HomeMy WebLinkAbout1. FUND RESERVE FOR IMPLENTATION OF COVID-19REQUEST FOR
COUNCIL ACTION
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE:
JANUARY 7, 2021
TITLE:
APPROPRIATE $250,000 OF GENERAL
FUND RESERVE FOR IMPLEMENTATION
OF COVID-19 TESTING AND
VACCINATIONS AND AUTHORIZE THE
CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
AGREEMENTS WITH QUALIFIED VENDORS
FOR THESE SERVICES (TOTAL FUNDING
NOT TO EXCEED $750,000)
CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDED ACTION
CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY:
❑ As Recommended
❑ As Amended
❑ Ordinance on 1st Reading
❑ Ordinance on 2nd Reading
❑ Implementing Resolution
❑ Set Public Hearing For_
CONTINUED TO
FILE NUMBER
1. Approve an appropriation adjustment to allocate $250,000 of General Fund Reserves for
expenditures in response to COVID-19.
2. Direct the City Attorney to finalize and authorize the City Manager to enter into negotiations,
execute agreements, and approve any other required actions necessary with various
service providers, contractors, and sub -recipients for COVID-19 testing and vaccine
distribution.
DISCUSSION
As of the 4th of this month, our City had 32,077 total confirmed positive cases and 380 individuals
have lost their life. City efforts to provide assistance to our community were primarily funded by
Federal Coronavirus Relief Funds, commonly referred as CARES dollars, provided by the State of
California. These funds created multiple assistance programs under the Santa Ana CARES
umbrella; unfortunately, the funding was exhausted last month. With those dollars, the City of
Santa Ana was able to be at the forefront of providing services to our community including testing,
access to health information, personal protective equipment, isolation and over $10 million in direct
financial assistance.
The depletion of these funds caused the City of Santa Ana to pause many of the programs including
local COVID-19 testing. While other COVID-19 testing options are still available from health care
agencies and clinics including the Anaheim Convention Center, OC Fairgrounds and through the
mail, an interest has been expressed to provide easily accessible testing locally for our residents.
COVID Testing and Vaccination
January 7, 2021
Page 2
To potentially restart local testing, the City of Santa Ana has been working closely with the Santa
Ana College Chancellors' office and potential testing vendors. The City has preliminarily sought
opportunities to secure the maximum amount of testing with limited funding by ensuring
reimbursements, when available, from third parties are fully exhausted.
In addition, as the State receives distribution of vaccination doses and our region begins the
planning and implementation of vaccinations, there is an opportunity for the City to lead the efforts
for a vaccination site within our City. By working closely with the County of Orange, this could
provide a locally accessible option for our community. The protocol for vaccinations in our region,
which must be in accordance with the State guidelines, are currently being developed and should
be available within the next two weeks. Further, there is the potential for reimbursement
submission of at least 75% of costs for this activity through FEMA. Details are still developing on
whether or not the City will be the direct recipient of any other COVID-19 State or Federal financial
assistance.
FISCAL IMPACT
On December 1, 2020, the City Council approved a second amendment to the COVID-19
Response Funding Plan for CDBG dollars. The amendment included an allocation of $500,000 for
testing and vaccine distribution that remains available. However, there are qualification factors for
use of this money that is to serve low-income residents. Staff is already working on developing
verification processes to meet the federal requirements. Currently, the General Fund is the only
other funding source available for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations and would be needed for
residents that do not meet the qualifications of the CDBG funding source. With the closure and
audit of the financial books for FY19-20 there was an additional $5.7 million added to the general
fund balance of which $250,000 may be appropriated to supplement the testing and vaccination
efforts. Detailed information will be provided with the upcoming presentation of the audited
financial statements and Midyear budget report.
Should Council proceed with these actions the funding in an amount not to exceed $750,000 would
be funded as follows:
Accounting Unit
Fund Description
Funding Amount
13518788
CDBG Fund, CDBG-CV3
$500,000
01105015
General Fund, Non -Departmental
$250,000
Total
$750,000
Fiscal Impact Verified By: Kathryn Downs, CPA, Executive Director— Finance and Management
Services Agency
Submitted By: Kristine Ridge, City Manager