ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: July 15, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent Calendar - Public Hearing TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Phillip Burns, Development Services Director
DATE: May 28, 2026
SUBJECT: Public Hearing to consider Action Plan Amendment No. 3 to HUD Action Plan Fiscal Year 2025-26
Reallocate $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA) ADA Improvement Project to GBLA Fair Housing Services to support fair housing outreach, education, counseling, and enforcement activities for low- and moderate-income residents.
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommends the approval of the Action Plan Amendment.
BACKGROUND:
The City receives annual entitlement funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the submission of an Action Plan, which outlines HUD-funded projects and activities and describes how they address local housing, homelessness, and economic development needs. Each Action Plan corresponds to the fiscal year in which the City of Bakersfield receives HUD funding. Amendments to the Action Plan, including the addition of new projects or the reallocation of previously awarded funds, require a Substantial Amendment process that includes a 30-day public notice and comment period.
Staff is proposing a Substantial Amendment to the FY 2025–26 HUD Action Plan to reallocate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA) ADA Improvement Project to GBLA Fair Housing Services.
On April 23, 2025, GBLA was awarded FY 2025–26 CDBG funding for ADA improvements at its California Avenue campus. Later that year, GBLA notified the City of a funding shortfall that affected the delivery of Fair Housing Services under the City's current Fair Housing Program. To address this gap, GBLA requested that its capital improvement funding be reallocated to support Fair Housing Services. Staff recommend reallocating $250,000 from the ADA Improvement Project to GBLA's Fair Housing Services program to ensure the continued delivery of these services to local residents.
Accordingly, proposed Amendment No. 3 adds the following project submitted by Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance:
Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA) Fair Housing Services: CDBG funds will be used to support fair housing outreach, education, counseling, and enforcement services for low- and moderate-income residents throughout Bakersfield. The amendment reallocates $250,000 in CDBG funding from the GBLA ADA Improvement Project to expand fair housing services as part of the FY 2025–26 Action Plan.
Public Notice:
A public notice for this Action Plan Amendment was published in English in the Bakersfield Californian, and in Spanish in El Popular on May 29, 2026, initiating a 30-day public comment period and providing a 30-day notice of the public hearing. As of the date of this report, no comments have been received. Staff concludes the proposed Action Plan Amendment meets all regulatory and public noticing requirements and recommends Council approve the Amendment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total City contribution of $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA) Fair Housing Services is being reallocated from the GBLA ADA Improvement Project and is an eligible HUD activity within the FY 2025–26 HUD Action Plan.
Therefore, there will be no fiscal impact to the City’s General Fund as a result of this Amendment, as these are Federal Entitlement funds.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Safety and Resilience
ATTACHMENTS:
Summary of Action Plan Amendment