City holds public hearing on 2024 CAPER; officials outline CDBG, HOME and ESG outcomes

City staff opened a public hearing July 15 to receive public comment on Springfield’s 2024 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), which reports on the city’s use of federal HUD entitlement funds and progress against the 2020–2024 consolidated plan.

Logan Gilles, city staff, told commissioners the CAPER documents what the city accomplished during the program year and explained the difference between HUD funding years and the program-year accounting that appears in the CAPER. "The CAPER summarizes the city's performance for the year," Gilles said, and noted the CAPER is required by HUD and subject to a 30-day public comment period and at least one public hearing.

Gilles said the city met or exceeded 2024 action-plan goals in code enforcement, demolition, infrastructure, homeowner rehab and public services, and highlighted several results: a completed single-family home rehabilitation at 742 Clifton Ave, 29 owner-occupied housing units rehabilitated under a health-and-safety program and 42 blighted properties demolished. On emergency solutions grant (ESG) programs, Gilles reported a combined total of 617 clients served in shelter operations and rapid rehousing; Shelter Inc. reported 439 active clients and Project Woman reported 178.

Gilles explained that expenditures shown in the CAPER can include draws from prior program years, so a program-year expenditure total may exceed the HUD entitlement amount received in that federal fiscal year. "We can expend dollars from previous program years," Gilles said, adding the city has been working to improve drawdown timeliness, hold subrecipients to contract deadlines and accelerate infrastructure draws.

The hearing record also included questions from commissioners about community engagement and school-based outreach. Commissioners forthcomingly praised staff efforts and urged continued neighborhood engagement as the city prepares the consolidated plan for 2025–2029.

No action was required by the commission; the public hearing record and CAPER will be posted and submitted to HUD as required. The hearing included motions to receive the CAPER into the record and to adjourn; both were seconded and approved by roll call.

Votes at a glance (selected items from the July 15 meeting): - Motion to receive, record and file the CAPER public hearing notice and associated materials — passed by roll call. - Ordinance establishing board of zoning appeals procedures (part 158 of administrative code) — approved on second reading by roll call. - Amendment to the MaxSolve environmental consulting contract (+$162,900) — approved by roll call. - Additional expenditure for temporary staffing (Express Employment Professionals, +$5,250) — approved by roll call. - One-year quicklime purchase contract (La Hoist North America; up to $1,552,200) for water treatment operations — approved by roll call. - Development incentive and sewer service agreement for property at 2404 Troy Road — approved by roll call. - Ohio Public Works Commission grant applications for multiple resurfacing and infrastructure projects (submissions authorized) — approved by roll call. - Super blanket purchase order increase for Columbia Gas (utilities) — approved by roll call. - Emergency amendment to zoning code (cleanup following earlier code adoption) — approved by roll call. - Consulting and environmental work amendments tied to Euclid Avenue/park redevelopment (Verdantus, Verdantus LLC) — approved by roll call. - Small-business employment incentive agreement (4 4 Connection LLC) and related adoption — approved by roll call. - Appointments: Community Beautification Committee (Taylor Laughlin, Victoria Lineberger) and Historic Landmarks Commission (Christian Raffensperger) — appointed by voice/roll call.

Ending: Staff said the CAPER and public comments will be filed as required and that the consolidated plan for 2025–2029 will guide future allocations and neighborhood engagement.