TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to disburse direct relief grants for the Long Beach Recovery Act (LB Recovery Act) programs, consistent with City Council approval of the LB Recovery Act. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Long Beach Recovery Act
On March 16, 2021, the City Council adopted the Long Beach Recovery Act (LB Recovery Act), becoming one of the first major cities to approve COVID-19 recovery programs made possible through the Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and other federal and State funding sources. Additional funding adjustments to the LB Recovery Act were made as part of the Adopted Fiscal Year 2022 (FY 22) Budget and periodic adjustments have been brought to the City Council as needed. The LB Recovery Act funding and program details were originally outlined in Attachment A to the March 16, 2021 City Council letter and in subsequent updates brought to the City Council. Since then, over 84 programs have been developed with collective impact and equity in mind focused on the three main funding categories: Healthy and Safe Community, Economic Recovery, and Securing Our City’s Future. Additional information can be found on the LB Recovery Act website.
Direct Relief Grants Disbursement
Of the over 84 LB Recovery Act programs, several are intended to provide economic support to Long Beach businesses, nonprofits, and community members impacted by the health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic via direct relief grants in the form of cash assistance payments with limited restrictions and requirements. Examples of LB Recovery Act direct relief programs include, but are not limited to the: Restaurant, Brewery and Bar Relief Grant Program, Personal Services and Fitness Relief Grant Program, Small Business Relief Grant Program, Nonprofit Relief Grant Program, Creative Economy Program, Business License Tax and Fee Grant Program, and Long Beach Guaranteed Income Program.
To facilitate prompt direct payments associated with these programs, City Council action is needed to provide City staff the authority to distribute direct relief grant payments for all LB Recovery Act direct relief grant programs. City staff are requesting authority to administratively disburse these direct relief grants using City Council-approved goals and funding guidelines outlined in the March 16, 2021 adoption of the LB Recovery Act, and in subsequent updates, without returning to the City Council for additional authorization. City staff will continue to provide regular reports detailing the LB Recovery Act programs being implemented, key performance indicators and goal progress via its LB Recovery Act Biannual and Monthly Reports published <on> the LB Recovery Act website and found within Attachments A and B.
Each of the LB Recovery Act direct relief grant programs are based on criteria for those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic using a collective impact and equity lens. As they roll out, each of the LB Recovery Act direct relief grant programs are available on the City of Long Beach’s (City) website and free multi-lingual technical assistance is available via the City’s BizCare team and through community-based organization partnerships. The BizCare Hotline provides information to businesses on small business programs and resources and operates Monday’s through Friday’s from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Business owners may contact Customer Service Representatives via the BizCare Hotline by calling 562-570-4BIZ (4249) and may also contact Customer Service Representatives by email at 4Biz@longbeach.gov. BizCare pop-ups are available to all Long Beach small businesses and are located in neighborhoods that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The BizCare Outreach Team and BizCare pop-ups will primarily focus on helping small businesses located in low-to-moderate income areas, providing business owners or their representatives with free one-on-one, in-person support to complete local, non-profit, State, and federal grant applications free of charge and services are delivered in English, Spanish, and Khmer.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Lauren Misajon on May 2, 2022 and by Budget Manager Grace H. Yoon on May 3, 2022.
EQUITY LENS
The City has incorporated the Equity Toolkit in this recommendation, as requested by the City Council on April 21, 2020. Providing this action will allow for a streamlined process to efficiently disburse Long Beach Recovery Act direct relief grant funding, or other funding intended for community recovery from the effects of the pandemic. Long Beach residents, workers, and business owners are faced with economic and social impacts that require action and assistance from the City, especially for the communities of color that were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on May 17, 2022, to proceed with grant disbursements to businesses, nonprofits, and community members to support recovery in Long Beach.
FISCAL IMPACT
This recommendation requests that the City Council grant authority to the City Manager, or designee, to administratively disburse the direct relief grants related to LB Recovery Act programs. The funding for all the LB Recovery Act programs, including the recovery-related direct relief grant programs, has been secured from a variety of State, federal and other funding sources, and implementing this recommendation has no additional fiscal impact on the City’s funds. The administrative authority will apply to direct relief grants paid for, or reimbursed by, funds relating to the LB Recovery Act or other funding intended for community recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. The local job impact associated with this recommendation is undetermined at this time.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER