ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Community Development Director with a Request from the CDBG Public Services Commission to APPROVE the 2023 CDBG PUBLIC SERVICE APPLICATION.
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BACKGROUND: On an annual basis, the City of Peoria receives Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A maximum of 15% of the overall CDBG allocation is designated for public service activities. The CDBG Public Services Commission is the City Commission that reviews all the applications and makes funding recommendations regarding Public Service activities to City Council for final approval.
At the March 18 Commission meeting, the Commissioners voted to recommend eight (8) priorities for the application process this year. At the request of the Commission, staff created an online survey to include the eligible activities allowed per federal regulations. Each Commissioner, using his or her community knowledge and social service experience, ranked his or her top ten (10) priorities. The survey totals were calculated using a weighted scale for each response where the top priority was given ten points with the points lowering through the tenth priority.
The top eight priorities, ranked highest to lowest, included:
1) Youth Services (13-19)
2) Child Care Services (Under 13)
3) Employment Training
4) Services for Abused and Neglected Children
5) Substance Abuse Services
6) Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault
7) Mental Health Services
8) Food Banks
Independent from the selection of the funding priorities, the Commission thoroughly reviewed and modified the application, timeline, and materials for clarity and content. Recommended changes include limiting applications to one per organization and returning the maximum grant request to $30,000. The Commission requests City Council approval of the 2023 application that incorporates the recommended priorities, the timelin...
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