Loading...
TC Resolution 20-13 Concerning the Allocation of COVID-19 Grant FundingTOWN OF AVON RESOLUTION 20-13 CONCERNING THE ALLOCATION OF COVID-19 GRANT FUNDING WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that has spread throughout the United States, including the Town of Avon, Colorado (the "Town"); and WHEREAS, COVID-19 may cause serious illness and death, especially with respect to elderly persons or those with underlying health conditions; and WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern; and WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services declared COVID-19 a public health emergency; and WHEREAS, on March 6, 2020, Eagle County declared a local disaster; and WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, in response to the spread of COVID-19, Governor Polis declared a state of emergency; and WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, the Avon Town Manager declared a local disaster emergency, and Town Council extended such declaration on March 24, 2020; and WHEREAS, on March 25, 2020 Governor Polis issued Executive Order D 2020 017 wherein he ordered Coloradoans to stay at home due to the presence of COVID-19 in the state, subject to certain limited exceptions; and WHEREAS, since March 25, 2020 the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, has issued several Orders directed at the current coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. Included within such Orders are provisions, with certain stated exceptions, requiring that: (i) all individuals currently living with the State of Colorado must stay at home whenever possible; (ii) individuals must comply with social distancing requirements; (iii) all public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside of a residence are prohibited; and (iv) travel by automobile or public transit is prohibited, except necessary travel as defined in the orders; and WHEREAS, although some of the governmental orders described above may have been updated since they were issued, the critical substantive provisions of such orders remain in effect as of the date of the adoption of this resolution; and Res 20-13 Allocation of COVD-19 Grant Funding Page 1 of 4 WHEREAS, the cumulative effect of the orders has been to effectively shut down most businesses, and the return of the tourist economy in the near term is in doubt; and WHEREAS, the Avon economy is largely tourist -based, and it is essential to both the short term and long term economic vitality of the Town that workers and small businesses receive financial and other means of support while businesses are closed; and WHEREAS, a loss of workers and businesses would have a devastating effect on the Avon economy as well as the Town's financial and other resources; and WHEREAS, at its April 16, 2020 meeting, Town Council determined it was in the best interest of the Town to provide grants to certain organizations supporting local residents in need to due to the COVID-19 pandemic (the "Grant Program"), and directed the Town Manager and staff to form a committee (the "Committee") to identify organizations supporting local residents in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to propose funding levels for such organizations; and WHEREAS, the Committee has met and determined the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Denver, Colorado ("Catholic Charities"), Swift Eagle Charitable Foundation ("Swift Eagle"), Vail Valley Charitable Foundation ("VVCF"), United Way of Eagle River Valley ("United Way") and Eagle Hope Center ("Hope Center") are, respectively, not for profit organizations supporting Avon residents in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and both organizations are in need of additional financial support; and and WHEREAS, the Committee has recommended allocating $5,000 to Catholic Charities; WHEREAS, the Committee has recommended allocating $5,000 to Swift Eagle; and WHEREAS, the Committee has recommended allocating $15,000 to VVCF; and WHEREAS, the Committee has recommended allocating $2,000 to United Way; and WHEREAS, the Committee has recommended allocating $10,000 to Hope Center; and WHEREAS, it is necessary and appropriate for the Town Council to adopt this resolution memorializing and confirming in all respects the establishment of the Grant Program and Committee, and ratifying and confirming all actions taken by the Town Manager and his staff in establishing the Committee and its effort to identify qualified grant recipients, as directed by the Town Council. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF AVON, COLORADO: Res 20-13 Allocation of COVD-19 Grant Funding Page 2 of 4 Section 1. The Town Council finds, determines, and declares that the Committee and the Grant Program has served and will continue to serve the following public purposes: A. Providing immediate critical financial resources to the non-profit organizations that provide needed support to the Avon community and have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. B. Providing immediate and critical financial resources to individuals, families and workers who contribute to the Avon community and economy and who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. C. Enhancing the likelihood the individuals who comprise the Avon workforce will remain in Avon, thereby protecting and preserving the short term and long term economic vitality of Avon, and the financial health of the Town. Section 2. The Town Council further finds, determines, and declares that the public benefits to be derived from the Committee and the Grant Program are both significant and substantial, and justify the expenditure of the public funds necessary to establish and administer the Grant Program. The Town Council further finds, determines, and declares that the Town will receive adequate consideration for its financial contribution to the Grant Program in the form of the significant and substantial public benefits described above. Section 3. For the reasons set forth above, the Town Council finds, determines, and declares that Program will provide a public benefit and further a public purpose within the meaning of Article 11, Section 2 of the Colorado Constitution. Section 4. The Town Council hereby ratifies and adopts the actions of the Town Manager and the Committee and hereby directs the Committee to award grants to Catholic Charities in the amount of $5,000, Swift Eagle in the amount of $5,000, VVCF in the amount of $15,000, United Way in the amount of $2,000 and Hope Center in the amount of $10,000. Res 20-13 Allocation of COVD-19 Grant Funding Page 3 of 4 ADOPTED this 12th day of May 2020. AVON TOWN COUNCIL By: t UA,� Sarah Smith-Hymes, May Res 20-13 Allocation of COVD-19 Grant Funding Page 4 of 4 Attest: Brenda Torres, Town