Council approves substantial amendment to FY24–25 CDBG annual action plan

The Walnut Creek City Council on Sept. 2 adopted a resolution approving a substantial amendment to the city’s fiscal year 2024–25 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan, moving funds from a placeholder project into two projects the council had already authorized.

Housing Planner Lisonbee Restick told the council that HUD requires an annual action plan and that changes may follow council allocations. Restick said that the June 2024 action plan included a placeholder project to meet HUD’s deadline; staff then issued a competitive RFP and the council in September 2024 later authorized funding for two specific projects (Trinity Center’s employment pathways program and exterior ADA improvements at the Civic Park Community Center).

"An annual action plan is a document that's required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Community Development Block Grant Program," Restick said. Staff described the amendment as administrative: it shifts funds from the placeholder project to the two council-approved projects and triggers a "substantial" amendment under the city's citizen participation plan because the change exceeded the established thresholds ($25,000 or 10% of a project's allocation).

Restick said the amendment does not change the total FY24–25 CDBG budget; it simply aligns the submitted action plan with the council's prior funding decisions. The council opened a public hearing and received a brief comment of thanks from Molly Klop, board chair of Trinity Center, and from residents who welcomed the city’s ongoing support of the nonprofit’s employment pathway work.

Council voted to adopt the resolution approving the substantial amendment; roll-call voting was unanimous.

What happens next: staff will submit the amended action plan to HUD and proceed with the projects as authorized by the council.