The Carrollton City Council unanimously adopted the program year 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) action plan and budget on July 8, approving new fiscal‑year funding and using prior unallocated balances to fund neighborhood infrastructure, parks improvements, housing rehabilitation and historic preservation work including $50,000 allocated for phase 2 of the Carrollton Black Cemetery project.

Corey Heiple, environmental services director, told the council the city will receive $755,813 in new CDBG funds and that staff proposed using $572,537 of prior unallocated funds from past years to supplement programmatic needs. The plan the council approved includes allocations for housing rehabilitation programs, infrastructure repairs, parks projects and public services targeted to low‑ and moderate‑income residents.

Heiple described the cemetery funding as phase 2 work: replacement of the entry‑way signage and replacement of a substandard gate to match historic‑preservation goals. He added that phase 1 work had not yet started but was expected to begin shortly.

CDBG allocations described in the staff briefing (program year 2025, amounts from the staff presentation): $50,000 — Carrollton Black Cemetery, phase 2 (entry signage and gate); $190,000 — park projects (Downtown Square gazebo/lighting/seating; Pioneer Park interactive art; Thomas Park water features and court resurfacing; Roten Park court resurfacing); $200,000 — Scott Mill Road panel replacement (Rainwater to Trinity Mills); $200,000 — neighborhood street/sidewalk repairs near the RL Turner area (Kirby Cox area); $200,000 — Francis Perry street and sidewalk repairs; $135,000 — housing rehabilitation (split between minor home repair and emergency repair programs); $90,075 — Metrocrest social services; $23,275 — Woven Medical Clinic; enhanced code enforcement staff (funding for code officer focused on inspections of low‑income apartments); city hall accessibility ramp work; and $50,000 for administration (public notices, staff training).

During the meeting, council members asked staff for design details: for the cemetery sign council members said they favored a low‑maintenance wrought‑iron sign and confirmed staff will return to council with implementation specifics before work proceeds. The council also discussed park project scopes and how NAC and parks staff identified those priorities.

Separately during council information sharing, a council member urged a detailed program of survey, documentation and descendant outreach for the historic Black cemetery, and asked staff to investigate chain of title and whether any formal abandonment or reinterment permits under Texas law had been issued. That council member asked staff to engage historians, descendants and potential grant sources and to consider signage and grave markers to recognize the site. The council directed staff to follow the normal procurement and design review processes and to return to council with final plans.

Outcome: action plan and budget approved unanimously. Staff will proceed with project scoping, vendor selection and follow the city's procurement and public‑notice rules for CDBG projects.