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Home My WebLink AboutIR 10416 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10416 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 2, 2020 D'aTEA A. Div. Page 1 of 3 SUBJECT: WEEKLY UPDATE ON COVID-19 ADVISORY COMMITTEES 1875 This is the tenth weekly update on the work of four ad hoc advisory committees appointed by the City Council on March 19 to address urgent issues associated with the COVID-19 public health emergency. These committees, each co-chaired by two Council members, have provided timely leadership during a period of difficulty and uncertainty for our community. As the pandemic curve begins to flatten and we begin to reopen the local economy, however, our focus has begun shifting from emergency response to the delivery of public services in new and better ways. The small business and economic recovery committee has completed its assigned work, but its subcommittee on entrepreneurship and recovery continues to meet for discussions about their recovery plan. The other three committees—on reopening the economy, education and childcare, and community services—have made enough progress to justify moving toward biweekly meeting schedules. 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 CORE did not meet this week but will meet again during the week of June 1. Small Business and Economic Recovery Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Cary Moon and Ann Zadeh This committee,which was focused on the immediate and near-term impacts of the pandemic, has decided to stand down as the City is shifting to long-term recovery guidance. The entrepreneurship and recovery subcommittee, however,will continue meeting to finish their recovery plan, which they intend to present to Fort Worth Now upon completion. 1. Financial Assistance:The group was provided an update on the launching of the CARES Act funded "Preserve the Fort" grant program.The grant application period began on Tuesday, May 26th, and will run until 11:59 p.m. on June 8. The City and Chamber partners will be processing the applications over the following weeks with the intent of distributing the funds by the end of June.The Chambers updated the committee on the Protect the Fort grant program, which will be closing on May 22nd, and they have received over 1,000 applications.The goal is to fund those grants by mid-June. The City's Economic Development Department had their GIS researcher plot the applicants on a map and the applicant pool was well spread across the entirety of Fort Worth. Tarrant SBDC updated the committee on where they are dedicating their efforts. They have found that small businesses are still undercapitalized, even with the grants and loan that are being provided.This has led them to develop a program called "Plan B," which methodically walks small businesses owners though an evaluation process on how they are currently doing business, what is working and not working, and how they could pivot their business to give them the greatest impact. This type of program aligns with the work of the recovery subcommittee and the partners at the Guinn Campus will meet to see how these types of initiatives can be expanded. 2. Restaurant/Retail Issues: Near Southside, Inc. has expressed concern about increases in appraised value as they affect business owners and has raised questions about whether the Tarrant Appraisal District in some cases has assessed property above their actual value even before COVID hit. This issue is having a significant impact upon both landlords and tenants.The committee recommended putting together an online seminar to explain the protest process and how to pull together the information needed to complete this activity. Near Southside, Inc. will look at developing this seminar for its members. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10416 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 2, 2020 D'aTEA A. Div. Page 2 of 3 SUBJECT: WEEKLY UPDATE ON COVID-19 ADVISORY COMMITTEES 1875 3. Marketing/Communications:The City's communications team reported on the marketing plans and materials for the Preserve the Fort grant program. A website was launched for the application and can be found at: http://fortworthtexas.gov/preserve-the-fort/. A media kit has been shared with the committee that includes social media images,fliers, FAQs, a press release, banner images for websites, and more. All of these will be translated into Spanish and Vietnamese. Visit Fort Worth let the committee know that, in partnership with the Chambers of Commerce and the City,they will launch a "re-open responsibly" campaign to allow businesses to show that they are following best practices for wellness and safety. 4. Business Recovery:Workforce Solutions provided an update on current unemployment rates:Texas 12.8%, Tarrant County 13.5%, Arlington 14.5%, Fort Worth 13.5%. Even though the volume of unemployment benefit applications has decreased, it is still higher than they have experienced in years. Unemployment reports can be found at the following link: https://workforcesolutions.net/#unemploymentdata. East FW Inc. advocated that we form a group, including the Chambers, SEFW Inc., Fort Worth Now, etc.,that would lead a concentrated effort on redeveloping the Central City, utilizing Cavile Place and Butler Place as catalysts. City staff will explore this opportunity. Education and Childcare Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Carlos Flores and Kelly Allen Gray 1. School scheduling: As of May 27,the Fort Worth Independent School District had received more than 23,000 responses to its survey of students, parents, community leaders, and other stakeholders about their interest in various scheduling options for the 2020-21 academic year. These options include hybrid schedules whereby students would attend classes in person on certain days of the week and remotely on the other days, or in person at limited hours of each day and remotely during the remainder of the day. The school district will complete the survey on May 31, after which the school board will be discussing the survey results at its regular meeting on June 9. In the meantime,virtual summer school will begin on June 3 and run through June 30. 2. Childcare services: As residents have begun returning to work and the demand for childcare services has increased proportionately,the number of available childcare slots in Tarrant County has declined somewhat but still exceeds 9,600 at 722 licensed facilities. Some 1,259 children of essential workers have received subsidized care through the Texas Workforce Commission's emergency program, bringing more than $2.5 million of funding into Tarrant County. The website for the online search tool is http://find.bestplace4kids.com. 3. Summer programs:The City will reopen certain community centers and libraries for limited purposes starting on June 1. Other community centers and libraries will reopen during the month of June as we are able to make physical modifications and provide essential supplies to protect employees and residents from the spread of coronavirus. Subject to appropriate public health precautions, we expect to provide a six- week summer day camp and reading instruction program from June 29 through August 7. Community Services Advisory Committee, co-chaired by Gyna Bivens and Jungus Jordan 1. Rental/household assistance and evictions: Neighborhood Services (NSD) has received 1,090 applications through the CARES Emergency Household Assistance Program since May 7. Over 300 have been processed for applicants who have provided required documents. NSD is partnering with Tarrant County Justice of the Peace courts to share information on funding and services available through the City to mitigate evictions. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10416 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 2, 2020 P'aTEA A. Div. Page 3 of 3 SUBJECT: WEEKLY UPDATE ON COVID-19 ADVISORY COMMITTEES 1875 2. Communications: Communications distributed 10,000 COVID-19 postcards to food pantries and food distribution sites last week.The Community Engagement Bulletin and Faith-Based Bulletin are now being distributed twice weekly, and both are translated into Spanish and include all COVID-19 resources,fliers, etc. Community Engagement and Neighborhood Services have completed phone calls to two-thirds of senior adults in zip code 76112. Six more Worth Sharing neighborhood stories have been completed for City News. For more information on resources: http://fortworthtexas.gov/COVID-19/community-resources/. 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