* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: President Rawlings-Blake
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Baltimore Economic Recovery Team
FOR the purpose of requesting the Co-Chairs of the Baltimore Economic Recovery Team to report to the City Council on the procedures in place to monitor the funds that Baltimore will receive through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; to present a list of stimulus activities presently determined eligible for funding; to share how these projects and programs will serve Baltimore in the present and the future; and to submit a schedule of regular reports planned for updates to the City Council on BERT activities.
body
Recitals
The Baltimore Economic Recovery Team (BERT) is a multi-agency team created to coordinate, maximize, and monitor the funds that will come to Baltimore through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) passed by the President and Congress to address these hard economic times by creating or retaining 3.5 million jobs nationwide, by providing funds for transit projects, infrastructure improvements, affordable housing and school modernization, and by increasing funding for workforce training and public safety.
The State of Maryland is expected to receive $3.8 billion dollars from ARRA, and it is estimated that 66,000 jobs will be created or saved across the State. BERT will monitor the funds Baltimore receives and maximize the dollars and jobs available to Baltimore's residents through the following objectives:
· Ensure that ARRA funds are used on projects and programs that will serve Baltimore well now and for the future.
· Serve as the City's clearinghouse for stimulus information.
· Maximize job opportunities for city residents, especially youth employment, and identify skills training needs emerging from ARRA.
· Seek the best advice and ideas from citizens and partners in the human services, economic, and community development communities.
· Aggressively pursue all opportunities for ARRA funds.
· Manage ARRA funds in an open and transparent manner.
· Track the outcomes of ARRA funds awarded to the City and its partners.
BERT is Co-Chaired by the Deputy Directors of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice and the Department of Transportation, and senior staff from 18 City departments and offices will serve as liaison to the recovery team. The Team is charged with providing regular reports to the Mayor and City Council, State and Federal Delegations, and the public at-large on how American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds are spent.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Co-Chairs of the Baltimore Economic Recovery Team are requested to report to the City Council on the procedures in place to monitor the funds that Baltimore will receive through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; to present a list of stimulus activities presently determined eligible for funding; to share how these projects and programs will serve Baltimore in the present and the future; and to submit a schedule of regular reports planned for updates to the City Council on BERT activities.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Deputy Director of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, the Deputy Director of Transportation, the Director of Finance, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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