Affordable Housing and Community Equity Development Commission - Regular Meeting

good evening everyone my name is elisha herrick blaine i am a member of the city's affordable housing and community equity development commission i'm joined this evening by my commission member pat sheridan unfortunately we are unable to have some of the other members of the commission with us this evening but we do still want to take the opportunity to hear this evening from the city's office regarding the administration of their community development block grant program. And so to walk us through how some of those allocations will look for local fiscal year 27, I'll hand it over to Denise Ruffin. Denise.

Good evening. The city of Annapolis has been allocated $266,505 of CDBG funds for federal fiscal year 2026. To receive these funds, the city must submit an annual action plan which proposes uses for these funds that will benefit low to moderate income residents in the city of Annapolis. The purpose of this hearing is to address identified housing and community development needs, proposed eligible activities, and proposed strategies and actions for affirmatively furthering fair housing consistent with the assessment of fair housing. In the city's adopted five-year consolidation plan, the priority needs to be addressed leveraging CDBG funds were identified. Housing needs, which is listed as a priority level of high and have associated goal of, improve the quality of existing homeownership housing, improve the quality of existing affordable renter units, increase the supply of decent, safe and affordable rental units, and increase homeownership opportunities. Homeless needs, which is listed as a priority level of low and have the associated goal of emergency shelters and services. Other special needs, which is listed as a priority level high and have been associated have the associated goal of improved quality of existing special needs housing, community development needs, which is listed as priority level high, and have the associated goals of improved quality of community facilities. Economic development needs, which is listed as a priority level of low, have the associated goal of redevelopment. Administration planning management needs, which is listed as priority level high, and have the associated goal of administration. The Draft Federal Fiscal Year 2026, Local Fiscal Year 2027 Draft Annual Action Plan was published on the City of Annapolis' website on Wednesday, May 13th and will remain available for review no fewer than 30 days from its publishing date. The following allocation priorities were addressed. $65,000 to Arundel Lodge to complete critical improvements for homes that provide supportive housing for individuals with significant disabilities and complex need who required structured community-based living. Grant funds will support essential facility upgrades, including bathroom renovations, replacement of flooring, subflooring, and the kitchen renovations, including new countertops and cabinets, and replacement of carpeted areas, including stairways. This supports the goal of improving existing special needs housing and addresses the need of other special needs priority. $105,000 to the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis for the rehabilitation of units and infrastructure improvements as appropriate to multifamily apartment complexes Eastport Terrace and Harbor House. The tenant in place rehabilitation is expected to stop in 2026. Besides rehabilitation of the units, CDBG funds may be used For infrastructure improvements, such as addressing drainage issues, sidewalk repairs, et cetera. As rehabilitation will include, but not limited to replacement of roofs windows systems, appliances, cabinets. Garbage disposal, plumbing, electrical upgrades in addressing drainage issues. This supports the goal of. improve existing affordable rental housing unit and addresses the need of housing priority. $30,000 to building together of Anne Arundel County for their free home repair program for low-income homeowners, Located in the city of Annapolis to preserve the limited stock of affordable single family homes for low income residents. This supports the goal of improve existing homeownership housing and addresses the need of housing priority. $50,000 for owner-occupied rental rehabilitation administration to continue to provide financial assistance to low and moderate income homeowners to rehabilitate their existing owner-occupied housing through the City of Annapolis owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program by providing funds to Arundel Community Development Services for staff costs associated with administering the program for the city. This support goal improves existing homeownership housing and addresses the need of housing priority. And then 16,505 dollars for administration slash fear housing to provide program management and oversight for the successful administration of federal state and local funded programs, including planning services. For special studies, environmental clearance and compliance. Excuse me with in compliance with all federal state and local laws. And regulations, this addresses the goal of administrative and supports the need of administration. I'm sorry this supports the goal. Of administration and supports the need of administration planning and management priority. During the previous meeting of the affordable housing develop. Affordable Housing and Equity Development Commission, which occurred the evening of Thursday, April 30th, a public hearing was held with the purpose to obtain public input regarding community development and housing needs and how these funds should be utilized to meet said needs. There were no written comments submitted prior or oral comments made during the hearing. a notice of display of the draft annual action plan in the second public hearing was published in the Capital Gazette on May 14th. As per that notice, the following instructions were given. All persons interested in participating as a commenter in as a commenter must register by sending their name, phone number, and email address to livetestimony at annapolis.gov. Registration was opened until 12 p.m. Thursday, May 28th, which is today. Written comments and questions on the draft annual action plan and CDBG funding will also be accepted until that time. 12 p.m. Thursday, May 28th, 2026, and should be addressed to Adam Stock, Economic Development Manager, City of Annapolis, 145 Gorman Street, 3rd Floor, Annapolis, MD, phone number 410-260-2200, extension 7753, or via email at adstrott at annapolis.gov or 711 for the hearing impaired. Having not received any written comments as of today, there's no further action that the city needs to take.

That's it. I'm sorry. Great. Thank you, Denise. We appreciate that report out. Paul, do we have any members of the public online to provide any comment?

No, we do not.

Pat, do you have any comments? No, I don't. I have no comments either. So with that, I believe that brings our meeting to a conclusion. We thank Denise, again, for her report out. If you have any questions, again, please visit the City of Annapolis' website. You can go under the, I believe it's the Economic Development tab on the city's website and follow the links down through there. And you can find all the information that was presented here this evening there. With that, we thank you all very much and we hope everyone has a nice evening.