Norwalk council approves CDBG/HOME consolidated plan and two transportation contract amendments

Norwalk — The Norwalk City Council on June 10 adopted its 2025–2029 consolidated plan and the fiscal year 2025–26 annual action plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program funding and approved two separate contract amendments for traffic and intelligent‑transportation upgrades on Studebaker Road and Imperial Highway.

The consolidated plan and annual action plan, required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), list the city’s priorities for affordable housing, public facilities, job creation, homeless prevention and neighborhood preservation for the next five years and allocate estimated federal funds for 2025–26. City staff told the council the CDBG entitlement for 2025–26 is estimated at $940,871 with $510,000 in carryover or program income, and HOME funds were estimated at $832,538 with $590,488 in carryover.

Why it matters: The consolidated plan sets spending priorities that City Hall will use to distribute federal housing and community development funds. The council’s approval authorizes the city manager to transmit required documents to HUD and lets staff finalize subrecipient agreements and interdepartmental memoranda of understanding needed to deliver social services and housing activities.

Details of the vote and funding: Staff recommended and the council adopted Resolution No. 25‑18 approving the consolidated plan and the FY 2025–26 annual action plan. The council’s roll call for the resolution recorded ayes from Members Ramirez, Rios, Valencia, Vice Mayor Perez and Mayor Ayala (5–0). The action enabled the city to submit an application to HUD by the stated deadline.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 25‑18 (CDBG & HOME consolidated plan and FY 2025–26 annual action plan): Outcome — approved (roll call: Ramirez Aye; Rios Aye; Valencia Aye; Vice Mayor Perez Aye; Mayor Ayala Aye). Estimated CDBG funding: $1,450,000 total (entitlement $940,871; program income/carryover $510,000). Estimated HOME funding: $832,538 (entitlement $242,049; program income/carryover $590,488). - Project 7234 (Studebaker Road traffic signal improvements — amendment): Outcome — approved (roll call: Ramirez Aye; Rios Aye; Valencia Aye; Vice Mayor Perez Aye; Mayor Ayala Aye). Staff said final change orders raised the construction value and requested $17,019.23 to cover the most recent change order; the total construction cost reported was $1,895,723.20 (including contingency and prior change orders). - Project 7235 (Imperial Highway intelligent‑transportation systems — amendment No. 3 for design/construction support): Outcome — approved (roll call: Ramirez Aye; Rios Aye; Valencia Aye; Vice Mayor Perez Aye; Mayor Ayala Aye). The council approved an additional design/construction support fee of $25,260, bringing the not‑to‑exceed contract amount to $564,268.

What council members asked: Council members pressed staff on practical outcomes — for example, staff explained the Studebaker improvements include upgraded controllers and phasing that should improve traffic flow and left‑turn movements along the corridor. For the Imperial Highway work, staff said the ITS project is intended to coordinate signals across a high‑volume corridor (staff cited approximately 100,000 average daily traffic) and laid out plans to bid construction in August, followed later by pavement work.

Implementation and next steps: City staff said the HUD application will be transmitted now that the plan is adopted, subrecipient agreements may be executed, and city departments can proceed with funded activities. For the Studebaker project, staff indicated the project is substantially complete and that the change order covers unanticipated field conditions encountered during excavation. For Imperial Highway, staff said design/construction support will continue so the project can be bid and later paved in phases.

The city manager and department staff said funding for the transportation projects comes from multiple sources including Measure R, Measure M, Prop C and the city’s Street Renovation Fund. Staff also emphasized they will provide community communications about traffic work prior to construction to reduce congestion and notify residents.

Council members unanimously approved all three items during the meeting.