Berkeley council approves staff plan to submit FY25 annual action plan; general‑fund awards sent to June budget process

Mayor Aragon opened a special May 7 meeting and moved that the City Council adopt staff recommendations to program the city's estimated HUD funds and submit the FY2025 annual action plan for Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Solutions Grant and HOME program funding. Council seconded the motion and, after a roll call, approved the staff recommendation; the council referred all general‑fund allocations to the June budget adoption process.

The decision covers staff and commission recommendations emerging from the city’s four‑year community agency RFP process, which consolidated multiple funding sources and recommended four‑year contracts intended to sustain services for low‑income Berkeley residents. HHCS staff told council the RFP and action‑plan process received 91 applications requesting roughly $26 million while approximately $11 million was available; staff recommended funding 68 applications and prioritized interim shelter beds, rental assistance and youth equity programming among other services.

City staff emphasized that HUD allocations for FY25 had not yet been finalized and that the figures in the resolution are estimates. The council approved programming and staff authorization to submit the annual action plan to HUD and to allocate HOME‑ARP and HAP funds as identified in the staff resolution. The council repeatedly noted the limits of local revenue and said the remaining general‑fund allocations will be resolved as part of the FY25‑26 budget process.

Public testimony before the vote spanned more than 30 speakers representing food‑assistance, youth, workforce, disability and homeless service providers. Andrew Crispin, executive director of the Berkeley Food Network, said the organization distributed more than 200,000 pounds of food through partner networks and urged ongoing city support after noting that BFN did not receive HWCAC funding recommendations. Lifelong Medical Care, Insight Housing and other providers warned that proposed cuts to supportive services and contract reductions would disrupt care for highly vulnerable residents.

Commission chairs and staff presentations also highlighted local priorities and tradeoffs. Carol Morasevic of the Homeless Services Panel of Experts said Measure P revenues fell from $10 million to $6 million this cycle, constraining options; Debbie Potter, chair of the Housing Advisory Commission, urged a $208,000 annual increase to the general‑fund allocation for housing services and workforce training to preserve service levels over the next funding cycle.

The council’s motion approved the staff recommendation as presented and referred general‑fund items to the budget process to allow additional public input and fiscal decisions in June. The council noted it will continue to seek ways to fund essential programs while confronting a projected city revenue shortfall.

The motion to approve the staff recommendation was made by Mayor Aragon, seconded during the meeting, and passed by roll call. The council closed the public hearing and recessed until 6:30 p.m.