8.1 SR 07-20-2020
Request for Action
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 8.1
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
General Business July 20, 2020 Cal Portner, City Administrator
Item Description Reviewed by
Joint Letter to Minnesota Federal Legislative
Delegation from Minnesota Mayors Calling for
Reviewed by
Direct COVID-19 Support
Action Requested
Discuss and provide consensus .
Background/Discussion
Mayor Dietz was contacted by the office of the St. Paul Mayor asking him to sign onto joint letter from
Minnesota Mayors calling for direct COVID-19 support from our federal legislative delegation.
The larger cities, like Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth and Rochester have already signed on and they were
reaching out to other cities equally affected by COVID-19 to see if they might want to join.
They are hoping that the additional money we may receive could be used for revenue losses, in addition
to other COVID-related uses allowed under CARES dollars.
Financial Impact
None
Attachments
Letter
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity
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DATE
The Honorable ___________________
United States House/Senate
___________________ Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear ___________________:
Thank you for the vital work that you and your colleagues in Congress have done to address the
COVID-19 pandemic and the related economic crisis. As you are aware, cities from across the
state of Minnesota are impacted by this virus. We are grateful for your leadership and wish to
continue our partnership with you to find meaningful, long-term solutions at every level of
government to assist with recovery from this unprecedented event.
As mayors of cities from across the state, we are writing to urge you to advocate for inclusion of
direct emergency fiscal assistance to local governments in the next COVID response package.
As negotiations move forward related to COVID relief efforts, we share in the belief that federal
aid for our cities in Minnesota and across the United States must be provided to assist us in:
Supporting front-line workers who provide essential services
Addressing potentially catastrophic revenue loss
Stabilizing local government infrastructure that bolster businesses, workforce and
residents
While we continue to respond to the pandemic and mitigate its spread, we are working to reopen
our economies in the safest manner possible in line with state and federal guidelines. With dire
long-term budget forecasts, our inability to continue to provide city-based services could become
another state-wide and national emergency. However, through all of this, cities continue to
provide essential services to our residents such as:
Police, Fire, and Emergency Services
Housing Support
Refuse Collection
Road Repairs & Maintenance
Permitting & Inspections
We are encouraged that our Minnesota Congressional delegation continues to support direct
federal funding to American cities based on a modified Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) formula. It is urgent that local governments receive funding and funding that allows us
to continue serving our residents. We urge you to support a bill that 1) provides direct funding to
local governments, 2) allows for local governments to cover lost revenues due to the impact of
COVID-19, and 3) ensures adequate time to use the federal appropriations. We understand that
the U.S. House has passed a bill and we ask the U.S. Senate to quickly pass a companion bill.
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In addition, we ask you to support changes to the funding included in the CARES ACT that
would create flexibility for cities to utilize existing funding for lost revenue and to promote relief
and recovery.
Thank you again for your swift passage of three coronavirus relief bills and we share in the hope
that Congress will soon pass legislation that includes direct and flexible fiscal assistance to all
cities across the nation. We are grateful for your assistance in this serious endeavor and for your
continued service to our cities across the State of Minnesota.
Sincerely,