2020.10.19 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for October 19, 2020 Page 2 of 6 Approval of Minutes for the October 14, 2020 Fire Chief Interviews Miron made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the minutes for the Fire Chief interviews held on October 14, 2020, as presented. Roll call vote – all ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Agenda Weidt made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the agenda as presented. Roll call vote – all ayes. Motion carried. Update on COVID-19 City Response City Administrator Bryan Bear provided an update on the City’s response to the COVID pandemic saying the City remains in Phase 3 of the “Stay Safe Plan”. Community Development Assistant Emily Weber presented information on the Cares Business Grant Program. On July 7, the City received $1.1 million through the CARES Act. The Hugo EDA met on August 18, 2020, to discuss resources available and directed staff to create a grant program for local, private and non-profit business. At the September 8, 2020 meeting, Council approved the CARES Budget including $200,000 allocated for the program. The program would provide grants up to $10,000 to an individual business. The application period was open from September 9 to October 2020. Weber reviewed the criteria necessary to qualify and explained the eligible and non-eligible uses. There was a total of 22 applications submitted and 19 of them met the necessary requirements totaling $163,348.45. Staff was still waiting for materials from three applications and also cross referencing with Washington County to ensure applicants had not already been reimbursed by the county for requested funds. She explained that three of the applicants did not meet the requirements. One was not located in Hugo, and St. John’s Hospital and Newtrax, Inc. did not meet requirements due to their annual revenue. Staff recommended Council approve the grant agreements with all eligible businesses and discuss the ineligible applications. Weber shared the list of those businesses. Chuck made motion, Klein seconded, to approve the list of eligible candidates. Roll call vote – all ayes. Motion carried. Bear provided details on the businesses that were ineligible due to not meeting the annual revenue requirement. One was Newtrax, which is a non-profit transportation business that provides rides to local disabled residents. The cap the City provided was slightly too low for them to meet. The other request was from St. Johns Hospital, who had made prior requests for City funding and was aware the City first needed to provide funding for local businesses. Bear pointed out there was still room left within the budget. Weidt said he would support issuing those grants since other needs had been met and those businesses both provided a benefit to Hugo.