Council hears Section 3 briefing for CDBG-funded MLK corridor road reconstruction

City staff presented an overview of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) roadway reconstruction project for the Martin Luther King corridor and explained how Section 3 of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 will affect hiring and contracting for the job.

"As part of our CDBG process, we're required by the state, to do a Section 3 presentation," Speaker 5 said, noting the project (CDV 21080) was awarded and is moving into the bidding phase. Speaker 5 said the grant is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and that only certain sections of the city qualify based on low‑to‑moderate income designations.

Speaker 5 explained the Section 3 requirements: preference for businesses owned by residents of the impacted area, or those that employ Section 3 workers; and an emphasis on hiring workers who live in the project neighborhood. Staff provided a map showing the targeted MLK corridor and described anticipated contract opportunities, including grant administration, engineering and a prime roadway contractor that could hire local subcontractors.

Speaker 5 said the city will track hours worked by Section 3 workers to meet grant reporting requirements and provided links and instructions for businesses and potential workers to register as Section 3 entities.

No formal action was taken during the presentation; staff said the project will proceed to bidding and further council review as required by the grant and local procurement rules.