Title
RESOLUTION R-2021-63: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, APPROPRIATING CARES ACT REIMBURSEMENT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,525,000 RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA FROM THE GENERAL FUND MISCELLANEOUS GRANT REIMBURSEMENTS ACCOUNT TO BE USED FOR IDENTIFIED HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS.
Body
BACKGROUND: On March 27, 2020, the United States Federal Government enacted the $2,200,000,000,000 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Among the provisions of the CARES Act was financial relief to state and local governments negatively impacted by the Novel Coronavirus of 2019 (COVID-19). Funds were distributed to state governments for distribution, based on guidelines established by the Federal government.
On August 6, 2020, $250,000,000 was made available to Oklahoma cities through newly-established guidelines promulgated under Oklahoma's Coronavirus Relief Fund, based on the population of the city. Approximately $9,600,000 has been made available to Norman based upon these new guidelines, to reimburse the City's previous expenses related to response to COVID-19. On September 9th, $7,008,045 of this funding was received by the City from the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services and deposited to the City's General Fund. The guidelines for these reimbursements make the City of Norman's total of $9.6 million broadly available for City purposes, based upon the direction of the City Council.
DISCUSSION: At the City Council virtual retreat meeting held on October 16th, the Council gave direction to several high priority projects for which some of the CARES Act funding should be used. Broadly speaking, these projects include the following:
* $4,800,000 for a Construction Supplement for a Senior Wellness Center and purchase of a permanent Community Service and Homeless Service Facility
* $575,000 for Visit Norman, Inc. to restore lost Room Tax revenues
* $500,000 for the Norman Arts Council to restore l...
Click here for full text