pages: CityCouncil/2020-04-21.pdf, 17
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CityCouncil | 2020-04-21 | 17 | be important going forward; expressed support for a re-opening committee for the businesses community; the community could review street organization and parking; staff should come back with a plan to re-open in June; $7,500 grants will only carry businesses for a month or two; expressed concern about spending too much time on geographic equity and limiting certain spaces; stated Council needs to work fast and be as equitable as possible; expressed concern about spending too much time effectively causing a delay in the implementation of programs and funding; expressed support for the recommendation with the augmentation of moving forward with a matching fund and bringing back a funding recommendation for increasing the size of the program at the next meeting. Councilmember Daysog stated Council must allow the small mom and pop shops a fighting chance to survive; the grant program is a positive step; many local-owned stores will need temporary relief from the minimum wage increase; smaller stores do not have financial reserves like national chains; 60 to 90 days would be a reasonable delay; expressed support targeting the grant to specific commercial areas; stated that he would support staff tracking how many applications are received from each known commercial business area within the City. Councilmember Vella expressed support for giving staff general direction to move forward with trying to expand funding for the grant program through various funding sources; expressed concern for restaurants and businesses; stated the diverse cuisine throughout Alameda should stay; expressed concern about preschools and daycare facilities; stated that she would like to ensure childcare facilities are available; expressed support for businesses which provide activities; stated many businesses will have to re-think how they open when the shelter in place order is lifted; noted activity and after school programs will also need assistance; expressed support for looking at funding for arts based providers and not for profit organizations, which provide important activities; stated that she will not be supporting a delay in the minimum wage increase; all options should be exhausted when looking at ways to keep businesses afloat; she does not want to hurt the lowest wage workers by delaying the wage increase; expressed concern for the inability to pay rent and make-up for lost wages; the grant is a good first step; expressed concern about creating too much bureaucratic red-tape, spreading grants throughout the City and to different types of businesses and conflicts of interest; stated that she is supportive of the panel description; expressed support for publicly traded companies being ineligible, and limiting language around financial institutions, such as banks or lenders; stated that she does not want all funds to go to landlords for payment of rent; the funding should be spent trying to keep the businesses afloat in other ways; commercial landlords should be working with businesses. Councilmember Oddie stated there is more creativity to be had; businesses have been impacted; his weekly take-out business is no longer operating; a recent call showed rent is the number one concern; a three week deferral on rent with six months to repay yields 1.5 times the monthly rent; deferred payment deserves should be discussed at a later time; expressed support for staff direction to work on a public-private partnership sooner rather than later; stated that he is happy to contribute by ordering take-out, extra Special Meeting Alameda City Council April 21, 2020 7 | CityCouncil/2020-04-21.pdf |