Below is a summary of some of the approvals and decisions made by the City Commission at a meeting on Monday, July 27, 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 a federally funded sub-award and grant agreement with the Florida Division of Emergency Management to receive grant funds and reimbursement for eligible costs and expenses resulting from Hurricane Dorian. The City's estimate of expenses resulting from Hurricane Dorian is $316,000. It is expected the City will be reimbursed by FEMA for 75.0% ($237,000), the State of Florida for 12.5% ($39,500). This leaves the City responsible for 12.5% ($39,500).
• Approved ratifying the submittal of three (3) grant applications to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for Rebuild Florida Critical Facility Hardening Program to harden Fire Station Nos. 1, 5 and 6 to withstand 225 mph winds and minimize impacts to operations in a disaster. The grants would provide 100% funding totaling approximately $5 million.
• Approved authorizing the Mayor to execute an Interlocal Agreement between the City and Palm Beach County for the use of grant funds in the amount of $440,000 for Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program Funds related to COVID-19. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act was signed into law, providing supplemental HOPWA-CV funding to the City in the amount of $467,782 for the provision of certain eligible activities. The City and the County provide services to mutual clients, and it is beneficial for the City to contract with the County to serve as the administrative subrecipient for a portion of the City's HOPWA-CV Program funds. Pursuant to the interlocal agreement, the City will provide the County with $440,000 of HOPWA funds, which will be used to provide short-term housing services to eligible households impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  
• Approved authorizing and providing appropriations for the execution of a joint participation and project funding agreement between Palm Beach County and the City of West Palm Beach for construction of certain City utility improvements on Florida Mango Road over PBC L-21 Canal (north of Bridgeman Drive). Being that Florida Mango Road is a County roadway, the County and the City have determined that it is in the best interest of the public for both parties to enter into a joint participation and project funding agreement for the construction of the County's project and the City's utility improvements. Under the terms of the agreement, the City shall reimburse the County a total estimated amount of $110,942.78, for the cost of the City's utility improvements.
• Approved providing appropriations from federal law enforcement forfeiture funds of $70,000 and appropriations from state law enforcement forfeiture receipts of $70,000 to fund the investigative use of rental vehicles. Rental vehicles are utilized by undercover police department personnel in the Narcotics and Criminal Investigation Units to further and pursue narcotics and other criminal investigations and to assist, where necessary, with the City's participation in certain special task forces. Participation in the rental program permits the Police Department to exchange vehicles more frequently which enables undercover officers to perform their duties without being identified by the criminal suspects they are investigating.
• Approved accepting a grant in the amount of $3,750,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Hiring Recovery Program, to aid in the hiring of thirty additional full-time police officers. The cost for three (3) years for thirty (30) full time positions is approximately $7,854,629 for salaries and benefits. Grant funds will provide a maximum of $3,750,000 and City match funds required at 25% is $1,250,000, leaving an additional $2,854,629 that the City will have to add to the match for the three (3) year grant period to cover salaries and benefits. The City will assume the full cost for the officers after the 3-year grant period expires.

For a complete list of the approvals and decisions made at the July 27, 2020 City Commission Meeting, please click here to view the pass/fail agenda.