AgdaPkt 2021.02.22 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.C. - Page 19 of 196 The City has initiated numerous programs to help residents mitigate the economic damage caused by COVID-19, including emergency rental assistance, meal distribution, and waiving late payment penalties for utility customers. Redwood City committed more than $4.6 million in operating funds responding to the COVID-19 crisis — in staff time, purchases, and direct aid to residents in FY 2019-20. This includes more than $1.7 million in overtime and supplies and service expenditures. To date, the City has received $1.1 million in federal CARES Act assistance passed through the State of California. City staff continue to document expenditures with the aniticipation of additional funding proposed from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the possibility that funding for state and local governments might be included in a future federal stimulus bill or state response program. The City partnered with San Mateo County to make COVID-19 testing more accessible to City residents and to promote safe hygiene. As of December 2020, San Mateo County continued to lead the state as the second highest County for COVID-19 testing. Staff have provided the business community with information and health guideline materials to post in their establishments and have coordinated onsite community testing in Redwood City neighborhoods at risk. Redwood City has administered an Emergency Rental Assistance Program for families and individuals who have experienced a loss of income due to the pandemic. The City has committed over $500,000 in operating funds, and allocated over $2.0 million in federal, county, and private funds to this program. This program, provided through the Fair Oaks Community Center, has provided assistance to over 3,500 individuals in over 1,000 unduplicated households — including over one-third of households being assisted multiple months and/or multiple times since March 2020. The Veterans Memorial Senior Center continues to provide 380 "to go" and "delivered" meals daily, Monday through Friday, for Redwood City seniors. In addition, the Fair Oaks Community Center continues to provide groceries and bag lunches to over 1,400 households each month and connects residents to a variety of food resources available throughout the community. Utility customers are also receiving relief in the form of waived late payment penalties. The City's water and sewer rate assistance program had 97 participants during calendar year 2020, with 25 participants being added after April 2020. Beginning in March 2020, the City has waived late payment penalties for the 18 percent of utility customers who would have been charged monthly penalties. An extension of the waiver of late payments through February 2021 was approved by the City Council in October 2020. The annual revenue forgone from the waived charges is approximately $210,000. The City has committed $1.7 million over two years for a Safe Parking Pilot program to allow 110 permits for on - and off-street Recreational Vehicle (RV) parking and the creation of a 30-50 space Safe RV Parking Site, supported by outreach and case management services from LifeMoves. To date, much progress has been made in the initial launching of the Safe Parking Pilot program. Prior to implementation of the program, 120 RVs were parked on city streets, and currently there are around 40 RVs on city streets. The temporary school transition from onsite to remote learning, and remote work options for adults able to use them, has elevated electronic work to an essential solution during the pandemic. A June 2020 survey of San Mateo County school districts found that more than 4,400 elementary and high school students did not have access to laptops and/or Wi-Fi connectivity in their homes. The City has prioritized bridging the digital divide in pandemic response and recovery efforts by partnering with schools and community-based organizations to distribute hotspots and other equipment; and the City Council approved a license agreement with San Mateo County in December 2020 for installation, operation, and maintenance of free public Wi-Fi in underserved neighborhoods. Economic Vitality With the adoption of the Downtown Precise Plan in 2011, Downtown Redwood City had become a vibrant district where Redwood City residents enjoyed working, living, and playing. As a result of the pandemic, fewer workers 106