Council adopts FY 2025—26 CDBG annual action plan; residents urge specific projects for South Street area and Isaac Campbell Park

Titusville adopted its FY 2025—26 draft annual action plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds during a final public hearing on June 10. Neighborhood Services Director presented the plan and said the city expects $280,901 in CDBG funds for the coming program year, a decrease of $27,079 from the current year.

Funding breakdown presented by staff: Neighborhood Services Director indicated the plan would allocate $42,135 to public services (the statutory maximum for public service set-aside), $182,586 to infrastructure and public facilities (low- and moderate-income area benefits including lighting, sidewalks, blight removal, nonprofit facilities and street improvements) and $56,180 for grant administration (up to 20%). Director stated the program year begins in October and that the public comment period runs through July 10.

Public comment and community priorities: Dozens of residents and neighborhood advocates provided comments and urged the council to target specific projects in the South Street target area west of downtown and to prioritize Isaac Campbell Park upgrades. Tony Schifelow and other South Street residents said the draft plan's infrastructure allotment appeared to emphasize repaving where many streets were in adequate condition rather than funding sidewalks, lighting, park improvements and housing rehabilitation that community meetings had identified as priorities. Concerned citizens asked that the city report back to council with a list of exact projects and community-chosen priorities before work begins in October.

Council action and follow-up: Council adopted the final annual action plan and the mayor signed required certification forms as part of the approval. The motion included a proviso that staff will return with reports showing the specific projects and the community-selected priorities before implementation begins. Staff said that when implementation begins in October the city would meet with the community to identify projects in priority order and then report back to council.

Why this matters: The CDBG program directs federal funds to low- and moderate-income areas for infrastructure, nonprofit facility support and public services; residents stressed the need to use the funds to address sidewalks, lighting, blight removal and park facilities in the targeted neighborhood.

Outcome: Council approved the annual action plan and directed staff to work with neighborhood stakeholders to identify the exact projects to be funded and to report back to council.