Los Angeles City committee members on Friday heard a presentation on Mayor Karen Bass’s proposed Program Year 51 consolidated plan and voted to continue the item while directing the Chief Legislative Analyst to report back with assistance from the Community Investment for Families Department and the City Administrative Officer.

The committee meeting, convened May 16, opened with a presentation by Deputy Mayor for Economic Opportunity Brenda Shockley and Abigail Martinez, general manager of the Community Investment for Families Department, who described the consolidated plan as the city’s integrated approach to housing, community development and economic development using four U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development entitlement grants. Shockley said the proposed plan “allocates approximately $122 million” and continues funding for programs including Family Source Centers, business source centers, domestic violence and human trafficking shelter operations, and aging-services delivery.

The committee’s members pressed staff on several procedural and funding issues. Councilmember Rodriguez asked how CDBG disaster recovery funds would be prioritized after recent wildfires and how eligibility and socioeconomic factors would shape allocations. Martinez said the City Administrative Officer has retained a consultant (identified in the meeting as IEM) to help prepare potential projects for a congressional allocation of CDBG disaster recovery funding, but noted such funds require a separate congressional appropriation and are not currently available through HUD for the city.

Staff also explained federal constraints on using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars for staffing. Martinez said the city is subject to a 20% administrative cap on CDBG that is fully maximized and shared across departments supporting CDBG implementation, meaning the city cannot rely on additional CDBG administrative dollars to backfill personnel costs.

Committee members and staff discussed federal budget uncertainty. Martinez and Deputy Mayor Shockley told the committee they were tracking the Biden/Trump administration budget proposals — in the meeting transcript identified as a proposed “skinny budget” — that could affect CDBG, HOME and other HUD programs. Martinez said the city had received its allocation for the 2025–26 fiscal year and therefore had funding for the upcoming program year but noted that a continuing resolution currently in place expires in September and that federal actions next year could change available resources.

After questions and brief discussion, the committee voted to continue the item and directed the Chief Legislative Analyst, with assistance from the Community Investment for Families Department and the City Administrative Officer, to report on the mayor’s proposed Program Year 51 consolidated plan. The clerk recorded the roll call as: Councilmember Cero Martinez — yes; Councilmember Rodriguez — aye; Councilmember Padilla — aye. Councilmembers Nazarian and Rodelo (listed as absent earlier) were not present for the vote.

The committee’s action pauses formal consideration while city staff prepare a report requested by the committee. Staff said they plan to reopen the process to nonprofit applicants in September and offered ongoing technical assistance to community-based organizations to prepare applications if federal funding remains available.