Below is a summary of some of the approvals and decisions made by the City Commission at a meeting on Monday, May 18, 2020. To watch meetings live or to watch recorded meetings on-demand, please visit: https://www.wpb.org/government/communications/wpb-tv18/watch-wpb-tv18-live or https://www.wpb.org/government/communications/wpb-tv18/watch-the-latest-city-commission-meeting

• Approved accepting and appropriating $50,000 of grant proceeds from the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Fund for the City's COVID-19 relief programs.
• Approved providing appropriations from the Local Gas Tax Fund (101) in an amount not to exceed $31,319.68 to Virgin Trains USA Florida to satisfy a grant match for safety improvements for the FEC railroad. Virgin Trains USA Florida has been awarded a grant under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program which will provide funding for supplemental safety improvements at certain crossings along Virgin Train's rail corridor. The federal grant terms require a 20% match from local non-federal funds. The City desires to provide funding in the amount of $31,319.68 as a local match for the grant to improve the safety of the railroad crossing at Belvedere Road.
• Approved authorizing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City of West Palm Beach and the West Palm Beach Association of Firefighters Local 727 (IAFF), resolving a grievance and providing a COVID-19 related stipend for members of the IAFF Collective Bargaining Unit and for other purposes. The IAFF filed a grievance on April 6, 2020 regarding emergency pay for its bargaining unit members considering the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed MOA was collectively bargained and resolves the COVID-19 emergency pay grievance. The MOA requires ratification by the Commission for it to be binding on the City.
• Approved authorizing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City of West Palm Beach and the Professional Managers and Supervisors Association (PMSA), resolving issues concerning emergency pay, providing a COVID-19 related stipend for members of the PMSA Collective Bargaining Unit and for other purposes. The City of West Palm Beach and the PMSA have fully negotiated and agreed to resolve a perceived issue concerning emergency pay, about which there is no current grievance or request for arbitration. The proposed MOA was collectively bargained and requires ratification by the Commission for it to be binding on the City.
• Approved authorizing the appropriation or transfer of City funds in FY19/20 in accordance with the City Charter for the purpose of amending the General Fund and various other funds budgets to provide appropriations for the receipt of grant revenues and expenditures in regard to COVID-19. The City's estimate of FY19/20 expenses resulting from COVID-19 is $1,340,000. It is expected the City will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for 75.0% and the State of Florida for 12.5%, leaving the City responsible for 12.5% or $167,500.

For a complete list of the approvals and decisions made at the May 18, 2020 City Commission Meeting, please click here to view the pass/fail agenda.