Gardena council approves CAPER for FY 2024–25, reports CDBG and CARES-era spending and beneficiaries

The Gardena City Council on Oct. 14 held a public hearing and authorized staff to submit the city’s Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the 2024–25 program year to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

City staff reported that $2,335,005.87 was available to fund program-year activities, combining the current formula allocation, prior-year unspent funds and program income. Staff said the city used funds to support fair-housing and landlord–tenant mediation, services for low- and moderate-income persons, public-facility improvements and residential rehabilitation.

As part of CARES Act relief, HUD provided a special CDBG‑CV allocation that Gardena used for COVID‑19 response. Staff said the city received $901,009.84 in CDBG‑CV funds; $571,605.39 of that total has been expended on emergency rental assistance, small-business assistance and emergency food-sustenance assistance. Staff reported a remaining CDBG‑CV balance of $330,003.78 and 61¢ and said the balance will be considered for reallocation to eligible emergency-service activities in FY 2025–26.

Council members asked about program outputs in addition to expenditures. Staff supplied counts where available: fair‑housing services served about 197 people (exceeding an anticipated 188), youth and family services reported 106 service recipients (goal 100), and residential rehabilitation completed 18 households (the staff expectation had been 10). Staff noted the community-benefit projects (for example, a demolition project at a former bank site) affect the broader population rather than a discrete beneficiary count. Staff said remaining unused funds will be available to reallocate toward FY 2025–26 eligible activities.

The council voted 5-0 to receive public testimony, close the hearing and authorize submission of the CAPER to HUD.