Madera Council approves draft CDBG/HOME allocations, trims CAPMC award to aid smaller nonprofits

City of Madera leaders on Wednesday advanced the draft Program Year 2627 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME annual action plan and approved a small local reallocation meant to spread limited public‑service funding among smaller nonprofits.

Mike Lima, the city’s director of financial services, told the council the city had received 13 applications in the competitive round and that federal rules cap public‑service spending at 15 percent of the CDBG allocation. The block grant committee recommended funding for administration, public services, and capital projects, but demand exceeded the program cap: applicants requested roughly $440,000 while the capped public‑service pie was $148,468.

Lima said the city has not yet received final HUD allocations for the coming year; staff expect the amount to land within 10 percent of the current-year entitlement and asked the council to provide direction on how to handle any shortfall or surplus once HUD posts the final figure. Lima also walked council members through capital recommendations, including sidewalk and corner ramp work, Clinton Street widening for parking near the sports complex, and a demolition line item listed by staff as $284,365 for two small commercial buildings.

Council members debated how to spread scarce public‑service dollars. Council Member Evans urged trimming a larger award to CAPMC (Community Action Partnership) to increase funding for other applicants, arguing CAPMC receives multiple revenue streams. Council Member Montes noted the city has a seat on CAPMC and defended the committee’s deliberations; he cautioned that some funds, such as those for the point‑in‑time count, are administratively necessary because they support the city’s ability to secure other homeless‑services dollars.

Council Member Rodriguez offered a narrower reallocation: reduce CAPMC’s recommended allotment by $5,000 and split the savings to help Project Run and United Way reach closer to their requested levels while leaving the Madera County Food Bank allocation intact. Rodriguez said the move would better balance requests without cutting the food bank’s recommendation. After a second, the council approved Rodriguez’s motion unanimously.

What passed and next steps - Council accepted the block grant commission’s recommendations and approved the narrower reallocation (CAPMC reduced by $5,000, split to boost smaller nonprofits). The council did not reduce the food bank award. - Staff will open the formal 30‑day public comment period as required by HUD (public notice posted March 4; comments accepted through April 4) and return with a final annual action plan once HUD posts the city’s final allocation (expected in late March). Adjustments will be brought back to council if final federal figures differ from the staff proposal.

Why it matters CDBG and HOME awards fund affordable‑housing activities, public improvements, homelessness response and nonprofit services that reach low‑ and moderate‑income households. With public‑service funds capped by federal rules, the council’s small reallocation aims to give smaller local groups a better chance of sustaining operations.

Council attribution Quotes in this article come from the March 18 meeting transcript: “We have a committee…they spend hours on allocations and…representing all of us,” Council Member Montes said in defense of the commission’s work. Council Member Rodriguez said reallocating a modest amount would “give them closer to what they requested.”

Next procedural step: staff will finalize the action plan after the HUD allocation is posted and return the final annual action plan to council for acceptance.