Council reviews draft 2025–29 consolidated plan; committee recommends CDBG priorities including a small‑business support allocation

City staff and consultant M & S Engineers presented the draft 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan, the associated annual action plan and a regional assessment of impediments to fair housing. The plan identifies five HUD categories for priority funding: economic development, affordable housing, homelessness, public programs and public capital infrastructure.

Staff noted the CDBG committee proposed a modest allocation (about $72,388) toward a small‑business support program intended to help eligible businesses that create jobs or job training opportunities for low‑ and moderate‑income residents. The tenant‑based rental assistance (TBRA) program created under earlier HOME‑ARP funding remains a current program but was not proposed as a major 2025–26 expenditure in the draft action plan.

Public commenters and council members urged attention to very low and extremely low‑income housing production, cold‑weather shelter availability, and restarting homelessness task‑force work. Gregory Mathis and other advocates asked that strategies explicitly address extremely low‑income unit production and shelter availability.

Council moved and approved four recommended staff actions to proceed with plan preparation and outreach; the motion passed unanimously. Staff will continue public engagement and return with final funding recommendations and allocations as required by HUD timelines.

Sources: presentation by Monica Troncoso (M & S Engineers) and council action on April 8, 2025.