Committee recommends city infrastructure application funding two sidewalk projects in low‑income tracts

City grant coordinator Chris Grama outlined an infrastructure application that would fund two sidewalk projects in designated low‑income census tracts and near affordable housing developments. Grama said the projects — sidewalk gaps on McKinley Avenue & 4th Street (near Old Mill Apartments) and on Tempest Drive (adjacent to Ariel Glen/Ariel South) — would be self‑delivered by city crews at a cost of about $61,000 and $76,000 and planned for completion in a one‑year window starting July 2026 and wrapping up by June 30, 2027 if funds arrive in time.

A resident questioned Grama’s estimate that the projects could affect roughly 3,600 households; Grama said he arrived at that figure by adding the populations of the two census tracts and dividing by an average household size (2.31). Committee members questioned contingency and mobilization fees in the project budget; one member said mobilization and contingency appeared high and urged tighter estimates to preserve funds for additional work on Tempest Drive.

After discussion, the committee moved to recommend Bend City Council approve the city’s infrastructure application (committee motion referenced approximately $13,737,000 for the city application plus allowance for additional area‑benefit sidewalks). The motion passed.

Grama noted staff would self‑deliver the projects to avoid contractor prevailing‑wage and section‑3 complications that can deter private contractors from applying for CDBG infrastructure funds. Committee members asked staff to review project budgets and look for cost savings before final submission to HUD.

The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to Bend City Council for final consideration and is subject to HUD approval.