American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

Background:

Citrus Heights staff applied for ARPA funds as soon as applications opened, and the City was one of the first in the region to receive its funding. Citrus Heights is slated to receive $15,676,972 from the Federal Government for COVID-19 relief and economic recovery. The first half of the funds ($7,838,486) was received on May 19, 2021. The U.S. Treasury processed the second payment ($7,838,486) on May 26, 2022.

The following table summarizes all American Rescue Plan Act funding allocations. City leadership and staff are committed to providing transparent and accessible information on the stewardship of the one-time American Rescue Plan Act funds. Additionally, the City of Citrus Heights has a best practice in place that, with each ARPA allocation recommendation, the associated staff report must provide background and analysis on how the proposed ARPA funding will be used for 1. COVID recovery or 2. the advancement of community priorities.

ARPA Approved Committed Funds

    Total Award: $15,676,972
6/24/2021 Rehire Public Safety staff to pre-pandemic levels FY 21/22 $(1,568,805)
6/24/2021 Rehire Public Safety staff to pre-pandemic levels FY 22/23 $(2,811,775)
1/27/2022 Small Business COVID Recovery Grant $(281,111)
6/23/2022 Beautification Crew Pilot Program $(875,000)
6/23/2022 Police Fleet Vehicles & Equipment $(1,400,000)
6/23/2022 Police Department Communications Center Critical Needs $(600,000)
8/25/2022 Community Block Party Trailer - Community Engagement $(50,000)
9/22/2022 Community Projects Grant Program** $(50,000)
10/27/2022 ERP System and Technology Updates $(1,198,350)
12/8/2022 Infrastructure Financing Strategies for Sunrise Tomorrow $(40,000)
12/8/2022 REAP 2.0 Higher Impact Transformative Allocation* - Sunrise Tomorrow $(1,000,000)
1/26/2023 Patriotic Event $(80,000)
2/23/2023 Citrus Heights Cares Campaign $(47,000)
3/23/2023 Citrus Heights Business Attraction Incentive Program** $(1,000,000)
  Remaining Balance $4,673,631
*Dependent on the successful award of the grant
**Dependent on program subscription

ARPA Utilization Timeline:

Given the complexities of the ARPA guidelines and the importance of making the most out of this unprecedented, one-time outside funding, City staff have recommended a phased approach to ARPA spending in Citrus Heights, Following is a timeline of the American Rescue Plan Act and associated Citrus Heights actions.

March 11, 2021

President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) into law. The $1.9 trillion financial package is intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including public health and economic impacts with $350 billion allocated specifically to support local governments.

June 24, 2021
City Council unanimously approved the budget amendment, utilizing $5.3 million of the City's ARPA funding to re-instate 22 positions within the Police Department, bringing staffing levels back to a pre-pandemic level.

August 2021 

As ARPA interim guidelines were finalized, city staff issued a community survey to capture resident data on community priorities as Citrus Heights worked toward COVID recovery and continued resilience. 

January 6, 2022

The U.S. Treasury issued the final rules for allowable ARPA expenditures. The final rules provide broader flexibility and greater simplicity in the program. One of the major provisions in the final rule is the ability to utilize a standard allowance of $10 million of ARPA funding for any service traditionally provided by a government. 

February 14, 2022 
City staff launched the "ARPA COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Grant Program", based on Council feedback from the Nov. 10, 2021 workshop, recent City Council meetings, and survey feedback from local businesses. Click here to learn about the City's ARPA COVID-19 Recovery Small Business Grant Program.

May 10, 2022

At the City Council Strategic Planning Retreat, city staff presented a Background Memorandum with 49 policy and program recommendations and enhancements to advance community priority areas, many leveraging ARPA funding. These recommendations were informed by extensive community engagement and feedback and aggregated into four key focus areas:

  1. Community Image
  2. Economic Development
  3. Community Connection
  4. Infrastructure Maintenance

A total of 29 Six-Month Strategic Objectives that were adopted at the May Strategic Planning Retreat. 

May 26, 2022 

City Council unanimously adopted the recent strategic planning report as the core two-year work plan utilizing American Rescue Plan Act funding to address community needs and priorities.

Staff also presented information and cost on the first four programs for implementation from the recently approved strategic objectives.  Programs included the startup and implementation of a Beautification Crew, a Citrus Heights Block Party Trailer, Police Department Replacement Vehicles, and Public Safety Communications Center critical needs.

Additional information on the above-listed and additional strategic planning objectives can be found here.