Sandusky staff outline proposed FY25 CDBG program, note discrepancy in public-service request totals

City of Sandusky staff presented a draft Fiscal Year 2025 program for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), reviewing eligibility rules, spending caps and proposed line-item allocations, and said applications for public-service funds are being scored.

Nicole Growe, a City of Sandusky staff member, opened the presentation by defining CDBG and the program’s eligibility tests: “In order to be eligible for that, you have to benefit low to moderate income families, aid in the prevention of slum and blight, or have an urgent need in the community” (SEG 020–022). Growe said the city has used a conservative estimate for its FY25 allocation (quoted in the meeting as “dollars 7,008 thousand 428”) because the actual U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocation will not be confirmed until May.

Growe outlined statutory or programmatic spending caps the city is applying to the draft plan: 70% of project funds must benefit low- and moderate-income (LMI) households (Growe stated “the 495,000 is that number”), up to 20% may be used for program administration (stated as $141,000) and 15% must be budgeted for public services (stated as up to $106,000) (SEG 030–038). She reviewed draft line items including public administration and fair housing at $104,500; street repaving at $265,000 (streets named in the table); community development/public-space improvements around $65,000; code enforcement $60,000; and rehabilitation activities matched with the Erie County Health Department — lead paint removal $84,000 and Healthy Homes $25,000 (SEG 050–081).

On subrecipient public-service applications, Growe said staff had received six applications from five applicants and that the total requested was $106,000 and that those applications are currently being scored (SEG 082–091). In a subsequent clarification requested by Quinn Rambo, staff stated that the six public-service applications total $506,000 (SEG 105). Growe told the committee that “they're not all going to be funded” and emphasized that the 15% public-services cap constrains what can be awarded (SEG 106–116). The transcript records both figures; the discrepancy was not resolved during the meeting.

The city announced a public comment period open through the 15th, a second public hearing in the chamber on April 28, and a planned submission of the consolidated plan/report to HUD around May 12 (SEG 039–048). Growe said scoring decisions on subrecipient awards will be announced after staff completes scoring (SEG 082–091). The presentation concluded with an invitation for committee members to send further comments to staff.

Next steps: staff will finish scoring the six subrecipient applications, announce award decisions, and present the draft plan at the April 28 public hearing before finalizing the report to HUD in May.