AgdaPkt 2020-04-06 Special - Laserfiche WebLink

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S.A. - Page 19 of 21 micro -lenders who could potentially lend either zero interest or low interest loans to support small businesses. Staff recommends that the City Council appropriate $300,000 to San Mateo County Strong to support Redwood City small business relief efforts. Evaluate Postponement of 2021 Redwood City Minimum Wage Increase to Relieve Businesses In order to support the City's lowest wage workers, the City implemented a local minimum wage ordinance in 2019. The City's minimum wage is currently $15.38 an hour. The City's minimum wage increase is based on the year over year August -to -August Consumer Price Index (CPI). If the year over year CPI is negative, then the minimum wage rate remains that of the previous year. Should there be CPI increase this August, staff recommends that the City Council consider postponing the increase to help relieve Redwood City businesses. As CPI data typically is available one to two months after the fact, staff would return in October 2020 with an update to Council. Staff recommends that the City Council direct staff to provide an update to the City Council in October 2020 regarding the local minimum wage to be effective in January 2021 so that they City Council might consider postponing the increase to help relieve Redwood City businesses. Future Allocation of New Community Development Block Grant Funding As noted above, the City is eligible to receive a new allocation of $448,000 in Community Development Block Grant Funding. Staff recommends that the City Council direct staff to provide recommendations at a future City Council meeting on use of the $448,000 new allocation of Community Development Block Grant funding, once further federal guidance has been received. Temporary Downtown Parking for Restaurant Take-out City staff is working on providing temporary short-term downtown parking for restaurant businesses to help facilitate the transition to take-out services. This would require installation of short term parking zones adjacent to restaurant storefronts. City staff has reached out to the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business Group who expressed interest for the program. Based on recent business interest, staff allowed a temporary opening of Theater Way to vehicle traffic for efficient restaurant takeout services. Staff recommends that the City Council direct staff to continue to develop short-term, low-cost adjustments to parking and right of way usage to support restaurant transition to take-out and delivery services while the Shelter in Place order is in effect. FISCAL IMPACT As described above, the City can expect significant, negative impacts on City revenue related to the impending recession. This will be further discussed when staff brings an updated General Fund forecast to the City Council on April 13, 2020. Page 19 of 21 .Jl=� . City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.ore 22