Board of County Commissioners Special Meeting on COVID-19

>> welcome to the covid 19 special meeting of September 30, 20206789 everybody is popping on right now. As well a moment of silence. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the un ited states of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> can we have a roll call please? [Calling roll] >> did you call the vice charism chair? >> is vice Chairwoman Here? >> yes, I am. I think we have about three or four speakers. >> this is the opportunity for the public to be heard. >> albert chill dress please unmute your microphone. >> I'm just observingt. I don't need to speak. >> good afternoon. Time President And C.E.O. Of the coalition. I wanted to speak on item number 4 which is adult and child care program specifically related to child care programs. I want to thank the commissioners for take on this item it's important we support our early learning programs. We have to recognize the majority of them are small family owned businesses that are really struggling. They are struggling like everyone wells very low attendance. Our early learning programs are no different. They are struggling at this point to keep their doors openful in order for us to get the economy back on its feet. In order for parents to go back to work, parents are going to need a safe nurturing place to leave their children while they are also learning at the early learning programs. In support of this item, I think it's really important in our community we do everything possible to support these small businesses and also provide a service to the working families as well as children getting ready for kindergarten. Thank you for giving northeast opportunity to speak. >> thank you sir. >> is that it? >> one more. Max, could you unmute your microphone. >> thank you very much. Can you hear me? >> yes, we can hear you. >> ok thank you very much. My name is max rothman. I'm the executive director or audits or council on aging in miami dade. I was asked to participate in athought process afternoon's session and lend whatever assistance we can provide concerning the administration funding for adult daycare centers. We are of course a funding agency for adult daycare in this community. And we have the structure to enable the alliance to assist the county in this regard. We have of course been working very closely with county officials since covid-19 began back in March. And continue to carry out all of our responsibilities in close coordination with county officials. Particularly as it relates to meals for older people as well as adult daycare. So I just wanted to add my support for your effort and for whatever assistance we can provide in that record. Thank you very much. >> thank you. >> there are no more callers on zoom at this time. >> the opportunity for public to be heard is now closed. >> turn on your microphone. >> my microphone is on. We'll go to special item number one which is the mayor's report. I understand he has to leave early but will be returning. So is the mayor on? >> is that commissioner diaz supplies. >> yes, ma'am. >> Madam Clerk can you show him as incident. >> thank you Madam Chair. >> I wanted to advise -- [Inaudible] Special item number 4 and special item number 5, senator soto would like to be listed as a cosponsor. Other than those matters, there are no additional changes to your final printed agenda. >> can I get a motion to accept? >> so moved. >> it's been moved and second. Finish the record no on the agenda? We will follow the agenda as written. Is the mayor here if. >> yes, I'm here. >> you are on. Thank you. An update on what is happening with corona virus here in miami dade county. we continue to see a decrease in the positivity rate and also hospitalizations. We have seen somewhat of a leveling off of the decrease in the last couple of days. We have around 300 people that are in the hospital with the corona virus. We have over 100 people still many icu and less than 100 people that are on ventilators. That is great knews from the highs we had over 2300 people in our hospitals with the corona virus. We have plenty of capacity right now. And so the trend is good. But we have to maintain our individual lens and we are v to keep our foot on the gas. Last friday the governor issued an order that resurfed some of our rules. On friday and saturday I met with broward, monroe counties. Their administrators and also the attorneys for broward, palm beach and monroe alongside with our attorneys from miami dade to figure out exactly what the order meant and how we could deal with and issue orders of our own without violating the governor's orders. So the governor's orders I will -- this is what it did. It mandated 100% capacity for restaurants and those businesses that have a food license. And so it mandated 100% occupancy for that unless one and two, if you are going to impose some kind of restrictions on that occupancy, then you have to outline what the financial impact will be and b, why it was the reasons why you are imposing limitations on restaurants and those businesses that have food service licenses. The governor's order also said that for those areas that are giving the civil citations, citations for not wearing masks, that the collection on those citations will be halted until after the period of the emergency. Sometime in the future when the emergency is lifted, you can collect on that. But you can't collect on it now. So we wanted to know what that did to us in terms of our ability to enforce. Also what that did to us with our ability to close down restaurants etc. And apparently the order did not include commercial establishments. This is for individuals. The governor's order I also stated that no individual business type, grocery store, restaurant, bars, nightclubs, you couldn't unilaterally close them. You could impose restrictions on them. But you can't say no they are closed. A whole lot of different businesses were open because of the governor's order. So saturday night I signed an order which reinstituted some limits and some rules on restaurants and those facilities, those businesses that have a license to serve food, food service license. Those restrictions are yes, restaurants can go to 100% capacity or those businesses that have food service license could go to 100% capacity as long as the tables were six feet apart. you can maintain physical distancing of six feet between tables and you had the restrictions on the table size. No bigger than six people to a table. If they are from the same household up to 10 people. All the other restaurants this could not achieve let's say 50% capacity with the requirement for a six foot separation, the governor's order said you must have at least 50% capacity. In those cases, those restaurants are allowed to have their tables closer to one another, closer than six feet as long as they reach 50% what we call the floor. Once they reach that 50% capacity, they can't add anymore tables. Those restaurants that have a lot of space, could add and go above the 50% threshold up to 100% but they had to maintain six foot separation. Patrons could remove their mask once they were seated. But they had to put their mask on anytime they open up. This is not just for restaurants. It's for any food service, licensed facility. If you stand up, you can't walk around without a mask. You have to put on your mask. Even if you are a bar that serves food and you are operating basically as a restaurant, the patrons there can't walk around with a drink in their hand. We had already instituted. It appears my dogs don't like that part of the order which they made their opinion known to me. so the I think I was if you are standing up, you can't stand up and not have a mask and that includes bars, nightclubs, etc. And even nightclubs, you have dance floors that are open, you have to wear masks. And so that is in essence and one final thing. If you have live entertainment or music, the music can't be any louder than would impede our ability to have a normal conversation without somebody strong yell at each other. That we have found out is a pretty dangerous activity. The more you exert, the more particles come out. The harder you have to talk oriole or scream, then the more virus gets in the air if you are contagious. That is something we don't want. We do have a decemberable level that basically says if I can't speak to new a normal tone, that music is too loud and has to be reduced. That is across the board in miami dade county, whether it be in a business, in a restaurant, in a lounge, in adult entertainment, whatever, that is the rule. We have eased up on our parks. We're not opening up our daycare or playground to children in our parks. There are businesses that have that as part of their business. They are allowed to do that as long as the equipment is cleaned. And my dogs are really upset about this aspect of the rule so they are making their opinion know. In addition to that, we have stated to municipalities we don't have a closing time for parks anymore. Our parks will be closing at 10:00. The 11:00 curfew still rennins effect. In terms of sports. We're allowing league play for all different kinds of sports to commence. You don't have to wear a mask while you are participating inside. When you are playing as soon as you come out, you do need to wear a mask. If you are in a pickup situation where it's not a league, it's just a pickup situation, you still have to wear a mask whether it's basketball, football, whatever it is you are playing on a pickup scenario. That still has to be wearing a mask. We are now producing rules for our adult day carry which now are v the ability to open. And we are working with aca to develop those rules, also the same thing with our adult community centers. They can open. It doesn't mean though that if you are a municipality or county and you have an adult daycare, provide that kind of service that you must open. That doesn't mean that. It means those private entities, we can no no longer tell them they are closed. They have the ability to open. And that is all across the board. Most of the regulations that we have are 50% capacity. You have to wear your mask indoors and out. Our enforcement, we had a briefing with our staff. We are focusing on enforcement, mainly on the businesses. But individuals can still get citations. An individual can be cited as a second degree misdemeanor. We are serious about enforcing the rules that we have. We have to continue to drive the message that wearing the mask, physical separation and our doctors don't want to us say social distancing anymore, they want to us say physical separation of six feet and wearing the mask and washing hands is still the number one way to combat this virus. We are not out of the woods. Most experts I've spoken to expect a second wave. They expect it to be coming in the fall. It is our duty to try the keep this containen level down as much as possible. Keep our positivities rates as much as possible to smooth out that wave so that does not exceed the capacity of our healthcare system. Taking to C.E.O.S of the healthcare system, they are being proactive and they are releasing patients to go back home to create capacity in anticipation of a possible second wave. Our hope is that second wave doesn't come n. Order to make sure that second wave doesn't come, we will continue and we will now be enforcing the rules that we have in a strict manner, especially with businesses. Our businesses think that the rules are gone, they are mistaken. We'll be there. we will be enforcing the rules and if you don't abide by them, we will be able to shut you down and we can shut you down. We want to educate you first, we'll cite you second. If you don't learn then we're going to have to shut you down. >> I have a queue with commissioner heyman. >> thank you. Mayor, I was hoping when you spoke about a curfew remaining in place, your dogs would have stormed the room and siege aid presence on the camera. I'm very thankful for the contemplative work you have put into it. I'm absolutely opposed to the governor just lock stock making decisions contrary to what I think were contemplative decisions working with our rate and the unique nature of populations such as miami dade county. My concern is when we have compliance and now that is a change of behavior as dictated by the state for allowing certain venues to open up more and whatever, the hours, the culture. We have a culture here that is late at eating. I've never seen kids start eating at 9:00. It happens in some cultures. We have restaurants that have been severely impacted since March. They've been totally in compliance shutting down and opening up only for outside deliveries and takeouts and conforming the distance and masks and percentages and everything else, working with you on your task force. i'm still hearing that 11:00 means by 9:15 no more orders can be processed because the kitchens have to finish up, serve out, get them out before 10:00 and move people out of their restaurants so staff can start closing down before curfew at 11:00 that affects them. If we have entire industries that have been in compliance, can't we do something for these restaurants that are still hurting and now the percentages will be there but they have a late hour trade. Maybe you could restrict certain things. But allow them to stay open longer if they have not been the problem. And that is an ongoing thing. I know you heard it from your task force. You heard it from some of the people I know that are on your task force. And that remains a point of contention. If you could speak to that. This san hour thing. It isn't a behavior thing. If we have responsible oversight at these venues, these restaurants still need help. >> commissioner, we thought about that especially now with the heat being in the macrophages and think people will go to restaurants an watch the games and some of the games start at 9:00 and don't end until 11:30 or so. When I spoke to our medical advisors and the white house, they advised against it. They want to see what these measures we are taking on now how that is going to effect the community before we move the curfew back. I would think if we stay steady for the next 10-days or so, we can move it back to 12:00. That is the advice that I'm getting from our doctors commissioner. I listen to the medical advice and listen to the experts. Not only from here but the white house too. I understand that. Remember it's also the same argument they said move it back to 11:00, we can turn another table. Now we moved it back to 11:00. Now we got to move it back to 1:00. I bet you my bottom dollar when we move it to 12:00 they will say we got to move it to 1:00. >> we moved it back to 11:00. Let's take a little while longer. We got to see what this does and then we can move it back to 12:00. >> the one last something there is a difference between people who dine at a restaurant and sit and eat and ones that go to sports bars to watch the heat games and other things. Maybe if it was conditional. >> I can't do an exception for a restaurant and not a sports bar. Once you open the restaurant, you got to open the sports bar to 12:00 too. This is not an exception to a curfew for one. It's an exception. Now everybody can be open to 12:00. That's an issue too ok. >> thank you. >> the mayor is going have to leave in about five minutes. >> I just want to emphasize this is another example of preedges by the state of our local decision making. So regrettable. So out of touch with what we know is needed here locally. I want to thank you mayor for staying the course as best you can with the mask and precautions. We know the virus is still with us. While we are glad to open the economy, we all must exercise all of the precautions that are outlined and I think it's critical to maintain messages. We have heard the difficulty, our last meeting with tracing, contact tracing and how many are avoiding giving that information. It's important especially as we reopen now more than ever, we do not discourage people from testing. There is ample testing capacity now. The rapid test around the corner. We need to test and we do need to trace. That is the only way to isolate and determine who needs to be isolated. We have on the books an city preedges mandates. This is unfortunately a disruptive form of preemings. >> thank you. >> I found decisions that came down last minute were unsettling and not giving local government the opportunity respond to some stuff. My doe you Mr. Mayor, where are the medical experts on just the governor's decision to open up the economy. What did they have to say about that 1234. >> they were not happy. They thought we were on the right path and opening up in the right sequence. This threw us off a little bit. We are still working within the framework of what the governor has outlined. There were some obstacles we had to jump and some questions that we had to answer, especially from the legal side with the records how do we quantify financial impact. How do we -- apparently those were not big obstacles. We just didn't know what that meant. And so once we found out or felt like we found out what that meant, then it was not a big jump. The enforcement aspect I think probably the thing that the inability to collect kind of takes away discipline follows something called the hot stove rule. When you touch a hot stove, doesn't matter who you are, you are going to get burned. >>> it's immediate. You get burned right away. You don't touch a hot stove and two months later I got burned. It has to happen right away. Not being able to collect kind of defeats that purpose. We're not here to make money, we haven't cited that many people. It's just the threat ayou can get cited. And frankly we have the majority of the people of miami dade are actually good people that are following the rules because that keeps them safe. There are some people that won't. And will not. And those are the ones that you need to discipline with the fines. And so basically we have to revert back to the original fines we have which were misdemeanors. We're still going to issue the civil citations. We're holding off on collection. If people think we're not going to issue citations, they are wrong we will be. Businesses, our focus is going to be on businesses. Some businesses think it's over. We can do whatever we want. We can stay open as long as we want. We can have 100% of the people here, they don't have to wear mask. Our message is no, that's not true. We're going to go out and educate and then we're going to once we educate you, we come back again, then enforcement is going to take place. Our police department is going to be out there. I had a meeting just before this meeting with the league of cities. We discussed our options. We discussed what the rules meant. And I asked them to please enforce the rules. They are all on board with what we want to do. So we are united and rules are going to be very consistent throughout miami dade county. That is good. And again, I think we're going to enforce these rules because we need. >> let me say that I'm very glad that you are able to meet with the league and that we're all on the same page. We don't want to have the kind of stuff go on that has gone on previouslyra where the county commissionty is saying one thing and the league is saying something else. We need to be on the same page. This is about trying to protect the interest and safety of our residents. I want to say we have to be prepared to do what we need to do if our rights are being violated. What can answer a question on your behalf. >> jennifer can answer all the questions. If it's a rule that you like, I'm the one that thought of it. If you don't she thought of it. >> all right. >> jennifer, I just heard the mayor and I understand wholeheartedly the way everything has been done is to make sure that people are protected at all times. I think all of us concur on that. As the numbers keep dwindling down thank God, the issue exactly what she said. A lot of restaurants, a lot of our community, a lot of people, this is a tourist industry that is huge and a lot of the restaurants and facilities and clubs or whatever, bars, whatever that entertainment section is, especially the beach and many of the areas, it's important that at least the people get some kind of tier type thing. i know we went to 11:00. But it's true what was said before. A lot of these restaurants really indicated tore people that don't even come out until 11:00 at night or people that go out for entertainment purposes or whatever. And a lot of the tourists also many people are customed to eat late at night. There is a little bit -- we live anyway community that is blessed in many ways in this county. But at the same time we got to look at the businesses, how we can find a way that they can if numbers continue to go down within a period of time, we could kind of move into a later time. So these businesses could actually start maybe turning a profit or doing better. I think it's important for our community to look at all as specs of it. Maintaining the safety in every form that has been stated, I think in honesty we got to look at the full spectrum of it. And maybe we could get some kind of a commitment. In monroe county there is no curfew, broward still has a curfew. Every else in the state of florida, there is no curfew. I checked earlier. Unless somebody can tell me differently there is no other county that has a curfew except us an broward. I understand why. The mayor was clear in explaining it. I am just trying to see a way that we can maybe somehow tier into another way. if you can help me with that. >> as the mayor said, what our medical experts are concerned about is doing too many things all at once. So if you do see a change an increase in the number of positive cases or increase in hospitalizations, we can more closely identify exactly what caused it to happen. And so when we ask them specifically about the curfew, they suggested we wait a couple of weeks. See if we have any changes based on the actions that happened this last weekend. And then if we're still stable, then we can consider moving the curfew. I think the mayor mentioned that as well. Maybe in 10 or 14 days, somewhere in there if we see that the rate of positivity has stayed stable, it can be something that we can consider then. >> and that is the kind of message I think some of these places that cater to the later crowds need to hear that at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I appreciate it. Thank you. >> I am probably going to say this when the mayor comes back but just to prep me for it. What is the actual purpose of the curfew? What is the intent? >> the intent of the curfew is really to keep people from being out late and gathering. It was really just to try to modify behavior and keep people transit center gathering. >> because up until friday when the bars and everything was closed, I was curious why we had a curfew. It's not enforced. It's impossible to enforce it. If you ask the police director he will tell you. It doesn't achieve anything. I was in agreement some of those weekends when the hem cal day and this and that, you were going to get crowd and it was an easy way to control a lot of things. Right now from a law enforcement perspective, it doesn't do anything. We have a curfew. What it does do is it does hurt a lot of the businesses that we have been told to open. I have a really big issue with the curfew. It doesn't seem like it shows me anything. I'll wait for the mayor to get back. But I like you. It doesn't do anything other than to say we have a cur future we're killing the mom and pop hole in the wall restaurants with the 50% spacing. >> it depends on what happens. I won't say the last and I won't say it isn't. >> I'll wait to talk to the mayor later on. Is that ok? >> yes. >> thank you so much. >> thank you Madam Chair. Just bear with me. I'm walking into a situation office. Jennifer, just for clarification clarification, -- [Inaudible] . >> you are breaking up. >> I couldn't hear the question. >> I'm sorry. I had this choking mask on that didn't allow me to speak clearly. Jennifer, how much have the local businesses have been included in the dialogue so that we could get to writing these rules for businesses, how much have they been involved and how much have they been consulted with as they decide the prescription? >> for specific industries, we gathered representatives of those industries. We had several different groups. We had groups from retail, groups from logistics, groups from restaurants etc. Those are the guidelines we had in place. >> commissioner sanchez can you please mute yourself. Thank you. Go ahead. >> sorry. >> those are the guidelines that we've had in place for a while. When we were preparing before we got the governor's order we were prepare ing to open bars and we had had a group of bar owners get together with us to help us understand their business and what might make sense in terms of whether or not bar counters would be open, what their facilities were like, what would work well and we were preparing to put that order out and then we were pre-empted by the governor because we were quickly pre-empted by the governor, we had to get something out within 24 hours. It's really the rules that were already in place that we have now adjusted only for specifically the restaurants to allow for the up to 100% capacity but requiring the social distancing and to go to no less than 50%. So as an example I know commissioner martinez mentioned the small restaurants. They are allowed to reduce the physical distancing to allow 50% capacity in their facility. Other than that, we haven't really changed the rules that we had in place. And for other industries such as adult day carries, while we are putting recommendations together for their operating protocols, what we're asking all industries to do is just follow the general guidelines that are in the guide book that are not overly restrictive but they do require facial covering, physical distancing, hvac protocols which are important to make sure the air, if you are in an entire space the air is being circulated as much as possible and cleaning protocols. Then a business can be open. >> and I don't really have an issue with the all the protocols as far as cleaning and what healthcare experts recommended to us. Where I think there has been a disconnect and I will concur with martinez there are a lot of small operators that can't display. For them to tell them where they have six tables inside their business and do three is not working and many of them don't have the capacity outside. I hope and we've talked about this in the past that we are flexible with a lot of our regulations as far as allowing people to sit people outside and give them as much flexibility and be able to help them. Because at the end of the day while absolutely the healthcare of our residents should be the number one privateer and by all means is the number one priority, there is also many people that are not working and that is adding to the mental stress that is going on. I don't know how many of are you in the community like I am, I'm hearing it and hearing it loud. Where people are getting frustrated. People want to have some sort of maybe they are just looking for good news. But they want to feel they are being consulted w. I'm not in agreement with the state usurping our authority. I've never liked it. Doesn't matter what party is in power. We need to navigate this thing on our own. I would hope there is better communication between the administrations so we could not be get caught by surprise. I want us to be more mindful of these small businesses. I was in the league of city meeting, we allow gyms to be open correct? >> yes, sir. >> why aren't we allowing the exercise equipment in some of our parks for seniors to be able to use it? I'm getting chat fresh seniors, they want to be able to use the equipment. >> they can. >> they can now is. >> the most recent E.O. Lifted the restrictions yes. >> you just gave me good news. Thank you. >> that was the mayor's decision because remember the good ones he did. >> he's not on the line so he can't take credit for it. >> I have a question based on everything that happened. Do we have any updates in terms of the preparation of the chambers for commission meetings in a safe way not only for the commissioners, everyone in the public, how long it's going to take to prepare the chamber for that so we prepare the chamber properly with the tables expanded wall to wall, where do we stand on that? >> I believe harris smith is prepared to answer that question. I don't know if she needs to be brought over into the meeting. >> I'm not going to go into the chambers just yet because I think it's too small. If tara is here. >> think about the air condition, filters, preparation, they have to think about everything. >> regardless of where we go, it's going to cost money. Whether it's port, dade county auditorium. The port will cost more than the dade county auditorium. >> tara smith internal social securities department. We have been looking at this already in anticipation of your up coming committee week and later meetings. It's a challenge as you said, the amount of space for the elected officials at the diocese. the hvac system is in very good system as evidenced by how cold you get in there. We have the right level of rated felters in that building. Our biggest challenge is the amount of space at the diocese. We can accommodate the public in a safe socially distanced manner in the seating and with overflow like we normally would for overflow in the lobby. But there are several considerations we have to think about for the diocese. I've engaged an industrial hygienist to give us recommendations. I'm developing options for everyone's considerations and speaking with medical exforce review all the options before I provide this to you. >> that is not my question. You are talking about cleaning the proper filters no. I'm talking about we will have to invest in infrastructure in order to change the u shape of the table to bring a straight table from wall to wall in order to have the distance and maybe plastic in between like other places are doing. That is my question. I'm talking about infrastructure right now. >> I understand that. That's what I was referring to. There are short term and long term considerations we have to make here. And the short term, I can't rebuild the entire diocese. I have an architect in the process of redesigning it but that will take time. In the short term we're looking at the diocese, how we can remove seats from the diocese, reposition them in ways that have between four and six feet in between them with plastic barriers. Running those scenarios by medical and air quality experts to make sure they are feasible and save before we present them outlined. There will be l have to be a physical redesign of the existing space which will not be the ideal scenario you are used to having as the diocese. There is 19 feet at the diocese. Based on what I just looked at, we can only safely if we're using six feet in between save 11 seats. We're developing options for your consideration using plastic barriers and other things to make it a safe environment. Possibly using the well area and outer wing. >> I think that we need to avoid bureaucracy of our citizens and expedite our reality. I consulted with a designer who told me and they measured based on the measurements and everything 14 people will be able to sit over there if it's done well. You will have to remove the -- we need to expedite that. >> you all can hand that will after I'm gone. That can be very expensive. I can't see us trying to get that done within this amount of time. You'll be chair when I'm gone so you can take care of that. >> ok. We can't have commission meetings in the chamber all the time. I hope that I'm praying that we have a little bit more time to start repairing that. I am going to be very transparent. I'm not going to -- enter [Indiscernible] That's why I'm asking about the remodeling of the chamber in a way this can be safe for everyone with time to do it. >> you can handle that once I'm gone. >> I will continue working. Thank you. >> vice chair, I'd be pleased to speak with the architect you are speaking with. I have an in house architect doing the design as well. I would love the two of them to work in collaboration to get it done more quickly. >> thank you. >> I took special item number one first because I knew the mayor had to leave. What I would like to do right now and I understand from the last meeting when the vice Chairwoman Said that the attorney told her she could not put her motion out ahead of time, so they allowed know put the motion out about an hour before the meeting so everyone should have it. Madam Vice chair, if you would take over. >> my pleasure. Go ahead. >> I'm going move everybody should have this in front of them. From the $10 million in cares act funds set aside for vulnerable communities. I move to allocate a total of not just the $2,289,000 of such founds jesse ties community health system incorporated to provide assistance to poor and uninsured and under insured residence of miami dade county who have been impacted by covid 19. I further move to authorize the county mayor or mayor designee negotiate and execute following approval by the county attorneys office for legal form and sufficiency grant or appropriate agreement with the health system and to take all steps knows effectuate the purposes of this motion. >> second the motion. >> moved and seconded. I don't see any hands. Any questions? Ready to vote. >> yes. >> yes. >> yes. >> yes. >> yes. >> yes. >> yes. >> yes. >> yes. >> yes. Motion carries. >> can I be a cosponsor? >> yes. I would love that. >> I'd like to be a cosponsor. >> I'll take everybody who wants to cosponsor. >> moss. >> thank you commissioner moss. >> thank you vase Chairwoman. We're moving right along. The oral update on corona virus relief fund. >> good afternoon commissioners. Let me start off bay poll jay-zing right off the bat. I have two power points to go through with you today. I will go quickly as possible. If I can get the crf -- this is following the format that we had last go round with some changes. >> everyone should have this in front of them as well. >> we sent this out to all offices earlier today. On slide two you can see how much cares act money we have in broad categories. This differs from the last presentation at the last meeting. We had taken $19 million from the $37 million allocation and we funded 4 million for food distribution. $5 million to bureau allocation. 5 million to rent relief and $5 million to small business development. And that had a change in percentages and the amounts. I'm just going to run through each grant program fairly quickly. The basic need harp shed program to united way was 8,945. Total paid out to date was 1,000,249. $15 million rental assistance program which is $10 million county wide and then from five million dollars. League of moneys were listed in the programful and one had $5.1 million of payment. The balance of the program is $4.9 million as well as $5 million -- is being recommend at this meeting to be rolled over into the I rap two program. We'll track the $15 million in this format as that money gets spent. This has just changed. From the last meeting we meant to tell you $10 million available for reallocation from the vulnerable communities and then $1 million left over in the program for a total of 28. we now have $25,711,000,000 available for reallocation if the board so chooses. We spent approximately $368 million on covid. 177 million invoices. And 191 million will be charged to the crf, $274 million. 116 million for senior leagues. Next slide -- the $30 million restaurant grant program handled by sbd total applications received to date is 863. We've paid out 1,000,249 approved grants of 107. The $30 million small business program loan program -- [Indiscernible] They received 1,872 applications. They made 184 loans. The $15 million hazard pay for first responders, we will be charging the finance when we incur the expenses between now and December and the city will do the same for its share. The cities have applied for $258,000. The $10 million residential landlord program, the program was launched in September 6228 applications have been received. $10 million nonprofit program went through the miami foundation. They have received 235 applications. Granted and we'll probably have an update on the expenditures at our next meeting. $10 million affairs program. Grant support program -- [Indiscernible] That might be two to three weeks in duration before you see cash on that one. Next slide $10 million tax. Applications will be received through October 31. 163 application versus been received. 11 applications have been approved and payment will be made in the coming week. The $10 million veteran housing assistance and need program, one handled by hpd and the other by the military affairs program. Both started September 11. $5 million veteran small business program at the bottom of the sheet. To date 65 applications have been received. The restaurant workers assistance program. 29 application versus been received. $634,000 have been distributed to restaurants on behalf of their workers. $3 million hotel training program they will start receiving $500 at the beginning of the training program and another $500 at the program should be complete. As we go forward I hope the make these type of presentations a little more chart form. I think a lot could be said on a chart. This someone all the applications by programs. You can see that all our programs received total 23,000 and change in apply cases. We approved 11,327 applications. And we spent a total of $22 million across all programs. By commission district. These are how we're spending it by commission district. This will change and the whole intent of us doing this as these promise come up and running is to make sure we have the information, staff or grantor -- grants -- the organizations doing the grants have information real time so they can see how grants are going out the door so they can try keep all districts as equitable as possible. You can see how the different programs come up. The $100 million of municipal grant programs. As you May recall they were broken up into two pieces. One the $35 million piece and the other $25 million piece. Regarding the $75 million piece , this is operations and fema match. Municipalities submitted estimate of $122 million of reimbursement between March 1 and December 31. Of these so far they asked for reimbursement of $215 million and we've processed payment 295,000. Those numbers should be much bigger at the next go round. Regarding the $25 million program, that's the next presentation I'm going to be doing. We asked all of the city to submit proposal for new covid-19 programs to share part of $25 million that the commission allocated for that. We received 59 proposals of which total $58 million. After the reviews by the consultants and staff, 50 proposals toting 54.4 million. They are fair game for funding by the commission. This is the break down of that 293,000 for municipal reimbursement everyone has to submit paperwork on. Some people have asked why so slow. This is the process. they have to decide what kind of stuff they want to be paid for by the cares act money. They have to package it up and send it to us. We review it and gets put in the portal. Consultant reviews it, staff reviews et and then we allocate payments go out the door within 7-10 days. This will be picking up over type. This is the end of phase one. I apologize for face two coming up. Next men] Ation. Are there any questions so far? >> thank you for getting this to us. It's a little hard to tell like how much is actually in the hopper to go out. But it would seem clear the some of these funds have not been adequately tapped. Here we are virtually October and very concerning, I'm sure you are to make sure that these dollars are expended because need is so great. I guess just first to you Madam Chair, I know you have been scheduling the special meetings, are you anticipating another opportunity for to us look at possible reallocations of some of these dollars to make sure we can move them along? >> yes, I am. The month of October is not here yet. We'll probably have one or two in October. >> ok. >> [Indiscernible] I have been told by the attorney if it's an emergency I have to call it on my own but i still prefer ensuring we have a quorum. >> thank you. I will veteran until that time in the next report. I guess I would that you are the next report kind of do any projections if possible as to what dollars might be expended in the category so bead in a better position to look at the reallocation. I have comments regarding the city but I'm going wait until after that presentation. >> question about the data you just shared about the takes program, I think you show 163 application, ten has been approved. 121 in process and more than 50 denied. If I look at these numbers, this is basically almost 1/3 being denied. That means there must be considering the nature of the takes limo and jeep need work and how much they were impacted by the covid-19. If you have 1/3 of the applications denied already after a week and a half or two of process, it May mean that this is a very difficult process that they have to follow. Can you walk me into what is it they have to do? What they have to provide? What makes it more difficult for them and 1/3 of drivers have been denied. >> I think that was classified perhaps -- there were 191 applications. Of those 191, 111 have been reviewed, ten approved, 81 were missing documentation and working with the drivers. 20 were denied but it's because they already received funds through ppp program which deems them ineligible for this program. >> the only ones denied is because they received other federal program funding. >> so you are saying the 58 or something that was shown in the chart is incorrect. It's only 20 that's been denied spokane. >> I don't have that information. The information I got directly from the department were 20 have been denied and it was only because they had received the federal funds through ppp loan. >> and 100 plus if process. >> 81 were missing documentation. We're working with the applicant to make sure we have all the documentation that we need to be able to process them. >> I'm curious worried about this documentation. I don't know that drivers work with a lot of documentation they working and had passengers and their agreement maybe with, what possible documentation May that be? I'm curious. >> I don't know if the person if alice or the person who is actually working on the project is available to come over into the meeting. But precisely because of what you are saying there is certain documentation we need to have to get reimbursed to make this cares act eligible. We're working with the drivers to figure out how we can get that from them so that the money -- so that the program is cares act eligible. Yes, we understand that it's not like other kinds of businesses where there aren't all those kind of documentations. We're trying to work with them so we can help them get the funding. >> the U.S. Treasury requires to us maintain documentation that expenses were incurred so they can be reimbursed. It can take any number of variations and expense types had you could be asking for. There is generally a lot of back and forth between the applicants and trying to make sure they have the dock takes. >> we have received phone calls and emails from the people in the industry. Apparently they thought this would be like a stimulus program or they would get a check in the mail. Unfortunately we have worked with a consultant to go through federal requirements. And the requirements are that documentation be provided to show that they have been impacted negatively. So documentation we request is income tax returns if prior year, current year to show the income level as well as some bank statements. In consultation way consultant that documentation was required to comply with the federal rules for reimbursement. >> I'm sure [Indiscernible] Hopefully approximate organizations they contracted with, there are companies maybe can assist in providing all the information that is needed from them. But again, I just want to make sure that those were greatly burdened by the impact of covid 19 is not from having the assist thans is required of them following federal rules and accordance with rules providing whatever is ask of them is not something that is too difficult for them to provide. That's all I have. >> it really detailed in a way this we can stay on top of it. When was the last when we see these figures, what was the date the figures were collected or reported? >> we try to get them as close to the commission meeting as possible. Last meeting we had was September 15. And some of that was as of that day. Like today some this information is as of today. Others are not as current. >> good, because it seems to be moving pretty strong. Congratulations to everybody working together. The issue I have is when the municipalities because I have one municipality reached out the check on their status, and it is 100% based on what we did first we went ahead and approved what they were going for. Once we did that, then the amount that we will send them would be 100% of what they requested am I correct? >> our goal is to give out whatever is justified and whatever is in our program. Is that that answering your question? >> no. My question was let's say that the cities went ahead I know it was between jennifer and yourself that the cities set out what they wanted to do and how they want to do it and then you guys approved it. From there they submit once they put the money or whatever, they submit for that money. Is that at 100% or is that at a lesser amount from what they submitted based on us approving them ahead of time. >> right now approvals -- first of all, we're approving stuff they are asking for types of expenditures between now and December. They can't submit all of who what they are asking for until they have spent the money. Like payroll expenses. They May project $16 million. All of that is going to be over a period of time. As soon as payroll is paid, they submit it. At some point we're going to hit the $75 million level. We know that the ask from all the cities is much greater than the $75 million that we allocated for reimbursement. >> ok. But that puts us in a predicament here. Because we stated that -- I thought we were preapprove ing stuff they were doing to make sure we didn't go past the amount. >> we can approve anything any dollars amount until such time as they give us expenditures to reimburse. We can't out lay money to them. >> ok. >> as we approach the limits of the $75 million, we'll bring up discussion to the board about how to handle that. Maybe we go ahead and take the $75 million and divide it by population and that be the max that any given city can request from us up to $75 million. That is one way of doing this. That conversation I hope to have between consultants and make a recommendation to the board in the future. >> I suggest that we get some clarification out O.T. To the cities as soon as possible. I don't want to be getting these calls. We submitted and you all said and we submitted that we're going to start getting our money. Especially when they are out laying their money thinking it's going to come back to them. My suggestion is we do a reach out and make sure everybody is on the same page and who is submitting. I know one of my particular cities has already spent x amount of money that they've put in through pandemic and so on and I think that's been approved and they should be getting that money. That's been spent already. A while ago. >> we've approved under the program f we've approved expenditures and they are submitting reimbursement requests with invoices for those expenses, yes we are honoring them. >> and what you are saying is that as some of the cities are continuously doing certain things, it could potentially be close to the total amount that we have and might be more of the cities putting out than we have money to give s that what you are saying? >> if their projections for all the expenditures are true that are cares act eligible and they want to exfend moneys in the future, we will completely spend out the $75 million. We're doing the same thing on our end. We try to cover as much expenses as we can under the cares act but is there I limit to it. >> we're good with that. I want to make sure they understand that and we keep this tally so that we don't have anybody going in the hole for any amount whether the cities or us. >> if you look at page 12 of ed's presentation, I want to make sure that everybody sees a couple of things that are on there. One only 21 municipalities have executed their subgrant agreement. They can't be reimbursed if they don't execute their agreement. Also they have estimated a total of 122 million for reimbursement. That does not mean that we or the consultants have told them that is approved which just because they submitted something doesn't mean it's been approved. I don't know if that is some confusion that is occurring with the municipalities as well. They believe because they've submitted something that it will be reimbursed. It has to be reviewed for eligibility and approved. >> once that approval is given, then they should be counting on their money being sent from us to them am I correct? >> yeah, we would not approve more than 75 million. >> that's my startup question. So based on this -- you there are cities putting out more of a need or putting out more moneys than we have money to distribute. But we would have to approve them and from what I understood back in the day when we started this, you were clear and said they have to be approved by the amounts they are going do as expenditures. Once they are approved they will be getting their money because they are out laying that money or they have and you are getting the receipts for the money. >> if they are putting out money. They May well be putting out money that we have not approved yet as being reimbursable. They have estimated over $122 million worth of expense. But that does not mean that all $122 million is eligible for reimbursable and a good portion of the 122 million is eligible for fema match. So we are not in a situation where there is more expenditure than that we have approved than funding is available. >> thank you for clearing that up. That is exactly where we don't want to be in any shape. So we're going to get circle back with these municipalities to make sure they understand. You say there are 21 out of the 34 municipalities that applied for any funding, that is correct? >> 21 municipalities ha have signed their interlocal agreement. That's the first step for us to start reimbursement process. Your point is very well taken. I will have a meeting. I will arrange one early next week so that we can meet with the managers and those marries that want to attend so we can go through had the payment process a little more clearly. >> I don't want to start up the problem we had in the beginning of all of this again. It's very clear. I thk jennifer was clear that they have to get it approved. They have to have the agreement and I'm sure the majority of all these, the 21 have done it and it's proper. And so onful but please circle around as soon as possible. >> we wild stand up a meeting next week. >> thank you. >> let me just say that I am extremely concerned about the amount of funding that we have applied to the various programs. And the amount of funding that has basically been approved at this particular point in time. In light of the fact these moneys have to be as we stand today by the end of December. And I know that we all basically proposed programs with all the good intentions and feeling that kind of demand would be out there. But I don't see it. I don't see these funds being able to be spent between now -- we got two and a half months or so to basically try and make that happen. I don't see it happening. And so we've got to take a look at these funds and try to figure out where the greatest demand is. in other words people are burning through and the demand is there, so these expenditures can basically be made. That's what we need to do is reallocate some of the funds. We have done this with all the good intentions in the world not knowing how much of a demand would be out there so we can spend as much of this money as possible. The other thing I would raise we have the municipalities who put in their requests for $25 million outside of the operating expenses. What I saw in reviewing some of them was they were asking to us put worth the same programs we were. Perhaps a part of the thinking could be to take a look at what they would want to do within their municipalities and try pair this up to some degree with what our program is doing now so we can run through money. They are if they get funding for the same things we are proproviding they are going to be finding people the access the programs like we are providing peop access our programs. So I would just put that forth as a discussion that we need to have. I don't see the city able to spend that money between now and end of the year. There was a docksment that show from the $75 million allocated to the cities that so far we processed $73 million. There is more in the pipeline and things will be moving out faster. It is going to be spokane the coverage period smarts March. You have March, April, June, july, they have all those expenditures and to only have $200,000 to be processed that the point, I'm really concerned about that. >> can you hear snow. >> yes go ahead. >> with the applications we received, we are reviewing the documentation. A lot of them we're not having sufficient documentation, activity logs for example, where they demonstrate the activities the individuals were doing was covid related. We receive a lot of payroll, we received a number I reviewed for life guards. It said insert name, life guard and activities. We don't know what the life guard was doing but we need to noah the life guard was doing covid related. The team was working with them and initial period with them understanding what is the documentation required. Once that understanding happens that the process will go more quickly. At this time we're working with not just waiting, the team is talking to them on a daily basis with the different municipalities trying to get to where we need to be to meet the requirements. But we anticipate -- enter let me ask you this question. Based upon everything submitted now and you are going through and trying to determine those things that are eligible, how much overall have the cities asked far plied for at this point this time. >> it's a two step process. the first is how Ms. Moon was articulating. Give us a concept what they want to do or have already done. We assess it for eligibility. We let them know this is eligible or no, it's not eligible. If you do it this way it May be eligible and work with them. Once step one is done and $1,212,000,000 worth of activities have been sent in. Only 27 million has been moved to the next step. Step two is where they provide us documentation. And we look at it and we review that for that we are -- so we've had over $200 million of request that needed to be vetted? >> sorry sir. My computer froze. >> I'm saying you are telling us that you have got over $200 million in requests that have to be vetted. Not saying they are approved but have to be vetted? >> yes, sir. $206 has been proposed. $27 million has been vetted and moved on to step two. That the point we have roughly around $2 million worth of requests for reimbursement have been submitted where they say that all the documentation is there. [Inaudible] To formally approve it and for the check to be issued. >> ok. In reference to the example, the takes grants program, $10 million, it doesn't show how much has been approved as far as funding is concerned. You have that number? Say 11 applications are approved. Do you know what that boils down to? >> jennifer has a better update than I do on this. >> yes, just a moment. Let me check. >> I don't see how these fund will be spent between now and then. We need to look at the burn rate and look at the $25 million pot. When I took a look at that, a lot of those programs are the same programs we are currently operating and we have an underperforming burn rate. The programs we're operating we are going to put their programs on top of that and I don't know that makes things better. They can get people through door in their cities that need these service. Then maybe we ought to be working with them and them working with us to get their people processed as opposed to putting another program out there they are going to have to try ramp up and do the same thing we're doing and go through same things we're going through. Thank you. I have a real concern we're not going to spend this money. We need to try do something else to get this money out to the community. >> I agree. And I did all of that commissioner moss. You are up commissioner jordan. >> thank you Madam Chair. My question is probably along the same line. I know that a number of municipalities applied for duplicate type of programming that the county May be doing because like the city applied for 2.1 to do rental assistance program. And I've encouraged them to make sure to the extent possible to send is the people to the county program. But I do feel that even if it means making sure that people are much more comfortable dealing with the municipalities and know people in the municipal tito respond, I know we have more applications for resources than we have funding availability. But what is the formula and for handling this request and among others because as been stated even if it is dupe caitiff, getting the money spent what is critical. Attached to that we also is information that was provided to municipalities, I'm sure we provided them with an outline of the type of documentation they would need to provide. It seems like in just the example that was given now taxer put down for the life guard covid related, that doesn't make sense. I would hope there was an explanation given on the type of documentation that would be acceptable. I'm sure it was but I'd like the have you ebonies panned on that as well. >> the consultant has been contacted about the programs. >> they've many seminars, one on ones. We have put on multiple trainings on an almost weekly basis. The documentation required on par with what they are normally used to with fema public assistance. It not as harsh as fema but along the same. We did training and when we receive request for reimbursement$ the team reaches out to them and speaks with them one on one to coach them through what is needed to progress to the next step. Fema has part of the program they can submit cost share for fema projects. Is the county is on the hook for 12.5%. We worked with municipalities to reverse fema positions where they said it was not eligible. The team works with them what to say to fema to get them to change their mind. We've had a couple of successes where the county is not having to pay out that money and hav