Council members provided direction to city staff on how remaining funds from Coppell’s initial allocation of $10.2 million could be spent on various projects during a Jan. 9 work session. Funds received by local governments through the American Rescue Plan Act are designed to bridge the gap for lost revenue as a result of economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The overview
Deputy City Manager Traci Leach said the city has used around $5 million from the allocation of federal funds on completed projects with about another $3.5 million budgeted for current projects. After staff commits the $1.8 million for identified projects, around $178,530 would have to be allocated by the end of the year.
Leach said funding must be allocated by December 2024 and fully spent by December 2026. If funds are not either committed or expensed by the deadlines, the federal dollars cannot be used.
The details
In the latest round of projects, city staff identified several areas where the money could be spent including parks, city facilities and emergency services.
- Additional funding for Magnolia Park
- Security improvements at all city facilities
- Life Safety Park concrete sealant and restriping
- Refurbishment of an emergency command vehicle
- Pilot program for residential rehabilitation grants
- Development strategy assessment
- Electric vehicle fleet infrastructure strategy assessment
With the feedback received from council members, staff will proceed with allocating the $1.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. Leach said city staff will return later this year to provide a final update on remaining funds and projects.
“Moving forward, my plan would be to come back to the council in May for the last time as to how we would allocate all remaining balances,” Leach said. “At that point, we would have six months to finalize obligation [of the funds] and make sure we get it assigned to something.”
