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Longview council approves consent agenda, reallocates COVID CDBG funds to parks and cancels May District 6 election
Summary
At the Feb. 27 meeting the Longview City Council approved a consent agenda that included equipment transfers and partnerships, voted to re-obligate remaining COVID CDBG funds to parks projects (which will go to HUD for 30-day comment), and adopted an ordinance cancelling the May election in District 6 after certifying an unopposed candidate.
The Longview City Council, at its Feb. 27, 2025 meeting, approved a consent agenda that included equipment transfers and partnerships, voted to re-obligate remaining COVID-related Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to eligible parks projects and adopted an ordinance canceling the May city council election in District 6 after certifying an unopposed candidate.
Consent agenda highlights
Council approved the consent agenda by voice/raised-hand vote. Among items discussed or explained to council during consent were:
- A trial partnership with CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Sports Medicine offering targeted athletic-trainer rehabilitation services for Longview firefighters during a testing phase; officials said the service is provided as part of CHRISTUS' community benefit and will not cost the city during the trial and will be limited to the fire department while the pilot is evaluated.
- A nominal lease of an ambulance to Culver College to support its EMS/paramedic training program; staff described the arrangement as a $1 ("a dollar or something") one-year contract with multiple renewals historically used in similar academy partnerships.
- Transfer of an older patch truck (2017) to Gregg County for their use until that county returns it for eventual city auction sale.
- Rejection of three bids on a separate procurement after one bidder sought to withdraw a very low (approximately $70,000) price; staff recommended rejecting all bids and re-bidding the work.
Public hearing and re-obligation of COVID CDBG funds
Staff presented a request to re-obligate remaining COVID-related CDBG funds toward parks and recreation projects that meet HUD's COVID-related eligibility rules. Diedrich Johnson presented the item, explaining that some earlier small-business assistance programs are no longer timely or feasible to complete under HUD cost-expiration rules and that eligible park projects (for example, hands-free water fountains and outdoor amenities that encourage safe outdoor activity) meet the program's COVID-related objective. The council opened a public hearing, received no public comments, closed the hearing and voted to approve the re-obligation; staff said the change will be forwarded to HUD for a 30-day public comment period and HUD review.
Ordinance cancelling District 6 election
City staff presented a certificate showing only one candidate, Sydney Allen, filed for the District 6 council seat. Staff noted the city's election code requires canceling the municipal election when a candidate is unopposed. Council adopted an ordinance canceling the May election and declaring Sydney Allen elected to District 6.
Motions and votes
- Consent agenda: motion and second, approved by raised-hand vote (no roll-call tally in the record).
- Re-obligation of COVID CDBG funds (amendment to FY 2020 annual plan and five-year consolidated plan): public hearing opened and closed with no speakers; motion to approve and forward to HUD for 30-day comment period, motion approved by raised-hand vote.
- Ordinance cancelling the May District 6 election and declaring Sydney Allen elected: motion and second, approved by raised-hand vote.
Ending: The council approved the items listed above; staff will forward the CDBG amendment to HUD for comment and proceed with administrative steps to implement the approved consent items.
