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Home My WebLink AboutEconomic Relief Funds to Augment Community Partners ProgramSTAFF REPORT CITY OF PALM DESERT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT MEETING DATE: October 29, 2020 PREPARED BY: Martin Alvarez, Director of Economic Development REQUEST: Authorize staff to utilize remaining uncommitted Unite Palm Desert Economic Relief Funds to augment the Community Partners Program. Recommendation By Minute Motion: 1. Authorize the use of up to $89,900 of uncommitted Unite Palm Desert Funds to augment the Community Partners Program as outlined in the staff report; 2. Authorize the Interim City Manager to execute documents consistent with this City Council action, and allow the City Attorney to prepare said documents. 3. Direct staff to provide a status report to the City Council in December 2020 highlighting how the funds are being used to assist our businesses. Strategic Plan Obiective This action aligns with the City's Envision Palm Desert Strategic Plan and Economic Development Strategic Plan in the following areas: • Economic Development Priority 1: Expand job and business creation opportunities, • Economic Development Strategic Plan (2018), High Priority (HPI) 2: Business Retention and Expansion Program, (HPI) 3: Revitalization of Key Commercial Districts and (HPI) Request and Discussion Staff placed this item on the City Council agenda at the request of Mayor Nestande because on October 15, 2020, the California Department of Public Health changed Riverside County from the red tier (Tier 2) to the purple tier (Tier 1). The purpose of today's request is to replenish our Community Partners program to continue to financially assist our businesses to get through yet another setback. In May of 2020, the City Council approved the reallocation of the funds associated "with the Invest Palm Desert Economic Development Incentive Program to the Unite Palm Desert Business Support Program, allocating $2 million in five (5) Five Focus Areas to assist the Palm Desert community and its businesses during the COVID- 19 health crisis. On September 24, 2020, as part of Focus Area 5, - Community Partners October 29, 2020 — Staff Report Community Partners Grants — Outdoor Dining Page 2of2 Funding, the City Council allocated $15,000 of Unite Palm Desert funds to assist (6) Palm Desert restaurants with $2,500 grants to facilitate outdoor dining decks. To date the City has approved 14 temporary use permits for outdoor dining. As a reminder the TUP fee and Building Department Inspection fee (as needed) is waived as well. Today's request would transfer up to $89,900 to the Community Partners Program to allow staff to facilitate additional assistance to businesses and restaurants. Financial assistance of up to $3,000 each is recommended and expected to be welcomed by businesses. Funds can be used for a wide variety of items such as decking, shade structures, lighting, misters, heaters, and aesthetic upgrades to name a few. This can include but is not limited to outdoor dining venues and personal service businesses to accommodate outdoor work spaces so they can continue operating. Of course staff will continue with established procedures prior to issuing grants, such as verification of approved TUP's and verification of actual expenditures. LEGAL REVIEW N/A Robert W. Hargreaves City Attorney DEPT. REVIEW Martin. Akro Yea Martin Alvarez Director of Economic Development Interim City Manager: Ran y &hG er FINANCIAL REVIEW Janet M. Moore Director of Finance ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER Andy Firestine Assistant City Manager City of Palm desert Existing Outdoor Dining TUPs Permit # Business Name Address Within Public ROW TUP20-0012 Pizza Vino 73722 El Paseo N❑ TUP20-0015 Fresh Agave 73325 Highway 111 Yes TUP20-0016 II Cors❑ 73530 El Paseo Yes TUP20-0021 Little Bar 73560 Highway 111 Yes TUP20-0022 Mama Gina's 73705 El Paseo Yes TUP20-0025 Trattoria Tiramisu 72655 Highway 111, 136 No TUP20-0026 Cafe des Beaux Arts 73640 El Paseo No TUP20-0027 Stuft Pizza 72840 Highway 111 No TUP20-0028 French Rotisserie 44489 Town Center Way, G No TUP20-0029 Castelli's 73098 Highway 111 Yes TUP20-0030 Mimmo's Italian Restaurant 73540 Highway 111, No. 4 Yes TUP20-0031 Islands Restaurant 72353 Highway 111 No TUP20-0032 Libation Room 7375❑ El Paseo, 101 Yes TUP20-0035 Ruth's Chris Steak House 74740 Highway 111 No