Lacey Human Services Commission recommends CDBG funding for senior-center parking and accessibility

The Lacey Human Services Commission voted Jan. 8 to recommend that the Lacey City Council pursue Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to pay for parking and accessibility improvements tied to the senior-center expansion and to fund administration of the CDBG program.

Michelle Chavez, a city staff member presenting the proposal, said staff recommends Option 1 from the meeting packet: dedicating $313,554 in capital project funding for the senior-center parking and accessibility portion of the expansion, designating Hunter Park accessibility and sidewalk improvements as a contingency project, and allocating funds for program administration. "We can spend up to 20% of our annual CDBG allocation on administration," Chavez said, "but we are recommending starting with 10% to reduce the impact on the city's general fund and support reporting, data tracking and compliance." Chavez later restated the administration line as $34,839 in the packet.

Chair Brandon Stevens moved that the commission recommend Option 1 to the City Council as presented by staff; a commissioner seconded and the commission voted in favor. The chair declared the motion approved and noted the recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration.

Commissioners pressed staff on scope and timing. Stevens asked whether the roughly $2,000,000 senior-center project would proceed without grant funds; Chavez replied the CDBG award would cover a portion of work but the city is pursuing additional grants and federal priorities to accelerate the project and the overall timeline is uncertain without outside funding. Chavez said the CDBG dollars recommended would be a portion of a larger multi-phase project.

Several commissioners raised workload concerns and asked whether the proposed 10% administrative allocation would be sufficient. Chavez said the plan recommends 10% but the city could allocate up to 20% if necessary and clarified that the CDBG administration funding would support part of her position rather than creating a new full-time post.

The commission's recommendation package lists the senior-center parking and accessibility improvements as the primary capital use and identifies Hunter Park accessibility improvements as the contingency. The packet includes both a higher administrative figure earlier in the presentation and a lower figure ($34,839) later; staff repeated the $34,839 figure when restating the recommendation during the meeting.

The commission's recommendation now goes to the Lacey City Council for action; staff and commissioners said they will continue pursuing additional funding sources to complete later phases of the senior-center expansion.