HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - May 6, 2020 C-13AGENDA ITEM c-l 3
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AGENDA TITLE:
MEETING DATE:
PREPARED BY:
Receive Report Regarding Communication Pertaining to Support of H.R. 6467,
Coronavirus Community Relief Act
May 6, 2020
City Clerk
RECOMMENDED ACTION Receive report regarding communication pertaining to support of
H.R. 6467, Coronavirus Community Relief Act.
BACKGROUND I NFORMAT¡ON The City received a request for communication from the League of
California Cities regarding a letter of support for H.R. 6467,
Coronavirus Community Relief Act. There was a need to send a
letter of suppofi immediately.
Previous stimulus bills passed by Congress have only been made available for cities with populations
over 500,000. H.R. 6467 would correct this obvious oversight of funding for the vast majority of cities in
America.
The attached letter, electronically signed by the Mayor, was sent on April 11, 2020. A copy of the initial
request is also attached. This report is provided for informational purposes only, pursuant to policy.
FISCAL IMPACT:Not applicable
FUNDING AVAILABLE: Not applicable
Pamela M. Farris
Assistant City Clerk
APPROVED: ffiSteplén SchwäQgér, City Manager
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FACSIMILE COVER SHEET
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
221 WEST PINE STREET - P.O. BOX 3006
LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241.1910
PHONE (209) 333-6702 FAX (20e) 333-6807
cbslú@lodlgov or pfsÅris@ladlgov
DATE: April11,2020
FROM:Pamela M. Farris
Assistant City Clerk
Con g ressma n Jerry McNerney, 202-225-4060 an d 209-476-8587
COMMENTS:Attached please find the Notice of Support of H.R. 6467,
Coronavirus Community Relief Act.
TH|S TRANSMTTTAL CONTATNS 3 PAGE(S),
INCLUDING THIS COVER SHEET.
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CITY COUNCIL
DOUG KUEHNE, Mayor
ALAN NAKANISHI,
Mayor Pro Tempore
MARK CHANDLER
JOANNE MOUNCE
CITY OF LODI
2015 "Wine Region of the Year"
CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET
P.O. BOX 3006
LODt, CALTFORNTA 95241-1910
(20e) 333-6702 tFAX (209) 333-6807www.lodi.oov citvclerk@lodi.oov
April 11,2020
Congressman Jerry McNerney
2265 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Via Fax: (202) 225-4060 and (209) 476-S587
Re: Support of H.R. 6467, Coronavirus Community Relief Act
As the Mayor for the City of Lodi, and as a member of the League of California Cities, I
am writing to express support of H.R. 6467, the Coronavirus Community Relief Act and to
urge you to cosponsor this þill. H.R. 6467 provides $250 billion in direct aid from the
federal government to local governments with a population of less than 500,000 as they
face mounting challenges related to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The scale of this global crisis is unprecedented, and so is the scope of the local
government response. California cities of all sizes are coordinating across jurisdictional
lines, enacting emergency measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic,
taking action to protect individuals and small businesses on the economic margins, while
spending such sums as necessary to protect public health.
The City of Lodi applauds Congress on the passage of the CARES Act, which provides
financial assistance to meet the immediate needs of individuals and small businesses, as
well as $150 billion in direct aid to states and local governments with a population greater
than 500,000 to help offset the new costs directly related to the pandemic. However,
given the population threshold, only four of California's 482 cities will receive this
much-needed aid. H.R. 6467 creates a path for the other 99.2 percent of the California
cities that were shut out of the CARES Act to receive direct federal aid.
The Coronavirus Community Relief Act also addresses some other gaps not covered by
the CARES Act. The proposed bill allows units of local government to use allocated funds
to cover losses. Section 601 of the CARES Act restricts use of funds to cover "necessary
expenditures." Cities, towns, and villages will need federal assistance to persevere
through the hardship resulting from rising costs and decreasing tax revenue and fees due
to COVID-19. This change from the CARES Act will help local communities dealwith
revenue shortfalls that will happen as a result of the covlD-1g crisis.
The Coronavirus Community Relief Act also provides the necessary flexibility on how
allocated funds can be used. lf one city needs more funds than it is allocated, while
another city does not need all of its allocated funds, these resources can be reallocated
among cities within a state to ensure they are put to their best use. This is a change from
the CARES Act.
STEPHEN SCHWABAUER
City Manager
PAMELA M. FARRIS
Assistant City Clerk
JANICE D. MAGDICH
City Attorney
Congressman McNerney
Support of H.R. 6467, Coronavirus Community Relief Act
April 1 1,2020
Page 2
Finally, the Coronavirus Community Relief Act changes the rule regarding when a city,
town, or village must certify in order to receive funds. lnstead of placing a burdensome
"shot clock" by which cities, towns, and villages must apply, this legislation allows more
time for an applicant to request funds. Smaller cities and towns are facing unprecedented
challenges and could be facing layoffs. ln this environment, a "shot clock" to apply puts
unneeded pressure on smaller communities in crisis.
California's local leaders are, and will continue to be for some time, on the fronflines of
responding to the coronavirus outbreak in their communities and doing what is necessary
to ensure the health and safety of their residents.
I urge you to support and cosponsor H.R. 6467 to ensure they have the resources to
maintain the essential services their residents need, especially in this moment.
To co-sponsor the bill, please contact Bo Morris in the office of Representative
Joe Neguse at Bo.Morris@mail.house.gov.
Sincerely,
ú/Ðaryúæhrø
Doug Kuehne
Mayor
City of Lodi
Cc:Stephen R. Qualls, Central Valley Division Regional Public Affairs Manager, squalls@cacities.org
Meg Desmond, League of California Cities, cityletters@cacities.org