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Council authorizes up to $8,500 contract to survey low/moderate-income areas for CDBG sidewalk grant
Summary
The council approved a not-to-exceed, hourly contract with Ransom Financial Consultants for up to $8,500 to perform randomized LMI surveys and prepare a Community Development Block Grant application targeting residential sidewalk repairs; the city is pursuing up to $1.5 million in CDBG funding requiring income qualification of the target area.
Augusta City Council authorized a not-to-exceed $8,500 agreement with Ransom Financial Consultants to complete household income surveys and assist with a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application aimed at a large sidewalk-replacement package.
Staff explained the city's ballot language from a recent sales-tax election expanded eligible uses to include sidewalks, but sales-tax revenues will not be available until late 2026. To accelerate a large-scale sidewalk project and pursue outside funding, staff proposed pursuing a CDBG under the community facilities category. That program can provide awards up to $1,500,000 with a minimum local match of 20 percent, but the grant requires projects demonstrate they benefit low-to-moderate-income (LMI) residents. If the whole city does not meet the HUD-defined income threshold, applicants must designate a target area and complete household income surveys within that area.
Ransom's work will use the program's newer randomized-survey approach; Ransom proposed a lump-sum contract with staff to cap fees at $8,500 while billing hourly for actual survey work performed. Staff said Ransom has helped the city win two prior grants and recommended using the same consultant and methodology to assemble a competitive sidewalk package concentrated in residential neighborhoods east of downtown and north to Summit Street. The downtown State Street sidewalks were not included in the proposed target area because staff said their condition and repair needs differ from the residential blocks targeted for wholesale replacement.
Council reviewed map boundaries, discussed interactions with a separate Safe Streets for All (SS4A) planning effort, and asked staff about potential overlap with other grant programs. Staff said the contracts would fund survey and application preparation now so that construction could be staged once sales-tax funds become available or other grants are secured.
A motion to approve the contract in an amount not to exceed $8,500 passed by voice vote.
