Council Reviews ARPA Funds and Recognizes National Police Week
May 18, 2022 12:00AM ● By Story by Shaunna Boyd
Councilmember Steve Miller presented a proclamation to General Services Director Regina Cave, recognizing National Public Works Week as a tribute to the dedicated professionals who provide essential services in our communities. Photo courtesy of City of Citrus Heights
CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - At the May 12 meeting, the Citrus Heights City Council issued several proclamations, recognizing National Public Works Week, Building Safety Month, and National Police Week.
Councilmember Steve Miller said that this is the 62nd annual National Public Works Week and this year’s theme is “Ready and Resilient.” Miller read the proclamation, stating, “Public Works professionals focus on infrastructure, facilities, emergency management, and services that are vital to the sustainability and resiliency of our communities and to the public health, quality of life, and wellbeing of the residents and businesses of Citrus Heights.”
The City of Citrus Heights recognized the hardworking and dedicated professionals who provide these essential services, and General Services Director Regina Cave accepted the proclamation.
Miller also read the proclamation recognizing May as Building Safety Month: “Our city is committed to recognizing that our growth and strength depends on the safety and essential role of our homes, buildings, and infrastructure. Both in everyday life and when disasters strike, our confidence in the resilience of these buildings that make up our community is achieved through the devotion of vigilant guardians … who work year-round to ensure the safe construction of buildings.”
Modern building codes are in place to protect our buildings from the impact of natural disasters, and the Council recognized the professionals who work to ensure those codes are upheld. Chief Building Official Greg Anderson accepted the proclamation.
Councilmember Bret Daniels read the proclamation recognizing May 15 – 21 as National Police Week. Since 1962, this week pays special tribute to law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty “for the safety and protection of others,” said Daniels. These officers have “a vital role in safeguarding the rights and freedoms which are guaranteed by the constitution, and in protecting the lives and property of our citizens.”
Councilmember Daniels said it’s important that citizens understand the challenges, duties, and responsibilities of police officers and express gratitude for their “dedicated service and courageous deeds” and their contributions to “the security and well being of all our people.”
Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) Operations Commander Kris Frey said he was “humbled” to accept the proclamation and “thankful for the Council’s ongoing and continued support for both the police department and for public safety within our community.” Frey said that May is a solemn month for law enforcement officers as they take time to observe memorial services across the county “to honor the brave women and men who paid the ultimate sacrifice by laying down their lives while protecting their respective communities.”
Economic Development and Communications Manager Megan Huber and Interim Administrative Services Director Bill Zenoni presented Council with an update on the Small Business Covid Recovery Grant Program, funded through the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) award.
The City was awarded a total of $15.6 million of the federal funding, with the first installment of $7.8 million received last May and the final installment expected by the end of this month. Last June, the Council allocated $5.3 million to restore 22 vacant positions in the CHPD. This January, the Council allocated $320,000 for the Small Business Covid Recovery Grant Program, which was open for applications from February 24 through March 26.
To be eligible, businesses had to be licensed in Citrus Heights with fewer than 20 employees, be operational in March 2020 through the present, earn less than $3 million in annual revenue in 2019, and show at least 25% revenue loss in either 2020 or 2021.
The program awarded grants through a tiered system: Businesses with gross revenue in 2019 of $1,000 to $100,000 were eligible for $2,000, those who earned between $100,000 and $1 million were eligible for $10,000, and businesses with revenues between $1 million and $3 million could receive $15,000.
When the Council authorized the program, their priorities were a streamlined and expedited application process and robust outreach efforts. Huber explained that applications were available online and in hard copies in multiple languages, and staff members were available to assist with the process in person, on the phone, and virtually. They also conducted direct outreach to local businesses as well implementing comprehensive promotion of the program online and through email lists and social media.
The City received 69 applications, and 33 businesses met the eligibility requirements and received grant funding, with payments issued on April 25. Nine businesses received $2,000 grants, 20 received $10,000 grants, and four received $15,000 grants—for a total of $278,000 in funding for small businesses. There are still unexpended funds from the allocation that are available for future consideration by the Council.
Zenoni explained that as staff reviewed the applications, they reached out to business owners if anything was missing—working to get the required information to ensure eligibility for as many businesses as possible. Of the 36 businesses that applied but were determined to be ineligible for the program, 22 did not meet the 25% revenue loss requirement. The rest were disqualified for other reasons, such as not operating within Citrus Heights, not being a small business, or missing the necessary tax documents.
Councilmember Daniels said he was disappointed that so many businesses were not eligible because they didn’t meet the 25% revenue loss requirement, and he asked how many were close to meeting that mark. Zenoni said that 17 of the 22 disqualified businesses (77%) had less than 10% revenue loss.
Councilmember Miller thanked staff for administering the program so quickly and efficiently.
Vice Mayor Tim Schaefer said that hearing how many businesses were disqualified due to lower revenue losses showed that the program “really covered the bases,” and helped the businesses they were trying to help: “I think the way the program was structured was well done.”
Mayor Porsche Middleton said, “We want the businesses to recover in our community, so thank you for … standing it up so quickly. I know that it was a push, and as a Council I know we appreciate you doing that work.”
The Council will discuss further ARPA funding allocations at the May 26 meeting.