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Council reallocates HUD CDBG funds to emergency rental aid and downtown sidewalk repairs; preliminary 2025–26 allocations approved
Summary
Perris approved a substantial amendment to its HUD five-year consolidated plan to reprogram unspent CDBG funds into an emergency rental assistance activity and downtown sidewalk improvements and adopted preliminary funding recommendations for 2025–26; both measures passed 5-0.
The Perris City Council approved a substantial amendment to the 2024–2029 consolidated plan and the 2024–25 annual action plan to reprogram previously budgeted Community Development Block Grant funds and created two new eligible activities: an emergency rental assistance program and a downtown sidewalk improvement project.
Dr. Sarah Cortez de Pafone, principal management analyst, told council the amendment was required because the city’s HUD timeliness-of-expenditure ratio exceeded the 1.5 standard used by HUD; the city’s current ratio was 1.78 and staff said the city must draw down $246,616 before HUD’s May 1 review. The CDBG committee recommended two reallocations: $19,910.20 to create an emergency rental assistance program (to provide up to three months’ rent by referral only through the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County), and $142,004.34 to fund downtown Sixth Street sidewalk and ADA ramp repairs and related tree work between F and G streets.
Dr. Cortez de Pafone described the emergency rental assistance program as one-time financial aid to prevent eviction and homelessness for income-eligible renters in Perris; the sidewalk project would replace damaged sidewalks, correct non-ADA ramps and relocate trees to prevent future infrastructure damage.
The council voted 5-0 to adopt the amendment and subsequent resolution. Council approved a separate resolution adopting preliminary recommendations for the 2025–26 annual action plan the same night after staff summarized public workshops, outreach and the committee’s scoring of thirteen applications. Dr. Cortez de Pafone told the council the city received 441 community survey responses and that the preliminary allocations used the anticipated HUD allocation; staff noted final allocations will depend on HUD’s May notice.
Speakers during the public hearing included Sharon Morris of Voices for Children (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and Tom Donahue of Family Service Association, who described services for foster children and the senior nutrition program and asked the council to consider funding needs.
Motions to approve both the substantial amendment and the preliminary 2025–26 annual action plan were moved by Mayor Pro Tem (as recorded) and seconded by Councilwoman Nava; both motions passed 5-0.
