Title
Resolution to Approve and Accept a Grant from the Center for Tech and Civic Life for the City’s Safe Voting Plan Application and Appropriate Funding ($417,268) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
The City Clerk’s Office, with support from the former Michigan director of elections, was invited to prepare and submit a grant application to the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) for funding for the November 2020 election under the grant opportunity for safe voting. The City’s plan was approved, and funding has been awarded in the amount of $417,268.00. The grant award must be used exclusively for the public purpose of planning and operationalizing safe and secure election administration.
Highlights of the funding include resources for an additional “client seat” for our recently purchased high-speed absentee ballot tabulator, applications for absentee ballots and postage for all remaining voters who have not yet applied for ballots, staffing for the UMMA satellite office and City Clerk’s Office extended hours, ballot drop boxes, marketing materials, and bonus pay for the City’s 500 plus election inspectors for work during the pandemic.
The Center for Tech and Civic Life recently expanded their COVID-19 Response Grant program to all U.S. local election jurisdictions, backed by a $250,000,000 contribution from Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg.
Staff
Prepared by: Jacqueline Beaudry, City Clerk
Reviewed by: Betsy Blake, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Reviewed by: John Fournier, Assistant City Attorney
Approved by: Tom Crawford, Interim City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City Clerk identified additional needs related to the safe and successful conduct of the November 2020 election;
Whereas, A Safe Voting Plan was prepared for the Office of the City Clerk;
Whereas, The City’s Safe Voting Plan was submitted to the Center for Tech and Civic Life for consideration for funding; and
Whereas, The Center for Tech and Civic Life has awarded the City of Ann Arbor a grant in the amount of $417,268 to be spent exclusively on the safe conduct of the November 3, 2020;
RESOLVED, That City Council authorizes the acceptance of and drawing down of grant funds from the Center for Tech and Civic Life for the City’s Safe Voting Plan in the amount of $417,268;
RESOLVED, That City Council appropriates $417,268 to the Major Grants Fund expenditure budget for the purpose of City Clerk November General Election related approved expenses with the source of revenue being the grant funds from the Center for Technology and Civic Life;
RESOLVED, That City Council approves a transfer of these funds from the Major Grants Fund to the General Fund as a reimbursement for incurred expenses for payroll costs and materials and supplies related to the November 2020 election;
RESOLVED, That City Council appropriates $417,268 to the FY21 General Fund revenue and expenditure budget of the City Clerk’s Office with the source of revenue being a transfer from the Major Grants fund;
RESOLVED, That City Council authorizes the payment of $100 additional incentive pay to all appointed election inspectors, absentee voter count board inspectors and receiving board members;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute any agreements related to the grants referenced herein after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator and City Clerk be authorized to take all appropriate actions to implement this resolution including execution of any grant awards documentation or amendments that do not exceed the amounts authorized herein.
Sponsored by: Mayor Taylor and Councilmembers Grand, Ackerman, and Hayner