Live Oak council authorizes staff to apply for CDBG housing and neighborhood grants

The City of Live Oak City Council on Tuesday authorized staff to submit a Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application seeking funding for housing rehabilitation and a neighborhood revitalization project, following a public hearing and presentations by grant consultants.

Consultants from Cornerstone Community Partners and other presenters described the CDBG categories and scoring rules and urged the council to pursue both a housing rehabilitation application and a neighborhood revitalization application. "The purpose of the first public hearing is to make the public aware the city has an interest in applying and to solicit any potential project proposals and comments from the public," said Jeffrey Winter of Cornerstone Community Partners. David Foster, a presenter on the application process, said, "There's a $40,000,000 pot of funds available for this cycle," and that the program officials had recently said there was no fixed maximum award for applicants in this special cycle.

The consultants outlined four primary CDBG categories: housing rehabilitation (which can include demolition and reconstruction), neighborhood revitalization (infrastructure projects such as water and sewer work), commercial revitalization (streetscapes and corridor improvements) and economic development (infrastructure to support job creation). Foster said the neighborhood category requires a low- and moderate-income (LMI) benefit determination based on a HUD-style survey and that a door-to-door or randomized survey would be required to establish eligibility for infrastructure funding. He also described scoring incentives: leverage contributes points ("for every $2,000 you put into the grant application you submit as leverage, you get 1 point") and projects that are shovel-ready can receive additional points.

Council discussion noted the May 2, 2025 application deadline, the practical need to complete a citywide survey if pursuing the neighborhood category, and the opportunity to seek both categories in this special cycle. One council member said pursuing both would not harm the city’s prospects and could increase the city’s chance of receiving funding; another noted a potential infrastructure use, such as a new water well, if awarded.

During the public comment period, resident Anita Williams asked how the council would address a separate concern she raised about a prior $65,000 expenditure for house repairs she said occurred without board approval and requested follow-up by staff. Mayor Davis acknowledged the comment and said staff could follow up outside the meeting.

The council made a motion to authorize staff to submit the CDBG application for housing rehabilitation and neighborhood revitalization (standalone applications permitted under this cycle) and voted to approve the motion. The council also approved the meeting agenda with deletions and approved minutes from its Feb. 11 regular meeting and Feb. 18 workshop earlier in the meeting.

Staff next steps, as described by presenters, include conducting the LMI survey if the city pursues neighborhood infrastructure funds, holding a fair housing workshop to gain application points, preparing required project specifications and permit application receipts for shovel-ready point scoring, and preparing final application materials before the May 2, 2025 deadline.

The council did not set a specific project in this meeting; authorization was for staff to prepare and submit applications for the two categories discussed. The council also postponed two agenda items: a special recognition item related to an ongoing FDLE investigation and item 7(b) concerning veteran cemetery rules and permit fees until future meetings.