Title
Consider recommendations regarding the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Update and Adjustments, as follows: (4/5 Vote Required)
a) Approve funding adjustments to identified ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund projects and direct staff to incorporate said adjustments into the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 Recommended Budget;
b) Approve and authorize the Chair to execute a First Amendment to the Agreement for Services of Independent Contractor with Ernst and Young LLP to increase the not-to-exceed contract amount by $250,000.00 from $1,500,000.00 to $1,750,000.00;
c) Authorize the County Executive Officer, or designee, to make funding adjustments among existing ARPA projects to account for projects that are completed under budget;
d) Approve and authorize the Chair to execute a First Amendment to the Agreement for Services with South Coast Funding Group LLC doing business as QwikResponse to increase the not-to-exceed contract amount by $250,000.00 from $500,000.00 to $750,000.00;
e) Approve the following Budget Revision Requests to incorporate ARPA project funding adjustments from June 25, 2024 into the FY 2024-2025 Recommended Budget:
i) Budget Revision Request No. 0010212 to adjust project funding in the County Executive Office;
ii) Budget Revision Request No. 0010229 to adjust project funding in the General Services Department;
iii) Budget Revision Request No. 0010224 to adjust project funding in the Office of the Public Defender;
iv) Budget Revision Request No. 0010220 to adjust project funding in the Office of the District Attorney;
v) Budget Revision Request No. 0010226 to adjust project funding in the Sheriff’s Office;
vi) Budget Revision Request No. 0010228 to adjust project funding in the Community Services Department;
vii) Budget Revision Request No. 0010225 to adjust project funding in the Fire Department;
viii) Budget Revision Request No. 0010227 to adjust project funding in the Public Works; and
ix) Budget Revision Request No. 0010230 to adjust project funding in the General County Programs Department;
f) Approve Budget Revision Request No. 0010214 to establish appropriations to fund the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Goleta Beach Parking Lot repair with $987,753.00 of ARPA funds, to reduce the appropriations of CIP General Fund for the Goleta Beach Parking Lot in that amount, to establish General Fund appropriations of $250,000.00 for homeless encampment clean-up contract costs, and to establish an earmark of $712,595.00 in General County Programs for homeless funding needs as directed by the Board at a future time, including operating costs for Hope Village and La Posada;
g) Approve Budget Revision Request No. 0010231 to establish appropriations for the Planning and Development Department to hire consultants for Housing Element Update implementation, in the amount of $221,000.00 from Department 990 General Fund made available by the recommended ARPA funding adjustments;
h) Approve Budget Revision Request No. 0010207 to receive $1,111,754.00 of ARPA funds in Department 990 COVID-19 General Assistance Fund from Public Works Flood Control and reduction of $122,015.00 transfer of ARPA funds that was previously allocated to the Santa Maria River and Stormwater Trash Control projects; and
i) Determine that the above actions are not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), because pursuant to Sections 15378(b)(4) and 15378(b)(5) the recommended actions consist of organizational, administrative, or fiscal activities of government that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.