NEWS

City using 3 methods to garner suggestions on spending ARPA funds

Posted 2/15/22

By EMMA BARTLETT The City Council hosted its final special workshop on the spending of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds last Thursday, as the administration planned to conduct a poll and survey to hear from residents on how to allocate $42.6

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NEWS

City using 3 methods to garner suggestions on spending ARPA funds

Posted

The City Council hosted its final special workshop on the spending of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds last Thursday, as the administration planned to conduct a poll and survey to hear from residents on how to allocate $42.6 million in federal funds.

While the two workshops received a total of 100 participants, roughly 25 to 30 people spoke at the meeting – a good portion of whom came to the meeting representing organizations such as Cranston Neighborhood Planting Project, 5G Free Rhode Island and Cranston Housing Commission.

“Their [the public’s] words are taken with all sincerity,” said Anthony Moretti, Chief of Staff. “The only disappointment was that there was limited participation in the workshop.”

While the city has encouraged people to send their thoughts to either the clerk's office, the administration or council members, Moretti said there hasn’t been a significant amount of responses.

“Mayor Hopkins invites input from the public directly to the administration as well as council,” Moretti said.

To gather more community responses, the city is hiring a polling firm to conduct a poll that will measure the opinions and attitudes of Cranston voters on the potential uses of federal funds. The city received two bids as of Feb. 1, and the Board of Contracts and Purchasing will make their decision on Feb. 15. As of press time, the board is likely to choose EMC Research, which is a national full-service market and research firm with locations across the country.

Additionally, Councilwoman Nicole Renzulli and Councilwoman Lammis Vargas worked alongside Cranston tax accountant David DiMaio to create a survey (separate to the poll) that will gauge people’s thoughts on how they would like the ARPA money spent. Residents will be able to access the survey on the city’s website and will be a shareable link.

“We’ll need everyone's help to get this [survey link] in as many hands as possible,” said Renzulli.

The survey will be available for 30 days and provided in English and Spanish. Individuals have the option of entering their name, age and demographics. Renzulli said they would like to obtain people’s zip codes to then chart them and see what issues are concerning each ward. On the survey, individuals will see a list of items that the city could use the funds to address. From there, individuals choose their top three priorities. The following (and last) question will give individuals the opportunity to comment on any additional things they would like to see the money go toward.

Renzulli said that the poll, survey and workshops are meant to help increase transparency so people have options on how to express how they believe funds should be spent.

“I am personally very pleased with everyone that participated so far,” said councilman Robert Ferri who led the final ARPA workshop on Feb 10.

Ferri said he has received 10 emails from people who weren’t able to attend, and is keeping a log of ideas and thoughts. He noted that a couple of emails were sent by groups of people who got together to express their suggestions and that the response from locals has been very encouraging.

In the final ARPA meeting, DiMaio presented a slideshow on what the funds could be used for. Topics that continued to come up from the first meeting on Jan. 27 included affordable housing, increased funding for the Cranston Neighborhood Tree Planting Program and broadband.

New ideas were introduced including an idea by Bill McEleney to install traffic signals on the bike path with locations at Garfield Street, Dyer Avenue, Uxbridge Street and Sherman Avenue. He mentioned there are many people other than bikers using the path such as kids riding skateboards and mothers walking with strollers. Therefore, it could be conducive to put in some type of signal that alerts drivers near the bike path that people are coming. David Baldwin and Arianna Cunha brought up replacing lead piping that goes to some of some Cranston’s houses so residents have cleaner drinking water while others advocated prioritizing money for childcare and addressing gun violence.

spending, ARPA, funds

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