10 - TxCDBG Program application & reaffirming required CDBG Civil Rights Policies

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Item No. 10 TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro -Tem & City Council FROM: Robert G. Vine, Assistant City Manager SUBJECT: 2023 TxCDBG MAIN STREET - GRANT APPLICATION DATE: March 27, 2023 BACKGROUND: The City is eligible to apply for grant opportunities from the Texas Department of Agriculture's Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) - Main Street Program for an amount up to $500,000 to reconstruct infrastructure in downtown, with the city match of $75,000. The city has had great success with this program, and it would benefit the downtown to continue replacing sidewalks and infrastructure through this sort of funding opportunity, which emphasizes the removal of blight in downtown areas. The comprehensive plan and the Downtown Visioning Plan prepared by the Toole Design Group in 2018 recommends a transformation of 1st Street SE to a walkable street with pedestrian amenities, lighting, and utility improvements from Lamar to Kaufman, with the intention of creating an outdoor venue space coordinated with surrounding vendors and businesses. This grant would provide funding for this important project, which would coincide with the current reconstruction/revitalization efforts happening to several privately owned buildings in the area. The proposed project will include as many of the improvements as affordable from the Toole Design Group Downtown Visioning Plan from Lamar to Clarksville. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Paris, Texas, is requested determining that the proposed project of 1st Street SE contains conditions which are detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare of the community and constitutes a blighted area which meets a national objective to qualify for the TDA Main Street Grant. A Resolution of the City Council of Paris, Texas, is requested authorizing the submission of an application to the Texas Community Development Block Grant Program of the Texas Department of Agriculture for the Main Street Fund; and authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to act as the City's Executive Officers and authorized representatives in all matters pertaining to the City's participation in the Texas Community Development Block Grant Program