A past Harrisburg City Council meeting
At a legislative session on Tuesday, Harrisburg City Council made adjustments to the mayor’s proposal to use a large chunk of federal COVID relief money.
Council voted to make several changes to Mayor Wanda Williams’ proposed allocation of $28.1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding—deciding to put money towards assisting seniors, supporting job training and funding emergency housing.
The proposal to use a large portion of the city’s total $47 million from ARPA incorporates major projects such as constructing a new pool facility in the Hall Manor neighborhood at a cost of $8 million and using $8 million to fund affordable housing projects.
Council voted in favor of changing the administration’s original proposal of building a spray park at the site of the Hall Manor pool, which has been closed, to instead replacing the pool.
“Listening to the hundreds of residents throughout our town halls […] it’s clear as day […] a pool is so needed,” council member Ralph Rodriguez.
Most other amendments made by council don’t change the city’s original proposal, but rather propose the use of several million dollars in remaining ARPA funds that Williams had not yet earmarked for use. Council voted in favor of adding to the proposal $1 million for a workforce development/internship program for city youth and $1 million to address short-term and transitional housing needs.
Another $500,000 would go towards creating “community connection hubs” for workforce development at locations around the city and $250,000 would support nonprofits that assist the elderly. An additional $150,000 would support a pilot program for assisting local corner stores in providing fresh produce.
If the final proposal is approved by council, almost all of Harrisburg’s ARPA funds would be allocated. Council already approved the use of $15.6 million in June to reimburse the city for lost revenue during the pandemic, to replace the HVAC system in the city’s Public Safety Building and for one-time bonuses to uniformed personnel in the Harrisburg Fire Bureau and Bureau of Police.
Under ARPA rule, all funds must be allocated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026.
Council is slated to vote on the final proposed ARPA spending plan on Wednesday, July 5.
In other news, council also approved a land development plan for JMB Gardens, a 41-unit affordable housing project planned for the 2200- and 2300-blocks of N. 6th Street. The plan includes constructing several rowhome-style buildings on currently vacant lots.
Harrisburg-based Vice Capital, owned by former NFL running back LeSean McCoy, is the developer of the project and officials said that they plan to break ground on the development in August.
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