
By Mike Hazlip–
The Citrus Heights City Council will vote on Thursday on whether to extend contracts with six local restaurants who are participating in a FEMA-sponsored stimulus program to deliver meals to qualifying seniors shut in by COVID-19 health orders.
The Great Plates program provides three meals, seven-days-a-week to qualifying seniors at local restaurants, with the program giving restaurants $66 per day per senior. A staff report says the program has enabled a “substantial influx of support to local restaurants in need while also supporting homebound seniors.”
Beach Hut Deli, Boston’s Pizza, Ciro’s Pizza, Dos Coyotes Border Cafe, R Vida Cantina and Nor Cal Subs are all currently participating in the program through an initial contract involving the City Manager, who can authorize contracts without council approval up to $50,000. If passed, the amendments would allow the city to continue the contracts through August 10, with contracts of $139,000 per restaurant.
R Vida Cantina’s co-owner told Fox40 in an interview last month that the program is allowing his employees to return to work. The new restaurant opened December 20, just before economic shutdowns were implemented to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The Great Plates program, funded through FEMA and CalOES, was originally slated to run through June 10. FEMA and CalOES have not released information on extending the program past the initial June cutoff. Approving the amendments would allow the city to seamlessly continue the program if FEMA and CalOES decide to extend it.
The city estimates the total cost of the program will be $1,782,000 if extended for the maximum 90 days. FEMA is providing 75% of the funds, with CalOES providing 18.75%. The remaining 6.25% is matched by local funds. City estimates are based on program participation and total number of days the program is in place.
So far, the city says 171 seniors are being served by the program, and city staff hope to bump that number up to 300.