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San Marcos staff seeks council direction on CDBG consolidated-plan priorities; recommends housing, public services and facilities
Summary
City staff presented the five-year HUD consolidated plan and citizen participation plan, recommended priority categories (affordable housing, public services and public facilities) for CDBG entitlement funds, and outlined outreach and schedule for the action plan and project selection.
City staff briefed the San Marcos City Council on March 4 on priorities for the five-year consolidated plan used to allocate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Staff recommended that the city list affordable housing, public services and public facilities as the top categories for the 2025–2029 consolidated plan.
Jessica Ramos and other staff summarized HUD rules that govern CDBG and HOME program use and described the citizen participation plan required for HUD entitlements. The city expects approximately $700,000 in CDBG entitlement funds for the coming year, of which roughly 20% is typically set aside for administration and up to 15% can be spent on public services. Staff said the city historically directs most funding into affordable housing, public services and public facilities, and recommended the same broad categories for the next five-year plan.
Staff walked council through an outreach timeline: earlier data review and meetings began in 2024; a draft consolidated plan will be posted for public comment on March 16 for 30 days; the city expects to adopt the consolidated plan in April and then conduct stakeholder workshops for the annual action plan. The process includes application review in May, a public hearing in June, a draft action plan for public comment in July, and final council approval in August so the city can submit its plan to HUD.
Ramos and other staff noted the consolidated plan must meet HUD’s national objectives, including spending at least 70% of funds for activities that principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons. Staff also reviewed prior accomplishments funded by CDBG in affordable housing, public services, and public facilities; last year’s entitlement was approximately $766,000, with about $497,941 allocated to projects after administration and public-services set-asides.
Council members asked about eligible uses — for example, sidewalk gap-fill projects are CDBG-eligible but may not be feasible citywide given funding limits — and about outreach metrics. Staff said 86 survey responses had been received by the February 25 snapshot in the packet and noted additional engagement: about 50 attendees across multiple “dream sessions,” steering groups and agency meetings. Council members suggested cross-review with the Human Services Advisory Board’s work and asked staff to bring the consolidated and city human-services funding processes closer together in 2026 to reduce applicant confusion.
Council gave direction consistent with staff recommendations and requested additional materials and comparisons where helpful (e.g., side-by-side summaries of rehabilitation and veteran-focused programs). Staff said they will post the draft consolidated plan and citizen participation plan for public comment beginning March 16, and return with an adoption request in April.
