ORDINANCE NO. 210485
title
Estimating revenues and appropriating funds in the amount of $11,722,305.00 in the General Grants Fund for the Emergency Rental Assistance program from the U.S. Department of Treasury to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic; authorizing the Director of Housing and Community Development Department to execute contracts for Emergency Rental Assistance activities; requiring quarterly status reports; directing the City Manager to report back to Council within 14 days once full allocation is received with a funding distribution plan; and designating resignation authority.
body
WHEREAS, the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) program was established by Section 3201 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Pub. L. No. 117-2 (March 11, 2021) (ERA2) to provide emergency rental and utility assistance; and
WHEREAS, the City will use these funds to execute contracts to provide rental and utility assistance through various means; and
WHEREAS, the first allocation will be $4,688,922.00 and the second allocation of $7,033,383.00 will be received at a later date with the total amount being $11,722,305.00. Execution of contracts will provide rental and utility assistance to residents; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That revenue is estimated in the following account of the General Grants Funds in the following amount:
22-2580-555501- 479979-G55ERAP22 Emergency Rental Assistance $11,722,305.00
Section 2. That the sum of $11,722,305.00 is hereby appropriated from the Unappropriated Fund Balance to the following accounts in the General Grants Fund:
22-2580-555501-A-G55ERAP22 Administration $ 700,000.00
22-2580-555501-B-G55ERAP22 Emergency Rental & Utility Assistance 11, 022,305.00
TOTAL $11,722,305.00
Section 3. That the Director of Housing and Community Development Department is hereby authorized to expend up to $11,722,305.00 from the funds appropriated to the General Grants Fund in Account 22-2580-555501-B-G55ERAP22 to satisfy the costs of contracts for rental and utility assistance.
Section 4. That the Director of Housing and Community Development Department is hereby authorized to contract for services pursuant to this ordinance from
Account No. 22-2580-555501-B-G55ERAP22 without further Council approval, provided that such contracts provide for adequate and appropriate reporting requirements as required in Section 5 of this Ordinance.
Section 5. That the Director of Housing and Community Development Department or his designee provide until funds appropriated through this ordinance are exhausted, a quarterly report to Council describing, among other items, the number of applications for rental assistance made to date, the number of applicants served, communications efforts made to increase public awareness of rental assistance efforts, methods to ensure compliance with city housing and tenants’ rights policies, and remaining funds available for rental assistance efforts.
Section 6. That the City Manager is directed to report back to the City Council on a plan of distribution of funds within 14 days of passage of this ordinance.
Section 7. That the Director of Housing and Community Development is designated as requisitioning authority for Account No. 2580-555501.
end
______________________________________________________
I hereby certify that there is a balance, otherwise unencumbered, to the credit of the appropriation to which the foregoing expenditure is to be charged, and a cash balance, otherwise unencumbered, in the treasury, to the credit of the fund from which payment is to be made, each sufficient to meet the obligation hereby incurred.
______________________________
Tammy L. Queen
Director of Finance
Approved as to form and legality:
______________________________
Joseph Guarino
Assistant City Attorney