CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Consider three options for providing financial assistance to the Naperville Tornado Relief Fund and direct staff accordingly
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DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
SUBMITTED BY: Doug Krieger, City Manager
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
On June 20, 2021 an EF-3 tornado touched down in Naperville and Woodridge. As a result of the damage, many homes sustained significant damage or were deemed uninhabitable.
Area residents partnered with the Muthusami Paravel (MP) Foundation, a 501(c)3, to create the Naperville Tornado Relief Fund (NTRF). The goal of NTRF was to raise $1.5 million to fill financial gaps in homeowners' insurance and provide funding for environmental yard clean up, landscape remediation, and landscape replacement.
NTRF was awarded a $1 million grant from the State of Illinois in January 2023. Under Public Forum at the February 21, 2023 City Council meeting, an NTRF representative discussed the State of Illinois grant, how funding will be distributed and requested $500,000 from the City to meet the fundraising goal.
Council directed staff to draft options for consideration and research the appropriateness of using ARPA funding.
DISCUSSION:
NTRF representatives provided the attached informational document on the status of the program and the following three levels of funding:
* Level 1 Funding - Yard replacement
* Level 2 Funding - Landscape remediation: clearing plating beds, tree removal, stump grinding
* Level 3 Funding - Tree, bush and plant replacement
76 homes are considered Tier 1 (higher priority) and include those declared uninhabitable by the tax assessor's office and the homes immediately adjacent to them. The 172 Tier 2 homes (secondary priority) were in the path of the tornado at EF3 status and in proximity to the hardest hit areas.
Funding Options
At this time, resident interest level is unknown and NTRF has stated that grants may be prorated depending on the ...
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