Apache Junction council picks nuisance-abatement CDBG project after split vote; approves sidewalk rehab state grant application

Apache Junction city council on Oct. 7 approved submitting two Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications: a regional-account application for a nuisance-abatement program and a state special project application to rehabilitate pedestrian ramps and sidewalks in the Apache Via subdivision.

The decisions followed a lengthy staff presentation and public comment period about three competing proposals for the regional-account funds and two candidate projects for the state special project (SSP) award. Jeremy (city community development staff) explained this was the second required public hearing and reminded the council that the regional account allocation is $156,800 and the state special project award can be up to $750,000.

Why it matters: The regional-account winner—nuisance abatement—targets visible blight and public-safety risks. Council discussion highlighted tension between remediation of property blight and direct aid to low-income residents; several council members and multiple public commenters pressed for small emergency repair grants or an AC unit loaner program for vulnerable households.

Staff recommendation and council action Staff recommended the nuisance-abatement program for the regional account, arguing it “directly addresses slum and blight conditions,” can be implemented within available funding and provides visible community benefits, Jeremy said. For the SSP slot, staff recommended the Apache Via subdivision pedestrian rehabilitation project as the most shovel-ready option that serves a low- and moderate-income neighborhood.

Two motions were put to a vote on Resolution No. 25-20 (regional account): first, a motion to assign the $156,800 to the housing emergency rehab micro-grants (option C) failed 5–2. The council then approved a motion to assign the regional-account funding to the nuisance-abatement program; that motion passed 4–3. The council later approved Resolution No. 25-26 (state special project) to submit the Apache Via pedestrian rehabilitation application unanimously.

Public input and staff constraints Residents and speakers urged the council to prioritize urgent repairs and small micro-grants (multiple speakers suggested $3,000–$5,000 caps for urgent repairs such as AC or roof fixes). Donna Carr, a resident, and Catherine Meek both urged simpler micro-grant options to help low-income homeowners with immediate repairs. Council members and staff noted two constraints: the Arizona Department of Housing determined the AC unit loaner program was ineligible as a standalone RA project, and staff advised that the housing emergency-rehab program would require significant administrative capacity; at the RA funding level, staff said it would likely require a full-time position to administer, making it infeasible within the $156,800 allocation.

Council member and staff exchanges reflected frustration about timing of the eligibility feedback from state reviewers. Vice Mayor Schroeder and others said they would have preferred to have eligibility limits clarified before the meeting; staff said they had vetted projects with the Department of Housing after the first hearing and relayed the agency’s eligibility determinations at this second hearing.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 25-20 (CDBG regional account): initial motion to fund Housing Emergency Rehab micro-grants (Option C) — vote: Yes (Council member Cross; Council member Johnson); No (Council member Heck; Council member Neser; Vice Mayor Schroeder; Council member Soller; Mayor Wilson). Outcome: motion failed (5–2). - Resolution 25-20 (CDBG regional account): motion to fund Nuisance Abatement Program (Option A) — vote: Yes (Council member Heck; Council member Neser; Vice Mayor Schroeder; Mayor Wilson); No (Council member Cross; Council member Johnson; Council member Soller). Outcome: approved (4–3). - Resolution 25-26 (CDBG state special project): motion to submit Apache Via Subdivision Pedestrian Rehabilitation (SSP Option A) — vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

Implementation next steps If the council’s selections stand, staff will work with the Central Arizona Governments (CAG) and the Arizona Department of Housing to prepare and submit the RA and SSP applications by the department deadlines, Jeremy said. Staff noted the housing-rehab option could be pursued later through other funding or a future CDBG cycle but cautioned that the program requires planning, staffing and a reliable administration model because of past complications the city experienced administering similar programs.

Ending Council members and residents signaled a preference for hands-on help for residents, even as the council ultimately chose nuisance abatement for the current regional-account application. Staff said it will return with next steps for application preparation and will explore alternative funding avenues and program models if the council wants to pursue emergency-rehab microgrants in a future cycle.