REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 22, 2023
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Operating Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Ratification Actions in Response to American Rescue Plan Act - Subrecipient Contracts
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Ratify the Chief Executive Officer’s exercise of the authority granted by the Board of Supervisors on March 1, 2022 (Item No. 32), in approving the following contracts with subrecipients for American Rescue Plan Act funding for eligible projects in accordance with the Board of Supervisors approved Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Spending Plan:
1. Contract No. ARPA21-PRJD-027-PPH with Phelan-Pinon Hills Community Services District for the Phelan Community Park Project, in the not-to-exceed amount of $457,194, for the contract term of February 1, 2023 through December 31, 2026.
2. Contract No. ARPA21-PRJC-029-RIA with the City of Rialto for the Birdsall Park Improvement Project, in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,617,950, for the contract term of June 13, 2023 through December 31, 2026.
(Presenter: Luther Snoke, Chief Operating Officer, 387-4811)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
Focus on Recovery and Resiliency Following Major Emergency Responses such as the December 2, 2015 Terrorist Attack (SB Strong) and the Global COVID-19 Pandemic.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). San Bernardino County received a direct allocation of $423.5 million under the American Rescue Plan Act - Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARPA Fund) to bolster the County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact. The Board of Supervisors (Board) approved an expenditure plan for the use of these funds, known as the County Local Fiscal Recovery Spending Plan (Spending Plan), on June 8, 2021 (Item No. 121) and amended the plan on August 24, 2021 (Item No. 21). At the recommendation of the First and Fifth District Board Offices, these projects are approved to proceed and be funded respectively by each respective District’s ARPA Fund. Sufficient appropriation is included in the ARPA Fund’s 2023-24 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law and established the $350 billion Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to distribute resources to state and local governments throughout the nation.
The County established an ARPA Team who reviews all potential projects to determine eligibility for ARPA funding and if the project and use is in accordance with the Board approved Spending Plan. When projects are deemed eligible, then the ARPA Team works with the subrecipients to determine subrecipient compliance with ARPA guidelines, and subsequently initiates the contract process. On March 1, 2022 (Item No. 32), the Board authorized the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to execute the Board-approved standard ARPA contract template with subrecipients and directed that ARPA contracts executed by the CEO be brought back to the Board for ratification within 30 days of contract execution. Monthly reporting has been provided to the Board detailing the status of ARPA contracts.
The Phelan Community Park is located in Phelan within the Phelan-Pinon Hills Community Services District. Given the lack of outdoor community park space in the Phelan-Pinon Hills area, residents have felt this impact greater than most areas of the County during the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall lack of park and recreation facilities for the community have contributed to social, mental, and physical health problems. The projected expenditure of $457,194, in whole or in part, will be used to pay for the design, engineering, and/or construction of additional facilities, such as tennis and pickleball courts, community education garden, walking paths with exercise equipment, and shade. The Phelan Community Park Project will help the community improve their mental, social, spiritual, and physical health, as well as support more socialization and increased physical activity. The First District Board Office recommended to proceed with executing this project contract with the Phelan-Pinon Hills Community Services District. This contract was executed by the CEO on August 9, 2023.
The Birdsall Park is located in the City of Rialto and provides recreation, leisure, and community services to meet the needs of the diverse community. Currently, the snack bar and restroom facility at Birdsall Park are in need of improvements. The projected expenditure of $1,617,950 will be used to pay for the scheduled demolition of the snack bar and restroom building, and the purchase and installation of a prefabricated building to provide renovations to the existing park. The Birdsall Park Improvement Project will bring this facility up to American Disabilities Act standards, increase health and safety, and improve service delivery to everyday park users, the high school across the street, and the North Rialto Little League team that provides baseball programming to the community. The Fifth District Board Office recommended to proceed with executing this project contract with the City of Rialto. This contract was executed by the CEO on August 9, 2023.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 2, 2023; Purchasing (Michelle Churchill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on August 2, 2023; Risk Management (Victor Tordesillas, Director, 386-8623) on August 4, 2023; Finance (Guy Martinez, ARPA Compliance Analyst, 387-5428, and Joon Cho, Chief Administrative Analyst, 387-5402) on August 2, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on August 7, 2023.