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Riverbank reallocates ARPA funds to parks, infrastructure and communications ahead of encumbrance deadline
Summary
City staff presented and council approved an amendment to the city's American Rescue Plan Act spending plan, reallocating unencumbered ARPA dollars (total allocation $5,952,064) toward park improvements, energy-efficiency projects and communications work to meet a Dec. 30 encumbrance deadline.
The Riverbank City Council authorized staff to reallocate remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds to projects likely to be encumbered before the federal deadline, prioritizing park improvements, certain infrastructure and a social-media/PIO contract.
Staff reported the city received $5,952,064 in ARPA funding and reminded the council that funds must be encumbered by Dec. 30, 2024 and expended by Dec. 30, 2026. The staff presentation described moving savings from completed projects and from items that cannot be encumbered in time into categories where staff expects to encumber the money this calendar year, including comprehensive park updates in older neighborhoods, increased energy-efficiency project costs, and a $60,000 allocation for social media/PIO marketing and branding work.
Michael Patton, director of parks and recreation (as cited in the presentation), was identified as the lead on prioritized park improvements including work at Pioneer Park and other older facilities. Staff also noted property purchases completed with ARPA funds (Sierra House, Jackson and Stanislaus property, downtown parking lot) and minor budget updates for remediation and weed abatement.
Council members voiced support for prioritizing parks and asked staff to provide an equitable list of park priorities and to ensure playground accessibility features are included. Staff requested authority in the resolution to make adjustments needed to meet the encumbrance deadline; council approved the amendment on a 4-0 roll call.
Staff said the purpose of the reallocation is to avoid returning unspent federal funds and to focus on projects that can be contracted or encumbered by year-end.
