Salinas committee approves FY 2024–25 CAPER and authorizes submittal to HUD

The Salinas Housing and Land Use Committee voted unanimously to approve the city's fiscal year 2024'15 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) and authorized staff to submit the document to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The CAPER, presented by Vincent Montgomery, planning manager with the Salinas Community Development Department, summarizes how HUD funds were spent and the status of ongoing projects. Montgomery said, "This report is a federally mandated summary of how, we've utilized HUD funding to advance our community development goals, and it reflects both achievements and the work still ahead." The committee's vote followed a staff recommendation to accept the report and transmit it to HUD.

Why it matters: The CAPER accounts for nearly $15 million in HUD funding across multiple program areas, and its approval allows the city to document accomplishments, meet federal reporting requirements and proceed with planned allocations. Committee members questioned the timeline and next steps for uncommitted HOME and HOME-ARP funds, which staff said remain under review and will be the subject of future recommendations.

Key findings and program details: Montgomery told the committee that the city managed nearly $15,000,000 in HUD funds in FY 2024'15 across five program areas, including CDBG, HOME, HOME-ARP, ESG and CDBG-CV. Highlights presented to the committee included: - CDBG and capital investment supported five public-facility projects (Sherwood Recreation Center and Early Childhood Development Center among them), with one project complete and four underway. Montgomery said the city committed about $6,300,000 (current and prior-year funds) to those facility projects. - Public services funding supported programs such as the Salinas Outreach and Response Team (SORT) and Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (ECHO), with staff reporting support reached more than 200 households and that nearly $475,000 was allocated to those services. - HOME funding showed substantial allocations earmarked for housing development and preservation; Montgomery reported $3,700,000 in bulk HOME funds (including prior-year allocations) largely unexpended and reserved for future projects. - HOME-ARP funding is in a planning phase: Montgomery said $437,816 was allocated for program administration (over 40% expended) and that $2,480,000 remained reserved for future commitments, with project categories and outcomes still to be determined. - ESG funding supported rapid rehousing and homelessness outreach; staff reported assistance to 197 households and noted nearly $29,073 allocated for program administration. - CDBG-CV pandemic recovery funds supported fair-housing work, referrals and technical assistance for small businesses (staff reported assistance to about 166 small businesses and 54 households), with program-administration amounts and high expenditure rates noted.

Questions from council members and staff direction: Council member Sandoval pressed staff on when recommendations for uncommitted HOME and HOME-ARP funds would return to the committee. Montgomery said the city issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and had five applications pending; staff expected to bring recommendations in mid to late October and noted additional HUD and state coordination would be required for some HOME-ARP commitments. Montgomery said existing contracts (for example, with ECHO) could be amended to add services rather than reissuing a new competitive solicitation in some cases.

Council member Salazar asked whether CDBG-CV funds or other CV-era dollars would roll over; Montgomery said CDBG-CV was one-time funding and that prior fiscal-year amounts have now been expended. Members also asked about legal-assistance resources for tenants; Montgomery said staff planned to expand agreements with ECHO to provide additional housing workshops and resources but that exact contract amounts were still to be determined and would be proposed in an upcoming staff report.

Public comment and motion: Public comment was opened and closed with no substantive remarks on the CAPER reported during the hearing. Council member Sandoval moved to accept staff's recommendation to approve the CAPER and authorize submittal to HUD; Council member Salazar seconded. The clerk called the roll: Sandoval, Salazar and Chair Barajas voted yes; the motion passed.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve the FY 2024'15 CAPER and authorize submittal to HUD ' Moved by Council member Sandoval; seconded by Council member Salazar. Vote: Sandoval ' yes; Salazar ' yes; Chair Barajas ' yes. Outcome: approved.

What's next: Montgomery said staff would return with NOFA recommendations in mid to late October and expected a staff report for the city council meeting on October 7. The committee also received a separate request at the meeting to place AB 1033 (accessory dwelling unit sale options) on a future agenda; that request will be considered for scheduling under future-agenda items.

End notes: The CAPER materials were made available through the city's 15-day public comment period and public notices in the Monterey Herald and on the city website. Montgomery provided a contact number for the Housing Division for members of the public seeking more information.