City staff recommends applying for $3.6 million in CDBG funds for pipelines and planning
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Summary
Council heard a staff presentation recommending Lindsay apply for the maximum $3.6 million in 2025 CDBG funds to finance two planning studies and infrastructure work for the fire-flow pipeline replacement; no vote was taken and staff noted the application portal opening was delayed to February.
City staff recommended that Lindsay apply for up to $3.6 million under the 2025 Notice of Funding Availability for the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to support planning studies and infrastructure work.
Susan Long, identified in the record as a contract planner working for the city, told the council the staff recommendation is to seek the maximum award for three activities: two planning studies (an Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan and a water master plan) and an infrastructure project to help fund additional work on a fire-flow pipeline replacement already in the city’s capital pipeline. "So this year, staff is recommending that we apply for $3,600,000, which is the maximum amount of funding that you can apply for under this NOFA," Long said.
Long said the CDBG application would include an administrative component; staff estimated about $215,000 could be used for administration and the remainder applied to direct infrastructure and planning activities. She also told the council the NOFA portal opening was delayed from Dec. 1 to February, with applications expected to be due in April, giving staff more time to refine the application.
Councilmembers discussed the city’s project-selection rationale. City Manager Garvin and planning staff told the council they prioritized projects that are "shovel-ready" and would pair well with the planning grants, noting the city has an existing community grant and additional capital-pipeline projects identified.
A council member also reminded the audience that Lindsay had been ineligible for CDBG funds previously and praised staff for steps taken to improve systems and practices: "This is a grant that we have been ineligible for because of previous situations that have happened here in Lindsay," a council member said, adding praise for staff work to restore eligibility.
No formal vote was taken at the meeting; this presentation was the first of two required public hearings on the proposed CDBG application. Staff said a second public hearing will be scheduled as required once timing is finalized.