City to Pay Owner-Occupied Rehab Claims From Grant; 15 Applications Under Review

Martindale board members voted to pay claims tied to an owner-occupied rehabilitation program funded by a grant, and staff said 15 applications have been submitted with more claims expected as inspections finish.

City staff told the Board of Works that Administrative Resource Association submitted claims for work under the owner-occupied grant program and that the payments will come from the grant, not local tax dollars. “It was all paid by the grant, not by any taxpayer dollars,” a staff speaker said when the board moved to approve the claims.

Why it matters: The program helps low- and moderate-income homeowners pay for repairs; the number of homes the program can serve depends on the scope of repairs each property needs. Staff said they anticipate funding 20 to 25 properties if costs are moderate, but a house that needs both a new roof and an HVAC system would consume more of the grant budget than a house that needs a single accessibility ramp.

Details and discussion: A staff presentation noted that 15 applications have been submitted and that inspectors are performing final inspections to confirm eligibility. “There are 15 that have, 15 applications been submitted,” the staff speaker said. Officials said outreach included the senior center, local partner agencies, a public meeting at City Hall, the city website and direct mail to interested residents. The staff noted that some applicants self-determined they did not qualify, commonly because they lacked homeowner insurance — a program requirement. The staff explained that insurance is required so grant-funded repairs are not lost if a house later suffers damage.

Officials discussed the grant size in general terms; staff said the grant was “I believe it was $330,000 if I remember correctly, but don't put pressure on that for sure.” The board approved a motion to use grant funds to pay the presented claims; the motion carried.

What was decided and next steps: The Board of Works approved payment of the claims. Staff said more claims will likely arrive as inspections complete and asked the board to expect additional disbursements within the grant’s limits. No changes to program eligibility or additional funding were proposed at the meeting.

Ending: Board members did not provide a detailed accounting of the remaining grant balance at the meeting; staff said they will continue inspections and claims processing and that the board will see additional claims in the coming days.