This memorandum begins a discussion of steps to infuse capital into the local economy and expedite construction projects to create jobs within the local economy. On March 18, 2020, the City of Riviera Beach declared a local state of emergency. With this action, the city implemented multiple steps to combat COVID-19 while still providing municipal services. This ongoing pandemic and sweeping state, federal, and local mandates have significantly impacted the City of Riviera Beach’s local businesses and recreational and tourist amenities. Economic conditions prior to this pandemic showed signs of slow growth, as the city’s other major revenue streams did not meet their minimal growth projections—in actuality, the revenues declined. The only growth was associated with ad valorem property tax revenue, and information provided by financial experts and property appraisers throughout the state shows that this pandemic will impact ad valorem property tax revenue. A best-case scenario of maintaining the status quo would be a positive result.

One of the six categories is to be assigned to each member of the elected body to spearhead recovery efforts and address the needs associated with each category. These particular circumstances are unique, and it will take months of help from the private, public, nonprofit, and religious sectors to facilitate this particularly challenging road to recovery. A seventh category omitted from this memorandum as a community focus is capital construction projects. That initiative will be directly administered and managed by the city manager to quickly advance with municipal facilities and leverage alternative service delivery models to bring these facilities online as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible.

This memorandum’s premise is to request volunteers from the elected body to spearhead a committee addressing one of the below categories. These committees will facilitate the economic recovery and provide policy recommendations and resources, whether in-kind or monetarily, to help the community bounce back from the conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

These initiatives coincide with multiple strategic focus areas adopted by the City Council from the Riviera Beach 2030 plan. This plan calls for achieving a sustainable economy, building great neighborhoods, accelerating operational excellence, enhancing government stewardship, and strengthening community engagement.