Fiscal Note
The City of Madison Common Council approved the reservation of up to $125,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant funds for high priority projects emanating from the Northeast Area Plan as part of the adopted 2025 Operating Budget of the Community Development Division (CDD). The funds will remain within CDD's Community Development Multiyear Grants Fund with an individual project established for Traffic Engineering for this project. Traffic Engineering's 2025 Adopted Capital Budget has sufficient budget authority available within the Street Light Installation program (program #10418, sub-project #16016) for costs exceeding $125,000. No additional appropriation is required.
Title
Authorizing the Community Development Division to enter into an agreement with the Traffic Engineering Division, and to use up to $125,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, to implement a neighborhood improvement project identified in the Northeast Area Plan (District 3, District 12, District 17, District 18).
Body
BACKGROUND
The City’s Planning Division, in cooperation with the Community Development Division (CDD) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Committee, undertook a planning effort in the Northeast Area of Madison, within the established 12 Area Plans Planning Framework. The resulting Plan, adopted by the Common Council in September 2024, identified implementation priorities designed to address specific objectives. While engaging in the planning process, neighborhood residents selected fifteen potential projects to utilize the CDBG funds as part of three identified Community Action Strategy Areas (Sandburg, Burke Heights, and Hawthorne-Truax). The CDD's Adopted 2025 Operating Budget authorized up to $125,000 of CDBG funds to be used to implement eligible projects in the Northeast Area plan.
Staff have reviewed the list of potential projects and recommend CDBG funds be allocated for shovel-ready projects intended to improve pedestrian lighting in Sycamore Park along pedestrian/bike paths.
To meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's national objectives, CDBG funds must be used to benefit low- and moderate- income persons residing in the Northeast Madison planning area to meet the criteria for Low/Mod Area Benefit "LMA" National Objective. Other federal regulations, including Davis-Bacon prevailing wage and Environmental Review requirements, also apply.
ACTION
WHEREAS, the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 permits the City of Madison to assist agencies in the development and implementation of innovative projects which provide benefits to strategically identified low- and moderate-income areas; and,
WHEREAS, the Northeast Area Plan, adopted as a supplement to the City of Madison Comprehensive Plan and enacted on September 10th, 2024 (RES-24-00557), prioritized making improvements to lighting and safety at Sycamore Park (CDBG Priority Projects #1, p.79); and,
WHEREAS, up to $125,000 in federal CDBG grant funds are authorized in the Community Development Division's Adopted 2025 Operating Budget to carry out eligible projects in Northeast Area Plan and that authorization carries forward to 2026; and,
WHEREAS, the Community Development Division staff have reviewed these proposals and conclude that they are consistent with Program Goals and Priorities and recommend their adoption in order to promote further progress with the adopted Area Plan; and,
WHEREAS, under one of proposals, the Traffic Engineering Division will install path lighting within Sycamore Park; and,
WHEREAS, the Parks Division maintains park amenities and facilities, including path and area lighting, located on park land.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Common Council approves the allocation of up to $125,000 in federal CDBG grant funds to support the installation of lighting along the paved bicycle and pedestrian path through Sycamore Park, contingent upon the City's receipt of its FY25 CDBG formula grant allocation from HUD; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Park Commissioners supports the aforementioned project for purposes of improving park use and access; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the Community Development Division to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding agreement with the Traffic Engineering Division for purposes of implementing the approved project.