The City Council approved actions to implement a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awarded for water system improvements (grant award #19758).

Marita Woodward, the proposed grant administrator, told council the Department of Commerce approved a $600,000 CDBG award and that the city will match $600,000. Woodward said she had begun the environmental review and expected to complete the review in about 60 days; she also said the DEQ permit is pending and must be in place before Department of Commerce will release construction funds. "The grant money will go straight to the construction cost," she said, adding the city's match will cover remaining construction costs, engineering and admin fees. Woodward presented an administration contract for $48,000 and outlined the contract period as Nov. 3, 2025, through Nov. 2, 2027.

Council voted to approve the Park Hill CDBG administration contract and then adopted resolution 2025-19 (Section 3 plan) and resolution 2025-17 (fair housing) as part of the project package. The council also approved a Fair Housing Proclamation. On a related procedural item, council approved resolution 2025-18 authorizing the mayor or city manager to sign invoices related to the CDBG Water Systems Improvement Project to expedite draw-downs, with the caveat that invoices would be formally approved in council meetings before payment.

Woodward said once environmental review and DEQ permitting are complete she expects staff to advertise for construction bids in January–February. Council did not change the project scope; staff emphasized that the grant funds target construction while the city's match pays additional construction, engineering and admin costs.

The council vote package consolidated multiple compliance steps required by federal CDBG rules — plans, fair-housing steps and invoice procedures — so the city can move more quickly toward bidding and construction after the remaining reviews and permits are complete.