Budget Question # 071:  On page 8.3, we’re allocating $200,000 in ARPA funds for “City-Wide Cleaning Supplies”. Given that surface transmission of COVID-19 seems to be very rare are these funds for specifically anti-COVID cleaning operations, or are we covering existing maintenance/janitorial/cleaning expenses with these dollars?  (Councilman McPike) 

Response:  

The funding reserved for City-wide cleaning supplies is intended to support a wide range of anti-COVID cleaning operations, including:

• Supply of hospital grade cleaning supplies and materials for facilities;

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees;

• Detailed cleaning and disinfection services when COVID cases occur in employee work areas to prevent further spread as recommended by CDC; and

• Air filters or air duct cleaning services for facilities.

These cleaning expenses and COVID-19 mitigation expenses were funded in the City’s tranche #1 allocation. Staff recommend continuing to reserve funding for these expenses in the City’s tranche #2 allocation. It is unclear how long FEMA reimbursement will be available for the City’s COVID-19 response expenses. It would be prudent to have this allocation available for future COVID-19 cleaning needs and mitigation measures depending on the course of the pandemic over the next year.

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