TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Philippe Eskandar, City Manager
BY: Amber Shah, Parks & Public Works Director/City Engineer Hillary Guirola-Leon, Finance Director
DATE: January 14, 2026
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED USE OF
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)
FUNDING AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. R-26-01
ADOPTING THE PROJECTED USE OF FUNDS FROM THE
CDBG PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-27
STRATEGIC PLAN CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Efficient, Responsive, and Effective City Services
Fiscally Responsible and Transparent City Government
Safe Community
Well-Maintained Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is one of the longeststanding federal grant programs and is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). CDBG funds are intended to support local community development activities that primarily benefit low-tomoderate income people, eliminate blight or address urgent community needs. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, affordable housing, public services, and infrastructure improvement such as the removal of accessibility barriers. The CDBG program provides participating cities with flexibility to identify and fund projects that address locally identified community needs while meeting HUD’s national program objectives.
Tony Chou, Mayor
Calvin Lo, Vice Mayor
Hunter Chang, Council Member
John Chou, Council Member
Gretchen Shepherd Romey, Council Member
DISCUSSION
The City of San Marino has participated in the CDBG program for several years. As a condition of participation, the City is required to annually identify eligible projects, conduct a public hearing with appropriate public noticing, and adopt an authorizing resolution approving the proposed use of funds for the upcoming fiscal year. Eligible CDBG activities include acquisition of real property, demolition, relocation, public services, and the construction or improvement of public facilities and infrastructure.
The City’s estimated CDBG allocation for FY 2026-27 is $59,253. Of this amount, staff propose allocating $8,887 toward the Senior Outreach Program administered by the Community Services Department. Federal regulations limit the use of CDBG funds for public service activities to a maximum of fifteen percent (15%) of the total annual allocation, and the proposed funding level complies with this requirement.
The remaining $50,366 is proposed to be programmed toward a future Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant sidewalk curb ramp replacement project, consistent with similar projects completed by the City in the current fiscal year. These funds will be transferred to the City’s CDBG Revolving Grant Fund to allow for accumulation and use in subsequent fiscal years to support larger-scale accessibility improvements.
FISCAL IMPACT & PROCUREMENT REVIEW
Funding for both the Senior Outreach Program and the future ADA-compliant sidewalk curb ramp replacement project will be provided entirely through the CDBG program which is administered by the Los Angeles County Development Authority (formerly known as the Los Angeles Community Development Commission). The total estimated allocation for FY 2026-27 is $59,253. As a result, there is no fiscal impact on the City’s General Fund.
The FY 2026-27 Operating Budget will include $8,887 within the Community Service Department budget for the Senior Outreach Program.
Procurement review is not applicable at this time.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's office has reviewed and approved as to form.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend the City Council conduct a public hearing to consider the proposed use of CDBG funds for the Senior Outreach Program and ADAcompliant Sidewalk Curb Ramp Replacement Project in FY 2026-27. Following the public hearing, if the City Council concurs with staff’s recommendation, an appropriate motion would be:
“I move to adopt Resolution No. R-26-01, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of San Marino, California adopting the projected use of funds from the Community Development Block Grant program for Fiscal Year 2026-27.”
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. R-26-01
2. Notice of Public Hearing