Council closes public comment period on 2025 CDBG action plan; tentative projects total $523,218

Meridian staff told the City Council on July 8 that the public comment period for the city’s 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) action plan is complete and recommended closing the hearing; council closed public comment and staff will return with a final report and resolution for consent consideration in two weeks.

Crystal (last name not provided), the city’s CDBG program manager, said the city had been notified of an anticipated allocation of $523,218 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and that staff convened a scoring committee to select recommended projects. Crystal said the recommended awards in the draft action plan are: $43,483 for emergency rental assistance to Jesse Tree; $35,000 for youth scholarships to the Boys & Girls Club; $193,868 for homeowner repairs with NeighborWorks Boise; and $193,867 for walkability improvements (sidewalks and streetlight/walkability projects).

Crystal summarized public input collected during a public-comment period that opened May 29: respondents generally supported emergency rental assistance, homeowner repair programs (especially for seniors and disabled residents), youth scholarships and walkability improvements; respondents also raised concerns about limited program funding, access, coordination among service providers, and longer-term needs such as affordable housing, mental-health services and transit. Crystal said staff conducted outreach including two virtual open houses, direct neighbor notices for construction projects and partner coordination.

Staff plans to present the final action plan and a resolution on the consent agenda in two weeks, with a targeted HUD submission date of July 31.

Ending: The council closed the public comment period; staff will return with the final action-plan packet and a resolution for council action and then submit the plan to HUD before the end of July.