Title
Consideration of and action on authorization to submit a Public Assistance (PA) grant application to FEMA and to participate in the Harris County COVID-19 Small Cities Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) for reimbursement for COVID-19 related expenses.
Body
Summary:
In March 2020, Present Trump declared that the COVID-19 outbreak constitutes a National Emergency. With this declaration, the COVID-19 was designated as a Major Disaster under DR-4485 thereby allowing state and local governments that expend public funds for Emergency Protective Measures in response to this disaster to seek Public Assistance (PA) reimbursement through FEMA. This grant is authorized to provide up to 75% in federal reimbursement for the eligible COVID-19 related expenses incurred.
The Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) was established by the federal CARES act, which appropriated $150 billion to assist state and local governments in addressing the economic impacts of the Coronavirus. Harris County received a direct allocation of $426 million. Harris County has established the Small City Assistance Program in an amount not to exceed $28.5 million. Each of the cities (other than the City of Houston) in Harris County is eligible to receive up to $55 per capita in reimbursement through the Harris County Small City Assistance Program. The 2018 census population for Deer Park was 33,931, which at $55 per capita equates to a maximum of $1,866,205 in reimbursement.
The FEMA PA grant provides provide up to 75% in federal reimbursement for the eligible expenses incurred. The remaining 25% must be provided by local funds. Normally, the 25% local match cannot come from other federal funds. However, a federal exception has been made for COVID-19. Therefore, once the City submits its FEMA PA request for 75% reimbursement, it can submit a request to Harris County Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) for the remaining 25% of eligible reimbursements. Also, some expenditures qualify for reimbursement under the Coronavirus Relief Funds that do not qualify under the FEMA PA grant program. However, each city must certify that the reimbursements Harris County CRF Small City Assistance Program:
a) are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency and governor’s disaster declaration on March 13, 2020 with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19);
b) were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020, for Municipality; and
c) were incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020 and ends on December 30, 2020.
Attached is a summary of the Harris County CRF Small City Assistance Program.
Fiscal/Budgetary Impact:
This FEMA PA grant is authorized to provide up to 75% in federal reimbursement of eligible COVID-19 related expenses incurred. The Harris County CRF Small City Assistance Program can provide up to a maximum of $1,866,205 in reimbursement of eligible COVID-19 related expenses.
Recommended action
Staff requests that Council provide authorization to submit a Public Assistance (PA) grant application to FEMA and to participate in the Harris County COVID-19 Small Cities Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) for reimbursement for COVID-19 related expenses.