- April 25, 2024
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The city's neighborhood improvement advisory board held a public hearing on Thursday, March 30, to begin considerations with the community regarding how to distribute next year's Community Development Block Grant, though only six people attended the entire meeting, and that included one city commissioner.
"Given recent things in the news about the city, and the interaction of its residents with the city, especially the commission, I would have hoped that there would have been more people here for public comment," Board Chairman Josh Pringle said.
The CDBG is a federal entitlement program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development granted annually to entitled cities and counties to provide decent housing, a suitable living environment and expansions of economic opportunities for low to moderate income populations. Ormond Beach uses to prevent or eliminate blight and meet other urgent community development needs that could pose a health and welfare risk to the community where other financial resources are not available to help.
Only 15% or less of the grant can be used for public service projects.
Each year, participating cities are required to submit an annual plan as their applications for funding. Citizen participation in the plan's creation is a grant requirement, therefore needing a mandatory public hearing. Local organizations are also allowed to put in an application to receive some of the city's estimated $141,136 CFBG funding, and this year, only two groups showed up to the hearing to ask for help.
The groups were Great Kids Learning Center, represented by Executive Director Katie Morelli, who is beginning the application process and wants funding to help expand her program, and the Ormond Beach Housing Authority, represented by Board Chairman Rev. Willie Branch. He asked for $54,000 to help pay for improvements in their facilities, including roof repairs.
"We have been using what means we can to elevate our properties, to get them where they need to be," Branch said.
In case the asking sum was too high, OBHA would accept $30,000, which would be the minimum needed to make a difference in their buildings.
Aside from the representatives of the organizations putting in an application for funding, there was only one Ormond Beach resident along with City Commissioner Rob Littleton in attendance.
Paul MacDonald, city landscape architect, also presented several potential capital projects. These included landscape upgrades to Cassen Park, Ames Park, Bailey Riverbridge Gardens and Mainstreet Park, totaling $110,000 if the board decided to fund all of them. He also presented an option to put in concrete parking in Ames Park, where the city attorney's office is located, which would need $25,000.
Last year, the city used its CDBG funding for two street lighting improvement projects and a new fire hydrant, as well as public service funding for Hope Place's first year operational expenses.
The annual plans and applications for the CDBG are due by April 23. The recommendations are planned to be reviewed by the City Commission during the May 15th meeting.
