Weatherford staff details CARES, ARPA and park-fee revenue that could fund capital projects

City staff reviewed federal recovery funds, past CARES spending and potential uses of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies and asked council to prioritize how those dollars could be applied to infrastructure and capital projects.

Staff reported the city's CARES Act allotment was $1,700,000 and that $343,000 had been received and used primarily for utility-bill assistance: 284 applicants applied, 273 were helped and roughly $251,000 was provided. Staff said additional CARES funds remain ($1,135,000 pending state compliance steps) and described the multi-step process the state requires before the city can access the remainder.

The presentation also noted the city expects to be entitled to approximately $7,300,000 in ARPA funds. Staff recommended that council plan for those monies as infrastructure-type investments (roads, fire stations, communications equipment), and acknowledged that any spending will require a future budget amendment.

Council discussed rising parks dedication fees (noting a move from ~$525 to $1,146 per single-family unit and $947 for multifamily, and application to the ETJ) and agreed to include a parks master-plan update and financial analysis to examine how the fee increases and ETJ application could fund new southside park facilities or other park priorities.

Council asked staff to add a financial dashboard item tracking CARES/ARPA and park-fee revenues to inform budget priorities in the next fiscal cycle.