Council adopts CDBG consolidated plan and action plan after debate over 15% allocation for homeless meals

The Gallatin City Council unanimously adopted the 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan and the 2025 Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program (Resolution R2510-81) and separately approved a citizen participation plan (Resolution R2510-82) on Nov. 4.

Vice Mayor Hayes opened the floor for discussion. Councilman Gervontz raised a discrepancy between what he said he moved previously and what appeared in the published paperwork: he said his motion had been to allocate 15% of the CDBG award to public services, specifically meals for people experiencing homelessness, each year. He stated, "My motion was to have 15% of the allocation to public services meals for homeless," and asked that the paperwork be updated so the 15% applied on an annual basis rather than as a one-time line item. City staff and the mayor said they would verify and, if necessary, correct the documentation; staff cautioned that allocations must be paired with an eligible nonprofit to deploy funds in any given year.

Mayor Brown also responded to a public commenter’s claim about shelter funding, saying the city has contributed to the stay-warm shelter under a community enhancement umbrella and that city funds have been routed to the program when appropriate. The adopted resolutions passed with unanimous votes.

Council requested staff follow up to confirm the paperwork reflects the council’s intent on annual allocations and to ensure there is an eligible nonprofit partner available to administer any public-services funds in a year funds are allocated.