10.1. SR 03-16-2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item # 10.1. ~~~.''~ aver MEMORANQUM TO: City Council FROM: Lori Johnson, City Administrator DATE: March 16, 2009 SUBJECT: Stimulus Funding More details axe becoming available about opportunities to receive funding from the American Recover and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (federal stimulus package). At the staff level we have been monitoring the sketchy information that is available and compiling a list of possible City projects that may qualify for funding. That list is attached for your review. At this time, most of the details and deadlines for applications for the funding are not known. What we do know is that funds are available, and if the City doesn't apply, another entity will get the funds instead. Therefore, staff is being proactive in preparing for and monitoring the application process very carefully so we can move quickly to apply for the funds. That means that there may not be time to check in with the Council on every application before it needs to be submitted. If the Council has concerns with or objections to any of the projects on the attached list, those projects should be discussed at the Council meeting. If not, staff will be soliciting federal funds for as many of these projects as possible if they meet the yet to be determined eligibility requirements. If several meet the criteria for the same pool of funds, staff will prioritize the projects before applying. As you will recall, the City also applied for transportation funding for improvements at Highway 169 and Main Street and for nulling and overlaying Main Street, west of downtown to the Orono Bridge. Neither of these projects was funded through the first round selection process by MnDOT. Additionally, we are currently studying whether additional police officers are programmed to be hired in the next five years. There is competitive funding available to retain, rehire, or add police officers; however, the funding pays for only the first three years of employment and the City is required to keep the officers fox five years. If the City intends to hire an officer in the next four years, it maybe to our benefit to apply for those funds. However, if an officer would not otherwise be hired within the next four years, we would be committing to expenses in years four and five that we would not have absent this funding.