Title
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING $6,576,500 FROM THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND AND IDENTIFYING ELIGIBLE COSTS INCURRED BY THE CITY OF DULUTH IN RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
Whereas The City of Duluth was allocated $6,576,500 by the State of Minnesota under the Coronavirus Relief Fund
Whereas the Coronavirus Relief Fund may only be used for costs incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease.
Resolved that the City Council accepts the $6,576,500 to be deposited into Fund 225-125-1819-4210-02 (Disaster Recovery Fund, Finance, COVID-19, Pass-thru Federal Grants).
Further Resolved that the City Council identifies the following costs as eligible costs under the rules and regulations of the Coronavirus Relief Fund.
• Personal protection equipment and supplies to prevent exposure and potential spread of the virus
• Technology to improve remote working capabilities due to the closure of public facilities
• Paid administrative leave and benefits incurred by Police Department for the work schedule change to five days on/fifteen days off to prevent exposure and potential spread of the virus among public safety staff
• Paid administrative leave and benefits for city staff unable to work due to the closure of city facilities and amenities
• Police Department salary and benefits for officers reassigned from their normal duties to fulfill operational patrol staffing needs due to the work schedule changes caused by the pandemic
• Fire Department salary and benefits for firefighters responding to calls for service that were treated as potential virus exposures to prevent the potential spread of the virus among the general public and public safety staff
• Emergency sick leave and expanded FMLA coverage salary and benefits pursuant to the CARES act
• COVID presumption workers compensation costs incurred by public safety staff pursuant to the CARES act
• Building and workstation improvements such as plexiglass barriers to prevent exposure and potential spread of the virus
• Overtime and benefits incurred by the Police Department and Fire Department as the result of staff shortages due to work absences caused by potential exposure to the virus
• Purchase of a medical response vehicle to facilitate responding to calls for service treated as potential virus exposures to limit the exposure of public safety staff to the virus
• Unemployment costs for employees on layoff due to the impact of the pandemic on city operations
Further Resolved that the eligible costs identified above are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19 and were not accounted for in the City’s 2020 budget or were incurred for a substantially different use from the expected use of funds as identified in the City’s 2020 budget.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The City was allocated $6,576,500 by the State of Minnesota from federal funds, known as Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF), by the CARES act. The CRF is to be used for costs incurred between March 1, 2020 through December 30, 2020 and can only be used for costs that are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19. This resolution documents the eligible costs incurred by the City in accordance with the rules and regulations established by the Treasury’s CRF guidance and FAQ’s. Costs incurred as of August 31st are attached as Exhibit A. Additional costs are expected to be incurred during the remainder of this year.