TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Joseph DeFrancesco, Interim Public Works Director
Gilbert Gamboa, City Engineer
Marzena Laskowska, Principal Civil Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Conduct a Public Hearing Regarding the Proposed Use of Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG) for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 as Required by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the Allocation of CDBG Funds; and Appropriation and Matching Revenue Adjustment of $129,538 from the Grants Fund for the Allocated CDBG Funding for the Cycle 5 Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Ramps Project (Partially Budgeted) (Interim Public Works Director DeFrancesco).
(Estimated Time: 15 Mins.)
A) CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING
B) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-0006
C) APPROVE AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Conduct a Public Hearing Regarding the Proposed Use of Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG) for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
2. Adopt Resolution No. 26-0006 authorizing the use of 2026-2027 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds of $91,665, plus $37,873 in unallocated CDBG funds available for reprogramming, for a total available CDBG funding level of $129,538 to implement the construction of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps citywide.
3. Approve an appropriation and matching revenue adjustment in the Grants Fund for the allocated CDBG funding of $129,538 for the Cycle 5 ADA Ramps Project upon the execution of a funding agreement with the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA).
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Each fiscal year, the LACDA notifies the City of an estimated amount of its annual CDBG allocation. The City may request reimbursement for eligible expenditures of its total CDBG allocation.
The City’s actual 2026-2027 CDBG amount is $91,665, plus unallocated CDBG funds in the amount of $37,873 for a total available CDBG funding level of $129,538. Upon execution of the LACDA funding agreement, an appropriation of $129,538 will be required in the Grants Fund to recognize the CDBG funding allocation to the Cycle 5 ADA Ramps Project, along with a matching adjustment to revenues to record the reimbursement from the LACDA. This proposed project is consistent with the City’s 5-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The current project budget includes $125,000 in Gas Tax Funds. A Project Budget and Expenditures Summary is attached.
BACKGROUND:
The mission of the CDBG Program is to improve the quality of life for low- and moderate-income persons, aid in the prevention of neighborhood deterioration, and meet other urgent community development needs. As part of this program, CDBG funds may be used to improve the mobility and accessibility of disabled persons and senior adults by removing architectural barriers that impede paths of travel.
The City of Manhattan Beach has participated in the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CDBG Program, administered by the LACDA, for the past 25 years. On July 5, 2023, the City Council approved a Participating City Cooperation Agreement with LACDA to continue its participation in the Los Angeles Urban County CDBG Program for three years beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2027.
DISCUSSION:
The City typically uses its CDBG funds to meet ADA requirements. It is essential to note that, due to Manhattan Beach’s economic profile, the only eligible uses for CDBG funding are related to accessibility improvements for individuals with disabilities. Since 2017, the City has successfully installed or upgraded approximately 106 ramps using annual CDBG funds to meet ADA standards. The City’s current 5-year adopted CIP plans to continue this initiative with CDBG funds.
Continuing the construction of ADA-compliant curb ramps will increase pedestrian mobility and promote safety improvements. The proposed total CDBG project budget of $129,538 will cover the cost to upgrade approximately five to ten accessible curb ramps (see attached Location Map). These locations prioritize intersections near residential areas, local schools, and prevailing walking routes to schools.
The Resolution outlines the proposed CDBG project, the amount of funding, and the authority delegated to staff to make minor adjustments, if needed. These adjustments may arise from slight variations in CDBG programmatic requirements, changes in the allocation of CDBG funding levels, and other administrative issues as directed by LACDA. Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution and conduct the public hearing.
Staff further advises that the City Council authorize an appropriation and corresponding revenue adjustment of $129,538 in the Grants Fund to completely finance the project and document the grant reimbursement following the execution of the LACDA funding agreement.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
In accordance with federal regulations, the public was given a minimum of 30 days' notice regarding this Public Hearing, allowing them the opportunity to express their views on the City’s intended use of the CDBG Program funds. The Public Hearing Notice was published in The Beach Reporter on December 25, 2025, and was displayed on the bulletin boards at City Hall, Joslyn Community Center, and Manhattan Heights on December 22, 2025.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Class 1(c) categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301, Existing Facilities of the State CEQA Guidelines. Thus, no further environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 26-0006
2. Notice of Public Hearing
3. Budget and Expenditures
4. Location Map
5. PowerPoint Presentation