Carson opens first public hearing on draft 2025–2030 HUD Consolidated Plan; public review period set

City staff and consultant RSG presented the draft Consolidated Plan and first annual action plan that the City of Carson must submit to HUD to continue receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The council opened the first of two required public hearings, accepted public testimony, and set a public review period and schedule for final adoption.

What the plan covers

Consultant Dominique Clark explained that the Consolidated Plan is the five‑year planning document HUD requires for CDBG funds; it includes a needs assessment, market analysis, a strategic plan and the first annual action plan. RSG presented draft priorities for 2025–2030: (1) affordable housing (including property rehabilitation), (2) community services for vulnerable populations (seniors, youth, individuals with special needs), and (3) fair‑housing services (education, outreach and legal assistance).

Estimated funding and allocations

HUD had not announced exact entitlement amounts at the time of the presentation; staff estimated roughly $660,108 for FY 2025–26. The draft annual allocation model illustrated HUD rules: up to 15% of entitlement may be used for public services (capped at approximately $99,016 under the city’s estimate), up to 20% for admin (about $132,000 estimated), and the remainder for physical development (shown at roughly $429,000 in the draft model). Staff recommended allocating physical-development dollars to a neighborhood‑pride program and related inspection/testing services (lead, asbestos, radon).

Community engagement and procurement

RSG described outreach conducted December–January, including two surveys (30 community responses), virtual and in‑person stakeholder meetings and targeted outreach. Staff reported the city issued a request for proposals for CDBG‑funded programs; four organizations applied for the funding opportunities discussed (two fair‑housing providers and two community service applicants). Staff recommended funding the Boys & Girls Club of Carson and Venice Family Clinic for the requested amounts, and recommended the Housing Rights Center for fair‑housing services over an alternative because it offered broader legal services and walk‑in clinics.

Public-review schedule and council action

Council opened the first public hearing and staff confirmed the hearing notice and agenda posting complied with law. The council set a public review and comment period from March 19–April 21, 2025. The second public hearing is tentatively scheduled for May 6, 2025, when the council is expected to consider adoption of the final Consolidated Plan and annual action plan once HUD confirms entitlement amounts.

Questions raised

Council members asked about HUD’s timing and the risk of funding reductions. Staff and consultant replied that HUD had not announced final allocations; the draft process continues until the jurisdiction receives its entitlement amount and finalizes the action plan. Council members asked staff to identify contingency sources (state grants such as CalHome, HOME, PLHA and other programs) if federal CDBG allocations are reduced; staff said they are already pursuing alternative grants.

Next steps

The council left the public hearing open and continued the item to May 6, 2025; staff will accept written comments through April 21 and return with updated documents for council consideration.

Speakers

- Dominique Clark, Consultant, RSG (presenter) - Toni Carter, Housing Division, City of Carson (staff presenter) - Council members and staff who questioned HUD allocation timing and alternative funding sources

Authorities

- HUD consolidated plan requirement (federal program rules) (referenced in staff presentation)

Actions

- kind: other identifiers: {agenda_item_id: "28"} motion: "Open public hearing, take public testimony, and continue public hearing to May 6, 2025; begin 30‑day public review for draft Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan (March 19–April 21, 2025)" mover: "City staff recommendation" second: "not specified" vote_record: [ {member:"Lula Davis-Holmes", vote:"yes"}, {member:"Juwan Hilton", vote:"yes"}, {member:"Cedric Hicks", vote:"yes"}, {member:"Jim Dear", vote:"yes"}, {member:"Arlene Rojas", vote:"yes"} ] tally:{yes:5,no:0,abstain:0} outcome:"continued" notes:"Public comment period March 19–April 21; second hearing tentatively May 6, 2025."

Clarifying details

- Estimated HUD entitlement: staff estimated approximately $660,108 for FY 2025–26 but HUD had not certified amounts at the time of the hearing. - Funding caps: public services cap at 15% of entitlement (approx. $99,016 under staff estimate); admin up to 20% (approx. $132,000); remainder for physical development (approx. $429,000 in draft model). - RFP respondents: Fair Housing Foundation; Housing Rights Center; Boys & Girls Club of Carson; Venice Family Clinic (staff recommended funding the Boys & Girls Club and Venice Family Clinic and selecting Housing Rights Center for fair housing services).

Proper names

[{"name":"RSG","type":"organization"},{"name":"HUD","type":"agency"},{"name":"Boys & Girls Club of Carson","type":"organization"},{"name":"Venice Family Clinic","type":"organization"},{"name":"Housing Rights Center","type":"organization"}]

Provenance

[{"block_id":"block_5126","local_start":0,"local_end":300,"evidence_excerpt":"Good evening. As was mentioned, my name is Dominique Clark. I'm with RSG. We're a consulting firm, and we were retained by the city to assist with the consolidated plan... HUD has not yet announced how much money each jurisdiction will receive in CDBG funds, but we are estimating that the City will receive about $660,108 for the next fiscal year.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_5679","local_start":0,"local_end":200,"evidence_excerpt":"Thank you, madam mayor. Yes. A notice of public hearing has been given pursuant to the applicable law... The agenda posting requirements were met... The public hearing will remain open until May, but the council may reconsider the public hearing components next meeting.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]

Searchable_tags

["CDBG","consolidated_plan","HUD","affordable_housing","fair_housing","Carson"]

salience:{"overall":0.72,"overall_justification":"Federal funding and five‑year planning document affect housing, community services and fair housing priorities; public comment and allocation estimates were presented.","impact_scope":"local","impact_scope_justification":"CDBG funds and program priorities directly affect low‑ and moderate‑income Carson residents and service providers.","attention_level":"medium","attention_level_justification":"Important to service providers and applicants; less immediate public visibility than high‑profile votes but consequential for funding flows.","novelty":0.4,"timeliness_urgency":0.6}