Rescue funds on the College Place agenda

By Terry Murry on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

COLLEGE PLACE – The College Place City Council will consider accepting Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act at its meeting tonight (Tuesday) at 7.

The city is eligible to receive $2.6 million. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the funds provide substantial flexibility for each government to meet local needs—including support for households, small businesses, impacted industries, essential workers, and the communities hardest hit by the crisis. These funds can also be used to make necessary investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.

The funds will be released in two equal payments: one in the next 30 days and the second payment in the first quarter of 2022.

Council members will also get a strategic plan update from City Administrator Mike Rizzitiello. The strategic plan helps guide the operations of the city through mission, values, goals, and objectives. The city conducts an update on the strategic plan every two years.

Also on the agenda, council will consider action authorizing staff, on behalf of Mayor Norma Hernandez, to accept a $500,000 Sherwood Trust Core Grant to go towards the renovation of Lions Park. The Sherwood Trust Board of Directors recently selected the College Place Lions Park splash pad and inclusive playground project as its sole recipient of its 2021 Core Grant after city staff applied for the grant back in March.

The city has also been awarded three grants from the Washington State Recreation Conservation Office in the amount of $1.3 million towards Lions Park improvements. The meeting is streamed on the city’s YouTube channel. It is also available on Zoom. The ID number is 913 2577 8369.