The Glendale City Council and Glendale Housing Authority on Sept. 30 approved a substantial amendment to the city’s federal annual action plans (CDBG, ESG and HOME) to reprogram funds across several program years in order to meet HUD timeliness requirements and preserve prior allocations.

City staff asked the bodies to reallocate $1,328,171 in CDBG funds from the Pacific Natural Grass project to the Pacific Edison artificial turf project, swap $1,328,171 in general fund CIP allocations between the two projects, and move $96,587.38 in undesignated HUD fund balance from program year 2019 into the Glendale Youth Center project (previously budgeted in program year 2021). The council’s approval authorizes the city manager to execute the agreements and submit a substantial amendment to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Why it matters: HUD enforces a timeliness test that limits the city’s cumulative unspent CDBG balance to no more than 1.5 times the city’s annual entitlement; failure to meet the test can put a jurisdiction at risk of losing future CDBG funds. Staff said about $421,000 in program‑year 2019 CDBG funds were at risk of becoming unavailable unless reprogrammed and drawn down before HUD’s period of performance deadlines.

Staff rationale and project status
Maggie Kovarian, community services manager, told the council the Pacific Edison artificial turf project has completed bidding and construction is scheduled to begin in October, which means moving CDBG funds to that project will accelerate expenditures and lower the city’s undrawn balance. The Pacific Natural Grass project has CDBG allocations across multiple program years; swapping funds between the artificial‑turf and natural‑grass projects and reallocating undesignated 2019 funds to the Glendale Youth Center (which is construction‑complete and ready to draw funds) will protect dollars from being lost under HUD’s seven‑year period‑of‑performance rule.

Council discussion and vote
Councilmembers acknowledged the lengthy motion language but commended the concise staff presentation. A city‑council motion and a corresponding housing‑authority motion to authorize the HUD submission and appropriate program and CIP transfers were moved and seconded; both bodies approved the actions by roll call. Staff said the reprogramming and swaps are administrative actions intended to comply with federal timing rules and to accelerate projects that are ready for expenditure.

Implementation and authority
Approved actions include authorization for the city manager or designee to execute agreements, amendments, certifications and other necessary documents to carry out the reprogramming, and a resolution of appropriation to shift CIP funds as described. The council also authorized the manager to redirect excess canceled or unused program funds under $50,000 among CDBG projects with CDBG advisory committee approval.

Ending note
Council and housing authority members voted to adopt the substantial amendment and associated CIP adjustments to safeguard HUD funds and proceed with the Pacific Edison construction and Glendale Youth Center drawdowns.