Title
Authorizing the City of Saint Paul (the “City”) to enter into a Joint Powers Agreement with Ramsey County (the “County”) to use the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support joint Workforce Initiative Programs in response to populations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Body
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes Section 471.59, two or more governmental units, by agreement entered into through action of their governing bodies, are authorized to enter into agreements to exercise jointly or cooperatively governmental powers common to each and to permit one governmental entity to perform services or functions for another governmental unit; and
WHEREAS, the City and the County are governmental units as defined in Minnesota Statutes Section 471.59; and
WHEREAS, Sections 602(b) and 603(b) of the Social Security Act, as added by section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act (Pub. L. No. 117-2 and amendments thereto) (“ARPA”), authorized the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) to make payments to certain recipients from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (the “SLFRF”); and
WHEREAS, the SLFRF program delivered $350 billion to state, local, and Tribal governments across the country to support their response to and recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic created the need for rapid and responsive policies and investments in people, businesses, and families in the City of Saint Paul and Ramsey County; and
WHEREAS, the City and the County met over the past year to discuss and plan regarding the transformational opportunity made possible by the SLFRF Funds; and
WHEREAS, the City and the County have identified an area of shared interest where collaboration will provide additional benefit to those served by the Jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, the City and the County are especially committed to the recovery and development of the workforces in each Jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, by bolstering existing programs within the jurisdictions across the public service spectrum, the City and County ensure the success of efforts to achieve long-term health, equity, and prosperity for residents in each jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the City and the County find that working collaboratively on joint Workforce Initiative Programs provides the most effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and said collaboration best supports families and communities, and improves overall outcomes; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Treasury guidance, SLFRF recipients may “pool” funds for eligible projects via intergovernmental transfers; and
WHEREAS, the City intends to transfer $9,860,000.00 in SLFRF Funds (City Award) to the County to carry out the purposes of the Workforce Initiative Programs set forth in a Joint Powers Agreement between the City and County pursuant to RES 22-1021; and
WHEREAS, the City’s transfer of funds to the County will be treated as a Subaward and the City will monitor the County as a Subrecipient for SLFRF compliance and reporting purposes; and
WHEREAS, the City and County wish to enter into this Joint Powers Agreement pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 471.59 to formalize their collaboration related to the ARPA Workforce Initiative Programs and the deployment of the SLFRF Funds for this purpose;
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the collaboration between the City and the County related to APRA Workforce Initiative Programs is related to the function of government, serves a public purpose and benefits the community as a whole;
WHEREAS, the Mayor of Saint Paul desires to effectuate the collaboration of the City and County in implementing new, and bolstering existing Workforce Initiative Programs according to the terms and conditions of this attached Joint Powers Agreement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby authorizes the appropriate city officials to enter into the attached Joint Powers Agreement and any amendments to the agreement.