Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Reallocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds from Completed ARPA-Funded Projects to the Clean and Safe Environment Improvements for City Facilities Project.
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From: Jake Ngo, Public Works Director
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Tuan Pham, Maintenance and Utilities Manager
____________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Reallocate ARPA funds in the amount of $477,621.53 to the Clean and Safe Environment Improvements for City Facilities Project (Account No. 212309) from completed ARPA-funded projects.
end
BACKGROUND
On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) into law to address the economic and health impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the City of Westminster received an allocation of $23.7 million.
On December 9, 2024, the Mayor, on behalf of the City of Westminster, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Agreement for authorized ARPA funding requests with the Public Works Department to implement and administer ARPA funds for the approved ARPA projects.
A total of $8,803,388 in funding was approved for the following projects:
• Park Improvements - Ballfields at Buckingham and Westminster Parks;
• Playground Improvements at Bolsa Chica, Westminster Village, Russell Paris, College and Bowling Green Parks;
• Soccer Fields at Sigler Park;
• Clean and Safe Environment Improvements for City Facilities (HVAC and roof replacement at City-owned buildings within the Civic Center);
• Park Building Improvements at Blakey Park; and
• Community Garden on Cherry Street.
By purchasing the playground equipment directly from the manufacturer and bidding the playground improvement project at five parks as a single project, there were significant cost savings in the amount of $887,250.32. In addition, other completed ARPA-funded projects resulted in additional savings of $45,371.21, for total savings of $932,621.53.
Staff recommends using $455,000 of the cost savings to address additional improvements at the above-mentioned parks. These improvements may include:
• Replacement of damaged concrete walkways and park signs;
• Painting of existing park buildings and shade structures; and
• Purchase of new irrigation controllers, benches, trash receptacles, drinking fountains, dog waste stations, and basketball backboards with rims and nets.
After the $455,000 is utilized for the additional improvements at the parks, there will be a remaining balance of $477,621.53 in cost savings from the completed ARPA-funded projects. Staff would like to reallocate this remaining balance to the Clean and Safe Environment Improvements for City Facilities to fund Phase Two of the Roofing Project.
To date, all projects, with the exception of the Clean and Safe Environment Improvements at City Facilities, have been completed. The Public Works Department recently awarded the HVAC Replacement project at the City Hall Building and Phase One of the Roofing Project at the City Hall Building and is in the process of bidding Phase Two of the Roofing Project for the Community Services, Council Chambers, and Senior Center buildings. At the October 14, 2026 City Council meeting, the Council will be requested to approve Phase Two of the Roofing Project.
ARPA rules prohibit any new contracts, projects, or MOUs after December 31, 2024. On May 22, 2024, the Mayor and City Council approved an agreement with AXON Enterprises, Inc. to purchase upgraded body-worn cameras, tasers, in-vehicle dash cameras, and associated video equipment with data storage. Any remaining unspent ARPA funds from the Public Works MOU will be brought back to the Mayor and City Council by the first meeting in December 2026 to allocate all unspent ARPA funding to AXON, an already approved contract, so funds will not be lost.
FISCAL IMPACT
Reallocate $477,621.53 to the Clean and Safe Environment Improvements for City Facilities Project (Account No. 212309) from the following ARPA Accounts:
|
ACCOUNT # |
PROJECT |
AMOUNT |
|
212311 |
Park Improvements - Ballfields at Buckingham and Westminster Parks, and Playgrounds at Bolsa Chica, Westminster Village, Russell Paris, College and Bowling Green Parks |
$432,250.32 |
|
212312 |
Park Building Improvements at Blakey Park |
$ 13,449.75 |
|
212313 |
Community Garden |
$ 29,982.06 |
|
212422 |
Soccer Fields at Sigler Park |
$ 1,939.40 |
|
|
TOTAL |
$477,621.53 |
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
The reallocation of $477,621.53 of the cost savings from the completed ARPA-funded projects to the Clean and Safe Environment Improvements for City Facilities projects will enable staff to complete the pending projects and expend the available ARPA funds by December 31, 2026.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Memorandum of Understanding with the Public Works Department
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
City Attorney’s Office
Christine Cordon, City Manager