In a recent government meeting, city officials discussed the approval of Resolution R 2024-41, which pertains to the 2023 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The report, presented by Associate Director of Strategy and Budget Katie Olson, highlights the city's achievements over the past year and outlines plans for future funding.

CDBG funds, allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), are primarily aimed at assisting low- and moderate-income individuals, including those facing domestic violence or disabilities. Olson emphasized the importance of these funds for infrastructure improvements, particularly in upgrading accessibility features such as wheelchair ramps. This year, the city completed 53 ADA-compliant ramps, benefiting an estimated 113 disabled residents.

The meeting also marked the introduction of Reid Sanderson as the new CDBG coordinator, a role that will now be housed within the finance department. This structural change aims to enhance the management of the CDBG program, which has historically experienced staffing turnover.

Olson reported on the successful completion of the COVID mortgage assistance program, which utilized leftover CDBG CV funds to aid four extremely low-income households facing housing insecurity due to the pandemic. Additionally, the city funded services for domestic violence victims and homelessness, serving a total of 200 individuals through partnerships with local shelters.

The council noted the city's relatively low allocation of CDBG funds, receiving approximately $220,000 annually, which is significantly less than neighboring areas. This funding disparity is attributed to the socioeconomic status of the city, which does not meet the federal requirement of having 51% low- to moderate-income residents in any census tract.

The meeting concluded with a public hearing, allowing residents to comment on the CAPER and suggest priorities for the upcoming five-year consolidated plan. The city aims to finalize this plan by spring 2024, incorporating community feedback to address pressing needs effectively.