San Rafael recommends $508,000 planning-area share for CDBG projects; council forwards allocations to Marin County

On May 4 the San Rafael City Council reviewed staff and county recommendations for the city's portion of the Marin County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation for fiscal year 2026-27 and voted to forward the recommendations to the Marin County Board of Supervisors.

Alexis Caftanian, the city's housing manager, said federal allocation to the county was about $1.6 million this cycle; after administration a San Rafael planning-area share equates to approximately $508,000. Per HUD rules, a maximum of 15% of that share may be used for public services (about $95,000), a minimum of about $203,000 must be directed to housing activities, and the remainder may go to housing or capital projects. Because the county currently exceeds HUD's timeliness threshold for unexpended balances, priority this year was given to projects that are "project ready" (planning entitlements in place, secured funding, NEPA/environmental reviews complete, and capacity to administer federal funds).

Staff recommended funding two countywide housing projects available to San Rafael residents (Eden Housing's Oak Hill Apartments construction and the Marin County Home Rehabilitation Program) totaling the housing minimum; capital recommendations included repairs to the New Beginnings shelter (roof, accessibility, generator) and outdoor learning environment improvements at Pickleweed Preschool in the Canal neighborhood. In the public services category (year two of a two-year funding cycle) staff recommended second-year funding for fair housing counseling, legal aid for tenants, residential-access modification programs for people with disabilities, bed distribution for transitioning families, and Pickleweed Preschool services.

County staff explained that recent unspent funds and procurement challenges (difficulty finding federally qualified contractors, particularly in West Marin) drove the prioritization of shovel-ready projects and that the county is negotiating with HUD on a plan to spend down excess balances. After questions from council members about contractor availability and timeliness, Vice Mayor Kurtz moved to adopt a resolution recommending the proposed CDBG allocations to the Marin County Board of Supervisors. The council approved the recommendation by roll call 3-0 (Council member Galati had recused earlier due to a conflict).