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Council receives ARPA update; city highlights mobile‑shower program, motel vouchers and park projects
Summary
Councilmembers received a report on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending and recent projects funded with federal relief, including mobile showers and laundry services, motel voucher expenditures, and park maintenance and street repairs; the council voted to receive the report.
San Bernardino city staff provided the City Council an update on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and related projects at the May 21 meeting, and the council voted to receive the report.
During the presentation staff outlined the city’s use of ARPA funds for a variety of initiatives including a mobile‑shower and laundry program operated through a community action partner, motel vouchers for people experiencing homelessness, economic‑development software and land‑management system work, and park and street maintenance projects. The council received photos and status updates on several projects and staff answered council questions about remaining balances and projected spending.
Staff said the mobile‑shower contract with a community action organization had spent roughly $99,000 so far and that the city intended to fund acquisition of a second mobile unit (showers and laundry service) with a total contract amount contemplated at $150,000. Staff said the code for the mobile units includes space for showers, storage and laundry kits. On motel vouchers and motel‑voucher program funding, staff said different funding pots (including CVG or CARES/ARPA‑era funds referenced in the presentation) support motel vouchers but clarified only portions had been spent to date.
On economic development software, staff said the budget allocated $200,000 for systems work and that the city had spent a portion of that amount (staff cited $64,000 in current spending against that line item). The presentation also included street‑maintenance work on West 30th Street and other corridors; staff said some first segments are complete and additional work is scheduled.
Councilmembers pressed staff on budget detail and timing. Ortiz and other councilmembers asked whether remaining ARPA balances would be reallocated if a project underspent; staff said funds could be moved to other projects and that final year‑end numbers would be clearer later in the fiscal year. The council voted to receive and file the ARPA update without objection.
Staff said they would return with more detailed financial reports and final accounting as project work continues.
