City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: APRIL 22, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of Planning Direction for Use of Forthcoming Federal CARES Act Funding.
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ISSUE: What are the major COVID-19 pandemic impacts on the Alexandria community, what should the City government's response to those impacts be, and how should the City allocate the forthcoming Federal CARES Act funding?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Affirm that the prime priorities of the City for the use of CARES Act funding are for funding the City's direct response expenses to the COVID-19 crisis, the funding of the expansion of the Alexandria Health Department's epidemiological staffing, the funding of expanded residential rental assistance, food assistance to needy individuals and families, and the provision of assistance to small businesses; and
2. Direct the City Manager to return to Council at its May 12 Legislative Meeting with a plan for implementation of the above initiatives.
BACKGROUND: Since the onset of the COVID-19 virus pandemic, the City has been undertaking a series of actions and implementing plans (1) to protect the health of residents, workers and visitors to the City: (2) to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the community; (3) to assist those businesses with adjusting to a partial shutdown and then a stay-at-home directive, and (4) to assist those residents of the community who have lost their jobs and income and ability to feed their families. Much of the first months the City's focus has been on the health aspects of this crisis, as well as on immediate new health and economic issues that the City faces on a day-to-day basis. During this time period much as been accomplished, however there remains much to address in regard to the short and medium-term impacts of the shutdo...
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