City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire 2022 - 2024 City Council, 12 Sep 2022

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From YouTube: 9.12.2022 City Council Work Session

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9.12.2022 City Council Work Session

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Thank you, everyone for coming to the american rescue plan, act or arpa, as we refer to them to.

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The rest of the evening funds city council work session um today, monday september, 12th.

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We're going to pass it over to our city manager, karen connard, to walk through a presentation. Then.

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We're going to have discussion through the council and then after that, we're going to open up the.

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Public comment: I don't know if we have our timer here, but we're going to ask folks to limit their.

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Their comments to three minutes: um if that is, we can time excellent, we have the technology we can.

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Do it all right um so with that? uh Thank you all for coming and karen take it away. Thank you, mayor.

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And thank you uh oh and jane. Ferrini is gonna, be helping on that too yep about to introduce my.

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Friend and colleague, assistant city attorney, jane ferrani, so jane and I will be the primary faces.

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Of this conversation, uh we are joined by several of our colleagues in the room and several uh will.

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Be on zoom as well, and uh tonight we are going to spend a moment. Take you through this piece.

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This is our plan of attack. If you will for this evening, we will.

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Provide a reminder of where we've we've come on a timeline to to show you uh points in time, since we.

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First saw the benefit of the arpa funds that have been given directly to the city. We will give you.

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A reminder of how funds have been obligated to date, we will suggest ways to approach a process.

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By which the city could make determinations on how to expend obligate appropriate the remainder of.

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The funds we will give you a sense of request that we know to be out there in the stratosphere and.

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From from all of the interested parties that we know of and certainly would acknowledge, there are.

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Parties that would be interested in obtaining our funds that we don't know of so the last we will.

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Wrap up with timing considerations, a reminder of what we need to do and when we need to do it by.

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And close with a set of resources, so moving ahead, reminder to folks who may not be familiar.

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It's funny, we have a brand new city attorney susan morrell, and we were talking about arpa today and.

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I went flying through an opera conversation, she stopped me and she said what is arpa.

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So she's right, I need to slow down and I need to assume people. Don't all know the jargon so.

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Arpa is, as the mayor opened up with this evening, the american rescue plan act and it's the way.

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That the federal government chose to provide funding in a variety of manners for state and.

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Local governments so you'll recall that early on in covid, we received cares act funding that.

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Is separate and distinct from this, the state of new hampshire has received its own set of arpa.

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Funding and we've been the beneficiary in terms of water, sewer and wastewater grants, and we will.

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Continue to pursue those avenues, but the funding we're going to talk about tonight is the what.

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Just belongs to us the sole consideration for the city of portsmouth. We have received to date, 12.88.

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Million dollars and to date we have obligated 7.4 of that, with a balance of almost 5.5 million.

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So here's the timeline I suggested in the beginning. This is the process uh that we've.

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Seen to date, the first trash was received in may of 21. The second toronto was received in may of.

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This year and those are on the bottom of the timeline, but the top of the timeline shows you.

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When the city sought to obligate or appropriate, and we use the terms interchangeably on the city.

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Level but it's important to note that the term obligate means something to the federal government.

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And you don't have to worry about that, but we it will make sure the staff is concerned with that.

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So we we audit and report correctly. um The city has taken three distinct votes to appropriate.

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Funding to date and we'll walk through that in a moment with the next slide, to remind you all of.

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What has been considered for appropriation of arpa funds, so the first set were back.

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In the previous city council, with two items at the close of the fy 22 budget, and then there were set.

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In april of this year, relating to recreation and public works projects, as well as the important.

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uh Assignment of funds directly to do a community public health assessment that hasn't been done.

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In quite some time, and then the remaining appropriations were part of the fy 23 budget.

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And they run range, the gamut from fire to planning, to rolling stock and to police needs. So what we.

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Want to make sure everyone understands on this slide is how we got to what we've spent and what.

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Remains the red the there's a the categories are on the top, and I want to spend a moment explaining.

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The categories, the the third column, if you will, is called revenue loss of the 12.88 million.

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The city was able to declare that up to 10 million of the 12.88 could be considered as revenue loss.

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For which there are the least amount of restrictions, that's important to note.

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Then there are the buckets uh that are to the right of revenue, loss that encompass public.

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Health and economic impacts and water, sewer and broadband infrastructure, those are buckets and.

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Jane is much more expert on these than I am, but these are buckets that have certain eligibility.

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And you need to meet certain uh criterion to be eligible to use those money for expenditures so.

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Essentially, the way to sum up this slide would be that there was a conscious decision by staff.

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To recommend to the council that to use the money in these ways, which have already been.

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Appropriated and obligated was the way to provide relief to every taxpayer. It helped to offset.

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Budgets, it helps to offset a tax rate increase and therefore was a benefit to every citizen.

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So a very boring but important slide is this. Is the balance available this.

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This is how the 5.467 breaks down as much as 4.7 4.2 of that could be found in the unrestricted or.

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Revenue loss category and as much as 1.21 needs to meet public health and negative economic impacts.

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And or water sewer, broadband infrastructure restrictions and eligibility requirements.

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So this the reason I show the city council gold slide at this point is.

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That when we bring something to the council, we view what we do and what we recommend and what.

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We seek to implement, through the lens created by the goals that the council set out at the.

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Beginning of their term, this isn't uh designed to have you do anything other than reflect on.

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What what's important as we look to spend the balance of the funds and the sixth goal, that.

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Talks about good process and best practices to deliver trusted and transparent, responsive process.

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Is what we're doing tonight? Because we want to make sure that this is part of that equation.

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How do we get an ensure good and inclusive process and how many avenues of input do we have.

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As we move forward so we'll call this the most fun slide in the group, because essentially it's.

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Ways to consider how you wish to process all of these inputs. Where are you getting all your.

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Your your asks from so that you as a group can make an informed decision. So in the middle of.

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The slide is the city council processes we're looking to shape it, and we really acknowledge.

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It's all about ways to engage the community and gather public input. You'll see things like.

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Hearings and listening sessions we're having a work session tonight, I'm sure we will have others.

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And a note for folks, following at home, the council doesn't make any decisions at work.

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Sessions, they don't take any votes. This is really designed to hear what we have to share and to.

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Gain more insight into what you're interested in, but uh once we do this, and we all do this and we.

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Continue to do this, the question is: how do we seek? uh How do we shape the process by which.

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You get requests by a date certain. How do we get all that information? What's the what's the best.

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Way to do that so I'll walk around the outside of the slide. To tell you some of the influences.

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That have been identified to date, uh starting on the left. The council recently created the.

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19 response blue ribbon committee: the group has met a handful of times. Several of the members are.

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Here tonight co-chairs kathy beebe and will arvelo. We also have abby, frank and lori walt and laurie.

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Macintosh there may be some others on zoom and I'll get to recognize them. When I could see that.

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We also have the community public health assessment. This is the.

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This is the item that kim mcnamara advocated for kim's here tonight for questions.

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The timing of the data we receive from that will help inform this process greatly. We have city.

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Departments who've made requests and they're all here this evening we have other public health and.

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Social service entities- and this would include all the folks that may not be represented on the blue.

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Ribbon committee, but certainly have asked to share through the committee and uh at the top, would be.

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The arts and nonprofits blue ribbon committee. You will recall that at the end of the last council.

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That group asked for a certain percentage and we'll get to that in a in a subsequent slide.

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But what's important to um to note that of all the things on the slide, this slide in particular.

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Does not include, but I'd want the council to be mindful of the regular disbursements.

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To a wide variety of nonprofits that the city takes on in its budgeting process every year,.

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Through community development block grant and welfare assistance, so we are now again this.

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Is not an inclusive or exhaustive list? These are things we know to be the case as of today.

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uh As polled several times, the staff have come up with as many as 22 projects, which we would.

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Consider to be worthy and arpa eligible totaling, the 12.845, those are in the realms of health.

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And police and recreation, economic development, library and information technology we reached.

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Out to the portsmouth housing authority, craig welch is here tonight. He listed five projects.

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That he would seek arpa funding for, as mentioned on the previous slide, the blue ribbon committee on.

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Arts and nonprofits requested four percent of the total upper funding or the 480 000. You see here.

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And kim and her staff spoke to a wide variety of public health and social service entities.

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In the spring and summer time frame and of from that effort came 15 groups that expressed their.

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Interest in the funding some associated exact dollar amounts to that others did not but talked.

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More globally and and again to be determined would be. A fifth number here would be what.

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It is the covid response task force comes up with when they have the data from the health assessment.

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So I can say that all of these groups are here and in part, I think the arts and group nonprofit.

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Blue ribbon committee will be represented as well, so you can ask questions of them.

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The next slide speaks to uh what do you need to consider as we move forward.

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It is conceivable that the remaining balance of funds could be spent over the next four and a half.

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Fiscal years we're almost halfway through fiscal year 23 we have fiscals years 24, 25, 26 and 27.

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If you, if you can think out that, if you can contemplate out that far dates to keep in mind.

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That all arpa funding must be obligated and that's the federal government's word by the end of the.

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Calendar year in 2024 and expended by calendar year, end 2026. So that's how you get to four and.

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A half fiscal years now there this council may decide we have some immediate use of the funds.

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This council could decide that um we could use some of the opera to influence the next year's cip.

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um You could make a deliberate decision to spread it out in a in a manner that refers to all four.

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uh Fiscal years coming up so that's these are all what remain to be decided, and the last slide here.

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Before we close out, the presentation would be to remind folks that we have an arpa page on.

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Our city website um embedded in the city manager page. We also have it uh the sheets that speak to.

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The outside social services allocations that we make annually and and the link that you see above.

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Is for this most recent budget, so I will stop there uh jane, and I are here as primary resources.

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But we do have staff. We also have members from the various groups that I've mentioned.

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Thank you karen, uh and thank you jane uh for being here and answering any questions. We have.

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um Any questions from the council councilor moro um when you- and this is probably more for jane.

C

uh When you talk about the restrictions, the 12, the 1 million 210 280, public health and negative.

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Economic impacts, water sewer and broadband infrastructure like how extremely restricted.

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Are they? Is there anything that's actually proposed in here that wouldn't be covered.

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Under those when they're in that department, um it really depends on the definition. There are 400.

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Page guidance documents that accompanies the the arpa act. And so um when we're talking in terms of.

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Bucket buckets we have, can I interrupt you? Can you pull the mic closer? I'm sorry! That's! Okay!.

D

I'll repeat that um um so there are, there are actually four different buckets, so the lost.

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Revenue is exactly what it sounds like. It would be anything the government could spend money.

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On that, that's basically what the lost revenue category bucket is. um A lot of these requests do.

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Fall within that revenue loss, some could be both some could be in public health or economic impacts.

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um And water and sewer and broadband there's a fourth category which is premium pay, which.

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We haven't listed here, none of the projects that have been identified have have fallen into that.

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But it's really a read the request and fit it into the right category. It could very.

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Likely fit in several different categories and that's part of the reporting piece that the city.

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Engages in with the federal government, thank you any other questions. Counselor cook.

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I just want a clarification on the city department side, how many of the requests.

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Are requests we wouldn't normally fund in the budget versus request.

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That we would probably see in the budget in any way.

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That's a good question: um we looked at them primarily through the could they be cip, eligible.

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Or do some of them up here on the cip list, and the answer is about? Half of them are some of.

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Them go outside the realm of normal budgeting. For for our typical annual considerations.

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For example, the the chamber collaborative has asked, through our economic development.

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Staff, member and the commission to dedicate additional funds for destination marketing.

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And marketing specifically also targeted to arts and culture organizations.

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And otherwise they are ones that could be considered for budgetary considerations.

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In and among all the other competing interests for funding, we pulled out the ones that um that.

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uh Passed the litmus test of jane and our finance group as if to say, if we were to put them on a.

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Reporting sheet to the federal government would they would they qualify? And the answer was yes,.

A

Counselor blah, uh thank you aaron. I guess I just have one question about. I see the.

F

Splash pad listed down here at the bottom of the I just didn't know where that was.

B

Right so the splash pad is um should be listed as a as a co priority for the health department and.

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Recreation, this is something kim mcnamara has been strongly advocating for it's. It's quite.

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Frankly, something that keeps falling down the list of priorities, we have so many uh things that we.

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Need to maintain or to keep up that exists, this has always been uh more of an aspirational or a.

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Wish list item but if there, if there ever were a time to consider something like this, it would be.

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Through this kind of funding- and I don't know if you want to add anything to that um yeah- I.

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Know that that's something that you know we could um certainly look at through the revenue loss.

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Category and you know as long as it's it's part of you know, the city's uh recreational needs.

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It's part of what government you know spends money on. It could certainly be considered uh as a as an.

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I expenditure the one thing I doubt about splash pad. Is it's really one that.

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Allows for more equitable availability of recreational opportunities.

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There really are no barriers to entry to a splash pad. You could make it available to as.

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Many folks, as as possible- and that was something that we we discussed internally a great deal.

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Which is one of the questions was that was there a plan for the splash pad like where.

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The location would be, or is that no, we did not get that far. We just yeah, we estimated.

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Conservatively a magnitude of of cost, based on what we've seen in the industry.

A

Any other questions uh system here, thank you. uh This would be directed at the police department.

C

I was very happy to see um just a comment very happy to see the initiative of bringing on some.

C

Social workers- I know it's something that I've advocated for talk to the police department talk.

C

To the commission about um my question uh would be for either chief or for karen. um I know we're.

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Talking about arpa funding, but have we looked at any other federal grants, local or or state and.

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Federal or or um state initiatives um that could also potentially cut down some of the cost of this.

C

And marry those to the arpa and any federal funding together. I've asked chief newport to.

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To join us as a panelist on zoom, I see him there. We're gonna wait a moment to see if he can unmute.

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I mean yep there he comes chief. Did you hear the question I heard just the tail end of it.

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The question was from the assistant mayor: might there be other funding available to.

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Help help augment the arpa funding for the the police requests from either the federal or state.

B

Government did I get that right? Yes, there may be some federal grants, but we have not located.

F

Them yet uh because, as we stated before, when I spoke with you, they put in our strategic plan.

F

To it in an out year, but we haven't looked into any other federal grants at this time.

C

Thanks chief, just to follow up to that before I go to councillor moreau, um is there a plan.

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In place to make sure that, with any of the requests, be it from the city or from the.

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The volunteer organizations or non-profits that we're first making sure that there's not.

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A another pool of money from the federal level uh that might be applicable, given the response.

B

We would certainly run all the requests should they should they pass some sort of initial.

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You know interest level, but from the council through that kind of um criteria and again some of.

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These asks were dated, maybe in the in the spring and early summer time frame. We would obviously.

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Make sure that um groups looking for money hadn't already received money in that same fashion,.

D

If I could add to that too, um the when the city manager led the discussion she mentioned.

D

Other arpa funds through the state and I think some of the water sewer.

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Funds have been applied for and received, um but it that's not this money. That's.

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Our money through the state- and I know that the infrastructure, the federal infrastructure.

D

Law has lots of various grants over the next two two years and they roll out. You know the.

D

Several grant deadlines, roll out uh every you know six months or so. um We've recently um been.

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Reviewing the um league of cities- and they have various trainings to help municipalities.

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Write grants for to get infrastructure money, so you just have to try to match certain projects to.

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Certain pots of money for that separate source of funding, but that's something we are looking.

D

Into but haven't yet explored in great detail: okay, maybe a follow-up. Sorry to that before councilman.

A

Is there um would hate to leave any money on the table? Federal government super convoluted.

A

Very hard, not as easy as we do here in portsmouth, a few more people.

A

But is there a need to, I guess, is there internally do we have the resources to one.

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Identify all potential grants and then two spend the time. Writing the grants for these proposals.

D

That's challenging, but with the league league recently set forth in a webinar is there's a.

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Team that a the city would put together, it could be leadership, finance a grant lead.

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And then you actually attend a grant boot camp, that's what they call it. So that teaches you.

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How to do this, but it is certainly a commitment of a particular amount of hours over four months.

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To just prepare the grant and then it's you know it's no obviously no guarantee they're.

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Going to get it so that's something that that that we've become aware of and we'll try to.

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Look at what's coming up as far as the grant availability and try to see if projects match up.

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And bring it back to to see if it's something we want to have the city pursue okay, and I would.

A

Just as a potentially as an aside, if there was, um if, if we could, I mean it's still going to.

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Take an enormous amount of resources internally to to pull something like that off. Just knowing.

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All of the just from the non-profit side, what goes into grant writing all that's going to.

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Happen on the city side regardless I'm just if there is an opportunity to potentially even use.

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Some of this money to outsize our impact and influence when it comes to the.

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uh Grant writing process during this specific two-year time frame where there's a there's a.

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Beginning and end date for this infrastructure money, I would love to see if there's.

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Potential to spend some of this money trying to get a bigger pot of money.

A

But the league sounds great. Bootcramp sounds great for all those who are are doing it.

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But if there was a, if there's a way to efficiently spend money in order to get more money, would.

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Be very interested to see if that's something that that we can do and be interested to see if.

A

Other communities in new hampshire have uh grant writers either on staff or through consultants.

A

Councilman um sorry, I was thinking about what you guys were talking about.

C

I was thinking, there's got to be a grant writer somewhere in the city that we can.

C

Possibly might actually already know how to do this. That could help us. That's what I was thinking.

C

um I was wondering if we could get just a little bit more details regarding the community health.

C

Improvement plan that's created based off the results of the assessment, is three million to.

C

Create the plan is it to also implement the plan? Is there any more details to that? Let me uh do my.

B

Best to represent what kim would say and then, if the council wishes, we certainly have the benefit.

B

Of kim here, but the 65 000 that was allocated for the community health profile and needs assessment.

B

Would do the following? It would apply an equity framework, including demographic and health.

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Status measures and assessment of the community determinants of health. It would ensure that data.

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Are collected across the lifespan, including for children, youth, older adults and families from.

B

Underserved communities, it would help not only to inform the council and community partners, but also.

B

The important and timely work that the covert response task force is doing all the folks that.

B

Serve public health and then would be used for the found as the foundation for future development.

B

Of city of portsmouth health improvement plan, you know you do all this work and then you want to.

B

Have an implementation plan, and that would be what that is to identify and prioritize recommendations.

B

For investments and interventions to improve the city's health, equity, wellness and resilience and.

B

That would be what the three million would be set aside for to help tackle the items of priority in.

B

The implementation plan that comes from the ss so it's to actually implement not just a plan.

B

Correct the 65 grand would be to lay out what um we have for data and and and will include an.

B

Implementation or a health improvement plan and the the request from the health direct officer.

B

Has been to set aside three million dollars of the 12 million total um directly for public health. Do.

C

We know that's a solid number like we have some sort of framework to know what that can cover or.

C

Is it not going to be enough, or these are all great questions, and it's it's a little bit of.

B

A chicken in the egg, where we're anxious to get the health needs assessment going right.

B

Okay, you know in talking candidly with kim her her thought was, and I and I'm happy to.

B

Bring this to the council that of all the money allocated, isn't it fair to think that a quarter.

B

Of the money allocated be dedicated directly to public health matters that come from the.

B

Plan right, I guess because of the maybe I guess it depends on what the plan actually is right. I think.

B

The maybe was how much of that would be cipl p eligible. Okay, other funding sources might be.

C

Thank you any other questions before we open up the public comment.

A

There's a lot of people here um so do you want to get to to them, but counselor cook.

E

Thank you mayor. um I just have particular questions about eligibility for additional.

E

Grants for some of the portsmouth housing authority requests um specifically.

E

I think the water sewer storm water requests for improvements that are coming from portsmouth.

E

Housing authority- I just didn't know if there was any um overlap in other areas where the city can.

E

Assist in funding there or if there are specific grants that may target that outside of arfa.

E

And I didn't know if anybody could answer that we we approach them.

B

Sort of in distinctive ways- craig is here craig. You want to speak to that.

B

Are you comfortable speaking to that? Would that be appropriate counsel at this time,.

B

I sure the best mike would maybe grab the podium.

G

So counselor your question was about whether or not there's other grant funding or other.

G

Funding sources for the items that we had put in right, um there's a there's a yes.

G

But it depends on what it is and and the timing of those things. But.

G

We do from time to time ask the city, through the community development block, grant program.

G

For certain things for eligible uses, we've done a lot of access improvements to our properties.

G

For instance, that that has been paid for those cdb by the cdbg funds. There's not a lot.

G

um There for our public housing properties for our six public housing properties, we do get.

G

An annual allocation from hud um to do major capital projects, and so we do have.

G

um Those funds to invest- and it's just like the city capital improvement plan, where it's just.

G

A sliding scale you do, you know you invest more here, you can invest less here, and so um so that's.

G

The trick, but there are other funding sources for the for the newer properties that we have like the.

G

Conners cottage and lafayette school, particularly um those, are um very difficult to keep those.

G

Reserve balances high enough to pay for the kind of improvements that we really need to.

G

Do so there's some cases where the answer is no and that it would be um there's things.

G

That are long overdue, but those were extremely expensive to develop and save those buildings.

G

And that's why we're we're under reserved for the resident services part the public health part.

G

um We're always piecing together, grant funding and and the more resources we have to do that work.

G

For the thousand people that that we that live with us and the 250 kids, especially that we're.

G

Working with that that we would certainly welcome that. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks greg.

A

So as we move to public comment, um you know there's a.

A

There's a lot uh here, I think one of the things I'll be grappling with is: how do we best uh use.

A

The money to offset the financial impacts versus do things that we wouldn't normally.

A

Do but are necessary either as a result of the pandemic or as a result, simply of of.

A

The opportunity that's in front of us with the reserves that we have through this. So um if you.

A

Do have uh a question uh we can't uh work sessions, aren't really uh d or uh created to have a back.

A

And forth, but if there's any statements and if you represent an organization, please just mention that.

A

At the microphone, but if you could come to that microphone, that would be helpful.

H

I'm susan sterry, um I'm co-chair of the cemetery committee.

H

I'm glad I came tonight because I learned a lot about art money.

H

And more about how the city works um back in 2013, the city spent thousands of dollars to get a.

H

A professional assessment done of our historical cemeteries back at that time they came up with 13.

H

Projects were already close to a million dollars. Only one project out of all of those 13 has been.

H

Done and back in the time, I think it was 200 000 for that one project, I'm sure numbers have.

H

Gone way up, so what I'm recording and there's a lot more than just those 13.. So what I'm.

H

Requesting or want to bring forward is the fact that when the city now has a cemetery committee.

H

And going back as far as 1898 and the portsmouth herald we there are, I think I just picked out 25.

H

In my research there have been nothing more that those are all complaints, both editorials.

H

And from mayors, and whoever that wheat city of portsmouth has not taken care of its cemeteries.

H

They're, in really tough shape are historical cemeteries. um Our oldest one here in point.

H

Of graves starts in 1621 and maybe the oldest graveyard in the city I mean in the state of new.

H

Hampshire, if not we're the second, we have a lot of influential people that have been buried here.

H

But we also have a lot of professional people who set standards even back in the 1600s for medical.

H

Surgeries, scientific discoveries and you name it so I think we really need to get our cemetery.

H

In in all these processes, if we can, I guess I just want to get us out there, so that going forward.

H

When things like this come up, are um that were part of the consideration, at least to be invited.

H

To the table I know peter we're under peter rice's domain, but certainly we don't compare to.

H

Sewers and broken water lines and what have you in repaving roads? However, we really need to bring.

H

Our cemeteries and once they're up there, it's just going to be a maintenance program and I'm talking.

H

About major construction, I mean the wall down at point of graves could cost as much as 300 000.

H

To get that fixed so and that's not just a wild gas, um so I guess that's just my real goal is.

H

To let you know that going forward if you could think of the cemeteries as part of the overall.

H

City and having needs to that would be great and one more thing during my research, I um I'm working.

H

With nick crack now of planning and hopefully the beginning of october, we will be turning.

H

In an application- and we will become- I don't have anything up here- so um certified local government.

H

And what that does that's with the state of new hampshire that opens the door for us, particularly.

H

And the historic district to have federal funding to have people that will write grants for us.

H

Keep us informed of changes and numerous other things, and we also belong to preserve america.

H

Which happened in 2013 and that's an a national program and we are listed on the.

H

National website, which also opens the door for us for um federal grants, so I'm going to match.

H

Up the clg grant writers and apply for grants at the national level, which are very complicated so.

H

Again, thank you for all this good information and please think of us in the future. Thank you, susan.

A

I

Hey everybody, thanks for the opportunity, can you hear me I'm a little shorter.

I

Thanks, my name is erica ngorelli and I'm the executive director of granite pathways in new.

I

Hampshire and in the city of portsmouth, we have two programs safe, harbor and seacoast pathways.

I

I'll be talking about safe harbor, we did submit an application for arpa funds and I won't go.

I

Through every detail, you have the application just wanted to give a little bit of information.

I

We do rely heavily on federal and state contracts and grants we have. We are always scanning federal.

I

Grants we have applied for many of them, where we can part of the limitation of federal grants for.

I

To support our programming is: there's a limited amount of grants to support what safe harbor does.

I

And I'll explain that in a minute they're also highly competitive, they may put out a grant for.

I

10 awards nationwide, so you can imagine that that's very highly competitive.

I

And we don't always get the grants that we need to support our work so safe harbor is a recovery.

I

uh Community organization, for that uh serves individuals struggling with substance, use.

I

Disorder we're critical part of the continuum of care between acute treatment and community-based.

I

Service we are located in the community. We are open and available on a walk-in basis, so we.

I

Serve individuals struggling with a substance use disorder, but we're also an employer and.

I

The particular niche that we feel is we are a peer recovery organization, so those individuals working.

I

At safe, harbor are also in recovery themselves, so we are employing folks with substance use.

I

Past to help folks, with currently with their own substance, use disorders, so we rely heavily.

I

On funding from the state of new hampshire as well, and what we're seeing from the state currently is.

I

They are not funding recovery organizations as much as they are treatment and inpatient.

I

Services, so we are hopeful that we can receive some support to continue the important work.

I

That the folks at safe harbor do every day in this community. Okay, thank you erica. Thank you.

A

Come right up well.

J

Good evening, council members, how are you my name is: will arvelo and I'm the executive.

J

Director of crossroads house and with me I have laurie waltz who's uh with seacoast leadership,.

J

Leadership leadership seacoast corrected, I sent corrected. um I serve as co-chair uh along with.

J

Kathy beebe who's here, as as well as some other representatives of the uh covet response task.

J

Force blue ribbon committee, that is collecting information and will make recommendations to this.

J

Body on how to expand some of the remaining arpa funds on low-cost, high-impact recovery solutions.

J

The committee is composed of four team members from the non-profit, k-12 business health care.

J

And parent communities we have met, I believe four times and have started to discuss areas of need.

J

That cut across different sectors of our community, one of our concerns, is who is not at the table.

J

We want to ensure we capture the diverse voices of our community, in addition to inviting the.

J

Community to speak at our meetings during the public comment period over the next few sessions.

J

We will continue to do outreach and try to capture other diverse voices and perspectives. One of these.

J

Important voices will be the community health profile that, hopefully, we will hopefully will.

J

Complete be completed by the end of the year, though, there is a chance that this process may be.

J

The will be delayed because of issues with finding an appropriate consultant to carry out the work.

J

We asked the council that if the work of the health department gets delayed, that it might.

J

Consider extending deadline for the task force to finish its work after the health department.

J

Has completed the work of the profile it, it will be important for the task force to capture.

J

As much information as possible preliminarily, we have identified several categories of need.

J

As follows: mental health transportation, workforce shortage, child care, food insecurity beyond housed.

J

Racial issues, gun violence and needs of children and parents. We believe that a number of these.

J

Areas of concern tie in nicely to the broad health of portsmouth social service support.

J

And economic ecosystems there's a line to be drawn between mental health of children.

J

Parents, adult workers that may be caused in part because of issues of food insecurity.

J

Housing instability, access to affordable day care services, services and lack of adequate modes of.

J

Transportation, this in turn impacts our workforce quality in numbers, which impacts our business.

J

Environment, while we have some time to go before we make final recommendations, we believe that the.

J

Best use of these arpa fun dollars make them make the most sense. If we identify a model that can.

J

Focus on improving the ecosystem in areas we know impact the most vulnerable of portsmouth residents.

J

Which we, which in which need to be shored up and conserve as a model for future sustainability,.

J

So I think that in the end for us.

J

As we continue to meet, the focus is on really. How do we make these remaining dollars.

J

As impactful as possible across the whole ecosystem of the city of portsmouth, and it's for.

J

Its residents so again talking about what are the most. What are the things that really impact our.

J

Most vulnerable residents in the city- and I mentioned some of them here- there may be others.

J

But we'll continue to collect information over the next few weeks and hopefully come back to you.

J

But I also do want to re-emphasize that the community health profile will be really important.

J

To our continued deliberations- and I think that it that assessment is not completed by the end.

J

Of the year that we should hopefully, hopefully the council will consider an extension of.

J

Of our work uh lori, I don't know if you want to add yeah. I just.

K

um In some of the conversations that we've been having as a task force and even here tonight,.

K

I think it's really important that there's as much transparency as possible involved.

K

I'm concerned that there is an overlap of efforts and if the task force can get a list of the actual.

K

Projects that have been submitted um and like granite pathways is on the task force.

K

But representing yourselves here tonight and I don't want that to be misunderstood.

K

By the council, um and certainly anything that portsmouth housing authority might be desiring.

K

Housing is also on our list of uh needs, so in order to make the dollars go as far as they can.

K

And have the most impact, I think we just at least for our task force. We're going to need to have.

K

As much information as possible, that's all thank you thanks. Lori thanks will.

L

Good evening rick beckstead 1395 is indian street. First I'd like to apologize to the covet 19 task.

L

Force your meetings are at noon time. I've been trying to get on zoom and I've been able unable.

L

To so I apologize for that, so I would make some of the same comments that I'm going to make tonight.

L

Housing is number, is the number one to me. The mayor had actually gone earlier in his first term.

L

And had mentioned a workforce account account that was created and was never funded.

L

I think we take a great opportunity now to go and replenish or fill an account that had been.

L

Created and never been filled, I've talked to at least 20 landlords. What we could do.

L

Is just like we do for other veterans, just like we do for our elderly. We do an exemption program.

L

As long as a existing and existing uh landlord, not something new in these new buildings, I've said it.

L

For nine years now that we need to protect the housing that we have today, we give an exemption.

L

For x amount of years for x amount of dollars, if it's fifteen hundred dollars, if it's two thousand.

L

Dollars a year off of somebody's property taxes, as long as they're willing to uphold to the state.

L

Statute of an eighty percent median income and most of our projects are not holding it. That.

L

They're, actually at 100 median income, it's a very simple process for the council to be able to go.

L

And do and again I apologize. I would like to be able to go and involve the task force that had.

L

Been created to be able to look at these ideas, and I apologize for not being able to do that.

L

uh Two other projects in mind: they are cip, but these are promises that have been made by the.

L

Last council and this council is finished skateboard park. I was made aware last week.

L

That it is actually the expenditures are going to be much greater somewhere.

L

On the figure of 700 to almost a million dollars which now this committee is going to have to come.

L

Back to this council ask for another million dollars. This community has waited my 40 years.

L

Being a city resident as a skateboarder, when I was a teenager when I moved here at the age of 12,.

L

And I think we need it's time to fulfill that and the council feels should feel obligated to fulfill.

L

That funding to be able to make that happen next year, since it is on the cip for next year. um I.

L

Believe in the arts program the 480 dollars, we had an art speak. We had funding for that at one time.

L

It was three hundred thousand dollars. I think they should be getting money, but I think they should be.

L

Getting money from parking revenue, I think that's something we should be looking at to be able to.

L

Put in the budget of 100 to 150 000 a year to fund their needs and their wants. I started that program.

L

And I'm glad that it's gone and continued um there's there's a lot of other things that are.

L

Out there, but one of the great things you need to be able to go and make an impact on the city.

L

And we need a new um trying to think what they called it out at the pool. We need a new pool house.

L

Pool house is decrepid, uh it is embarrassing, um it is dangerous and we have somewhere in the vicinity.

L

Last I had gone and heard figures from peter rice and had been a little while of somewhere.

L

Between 1.5 to 2 million dollars for a bathhouse, that would be something impactful for the entire.

L

Community and the communities around us, because those communities actually create revenue for.

L

The city and we have all kinds of programs that actually come forward during the summer time.

L

Pay uh with camps, those are the most impactful, and I I'm glad that I was able to go and share that.

L

Again, I apologize for the committee for not being able to share those sooner. Please take them into.

L

Consideration I liked what they had actually gone and said that would have been nice to include them.

L

On some of the asks that have been asked because it was, I think it was over 17 million dollars over.

L

12 million dollars we are blessed with the third largest. We are the third largest generators in.

L

The state of new hampshire manchester used two million dollars by the way for the workforce.

L

Housing programs and we should be able to do it here. Thank you very much. Thank you. Rick.

M

Future huda, 280 south street. I have a simple request and follow-up to a question that you had.

M

It would be great if the list that are listed on the submitted request to date could be published.

M

So everybody can share in the request of everybody, so we don't have duplicate, requests and duplicate.

M

Entries coming in, and my next question is, um that would be great, especially for the residents.

M

um You're making decisions for us, it would be great if we could see.

M

All of this, all of the information that is coming into to you as requests and.

M

This would also help you fulfill your goals. Number one and six. Thank you. Thank you. Future.

A

Any other speakers, no permission needed just go up to the mic.

B

If you have to go to the mic, so the people at home could hear you.

A

Oh sorry, nancy. I have a question um when were these decisions based on.

N

How this money and where this money would be allocated? How were these decisions made? That was.

N

Presented to us this evening, like 22 projects for portsmouth five for housing authority is.

N

That some stuff, that we contributed or is that stuff that was done before we even formed our.

N

Our committee, our covet 19 response committee, so I'm going to I'm going to break my own rules and.

A

um This isn't intended to be a back and forth, but on the presentation uh I think it was this.

A

Slide and karen referred to it as the fun slide, um it's a low bar when it comes to powerpoint.

A

Presentations but city council allocation process there's a bunch of different places where we're.

A

Receiving requests for any grants covet 19 response blue ruby committee is, is listed first.

A

Here- okay, but also down here, is city departments. City departments were asked to put forth suggested.

A

Suggestions and ideas of where the money could be allocated so nothing has been allocated outside of.

A

What has already been spent from the seven million dollars out of the twelve million dollars? There's.

A

Still five million dollars and what this process is designed to do is to make sure that we have a.

A

Fair process accountable process, a transparent process to allocate that money, um and so the work.

A

Of the covenanting response, boobering committee will be a part of that, as all the arts and.

A

Non-Profits blue ribbon committee, other public health and social services entities community.

A

Public health assessment, again city departments- and I think what I'm hearing so far tonight is.

A

That it would help all of these organizations do better work if we centralized where these requests.

A

Were coming in from potentially on the website, so we can see a list of submitted applications.

A

Or submitted ideas from various uh stakeholders so that that we're not redoubling the efforts of.

A

Individual groups, but I want to underscore that we have not allocated the money uh to date that we're.

A

Talking about- and that is the five point just submitted at this point- so it's not submitted.

A

It's yeah projects have been submitted from various departments um again city of uh portsmouth.

A

Portsmouth housing authority, arts and public health, so there's been no submissions. Submissions.

A

From uh the copen 19 blue ribbon committee, but we would expect those as well and and then we'll.

A

Weigh them against all of the other. You don't get to be frontal line, because your project was.

A

In first, but hopefully it can help the discussion internally with the covet 19 blue ribbon committee.

A

To be able to see what has already been submitted and if you'd like to support a submission.

A

And or if you'd like to submit something that has not been uh discussed, discussed yet and then.

N

And just to finish what was already presented like the transportation mental health workforce.

N

Housing, child care, racial issues, gun violence. All of that are all the issues that I think the.

N

Majority of us have been, you know, learning from our community that these are critical issues.

N

You know, and um and to figure out how we're going to resolve them is going to be another major.

A

Finding the finding the first among equals when it comes to all these projects, that's the that's the.

A

That's hopefully, what we're all signed up here and- and you know why we get paid the big bucks to try.

A

To decide all of that, that's you know, that's what we're relying on you from the process. Standpoint.

A

uh To make the case uh for these because, ultimately, we have to, um we have to go back.

A

To the city of portsmouth and say yes, you know we want to address housing. This is how we're going to.

A

Do this we want to address mental health. This is how we do this. We want to address recreation. This.

A

Is how we do this, so we need the groups in here to to really help us uh make the case uh so that.

A

We can help, decide and allocate uh this money and we'll be leaning heavily on your recommendations.

N

Thank you. Thank you, nancy! Hey. We have uh barbara massar on zoom, oh great.

A

Go ahead, barbara good evening, everyone.

O

Good evening we can hear you okay, great. um My name is barbara mazar, I'm the executive.

O

Director of pro portsmith and the co-chair of the portsmouth arts and nonprofits committee um and.

O

We just wanted to check in with you tonight. First of all to say thank you to the city um for.

O

Allocating um monies that were once a part of the artspeak budget and that was used for our initial.

O

Marketing pilot, which ended in july- and we also are grateful for the seed money to begin our.

O

Americans for the arts survey, uh which is underway at this point, um we're also grateful for the edc.

O

They were um kind enough to pass along. I believe, a letter of recommendation to the city council.

O

And that's as a result of a presentation that russ grazer and I made to them.

O

uh Earlier this year- um and that was a reprise, if you will a presentation that we made in december.

O

To the previous council, where we outlined the funding that we felt, the arts community would need.

O

And that is still definitely the case. We continued to struggle those of us in the scepter.

O

And um I cannot stress enough how much in particular, the marketing funds were appreciated.

O

And were just um we're concerned now that we're going to have a window of time where we're not.

O

Doing any marketing on behalf of this group, so we wanted to make sure we said something.

O

About that to all of you tonight- and I wanted to remind all of you.

O

People tend to think great things about portsmouth's community arts.

O

Programs- and they are great, but to give you a few numbers.

O

There were four communities that did the last americans for the arts uh survey.

O

Six years ago, and three of them greater rochester, greater concord and the monadnock region.

O

Their um influx of revenue based on the arts was 61 000.

O

And portsmouth alone contributed 58 up: 58 million sorry 61 million versus our own 58 million.

O

So it's real, our impact is real and we hope that you will see fit to accept our.

O

Request for the 480 000 and I'm happy, of course, to answer any questions. If you have.

A

uh Thank you, barbara right now we're trying to not have a question and answer, but I am.

A

Sure that we will bring you forth before the council at some point in the near future to.

A

Discuss this in in more detail, but thank you again, barbara. Thank you, mayor.

A

All right any other questions.

A

This is a bit you know I'll just say in in closing, this is the beginning of of a process.

A

Somewhat of a formal process, this is required uh by law, but typically you don't always get.

A

You know they're required by law uh meetings. Don't always.

A

Go as well, but I think from this at least I'm hearing that we want to make sure that we're.

A

All kind of and I'm going to, I think this is the first rowing metaphor. I've ever used.

A

In council chambers, but pulling you know uh uh pulling in the same direction here um so to that I.

A

Would love to see a website that we could spend up or spit up for this, so that um individuals can see.

A

Where there is uh overlap and organizations can see where there's overlap and the community.

A

Can see what we're prioritizing, what we're not prioritizing at the moment and fill in the blanks.

A

um Necessary, um I know this is something that the assistant mayor had had mentioned. That got me to.

A

Think, okay is there, you know a broader appeal, but if there are, if there are federal monies out there.

A

I want to make sure that we are tackling those either for uh ongoing services, like uh social.

A

Workers, but to be able to make sure that we're not you know I it's so complicated and there's such a.

A

um You know a profession that exists around that and exists for a reason. So if there's.

A

Money that we need to spend in order to secure more money would love to to see that and then.

A

Before finish up the uh the capital improvement plan, um the cip, the window.

A

First citizen submissions is september. 30Th we'll mention this again at our september 19th meeting.

A

But if there is a project that you think come hell or high water, this needs to happen in portsmouth.

A

Get that on the cip, it's very easy to just search cip on the website. You use one of the.

A

Qr codes that we're putting in various parts of the city you go to the planning department.

A

It is listed there very easy straightforward to request and those are things capital improvements.

A

That exist for more than 50 000. You know vehicles etc need to get that out, but I guess I would.

A

I would close in in thanking everyone that showed up tonight whether or not you spoke.

A

Or not whether you're on zoom or here uh you are the government. um Thank you for being a part of it.

A

um We've put out our we've put out our priorities as a council, and some of you called us out on.

A

Those priorities or listed some of the things is that we should be focusing on, but we're we're only.

A

As good as as you guys and your participation here so very much, I just want to thank you so.

A

Much for for coming out uh thank city staff for putting this uh together. Thank you, jane and.

A

And thank you to june, and this is her first, uh his first rodeo at the city council. um I thought she.

A

Did a great job and told me that I didn't have to take roll uh when we started this out, so thank you.

A

June and thank you everyone for for coming here tonight with that, I'm going to close the meeting.