Referred to:  The American Rescue Plan Act Special Committee (Chairman Criswell and Legislators Corcoran, Levine, Lopez, and Sperry), The Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation Committee (Chairwoman Petit and Legislators Fabiano, Litts, Nolan, and Stewart), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Fabiano, Ronk, and Walter)

Legislators Eric Stewart and Chris Hewitt offer the following:

WHEREAS, the purpose of the ARPA is to support urgent COVID-19 response efforts to continue to decrease the spread of the virus and bring the pandemic under control, with one of the key components of these measures being through promoting social distancing—especially outdoors; and

WHEREAS, state, county and municipal governments are charged with providing equal services, amenities, and access to public spaces through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); and

WHEREAS, parks are proven to provide both health and economic benefits to local communities and also offer safe and affordable opportunities for outdoor recreation, dog walking, bicycling, and opportunities for citizens to spend time with family and friends in nature; and

WHEREAS, many municipalities in Ulster County have projects on their agenda to build and sustain these valuable green spaces; and

WHEREAS, providing public funding to assist with such projects will help to strengthen our towns and build a sense of community, resulting in a positive lasting impact for future generations to enjoy; and

WHEREAS, in allocating ARPA funding, the Ulster County Legislature intends to make fair investments across the county via partnership with its municipalities to establish a program to match either through direct financial investment and/or through in-kind services (use of county-owned equipment, labor, or other county resources as approved by the Ulster County Executive, with a value to be assigned and recorded by the Ulster County Commissioner of Finance),up to 50% of the total cost of each park project, with a maximum match of $100,000.00 per project; and

WHEREAS, up to 25% of the municipalities’ 50% contribution in matching funds may be through in-kind services as defined and approved by the County, now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that Capital Project No. 635 is hereby established as follows:

CREATE                                        AMOUNT

Capital Project No. 635                  ARPA Parks Program                    $2,000,000.00              

and, be it further

            RESOLVED, the 2022 Ulster County Capital Fund is hereby amended as follows:

                                                            INCREASE                                       AMOUNT

HH.7197.0635.4300.4505               Fees for Professional Services       $2,000,000.00

(App. #)                                                                                                     

HH.7197.0635.3400.4995              Federal Aid                                       $2,000,000.00

(Rev. #),                                                                                                                                                                                                        

and, be it further

RESOLVED, that funding of the Capital Projects established by this Resolution, and any contracts in excess of $50,000 or contract amendments which cause such contracts to exceed the aggregate sum of $50,000, made in connection with such Capital Projects, shall be subject to the further approval of the Ulster County Legislature,   

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                      NOES:    

No Action Taken in Committee: American Rescue Plan Act on June 1, 2022

No Action Taken in Committee: Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation on June 13, 2022

No Action Taken in Committee: American Rescue Plan Act on June 15, 2022

Amended in Committee: American Rescue Plan Act on June 29, 2022

No Action Taken in Committee: Public Works and Capital Projects and Transportation on July 11, 2022

No Action Taken in Committee: American Rescue Plan Act on July 13, 2022

No Action Taken in Committee: American Rescue Plan Act as amended on July 27, 2022

Amended in Committee: American Rescue Plan Act on July 27, 2022

No Action Taken in Committee: American Rescue Plan Act on Resolution as amended on July 27, 2022

Passed Committee: Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation on __________________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on __________________.

Passed Committee: American Rescue Plan Act on __________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$2,000,000.00 – COUNTY CAPITAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS

$2,000,000.00 – FEDERAL CAPTIAL FUND REVENUES