HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 10407 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10407
May 8, 2020
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To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 1
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SUBJECT: Weekly Update on COVID-19 Advisory Committees
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This is the seventh weekly update on the work of four ad hoc advisory committees appointed by the City Council to
address urgent issues associated with the COVID-19 public health emergency.These advisory committees, each co-
chaired by two Council members, are dealing with reopening the economy, small business and economic recovery,
education and childcare, and community services.The following is a summary of their progress during the past
week.
Committee on Reopening the Economy(CORE), co-chaired by Brian Byrd and Dennis Shingleton
This committee has produced and distributed "Y'AII Get Ready, Y'AII Stay Healthy," a twenty-page guide for
responsible behavior during the pandemic. The document presents advice for local businesses wishing to resume
operations while protecting the health of their employees and customers. It offers specific recommendations for
various kinds of businesses, including buffets, dine-in restaurants, fast-food restaurants, in-person religious
services, and movie theaters. The document also describes various health precautions that all residents can take to
prevent the spread of coronavirus and it provides answers to frequently asked questions. The full document is
available on the City's website, https://fortworthtexas.gov.
Small Business and Economic Recovery Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Cary Moon and Ann Zadeh
1. Financial Assistance: Staff gave a general overview of how the City is looking to use CARES Act funds,
including funds for a forgivable loan program and a grant program. In its current proposed structure, the
grant program will target business owners with fewer than five employees and small businesses with 50 or
fewer employees.The loan program will serve businesses of up to 500 employees and will include sole
proprietors and independent contractors as well as non-profit organizations. Details for both programs are
still being discussed and are subject to change until final City Council approval. In particular, the committee
wants these grant and loan programs to support micro enterprises that have struggled in seeking access to
funds.
2. Marketing/Communications:The City's Communications Office has been coordinating on various efforts
with the City's Economic Development Department and the advisory committee. Specifically, they have
been expanding the reach of all communications efforts and sharing resources using the City's business
resource page as a hub for all the City business information, surveys, CARES Act information, funding
opportunities, informational FAQs and graphics, etc. A follow-up survey has been prepared to assess the
impacts of the pandemic upon our business community.The Mayor's Office is assembling a Fort Worth
specific guide that explains re-opening recommendations in greater detail for specific kinds of businesses,
such as movie theatres, buffet vs. sit down vs. take-out restaurants, etc.The microloan program has also
been shared across all traditional media channels, social media, community channels and relevant City
department lists. The City has been updating the business resource page every 24-48 hours with a focus on
available loan and grant programs. Visit Fort Worth is focusing on promoting the "Support the Fort" shop-
local campaign across social media and some donated billboards from Clear Channel.
3. Entrepreneurship & Recovery:The Entrepreneurship & Recovery Subcommittee held their first meeting this
week, reviewed a draft plan for recovery, and began work to solidify it and their goals in the next few
weeks.The group also has been looking at past economic downturns and crises to see what they could
glean from those events about strategic recovery actions.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10407
May 8, 2020
C..
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 2
r VA
SUBJECT: Weekly Update on COVID-19 Advisory Committees
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Education and Childcare Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Carlos Flores and Kelly Allen Gray
1. Child abuse and neglect: Dr. Wayne Carson, CEO of ACH Child and Family Services, briefed the committee
this week about local efforts to assess the impact of COVID-19 upon child abuse and neglect and to
formulate appropriate responses. Despite conflicting data, the incidence and severity of mistreatment
appear to be increasing as a result of three factors: (a) a weakening in the protective layer of child oversight
caused by pandemic-related school closures and social separation; (b)family stress caused by health risks,
financial burdens, and confinement; and (c) stress upon the organizations that are responsible for
protecting children. ACH is working with Cook Children's Health Care System, the Fort Worth Police
Department, and other entities on solutions that revolve around providing more support for families,
strengthening child oversight, and helping the Police Department to control and prevent crimes against
children.
2. School reopening: Fort Worth Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Kent Scribner and his
leadership team continue to be engaged in summer and fall planning with multiple contingencies. The
school district has not yet made any firm decisions, however, pending further guidance from Tarrant
County and the City of Fort Worth about public health restrictions and phased reopening.
3. Childcare services for families of essential workers:We now have more than 9,200 childcare slots available
at 692 licensed facilities throughout Tarrant County, including 325 childcare centers and 367 family homes.
The website for the online search tool is http://find.bestplace4kids.com. Furthermore, Child Care
Associates has now received more than 1,400 applications for childcare subsidies that are available to
essential workers with incomes at or below 150 percent of the state median income, or$118,000 for a
family of four.They have already enrolled 724 participants, making Tarrant County's participation rate the
highest among all urban counties in Texas.They anticipate being able to serve as many as 1,000 children
through this program. To apply for these subsidies, essential workers should visit the local Child Care
Management Services website, https://tarrantcountVccros.org, and complete a simple online application. A
caseworker will contact them within 48 hours to finalize and activate the assistance. The Governor's
current executive order allows childcare facilities to serve only the children of essential workers, but we
anticipate that the Governor may soon be easing or rescinding this restriction as the economy continues to
reopen.
4. Survey of childcare providers: Child Care Associates this week launched a survey of all licensed childcare
providers in Tarrant County. The purpose of this survey is to collect information about their experiences
during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as their needs and concerns as we reopen the economy. Committee
members provided specific questions and requests for information to include in the survey.
5. Summer programs: City staff is awaiting further guidance from the Governor while tracking pertinent public
health data to determine whether, when, and how various departments and cooperating organizations will
be able to provide certain summer programs this year.
Community Services Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Gyna Bivens and Jungus Jordan
1. Rental operations: Drew Kile, Senior Managing Director for Institutional Property Advisors, briefed the
committee on rental operations. A vast majority of renters have been able to make rental payments due to
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10407
May 8, 2020
C..
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 3
r VA
SUBJECT: Weekly Update on COVID-19 Advisory Committees
Yg'?3 7
unemployment benefits or still having jobs. Landlords want to maintain occupancies and do not want to
evict tenants. While the Texas eviction stay ends on May 18, he does not anticipate many evictions.
Unemployment benefits are expected to be extended past the end of July, and most people receiving them
are financially better off than they were while employed.
2. Housing, utility, food, medicine, and related assistance:The City's new Emergency Household Assistance
Program (http://fortworthtexas.gov/neighborhoods/covid-19-relief-funds) launched on May 7. It is funded
with $7.2 million in federal CARES Act funds and is available to Fort Worth households earning up to 120%
of area median income who have been affected by COVID-19.The members of the Apartment Association
of Tarrant County have received guidelines for registering as vendors with the City of Fort Worth.The
program requires landlords to waive late fees and penalties as a condition of rental assistance. Information
has been in the media about the program, and the City's IT Solutions Department is monitoring the online
system to ensure it is not overwhelmed.
3. Communications: Communications is getting the word out on the Emergency Household Assistance
Program for Fort Worth residents and on Community Action Partners funding for housing and utility
assistance for all Tarrant County residents. Residents citywide received COVID-19 resource mailers last
week. Approximately 2,000 extra copies of the mailer and a 2-1-1 community resource flier were shared
with Neighborhood Police Officers to distribute. As of May 5, staff has contacted by phone more than 4,500
residents in historically underserved ZIP codes to check on them, direct them to area resources for food,
housing, and utility assistance. Calls to ZIP codes 76104 and 76105 have been completed, and 76112 is in
progress. Since the pandemic began, Community Engagement has posted more than 100 COVID-19
resource updates on NextDoor, reaching more than 240,000 households.
4. Food security: Neighborhood Services noted a decline in demand for evening meals for children at
community centers. Approximately 300 meals are served per day. Sixty and Better is still serving about 175
older adults. Christy Lara with Albertsons/Tom Thumb reported that SNAP benefits were distributed to new
households affected by COVID-19 starting April 15, which has likely reduced demand for free meals.
If you have any questions about this information, please contact the following staff members as appropriate:
o Reopening the Economy: Chelsea Adler, Chief of Staff(817-392-6363);
o Small Business and Economic Recovery: Robert Sturns, Economic Development Director(817-392-2663);
o Education and Childcare: Fernando Costa, Assistant City Manager(817-392-6122); and
o Community Services: Dana Burghdoff, Assistant City Manager(817-392-8018).
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS