Baldwin Park opens first public hearing on 2025–29 HUD consolidated plan; 30-day comment period set

Anna Marie Lanou, a consultant with Avant Garde, told the Baldwin Park City Council on April 16 that the city is holding the first of two public hearings required to prepare its 2025–29 consolidated plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funds.

Lanou said the consolidated plan will serve as Baldwin Park’s official application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and will contain a 5‑year strategic plan and an annual action plan for 2025–26. She described elements the plan must include, such as a needs assessment, a housing market analysis, the five‑year strategic priorities and a citizen participation plan. "The consolidated plan serves as the official application to HUD for your CDBG and HOME dollars," Lanou said.

The council heard that the public comment period on the draft will run from May 19 through June 18; the second required public hearing is currently scheduled for June 18. Lanou said HUD has not yet issued the new allocations; she advised the council that the city will have 60 days to submit the consolidated plan once HUD issues its allocation and that HUD officials expected to announce allocations the week of May 12.

Lanou summarized eligible uses: CDBG funds principally serve low‑ and moderate‑income persons, can be used to prevent or eliminate slums and blight if a designated area exists, or can address urgent needs; HOME funds are used for affordable housing activities that benefit low‑income households. She also reviewed typical program caps discussed in the presentation: up to 15% of allocation for public services, up to 20% for program administration, with the remainder available for projects such as park or street improvements or housing rehabilitation.

Council member Estrada urged the city to emphasize a public‑health approach and better use of data in the plan. Estrada cited statistics he said were relevant to the planning process: "44.6% of Baldwin Park households are facing housing burden, 21.5% are facing severe housing burden, and 19.3% are overcrowded housing units," he said.

Council members asked whether funds already programmed are secure. Lanou replied that funds already assigned to the city under executed agreements remain available for projects and can be reprogrammed as needed; the next allocation cycle would begin July 1, 2025, but the exact new allocation amounts were not yet issued by HUD.

The presentation included a pledge to conduct outreach, including an online stakeholder survey, consultations with service providers and a public services grant review. No formal council action was required at the hearing; staff will publish the draft on May 19 and accept public comments through June 18, with a follow‑up hearing scheduled for June 18.

The council did not vote on program allocations at the April 16 meeting; Lanou said the city will present a draft annual action plan alongside the consolidated plan at the next hearing and return for formal action after the public comment period.