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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRatify - Letter to Governor Newsom Approval of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Aid Relief and CARESSTAFF REPORT CITY OF PALM DESERT CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEETING DATE: April 30, 2020 PREPARED BY: Lauri Aylaian, City Manager REQUEST: Ratification of Mayor's approval of, and signature on, a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom requesting approval of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for cities with populations under 500,000 to aid in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; and authorization of Mayor to sign similar correspondence to other state or nationally elected officials when drafted by the League of California Cities or the National League of Cities and recommended by the City Manager. Recommendation (1) By minute motion, ratify Mayor's approval of, and signature on, letter to Governor Gavin Newsom requesting approval of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for cities with populations under 500,000 to aid in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; and authorize Mayor to sign similar correspondence to other state or nationally elected officials when drafted by the League of California Cities or the National League of Cities and recommended by the City Manager. Discussion State and national legislation providing funding to aid in the relief of the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is being drafted, introduced, voted upon, enacted, and distributed at a speed that is uncharacteristic of normal governmental processes. To date, almost no funding has been earmarked for or made available to cities with populations under 500,000 people. As one such city, Palm Desert today stands to lose more than $20 million in total revenue this fiscal year and next due to the impacts of the pandemic. It is extremely important that the City be able to lobby, both independently and in concert with the League of California Cities and the National League of Cities, for funding relief, especially when it can be used to compensate for lost sales tax and transient occupancy tax revenue. Due to the length of time between meetings of the City Council, it is not always possible to request and receive approval from the full Council quickly enough to lobby effectively. One such lobbying effort was proposed by the Riverside County Division of the League of California Cities on 22 April 2020, and is intended to be delivered to Governor Gavin Newsom before the date of the next City Council meeting (30 April 2020). As such, the City Manager asked the Mayor to execute a letter on behalf of the City, and is now asking the City Council to ratify that letter. The letter, which is expected to be delivered after April 30, 2020 — Staf Port Ratification of Letter to Governor Newsom Page 2 of 2 being signed by the mayors of most or all cities in Riverside County, is attached in its draft form to this staff report. Authorization is requested from the City Council to grant approval to the Mayor to sign similar correspondence on behalf of the City of Palm Desert when it is: related to procuring funding for the City for relief of the financial impacts of the current pandemic; drafted by the League of California Cities, the National League of Cities, or another organization of similar stature in which the City is an active member; and/or recommended by the City Manager as being in the best interest of the City. Fiscal Impact There is no cost to the General Fund associated with the issuance of letters requesting funding from federal, state, or regional agencies. If the lobbying efforts are successful, there is the potential for receipt of additional revenue. ASSISTANT LEGAL REVIEW DEPT. REVIEW FINANCIAL REVIEW CITY MANAGER not applicable YA not applicable Robert W. Lauri A laian Janet M. Andy Firestine Hargreaves CityManager . Moore Assistant City City Attorney Director of Finance Manager City Manager Lauri Aylaian: YQ ATTACHMENTS: Draft Letter to Governor Newsom, intended for signature by mayors of Riverside County cities before the 30 April 2020 Palm Desert City Council meeting. CITY COUNCiLAQTION APPROVED ��// D..RECEIVED OTHER MEETING DATE - DL4 — 0�02-0 - AYF,S: (IrniK$tTbr)c4- )-.rel(v( Webei% NeVande NOES: N OnC ABSENT: of)e. - ABSTAIN: N24 VF.RIFTEDBY f— ?r Original on File with City Clerk's Office The Honorable Gavin Newsom Governor, State of California State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Governor Newsom: SUBJECT: DIRECT ECONOMIC RELIEF FOR ALL CITIES On behalf of the undersigned cities of Riverside County, we write to urge your support for a robust, dedicated, and flexible funding source for all cities in any emergency coronavirus package. While we applaud the efforts being made to help our deserving businesses and residents, cities too are facing dire consequences as a result of this pandemic. Public health measures have resulted in a halt of most economic activity leading to a decline in our revenues. This lack of revenue has a direct and negative impact on our ability to provide critical services. Local governments at the county and municipal level are fighting this pandemic as partners to provide unique and non -duplicative services to protect public health and economic stability despite these significant losses of revenue. Local governments across the country are facing significant budget shortfalls that will impact service delivery to communities at a time when they are needed the most. The scale of this global crisis is unprecedented and so is the scope of the local government response. Local governments are coordinating with one another across jurisdictional lines, enacting difficult and fiscally challenging emergency measures to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, spending local funds as needed to protect the public health and welfare of our residents and businesses. As work progresses to develop additional economic relief measures to address the impact of COVID-19, we strongly urge inclusion of a direct allocation for all cities irrespective of population that can be used to cover anticipated losses in revenue resulting from the pandemic. The direct allocation must provide local governments with the flexibility they need to determine how these funds can be used in the most efficient and effective manner possible to serve their communities.. We acknowledge and appreciate that some funding is being allocated to large cities and through the CDBG process, but in our region we need additional resources to help stabilize our budgets and to aid in economic recovery from losses associated with COVID-19. Local leaders are on the frontlines of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in our communities, doing what is necessary to ensure the health and safety of our residents, and we will continue doing so even as difficult decisions will be made. As you continue to work on additional and much needed relief packages, the undersigned cities implore you to ensure that cities have the resources to maintain and continue to provide the essential services residents need during this unprecedented time. Sincerely, '' t•� C3 � E7 � � % . p� g,—•.fit ♦" K'14/�Cy� 1 � Cathedral City ACINTO a& Qwkra — CALIFORNIA — CITY OF LADE L,SII`IOKE t mAm ElltKimt "o� The Honorable Dianne Feinstein United States Senate 331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Raul Ruiz, MD United States House of Representatives 2342 Rayburn Building Washington, DC 90515 INDIAN �,`Wf-LLS CALIFORNIA URM A& MENIFEE CALIFORNIA New. Better. Best. 11 The Honorable Kamala Harris United States Senate 112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Ken Calvert United State House of Representatives 2205 Rayburn Building Washington, DC 20515 Honorable Gavin Newsom Governor, State of California State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 VIA E-mail: ExternalAffairs@gov.ca.govoO :6 WIV oc 6bv QEOE 301,4JO S,A�t]110 1307= 00 a C(TY 1lPktj VAtYFY if MOREN VALLEY BEAUMONT —C A L i F _ 4 N I A — The Honorable Mark Takano United States House of Representatives 420 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Mike The Honorable Eduardo The Honorable Jose Morrell Garcia Medina State Capitol, Room 3056 State Capitol State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 Sacramento, CA 95814 Sacramento, CA 95814 The Honorable Richard Roth State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 The Honorable Sabrina Cervantes State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 April 30, 2020 The Honorable Chad Mayes State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 SUBJECT: DIRECT ECONOMIC RELIEF FOR ALL CITIES Dear Elected Representatives: The Honorable Melissa Melendez State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 The Honorable Marie Waldron State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 On behalf of the undersigned cities of Riverside County, we write to urge your support for a robust, dedicated, and flexible funding source for all cities in any emergency coronavirus package. While we applaud the efforts being made to help our deserving businesses and residents, cities too are facing dire consequences as a result of this pandemic. Public health measures have resulted in a halt of most economic activity leading to a decline in our revenues. This lack of revenue has a direct and negative impact on our ability to provide critical services. Local governments at the county and municipal level are fighting this pandemic as partners to provide unique and non - duplicative services to protect public health and economic stability despite these significant losses of revenue. Cities across the country are facing significant budget shortfalls that will impact service delivery to communities at a time when they are needed the most. The scale of this global crisis is unprecedented and so is the scope of the local government response. Local governments are coordinating with one another across jurisdictional lines, enacting difficult and fiscally challenging emergency measures to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, spending local funds as needed to protect the public health and welfare of our residents and businesses. As work progresses to develop additional economic relief measures at both the federal and state levels to address the impact of COVID-19, we strongly urge inclusion of a direct allocation for all cities irrespective of population that can be used to cover anticipated losses in revenue resulting from the pandemic. The direct allocation must provide local governments with the flexibility they need to determine how these funds can be used in the most efficient and effective manner possible to serve their communities. We acknowledge and appreciate that some funding is being allocated to large cities and through the CDBG process, but in our region we need additional resources to help stabilize our budgets and to aid in economic recovery from losses associated with COVID- 19. Local leaders are on the frontlines of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in our communities, doing what is necessary to ensure the health and safety of our residents. We will continue doing so even as difficult decisions are made. As you continue to work on additional and much needed relief packages, the undersigned cities implore you to ensure that cities have the resources to maintain and continue to provide the essential services residents need during this unprecedented time. Thank you. Sincerely, Mayor Daniela Andrade, City of Banning Mayor Rey Santos, City of Beaumont Mayor Dale Reynolds, City of Blythe Mayor Bill Davis, City of Calimesa Mayor Jordan Ehrenkranz, City of Canyon Lake ) Mayor John Aguilar, City of Cathedral City [No Signature Provided] Mayor Steven Hernandez, City of Coachella Mayor Jim Steiner, City of Corona E �� Mayor Scott Matas, City of Desert Hot Springs Mayor Brandon Plott, City of Eastvale Mayor Russ Brown, City of Hemet Mayor Ty Peabody, City of Indian Wells Mayor Glenn Miller, City of Indio Mayor Anthony Kelly Jr., City of Jurupa Valley t Mayor Linda Evans, City of La Quinta Mayor Brian Tisdale, City of Lake Elsinore /� U'�� Mayor Bill Zimmerman, City of Menifee t2" *L,� 4��, Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez, City of Moreno Valley Mayor Gene Wunderlich, City of Murrieta Mayor Berwin Hanna, City of Norco �i Mayor Gina Nestande, City of Palm Desert cc: Supervisor Jeff Hewitt Supervisor Kevin Jeffries Supervisor Manuel V Perez Supervisor Karen Spiegel Supervisor Chuck Washington _"gew A�� Mayor Geoff Kors, City of Palm Springs Mayor Michael Vargas, City of Perris Mayor Iris Smotrich, City of Rancho Mirage l��r - L- Mayor Rusty Bailey, City of Riverside Mayor Andrew Kotyuk, City of San Jacinto Mayor James "Stew" Stewart, City of Temecula Mayor Dustin Nigg, City of Wildomar