Gov Ops Committee recommends Project HOPE funding, defers Together Place decision

The Government Operations Committee voted to recommend that the full Council appropriate opioid settlement funds for the Project HOPE housing pilot, rejecting an alternative to use unassigned fund balance. The committee also reviewed the status of ARPA fund expenditures and deferred a decision on a budget shortfall request from the Together Place peer-run recovery center, asking the organization to submit a formal proposal with specific accountability measures.

Key points

• Committee voted 3-2 to recommend using $126,000 in opioid settlement funds as the match for Project HOPE, defeating a motion to use unassigned fund balance instead.
• Councilor Joseph Leonard argued for using unassigned funds to ensure the city has "skin in the game" for the pilot's long-term sustainability, while Councilor Wayne Mallar raised concerns about the program's administration and funding source.
• City Manager Carollynn Lear reported that approximately 64% of the city's $20.5 million in ARPA funds have been dispersed, with the remainder expected to be spent by the December 2025 deadline.
• The committee determined that Councilor Angela Walker had a conflict of interest regarding the ARPA update due to unspent funds associated with an organization she is affiliated with.
• Together Place Director Joseph Hartel requested $63,000 to keep the center's doors open for 12 months, noting that the community has already raised $156,000 of the required match.
• Councilor Carolyn Fish expressed concern over the organization's financial management and accountability, while Councilor Leonard emphasized the economic benefits of keeping the center open to mitigate downtown issues.

Next steps

• Together Place is to submit a formal proposal to the committee outlining how the city's funding would be used, including specific service deliverables and reporting requirements.
• The committee will review the Together Place proposal once received to determine if a funding recommendation can be made to the full Council.
• The City Manager will provide follow-up information on the status of the HEAL grant insurance claim and the specific spending plans for organizations with significant unspent ARPA balances.

Read the full transcript