West Sacramento staff previews likely 2025 CDBG allocation, urges focus on homelessness and infrastructure

City staff told the Parks, Recreation and Intergenerational Services Commission on Feb. 4 that the City of West Sacramento expects to receive a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation for 2025 similar to prior years and sought commission feedback on proposed priorities for the annual action plan.

"My name is Isaiah Alford. I am the community investment planner in the economic development and housing department," Alford said in his presentation explaining the CDBG entitlement status the city achieved in 2016 and the federal requirements that guide eligible uses. He told commissioners that the city typically receives approximately $500,000 per year from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's CDBG program and that the city anticipates an allocation "similar to the previous year's allocation of $519,475."

Alford reviewed eligible CDBG activities — acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable housing, public facilities and infrastructure improvements, economic development, and services for homeless people, seniors and youth — and recapped the consolidated plan goals adopted in 2021. He said the current consolidated plan's six goals emphasize homelessness prevention and services, housing opportunities, infrastructure improvements in disinvested neighborhoods, fair housing education, small-business support and preservation of affordable housing stock.

Staff suggested the city prioritize continuation of the homeless emergency housing rehabilitation project and Homekey supportive services case management; general administration and planning funds would be used for preparing the annual action plan and the consolidated annual performance and evaluation report (CAPER). Alford said HUD had not yet announced the 2025 allocation at the time of the meeting, which is why staff framed the plan around anticipated funding levels.

Commissioners asked for additional outcome metrics and context. "If there was any statistics that you might be able to bring ... to show that these funds being allocated toward these goals are the outcome of putting this money into those goals," Commissioner Jans recommended. Alford said staff could follow up with statistics drawn from case management and the CAPER. Commissioner Schapsel asked whether park projects were being recommended; Alford said not at this time because of federal requirements and the small allocation size relative to capital costs.

Alford outlined the schedule for the 2025 annual action plan: commission presentations, a 30-day public comment period on the draft action plan, a March 13 workshop with city council and final council adoption anticipated April 9. He closed by asking the commission for feedback on the goals and proposed activities.

Context and constraints Alford reminded the commission that CDBG is a restricted federal funding source and that at least 70% of the jurisdiction's allocation must benefit low- and moderate-income households. He described administrative caps: general administration and planning up to 20% and supportive services up to 15% in a given year.

Next steps Staff will prepare a draft 2025 annual action plan for public comment and return to council for final adoption in April. The commission asked for outcome statistics to help demonstrate program effectiveness when the draft is presented for public review.