Motion to approve the Minutes from the meeting of March 2, 2020. Motion - Councilmember Coleman / Second —Councilmember Nicolas: to approve the minutes. The motion carried unanimously. 2. Study session regarding programming $574,525 in Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds and allocation of $140,000 of 2019-2020 CDBG entitlement funding. (Julie Barnard, Economic Development Coordinator and Heather Ruiz, Acting Community Development Coordinator) Coordinator Barnard stated that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), was passed on March 27, 2020, to respond to the growing effects of this historic public health crisis. She advised that the City received $574,525 in CARES Act and $174,000 in supplemental CDBG funding. She stated that CD13G-CV3 funding must be used to prevent, prepare for and respond to the Coronavirus. The projects considered related to bridging the digital divide, public services for seniors and small businesses, City public improvements projects that responded to social distancing needs, and meeting new health needs. Staff recommendation for the $574,500 included the following: Digital Divide $340,000 Public Services $65,000 Public Improvement Projects $54,000 Medical Supplies $1,500 Sub -total $460,500 20% Administrative Expense $114,000 Total $574,500 Coordinator Barnard stated the digital divide goal was to provide free Wi-Fi citywide, prioritizing internet and access to internet to households who need it most. She presented the members with a map provided by San Mateo County that showed households in the City without access to internet. Councilmember Coleman inquired how San Mateo County acquired the data. Director Barrera stated that the San Mateo County received $3.8 million in funding through the CARES Act. With that, they were to help bridge the digital divide. San Mateo County reached out to all the school districts in the county and provided a survey that had a question whether families had internet access or not. Councilmember Nicolas asked whether that was a subset only of the kids in school. Director Barrera advised that was correct. Coordinator Barnard went over the options considered which included free Wi-Fi in Downtown and Linden Avenue, laptop and hotspot giveaway, expanding Wi-Fi at City facilities, mobile hotspots in Learning Wheels Van, broadband utilities assistance, Main Library outdoor Wi-Fi and funding to install fiber optic cables in new City conduit. Councilmember Nicolas queried why the City considered giving away only 200 laptops to needy families when the survey provided from San Mateo County listed 300 families were in need of one. Coordinator Barnard stated there is an assumption that not everybody is going to necessarily be interested in the program due to some residents having mistrust in government and the need to provide income data makes people uncomfortable. She advised 200 laptops was intended as an initial installation into the program just to gauge the level of interest from residents. Coordinator Barnard stated the public services and improvements goal was to provide basic supportive services to those in greatest need, specifically meals on wheels and Renaissance, which is the elderly population and some small businesses assistance. Staff is recommending to grant Meals on Wheels with $40,000 they are requesting to accommodate 10 new South San Francisco clients for a year. Councilmember Nicolas inquired how Renaissance came up with seeking grant funds to help 30 small businesses. Timothy Russell from Renaissance stated that the initial CDBG funding at $25,000 market, usually in alignment with all the other cities and local governments that they work with. He advised that CDBG STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING DECEMBER 17, 2020 MINUTES PAGE 2 the number changed due to the pandemic and they were actually working with a lot more South San Francisco businesses because they are the pass through for the San Mateo County Strong and San Mateo County CARES Act money that had to be spent by December 30, 2020. Coordinator Ruiz presented the entitlement funding of $140,000 in program entitlement funds that they needed to allocate Fiscal Year 2020-2021. She advised entitlement funding did not have to be used to prevent, prepare for or respond to the coronavirus. The primary benefit is for low income persons, households or neighborhoods within the CDBG eligible areas. Staff recommends allocating the $140,000 towards a pilot program mentioned earlier that would provide free public Wi-Fi on Linden Avenue. This would target the businesses and residents in that area, though it is not guaranteed that it would extend into the neighborhoods to use it indoors. Councilmember Nicolas recommended increasing the amounts to 300 for both laptops and hotspots. She inquired whether the laptops included any software such as Microsoft Office. Director Barrera confirmed the laptops would not contain any software but there was free software available to download including free Microsoft Office for students with a school email address. Councilmember Coleman inquired whether the City currently had any allocations towards laying down fiber conduit. Coordinator Barnard advised no yet, however, staff was in the process of compiling the budget for the incoming entitlements in 2021-2022. CDBG Standing Committee recommendations: Digital Divide 300 Laptops and Hotspots City Facilities Wi-Fi installation & expansion Free Wi-Fi on Linden Avenue Public Services Renaissance Meals on Wheels Medical Air Purifiers Facilities Upgrades & Medical Supplies SSF Temperature check stations (x2) Public Facilities upgrades (HVAC/COVID screens etc) COVID-19 testing sites supplies Future SSF PPE Administration Administrative Expenses Subtotal Subtotal $279,000 $61,000 $140,000 $480,000 $25,000 $40,000 $7,500 $72,000 $5,000 $40,500 $500 $1,000 Subtotal $47,000 $114,000 TOTAL BUDGET $713,500 CDBG STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING DECEMBER 17, 2020 MINUTES PAGE 3 ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, Councilmember Nicolas adjourned the meeting at 5:15 p.m. Submitted by: Gabriel Rodrigue , eputy City Clerk City of South San Francisco Approved by: i Flor Nicolas, Councilmember City of South San Francisco Approved by the CDBG Standing Committee: 0 3 / (2 Y / ZaZ CDBG STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING DECEMBER 17, 2020 MINUTES PAGE 4