The Rowlett City Council conducted a public hearing and then adopted the city’s 2025–2029 consolidated plan and the 2025 annual action plan for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant program. The 2025 allocation is $299,525. Council approved the item with an amendment to Exhibit A that adjusted funding among eligible activities and kept the total at the HUD allocation.

Revised allocations adopted by council (2025 annual action plan, Exhibit A amendment):
- Salvation Army (homeless prevention: rental/mortgage assistance): $32,000
- Public safety / downtown policing program: $12,000
- Accessible sidewalks and crosswalks (public facilities): $99,000
- Alley reconstruction (public facilities): $121,600
- Administration and consultant salaries for grant administration: $34,925
Total: $299,525

Background and constraints: HUD’s CDBG program requires eligible activities to concentrate in census tracts meeting low-to-moderate income thresholds; Rowlett’s entitlement allocation is modest because most of the city’s eligible tracts include substantial parts of Lake Ray Hubbard. HUD caps apply to public service and administration percentages (public service capped at 15% of the allocation). Staff noted that CDBG-funded projects require an environmental-review process before a contract is executed, which can take about 90 days and delay spending.

Public input and partner comments: Salvation Army representative Sergeant Bernard Tolan described the agency’s program to provide step-down rental and mortgage assistance and said the organization expects to expend prior-year funds by Sept. 30. Several council members asked for assurance that the Salvation Army program would use funds for Rowlett residents; the Salvation Army speaker confirmed funds are used locally and that the organization coordinates outreach.

Council action: Council member Shoop moved to approve the consolidated plan and annual action plan, amended Exhibit A with the numbers above; Council member Britton seconded. The motion passed unanimously, 6–0.

Why it matters: The adopted plan sets how Rowlett will use federal CDBG funds for housing stability, pedestrian access and alley and infrastructure work in eligible neighborhoods; the council’s amendment preserved a public-safety allocation, increased homelessness prevention support and shifted downtown lighting funds into a future alley reconstruction project to keep spending within HUD rules and timelines.