Hunter
09/07/21
Iowa City’s city council will be considering how to use federal pandemic relief aid during an informal work session today.
The Gazette says that Assistant City Manager Rachel Kilburg has sent a memo to the Council outlining a dozen common suggestions gathered during open forums and the city’s online surveys. The paper says the city had nearly 1900 submissions to the online survey.
One of those suggestions comes from the Funded Excluded Workers Coalition. They’ve been asking for a majority of the funds to be allocated to undocumented immigrants, previously incarcerated workers, and unemployed workers.
Other recommendations include using the funds to improve high-speed internet, expand mental health services, improve public transit, and put a $15 minimum wage into effect.
Half of the $18.3 million allocated by the American Rescue Plan Act has already been received by the city; they’ll get the other half by next May.
According to the provisions of the Plan, the money must be allocated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026. The funds can be used to respond to negative public health and economic impacts, give premium pay to essential workers, replace lost government revenue, and make necessary infrastructure improvements.
The city council is holding their meetings and work sessions at the Senior Center on South Linn Street, as its larger size provides for more social distancing. Today’s work session starts at 4 and will be streamed online.