File #: RS2022-1494   
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 4/8/2022 In control: Metropolitan Council
On agenda: 4/19/2022 Final action: 4/19/2022
Title: A resolution appropriating $260,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds from Fund #30216 to carry out the study proposed by RS2021-927, to identify strategies to assist independent music venues in recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 and other acute stresses.
Sponsors: Courtney Johnston, Sandra Sepulveda, Jennifer Gamble, Jeff Syracuse, Colby Sledge, Ginny Welsch, Burkley Allen, Erin Evans, Joy Styles
Attachments: 1. Exhibit

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A resolution appropriating $260,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds from Fund #30216 to carry out the study proposed by RS2021-927, to identify strategies to assist independent music venues in recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 and other acute stresses.

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WHEREAS, on June 15, 2021, the Metropolitan Council passed Resolution RS2021-966, a resolution which accepted grant funds for local government support from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARP Funds”) from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson Count, which was subsequently signed into law by Mayor John Cooper on June 16, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Resolution RS2021-966 established a COVID-19 Financial Oversight Committee ("the Committee") whose role is to collect, consider, and recommend appropriate uses of the ARP Funds as designated by the Metropolitan Council disbursement plan. The Committee will submit its reports and recommendations to the Mayor, the Director of Finance, and the Metropolitan Council not later than June 30, 2025; and

WHEREAS, there are federal requirements for use of ARP Funds that require that these funds be expended or obligated on or before December 31, 2024; and

WHEREAS, the Committee recognizes the independent music venues are in integral part of Nashville’s identity; and

WHEREAS, the Committee previously recommended RS2020-515, which allocated $2,000,000.00 in CARES Act funds to provide financial support to live music venues negatively affected by COVID-19 and which was enacted into law on September 1, 2020; and

WHEREAS, on May 4, 2021, Metro Council adopted RS2021-927, requesting stakeholders, including the Metropolitan Planning Department, Metro Arts Commission: Nashville Office of Arts & Culture, Metropolitan Historical Commission, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation, and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, to partner together to take an inventory of every music venue in Nashville, to better inform the Metropolitan Government as to how best to preserve, sustain, and support these venues for decades to come; and

WHEREAS, as a result of this collaboration, the Metropolitan Planning Department has proposed to contract with an outside research firm to identify strategies to assist independent music venues in recovering from the impacts of COVID as well as other chronic and acute stresses (such as rising property values), as further described in the attached Exhibit A; and

WHEREAS, the Committee agrees that this study will assist to effectuate Metro Council’s legislative intent in passing RS2021-927; and

WHEREAS, it is to the benefit of the citizens of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County that this resolution be approved.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1.                     The Metropolitan Council accepts this resolution as a recommendation of the COVID-19 Financial Oversight Committee.

Section 2.                     That $260,000.00 from the Covid-19 American Rescue Plan Fund #30216 is hereby appropriated to the Metropolitan Planning Commission to be used to hire an outside research firm to perform the activities described in Exhibit A.

Section 3.                     This resolution shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of the public requiring it.

Agenda Analysis

Analysis

 

This resolution appropriates $260,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funds to carry out the study proposed in Resolution No. RS2021-927, which requested stakeholders, including the Metropolitan Planning Department, Metro Arts Commission: Nashville Office of Arts & Culture, Metropolitan Historical Commission, Nashville Convention and Visitor’s Corporation, and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce to partner together to take an inventory of every music venue in Nashville. The purpose of this study is to better inform the Metropolitan Government as to how best preserve, sustain, and support these venues in the future.

 

The Metropolitan Planning Department has proposed to contract with an outside research firm to identify strategies to assist independent music venues in recovering from the impacts of COVID as well as other chronic and acute stresses.

 

The total estimated cost of the study is $300,000. The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Convention and Visitor’s Corporation will be providing $40,000. This appropriation would cover the remaining $260,000.

 

Fiscal Note: This $260,000 appropriation would be the 23rd resolution appropriating from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARP) Fund for a cumulative total of $105,689,250. The total grant award is $259,810,600 and the first half of this amount was received in July 2021.