YOUNGSTOWN — City council today will consider several pieces of legislation regarding American Rescue Plan funds, including $1.12 million in new spending, moving forward with $8 million already allocated for housing and an $945,847 lead line project reduction.

Among the new spending, the largest project is $600,000 from Councilman Mike Ray’s ward allocation toward the rehabilitation of Borts Field and the MVSD Playground. Both are in Ray’s ward on the upper West Side. Of Ray’s funding, $500,000 is for Borts and $100,000 for MVSD.

Also, money from the $10.5 million in ARP funding set aside for the parks and recreation department will go toward improvements at both parks, Ray said.

Ray also is sponsoring a $400,000 ARP allocation today from his ward fund for pedestrian and safety enhancements on Mahoning Avenue, the main corridor on the city’s West Side.

Mahoning Avenue is undergoing extensive work — including resurfacing and new street lights as well as waterline replacements.

Ray said his ARP funding will go toward sidewalk improvements and adding pedestrian islands.

City council gave $2 million in ARP funds on April 6, 2022, to each of its seven members — $14 million in total — to use for projects in the wards.

These two items make up half of the $2 million Ray was given for his ward.

The city received $82,773,370 in total ARP funds.

Another $120,000 in ARP spending to be considered at today’s meeting will come from other council members’ allocations.

Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward, is sponsoring two ARP items, totaling $70,000.

One is $50,000 for Youngstown Jubilee Urban Development to help offset the cost of renovating the former South High School auditorium including restoration of wood floors, replacing 800 broken seats and updating stage lighting and the audio system.

The other is $20,000 to Economic Action Group to buy a utility task vehicle and attachments for neighborhood cleanups, maintenance and other activities that focus on vacant and abandoned properties.

Oliver also is sponsoring legislation to rescind a $3,000 ARP allocation from his ward, approved Sept. 21, 2022, for Economic Action Group to invest in public art in rights of way in the city’s downtown.

Also, Councilman Jimmy Hughes, D-2nd Ward, is sponsoring legislation to give $50,000 to Bess Purpose Inc. to expand its outreach services at its McGuffey Road location in his ward.

Bess Purpose provides shelter, counseling and support services to abused and / or homeless women.

Other ARP items on today’s agenda include permitting the board of control to issue requests for proposals and enter into an agreement with a fiscal agent to administer its $8 million plan to build new houses and rehabilitate existing structures.

City council on Nov. 1 agreed to allocate the funding for that purpose with a focus on development-ready parcels owned by the city of Youngstown, the city land bank, the Mahoning County Land Bank and the city school district.

Council also will vote to decrease an ARP expenditure, approved May 18, 2022, from $2,261,119 to $1,315,272 for a lead pipeline replacement project on the West Side on and near Eddie and Roy streets and Hazelwood Avenue.

The project replaced 5,840 feet of waterline in that area.

The reduction is because the project cost less than the engineering estimate, according to the ordinance.

Have an interesting story? Contact David Skolnick by email at dskolnick@vindy.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @dskolnick.