The Bainbridge Island City Council has moved closer to reimbursing up to $91,000 to the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Parks and Recreation District for CARES eligible expenses.
City documents say the parks district has experienced “significant expenditures” in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with revenue impacts on the cancellation of programming and facility closures.
On June 30, the council accepted the Federal Coronavirus, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) grant from the state Department of Commercefor $735,600, and in order to be eligible expenses must occur before Oct. 31. Ultimately, the council decided to allocate up to $260,000 to support community partners and the remaining $476,000 to offset COVID related expenses to the city.
Of the $260,000 community partner amount, the council decided to use $60,000 for the Helpline House rental assistance program, documents say. The remaining $200,000 was intended to be shared with the parks district and the business community. On July 30, the council decided to reimburse up to $25,000 to the business community.
With the council approving the motion last week, it nows has the option to provide some of the remaining $175,000 to the parks district.
In a letter sent from parks district executive director Terry Lande to the council, he stated parks is a “valuable partner” in the emergency operation center and that many of the expense reimbursements they are seeking are costs “incurred fulfilling the requests from the Bainbridge Island EOC, in addition to the unplanned services they have provided for community support during the pandemic.
Some of those services include:
• Providing a daycare for the children of health care workers, emergency workers, school district employees and essential personnel.
• Providing equipment for a local hospital to operate a drive-through testing facility.
• Costs of providing personal protective equipment and remote work supplies to essential employees for critical operations.
• Providing space and sanitation at district facilities for Kitsap County emergency workers mask fit testing.
• PPE and essential supplies provided to COBI and local businesses to support incident needs.
• Support to the EOC by assigning staff to attend meetings and coordinating with COBI staff.
• PPE supplies for patrons and employees.
• Education/training for patrons and employees.
• Sanitation equipment and supplies for the many public facilities owned and managed by the district.
In total, the parks district is asking for $90,500. According to city documents, the breakdown is as follows:
Social Distancing for programs and work at home expenses
• $9,900 cost to facilitate work at home
• $7,400 social distancing supplies (employees/patrons
• $8,000 full- and part-time employee training/COVID-19
• $3,700 communication/signage for patron Public Health Expenses
• $14,700, personal Protective Equipment
• $37,800 sanitation supplies and equipment
• $9,000 childcare costs for essential personnel
