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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 06.k Date: Item No. CARES ACT GRANT APPLICATION AGREEMENT 2020 FEDERAL ELECTION FUNDING Proposed Action Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve a resolution authorizing execution of an agreement with Dakota County regarding use of the 2020 CARES Act Grant for 2020 Federal Election funding. Overview The Office of the Secretary of State, OSS received funding through the 2020 CARES Act “to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus for the 2020 Federal election cycle.” The State has further authorized the distribution of these funds to local governments for use consistent with the state and federal requirements. A work group including members of the OSS staff, county representatives, and city representatives was tasked with determining a fair, equitable, and efficient way to allocate these funds to local governments through a grant-making process. The work group recommended, and the OSS adopted, a grant-making structure that provides a block-grant to Counties, with the instruction that Counties work with their municipalities to determine a fair, equitable, and mutually agreeable method for allocating the funds within the County and between municipalities. However, if a County and its encompassed municipalities cannot come to a mutual agreement, a default allocation mechanism is provided. Both the distribution of funds to counties, and the default municipality distribution, are based on a formula using various election-related factors. To keep the process simple and to distribute the funds quicker, Dakota County is moving forward with the default fund allocation to each city. The attached agreement indicates Lakeville will be provided funds in the amount of $24,826.21, which requires a local 20% funding match of $4,965.24. Primary Issues to Consider • How can these funds be used? (See attached) Supporting Information • Resolution approving 2020 CARES Act Grant Agreement – Federal Election Funding Financial Impact: $N/A Budgeted: Y☐ N☐ Source: Related Documents: (CIP, ERP, etc.): Envision Lakeville Community Values: Good Value for Public Services Report Completed by: Char Friedges, City Clerk August 17, 2020 Analysis of Primary Issues The use of the CARES Act funds is restricted by both Federal and State law. State law outlines the broad categories for which the funds can be used, including: (1) ensuring the health and safety of election officials and in-person voters, including the purchase of sanitation and disinfectant supplies; (2) public outreach and preparations for implementing social distancing guidelines related to voting, including additional signs and staff; (3) facilitation, support, and preparation for increased absentee voting, including voter education materials, printing, and postage; (4) preparation of training materials and administration of additional training of local election officials; (5) preparation of new polling place locations; and (6) purchasing an electronic roster system meeting the technology requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 201.225, subdivision 2, along with equipment necessary to support the system. CITY OF LAKEVILLE RESOLUTION NO. ____ RESOLUTION APPROVING CARES ACT GRANT COUNTY-MUNICIPALITY AGREEMENT FOR COVID-19 RELATED ELECTION EXPENSES WHEREAS, the City of Lakeville has identified increased election expenses related to the COVID-19 health pandemic; and WHEREAS, Dakota County has received a 2020 CARES Act grant for increased election expenses; and WHEREAS, Dakota County has proposed to allocate default grant amounts to cities through a County-Municipality Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Lakeville hereby selects the default funds allocation in the amount of 24,826.21 between the county and municipality through the 2020 CARES Act grant, to which the county is the Grantee, and acknowledges that it is subject to the provisions of the 2020 CARES Act Gant Agreement as if it were the Grantee. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Lakeville approves the 2020 CARES Act Grant County-Municipality Agreement and authorizes the City Administrator to execute such agreement and any amendments as are necessary to receive and use the funding for the 2020 elections. ADOPTED by the Lakeville City Council this 17th day of August 2020 ______________________________ Douglas P. Anderson, Mayor _________________________________ Charlene Friedges, City Clerk