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HomeMy WebLinkAbout15409RESOLUTION NO. 15409 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($350,000) FROM PROJECT NO. CI-2113 – AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSTRUCTING BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE, AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 603 (A) OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT AND U.S. TREASURY FINAL RULE 31 CFR 35 WHEREAS, on March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the U.S. Senate-amended H.R.1319 (P.L. 117-2) known as the American Rescue Plan Act ( “ARPA”); and WHEREAS, on May 10, 2021, the U.S. Treasury issued the Interim Final Rule to implement ARPA in Title 31, Part 35 of the Code of Federal Regulations (“CFR”); and WHEREAS, by Ordinance No. 9931, approved on May 17, 2021, the City Council established Project No. CI-2113 and budgeted and appropriated up to $36.7 million in funds which were expected to be distributed to the City from ARPA for covered costs and eligible expenses to be incurred during the period which began on March 3, 2021, until December 31, 2024 (to be expended by December 31, 2026); and WHEREAS, on January 6, 2022, the U.S. Treasury issued, with an effective date of April 1, 2022, the Final Rule to implement ARPA in Title 31, Part 35 of the CFR; and WHEREAS, under the Final Rule, recipients may use Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (“SLFRF”) to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and the negative economic consequences resulting therefrom; and WHEREAS, under the U.S. Treasury’s Final Rule pertaining to ARPA, recipients may use SLFRF funds to invest in communities to promote improved health outcomes and public safety such as parks, recreation facilities, and programs that increase access to healthy foods; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that SECTION 1. Funds in the amount of three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) are hereby authorized for payment from Project No. CI-2113 – American Rescue Plan Act, for purposes of re-routing fiber-optics infrastructure to connect the City’s fire station #6, Municipal Airport, and East Side facilities. SECTION 2. The officers and staff of the City are authorized to perform all acts consistent with this Resolution to implement the policies and procedures described herein. SECTION 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon final passage. INTRODUCED: November 13, 2023 BY: Vicente Martinez Ortega MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL APPROVED: PRESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL ATTESTED BY: City Clerk's Office Item # M1 Background Paper for Proposed Resolution COUNCIL MEETING DATE: November 13, 2023 TO: President Heather Graham and Members of City Council CC: Mayor Nicholas A. Gradisar VIA: Marisa Stoller, City Clerk FROM: George Hypolite, City Attorney SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($350,000) FROM PROJECT NO. CI- 2113 – AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSTRUCTING BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE, AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 603 (A) OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT AND U.S. TREASURY FINAL RULE 31 CFR 35 SUMMARY: This Resolution authorizes the payment of $350,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) funds for the purpose of re-routing fiber-optic infrastructure from Fire Station #6, the Pueblo Municipal Airport, and other City facilities on the East Side. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: By Ordinance No. 9931, approved on May 17, 2021, the City Council established Project No. CI-2113 and budgeted and appropriated up to $36.7 million in funds which were expected to be distributed to the City from the American Recovery Plan Act (“ARPA”) for covered costs and eligible expenses to be incurred during the period which began on March 3, 2021, until December 31, 2024, (to be expended by December 31, 2026). BACKGROUND: The City of Pueblo currently has fiber-optic aerial infrastructure servicing all the city departments on the east side of town. The path of the aerial fiber runs along Black Hill’s pole line through citizen’s backyards, is prone to damage, and is difficult to repair. The fiber resources servicing wastewater, recycle center, and code enforcement departments are at maximum capacity. More capacity is urgently needed. Further, the city’s new fire station six will require a reroute of this section so that network connectivity can be provided for their day-to-day operations. The rerouting of this section will place some of this fiber-infrastructure in underground facilities, reducing the risk of damage, increasing our capacity, and allowing for further expansion of services and needs for the east side departments and the Airport complex. The ARPA Broadband infrastructure Project guidelines provide "the construction and deployment of broadband infrastructure designed to deliver service that reliably meets or exceeds symmetrical speeds of 100MBps so that communities have future proof infrastructure to serve their long-term needs." This Project clearly aligns with these guidelines by allowing funding to be utilized for the expansion of this infrastructure. Undergrounding this area will ensure availability and advancement of services as the city requires and will ensure public safety services to the Pueblo community for years to come. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: $350,000 in ARPA funds are being authorized for payment. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable to this Resolution. STAKEHOLDER PROCESS: Not applicable to this Resolution. ALTERNATIVES: City Council could decide not to support or fund the re-route of broadband infrastructure for Fire Station #6, the Pueblo Municipal Airport, and other City facilities on the East Side. RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the Resolution. ATTACHMENTS: None