Pateros considers city upgrades with Rescue Act funds

PATEROS – The Pateros City Council adopted a street closure policy, updated its Facilities Use Agreement form, approved a projector/screen proposal, and learned where recently approved American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds can be applied at its regular monthly meeting on June 21.
Earlier in June the council approved a total of $199,312 in ARPA funds distributed through the state Office of Financial Management. Those funds will come in two installments of $99,656 for both 2020 and 2021.
“The grant can be spent for several projects including: supporting health expenditures, economic assistance for small business and impacted industries, replace lost public sector revenues, provide premium pay for essential public workers, and invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure,” city administrator Jord Wilson wrote in his report to council. “I have reviewed the economic development plans to look for prioritized eligible projects that would benefit downtown businesses.”
Wilson highlighted two projects for the ARPA funds that he recommended for council consideration:
● Downtown Reader Board ($70,000): The reader board was installed in 2005 with money from the county’s .08 infrastructure funding to promote local and regional economic development. Today the reader board’s 16-year-old technology and message center can no longer be updated. ARPA funds would cover the cost to replace the LED board with color including LED interior lights, repaint the entire sign, and replace the business signs.
● Downtown Breezeway Improvement ($100,000-125,000): The breezeway was installed in the 1960s as part of the downtown relocation project. It is city-owned, attached to existing business, and identified in the Downtown Business District Improvement Plan. The breezeway currently needs repair work done on the roof, drainage system, and concrete walk. Recommended improvements include replacement of the cover and the addition of overhead lights.
Wilson also gave an update on staff work to integrate data from more than 300 new water meters installed by the city.
 “The new meters give us the ability to pull water consumption activity at a very granular level,” said Wilson. “Because of the new meters, we have been able to pass along leak information and answer questions about consumption.”
Wilson said two small gazebos installed in Lakeshore Park are awaiting electrical lights and plugs.
Council and Parks Committee member Megan Sherrard presented a proposal to purchase a large inflatable outdoor screen and sound system for use at the Riverview Pavilion for entertainment, special events, community information, or group rentals. Sherrard based her estimate on a system purchased from Focused Technology by the Pateros School District. The package includes a 17-foot-wide, 9.5-foot-tall inflatable screen with blower, rear projector, twin speakers, and Blu-Ray player. The school loaned its system to the city for its first movie in the park as part of the inaugural Pop-up Market on June 11.
The council voted to authorize a maximum $6,000 to purchase its own system.
Based on a recommendation submitted by the Street Committee, the council voted to adopt a Street Closure Policy that addresses the obstruction or closure of public rights-of-way, streets, trails, or sidewalks. In conjunction with its new Street Closure Policy the city also needed to upgrade its Facilities Use Agreement Form to include Street Closure Policy guidelines.
Earlier this year the city received a $30,000 Rural Development Block Grant to fund a feasibility study for a plastics recycling facility on industrial property the city owns on Star Road. The consultant hired to conduct the study, CREA Affiliates in Seattle is working on its final leads and will be submitting a final report of its findings.