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excess funds in the Business Support Fund is appropriate, but noted they are General Funds. She <br /> reported speaking to Director of Finance Tina Olson about the possibility of using American Rescue <br /> Plan Act (ARPA) funds, stating the Grant Program is an appropriate use. She added having a similar <br /> discussion with her peers at a California League of Cities meeting and suggested having these funds <br /> specified as being a part of the City's ARPA funds. <br /> Mayor Brown requested Economic Development Manager Adamos reshow the three things they will be <br /> voting on so the discussion can stay on-topic. <br /> In response to both Councilmember Testa and Mayor Brown, Director of Finance Olson confirmed the <br /> $8.5 million in ARPA funds have been allocated evenly between Fiscal Year 2021/22 and 2022/23 and <br /> one eligible use is to replace lost revenues. She added help for small businesses like this is qualifying <br /> projects. She advised it would be acceptable to target $250,000 of the FY 21/22 funds for this project. <br /> She clarified it can offset the losses of the City by being directed to the businesses. She added ARPA is <br /> General Fund money and it is acceptable to specify some of it is targeted for this program. <br /> Councilmember Testa moved to support staff's recommendation with amendments to extend the <br /> program to businesses outside of downtown by adding an additional allocation of $100,000 from the <br /> Business Assistance Program Fund. <br /> In response to Councilmember Arkin, Councilmember Testa confirmed it would be $250,000 for <br /> downtown parklets and $100,000 to be used elsewhere in the City. <br /> Councilmember Arkin seconded the motion. She advised everything looks great and noted her <br /> agreement with the eligible expenses and extending the program beyond downtown because other <br /> businesses have also suffered during the pandemic. She agreed with Mr. Dissel's comment about prior <br /> expenses being potentially eligible. She requested staff see if they can do more with retailers, noting <br /> another City gave residents gift cards for local businesses. <br /> Councilmember Narum expressed support, echoing the wise addition of non-downtown businesses. <br /> She echoed Councilmember Arkin to find potential additional programs for retailers. She expressed her <br /> eagerness to see what Main Street will look like with well-designed parklets and commended how <br /> quickly staff put the program together. <br /> Councilmember Balch advised he supports the $250,000 sum presented by staff but is concerned they <br /> would be giving $100,000 to non-downtown businesses because he does not know the basis of the <br /> figure. He advised he would be more comfortable if staff could come up with this figure similar to how <br /> the City Council and EVC were told by Economic Development Manager Adamos the basis for the <br /> $250,000. <br /> Councilmember Balch advised non-downtown businesses do not often have a similar setup as the <br /> downtown businesses for being in a private parking lot as opposed to a street's public right-of-way. <br /> In response to Councilmember Balch, Deputy City Manager Ott confirmed the nature of outdoor dining <br /> outside of downtown is different because it is generally on private property. She advised there is a <br /> separate process for this through the Community Development Department for this type of outdoor <br /> dining. She advised staff will have to do additional work to figure out how to apply the parklet program's <br /> concepts to the current outdoor dining on private property process. <br /> Councilmember Balch expressed support for the Downtown Parklet Grant Program and advised the <br /> City is also providing businesses with a cost-saving pre-approved design. He advised he would support <br /> a similar program outside of downtown but would like additional clarity to ensure its success. He <br /> advised the current motion would provide money at a worthy goal but without a plan. He requested an <br /> City Council Minutes Page 5 of 16 February 1,2022 <br />