Projects queue up for CDBG money
The city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) action plan for 2018 came up for discussion at the San Marcos City Council meeting Tuesday night.
Community Initiatives Program Administrator Aaron Harris gave a presentation to council on the CDBG plan and funding requests that have already been made.
“We’re not asking for any official action tonight,” Harris told council. Before the city sends its plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides the CDBG funding, on Aug. 15, the council will adopt a resolution on June 19 accepting the plan and then hold a 30-day public comment period during the month of July.
“Last time I was before you, we didn’t know the amount of dollars we were going to get,” Harris said. “... but now we do know the amount, and it’s $649,948. That represents a 15 percent increase.”
Harris also went over the types of projects that have been deemed priorities for 2015-2019: housing, public facilities, infrastructure, transportation, public services (program support), clearance and demolition activities and program administration.
Local organizations have already submitted funding requests for seven projects. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) has asked for $45,000 of the CDBG funds to help pay staff salaries for six employees. CASA Development Director Tricia Schneider told the council that in 2019, the organization expects to need 46 advocates to serve 102 children in San Marcos, and that CASA has grown more than 10 percent per year on average over the last 10 years because of the increasing need.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department has also requested CDBG funds — $10,500 for its youth scholarship program that allows more children to attend the department’s feebased activities, such as Summer Fun. The Blanco River Regional Recovery Team has requested $220,000 for roof repairs and/or house leveling to give low-to moderate-income families safe and livable homes.
Southside Community Center has requested $100,000 to renovate or rehabilitate seven existing substandard homes. The city’s parks department has requested $125,000 to install play equipment and create an accessible path within Anita Reyes Park in the Sunset Acres neighborhood, and the city has requested $9,750 to plant 25-30 trees around the Children’s Park, where a new playscape has been installed. The city also has requested $80,000 for a down payment assistance program for home buyers.
Resident Roland Saucedo spoke to the council during the public hearing on the CDBG funding requests and expressed support for four of the projects: BR3T, Southside Community Center, Anita Reyes Park and the housing assistance program.
Saucedo spoke about the need for improvements to Anita Reyes Park, which he said residents of Sunset Acres do use.
“The only thing is, I’ve gotten a lot of concerns in the past in regards to the accessibility to the park,” he said. “The entrances to the park are kind of not even entrances; they’re just kind of an opening in the gate.”
He said that many Sunset Acres residents are older people taking care of grandchildren or the neighbor’s children.
“These elderly people can’t get into the park, because it’s not safe, especially if you’re using a cane or like me with a walker. It’s not fun to navigate. Also, there’s no play equipment for the kids. You take the kids and all there is for them to do is run around.”
Saucedo also said he believes the housing down payment assistance program is a huge help in keeping residents in the community.
“I think we really should take steps in further trying to assist our local residents to stay in our community and continue to contribute to our community,” he said. “We’re all assets. Together, we’re awesome.”
City forester Kelly Eby spoke about the need for the tree planting project near the new playscape.
“The community has a lot of buy-in and support and spirit invested into that area,” she said, adding that it is important to replace trees as they age and that trees provide environmental benefits and shade.
The total amount of funding requested during the 2018 CDBG program year is $720,239 — more than $70,000 more than the amount the city will receive. Several members of council asked for workshops on the CDBG plan before making a decision on allocations. Mayor John Thomaides said he imagines the “heavy lifting” will come during the council’s budget workshops.
“These are all probably intense conversations that we’re going to have,” Thomaides said.
