Council reviews $11.3M in HUD and local 'Funding Our Future' grant recommendations; staff to return with unspent‑funds detail
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Summary
Council heard staff review for about $11.3 million in HUD and local 'Funding Our Future' allocations, asked for follow‑up on unspent award lines and program performance, and set April briefing and an April 21 council action date ahead of a May 15 HUD submission deadline.
Council members received a detailed overview of the annual HUD allocation process and the city's 'Funding Our Future' local program during the March 24 work session.
Staff said the combined pool totals roughly $11.3 million: an estimated $8.9 million across HUD programs (CDBG, ESG, HOME, HOPWA) and $2.4 million from the local Funding Our Future allocation approved in the FY26 budget. Allison (council policy staff) and Tyler Durfee (housing stability policy and program manager) walked members through program goals aligned to the city’s consolidated plan (2025–2029) and the calendar: a public hearing on the item tonight, a second briefing April 7 (and optional April 14), and council action scheduled for April 21; HUD submission requires materials by May 15.
Councilors systematically reviewed applicant categories (neighborhood/housing/infrastructure, public services, ESG, HOME, HOPWA and Funding Our Future). Multiple members flagged lines showing prior unspent or lapsed awards — for example, a cited $155,000 line for a YWCA HUD award across prior years — and asked staff to report how much funding has been recaptured, the timeline for expenditure and which programs show persistent lapses. Staff replied that much unspent HUD funding had been recaptured and reallocated in prior processes but agreed to return with precise figures and recommended a 5% threshold to highlight larger unspent balances.
Members also requested program performance metrics (e.g., units completed by the Fix the Bricks program, the success/retention rates for recovery programs and service counts served by site‑based mentoring and South Valley Services). Staff agreed to compile and deliver those clarifications ahead of the April briefings. Two items showed advisory‑board/mayoral recommendation differences; staff flagged those in red for council consideration.
Next steps: staff will provide the requested unspent‑funds breakdown, participant and success‑rate figures, and confirm which Funding Our Future allocations require budget‑amendment steps before council action on April 21.
