City staff and the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) presented draft FY26 recommendations for CDBG and ESG funding to Lakewood’s Housing, Planning & Development Committee on Nov. 10 and the committee voted to recommend the CAC allocations and several related items to full council.

Dan Wyman, Lakewood’s development officer, explained the CAC’s recommendations based on a conservative $1,750,000 estimate for FY26 CDBG funding and described HUD caps that shape allocations—public‑service activities are capped at 15% of the total award and CDBG administration at 20%. Wyman said the recommended allocations include $350,000 for CDBG administration, $850,000 for street improvements and targeted funding for affordable‑housing programs and public‑service activities. He told the committee that the city can increase allocations proportionally if the final award is larger.

CAC co‑chair Claire Foley said the committee "thought very critically" about the recommendations and expressed interest in exploring ways for deeper public engagement in the CAC process. City staff and council members discussed timing uncertainties because HUD awards and contracts sometimes arrive in July–August and can be delayed; Wyman said staff had not yet received fully executed FY26 HUD contracts as of Nov. 10 but expected them after any federal backlog cleared.

The committee moved to recommend resolution 2025‑66 (the CAC/CDBG allocation resolution) to full council and approved it in committee by voice vote. Members also considered two additional resolutions: a technical correction to resolution 2025‑65 (changing the word "deeded" to "deemed" in section 2), a motion that passed with two yes votes and one recusal recorded; and a recommendation to forward resolution 2025‑65 (a proposed lease amendment and tenant‑improvement allowance for a childcare agency) as amended to full council.

In a later special meeting the council received a communication and voted to authorize a grant application to the Cuyahoga County Community Development Supplemental Grant Program for a $50,000 request to help renovate Madison Park’s futsal courts (an estimated $300,000 project). The resolution authorizing the grant application was approved by voice vote in that session.

What happens next: the CAC recommendations and the lease and grant resolutions were forwarded to full council for final action; staff said they will adjust allocations if HUD’s final award differs from the estimate and will pursue the county grant for Madison Park.