Lodi City Council adopts 2024–25 CDBG CAPER; approves $675,615 program report

Neighborhood services manager Jennifer Ryan told the Lodi City Council on Sept. 10 that the city must finalize and submit the 2024–25 consolidated annual performance and evaluation report (CAPER) to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development before the statutory deadline, prompting a special meeting to permit public review and council action.

Ryan said the program year funding totaled $675,615, which included about $50,000 in rollover from prior years. She told the council that HUD rules limit rollover dollars to capital projects, so the city’s capital-improvement budget for the year rose to about $465,000 while public-service allocations totaled roughly $90,000. Ryan said approximately $300,000 was expended in 2024–25, noting that capital projects often span multiple years and that timeliness tests affect expenditure patterns.

"We have a very short timeframe to turn this around," Ryan said, explaining that subrecipients have roughly 30 days after the program year ends to submit invoices and final reports, and the city then must allow a 15-day public-review period before submission to HUD.

Ryan summarized accomplishments attributed to CDBG-funded activities: rehabilitation at Creekside South Apartments that assisted 40 seniors; graffiti abatement work within CDBG target areas; Prevail’s assistance to 18 homeless youth; Community Partnerships for Families serving 643 people; Lowell Senior Center providing congregate meals to 98 seniors; San Joaquin Fair Housing assisting 985 Lodi households; and Second Harvest Food Bank assisting 3,703 individuals. Ryan also reported graffiti abatement removed in the target area and cited the figure provided in the presentation.

A council member asked about the subrecipient selection process. Ryan described the application cycle (applications posted in December–January), required eligibility checks (501(c)(3) status and debarment checks), review by the Lodi Improvement Committee (LIC) using a publicly posted scoring rubric, and LIC recommendations forwarded to council for final award decisions. Ryan said public-service awards are now issued on a two-year cycle when HUD funding levels permit to help nonprofit planning.

Council members also asked for a status update on Salus Park, a proposed senior-veteran affordable-housing project. Staff said the project is now in the planning division, has one remaining funding request to pursue (including an upcoming tax-exemption/funding application), and expects to move to groundbreaking if the anticipated funding award is received.

Mayor Pro Tem Yipes opened the public hearing; the city clerk reported no public comment cards and no members of the public present. The council then moved, seconded and adopted a resolution approving the 2024–25 CAPER by a 3–0 recorded vote.

The action authorizes staff to finalize the CAPER for submission to HUD as required by federal program rules. Staff indicated they are available to answer follow-up questions and that the CAPER will be posted for public review per the required notice period.