Update Jan 12, 2022: the City has posted a Zoom link for the engagement sessions on the APR webpage, along with this note which restricts distribution of the link:
Please do not share any meeting access details via social media. Linking to digital meeting info on social media can expose the meeting to malicious and destructive attacks. To promote this engagement opportunity share only the project webpage: a2gov.org/rescuefunds
Update: As of Jan 9, 2022, the City has not provided Zoom links for the engagement sessions. Please check the City’s webpage on the day of the meeting:
https://www.a2gov.org/departments/systems-planning/Pages/American-Rescue-Plan-Act-Funding–.aspx
Also note that according to the City’s webpage, “project overviews will not be provided during the meetings“. The webpage also mentions that “Participants are highly encouraged to watch overview videos before joining the question-and-answer sessions.“
To find the overview videos, scroll to the very bottom of the City’s webpage:
https://www.a2gov.org/departments/systems-planning/Pages/American-Rescue-Plan-Act-Funding–.aspx
Over this holiday break, the City announced a public engagement plan to discuss American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds. Background: on October 1st, Assistant City Administrator John Fournier presented ARP spending recommendations to Council and recommended that they be finalized by December 6th. That memo can be found here:
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5158268&GUID=86E594B0-B3AA-4F8C-BF98-F84C6800DE73
I raised concerns about this rushed timeline and Council ultimately extended it to March 1st, 2022. Four days of public engagement meetings will allow residents to learn about and offer feedback about ARP spending proposals:
https://www.a2gov.org/departments/systems-planning/Pages/American-Rescue-Plan-Act-Funding–.aspx
From the City’s website, there will be one overview session, and seven project focused sessions:
Wednesday, January 12 from 6-8 p.m.
Funding Overview and all general question and answer session on all projects.
Project Focused Q&A Sessions
Thursday, January 13
12-1:30 p.m. Miller-Catherine Bike Facility & Vision Zero Implementation
4-5:30 p.m. Community and Law Enforcement Public Safety Data Platform& Unarmed Response
6-7 p.m. Galvanized Water Service Line Replacement
Wednesday, January 19
12-1:30 p.m. Housing for Homeless Households & Property Acquisition for Affordable Housing
4-5:30 p.m. Fire Station 4 (Huron Parkway) – First Net Zero Fire Station in Michigan & Solar on City Facilities
6-7 p.m. City Clerk Election Center
Thursday, January 20
4-5:30 p.m. Universal Basic Income & Coordinated Funding Support
Zoom meeting links are unavailable at this time, but I will share them as soon as I am made aware of them.
I previously wrote about the ARP spending recommendations here:
https://www.a2elnel.com/post/prioritizing-american-rescue-plan-funds