Tensions Rise As Council Debates ARPA Funding Programs | News, Sports, Jobs | #citycouncil

The City Council tabled four major resolutions regarding ARPA program funding prior to the latest City Council voting session, despite mounting pressure from the city administration.

With multiple agenda items having been repeatedly delayed by the City Council, Crystal Surdyk, director of development, expressed her frustration with the delays and the lack of clarity from City Council members.

“I’ve not received any questions or comments or concerns from anyone,” she said. “Many of them have been on the agenda going on a few months now.”

Councilwoman Kim Ecklund, R-At Large, explained that she felt several City Council members were not prepared to vote on the four proposals for this month’s voting session, prompting agreement from multiple council members.

Prior to Monday’s City Council voting session, the council debated additional American Rescue Plan Act programs. Pictured, from left, are City Council President Anthony Dolce, R-Ward II, Mayor Eddie Sundquist, Executive Assistant Zachary Altschuler and Director of Development Crystal Surdyk.

Councilwoman Marie Carrubba, D-Ward IV, said the overwhelming majority of calls she has received from constituents have been concerning the programs for homeowners, which the City Council has prioritized over the past few months. This month, the City Council approved the allocation of an additional $500,000 in ARPA funding for the Senior Citizen Home Improvement program.

Surdyk told City Council members the home improvement programs have already seen significant progress.

“The roof program has already been all allocated,” Surdyk said. “Everyone that was eligible was notified that they will be receiving their repairs.”

Redirecting the council’s focus to the four tabled proposals, Surdyk pressed for guidance from the City Council as to what the city administration could do in order for the tabled proposals to be approved in the future.

“What I’m hoping for is some direction from all of you,” she said. “I understand if you’re not ready to vote on these tonight, but like I said, it’s been a couple months for many of these programs and we just want some direction. If there are questions and concerns, please ask them.”

Following Surdyk’s request, Ecklund explained the general consensus of council members is that the issue is not with the programs themselves, but with the amount of ARPA funding requested for each program. Ecklund said the City Council is concerned that the “dwindling” ARPA funds will not cover all the programs the city administration has disclosed to the public.

“I know the mayor had mentioned some other things publicly that we don’t even have in front of us yet,” Ecklund said. “I don’t know what those costs are. There’s promises of the water park, promises of playground upgrades. We don’t know what we’re looking at. If he’s promised those and all of a sudden we eat up all these funds, we’re the ones that are going to look like the jerks to everybody.” Turning to Mayor Eddie Sundquist, she added, “In all fairness, that is why I keep mentioning every week, mayor, this is what’s left.”

Sundquist said the city administration is “well aware” of the remaining ARPA fund balance. He added that the city administration would be “happy” to share the proposals for the splash pads and other potential ARPA funding projects.

“We’re happy to share that,” Sundquist said. “To be honest, none of you have asked, so let us know and we’re happy to do whatever you want. We just want to get this money spent. There’s a lot of good organizations that need it and are doing incredible things here in the community and we have an opportunity to fund those.”

Surdyk reminded the council that the ARPA funds cannot be saved for a “rainy day,” but are required to be allocated and spent by a certain deadline. She also shared with the council how difficult it is for the city administration to propose programs in a timely manner, something Ecklund acknowledged is a legitimate concern.

“We have to spend them,” Surdyk said. “It takes a long time for us to put these programs together and to get them rolled out. I’m feeling the crunch because our time is starting to run out.”

While City City Council President Anthony Dolce, R-Ward II, and Ecklund suggested that each of the council members have their opinions and concerns ready for the next work session, Councilman William Reynolds, R-Ward V, urged the council to act quicker on the 19A Homeownership program proposal.

“The 19A program has already been started,” Reynolds said. “We’ve already created the program to renovate some of these homes and take them over. I don’t know why we would want to stall that another month or two. It’s important.”

City officials explained that while the city is in the process of acquiring the titles of neglected houses throughout the city, the administration is waiting for funding to be approved to cover the cost of rehabbing the houses and selling them to potential homeowners.

Another topic of debate between members of the City Council and the city administration was the $1 million proposal to fund the Land Bank over a four-year period.

Once again, Reynolds pressed the council to act upon the proposal.

“If the Land Bank doesn’t do it, is the city going to do it?” asked Reynolds. “That’s frustrating for me to see that the demolition money has been exhausted. This is a great opportunity for the city to make some very visible evidence that we’re doing something about the blighted neighborhoods and houses. Let’s make a difference.”

While the majority of council members have expressed their support for funding city-wide demolition efforts, the City Council has questioned the Land Bank’s proposal that would provide over $200,000 in administrative expenses, rather than providing the full funding for demolition.

“I think people are scared by the amount,” Faulkner said. “Would it be possible to if we just cut it down to half that and it went strictly to demolitions?”

Gina Paradis, Land Bank executive director, explained she is willing to work with whatever the City Council is willing to give to the organization. She explained any potential funding from the City Council will be used to leverage grant funding through the state.

Despite the City Council previously suggesting the funds could be better used internally through the department of development, rather than externally through the Land Bank, Surdyk explained this is not the case.

“In this case, we have to work with our partners and share the load in order to get all of these funds out and get these programs done and buttoned up by the end of 2026,” she said. “Our partnership with the Land Bank is extremely strategic.”

After Monday’s voting session, Dolce told reporters that he has encouraged the council to move forward with the resolutions at next month’s voting session or to move ahead to different resolutions.

“Those four need to be vetted out a little further, but one way or the other, it’s something we’ll get done within the next few weeks,” he said.