Prescott CDBG committee allocates $275,024 HUD award, boosts Meals on Wheels and funds public works despite one dissent

The Prescott City Citizens CDBG Advisory Committee voted Thursday to allocate the city’s program year 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award of $275,024 among public‑service grants, construction projects and administration.

Committee members approved increasing Meals on Wheels’ award, reduced the Boys & Girls Club fencing request to $30,000, fully funded Agape House at $24,800, and assigned the remaining $9,648 to the city Public Works department after a recorded 1–vote no.

The allocation matters because the annual action plan directs how Prescott spends federal CDBG dollars on services and infrastructure that serve low‑ and moderate‑income residents. The committee’s choices determine which organizations receive funding this year and whether remaining funds will support nonprofit programs or city capital work.

Michael (staff member), the committee’s presenter on the annual action plan, opened the discussion by reporting the HUD allocation as $275,024 and outlining the program’s budget structure, including an administration line and a public‑service cap. He said the committee’s top three public‑service choices summed to $40,392, below the public‑service cap of $41,254, leaving $8,862 available to shift to construction.

Ginger Cutting moved to allocate the top three public‑service requests in full and transfer the $8,862 remainder to construction; Janie Evans seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Committee discussion then redistributed previously tentatively allocated amounts across specific applicants. Betsy Howe corrected the Boys & Girls Club fencing request to $30,000; the committee left that award at $30,000 after a motion and second and a voice vote in favor. John (last name unclear) moved to raise Meals on Wheels’ award to $23,430 from an earlier partial award of $15,500; Janie Evans seconded and the committee approved the increase unanimously.

Later motions included fully funding Agape House’s request at $24,800 (moved by Ginger Cutting, seconded by Jim Howell; unanimous) and leaving Launchpad at its previously allocated $16,750. After the spreadsheet exercise, the committee faced $9,648 in remaining funds and voted to apply that amount to the Public Works project portfolio. The motion to allocate the $9,648 to Public Works was moved by the committee chair, seconded by Janie Evans and passed with one no vote recorded (Ginger Cutting).

The minutes from the April 23 meeting were approved at the start of the session. Several committee members reiterated their earlier intent to honor prior allocations where applicants had already been notified that they would receive funding.

Members noted logistical details: the HUD allocation figure is an estimate until final confirmation in October, the committee will publish the final annual action plan for a 30‑day public comment period before sending it to City Council (target date July 8), and staff planned a short meeting on June 5 to review the consolidated plan draft before public comment.

Concerns and dissent: Ginger Cutting repeatedly objected to applying remaining funds to a Public Works project and criticized the consolidated plan survey’s representativeness, saying, “I think this was an absolute waste of time and money,” and pointing to survey demographics she judged unrepresentative of Prescott’s low‑ and moderate‑income populations. Other members argued the committee had previously committed funds and that changing earlier awards would harm applicants who had been notified.

Next steps: Michael will notify awarded organizations of the allocations while noting the HUD figure remains subject to final adjustment in October. The consolidated plan and first‑year annual action plan will enter a 30‑day public comment period after the committee finalizes the draft; staff expect to bring the plan to City Council on July 8 for approval to submit to HUD.