Peoria Standard

City of Peoria CDBG Public Services Advisory Commission met March 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting of the CDBG Public Services Advisory Commission was held in person on Friday, March 21, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. Chairperson McGhee called the meeting to order @ 8:32 a.m.

ROLL CALL

Roll called showed the following Commissioners were present: Jalyssa Brown, Sherry Cannon, Brenda Grove, Brett Kolditz, Kimberly McGhee, and Pamela Schubach.

Staff present: Kathryn Murphy, Emma Bryan, and Jenny Soriano

MINUTES

The minutes for the October 18, 2024 meeting were reviewed.

MOTION:

Commissioner Schubach moved that the minutes be approved. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kolditz. Approved unanimously by viva voce vote 6-0.

REGULAR BUSINESS

A. 2024 Public Facilities Update

Staff Member Murphy reported that all three Public Facilities projects have been completed and paid out. B. 2024 Public Services Update

Staff Member Murphy informed the Commission that all organizations have fully utilized their budgets, except for the George Washington Carver Association. She explained that their leftover funding will be reallocated to other CDBG eligible activities.

Staff Member Murphy reported that Central IL Friends and Prairie State Legal Services did not meet their goal for total clients served in 2024. All other organizations met or exceeded their targets.

Commissioner McGhee asked about the current number of commissioners. Staff Member Murphy stated there are thirteen commissioners with two vacancies; however, a commissioner will be appointed at the City Council meeting on March 25, 2025.

C. 2026 CDBG Public Service Priorities

Commissioner Schubach asked if HUD provided the categories. Staff Member Murphy confirmed that they did.

Commissioner McGhee opened the floor for discussion on how to weigh the voting.

Commissioner Kolditz noted a significant scoring difference between Mental Health Services and Services for Abused and Neglected Children.

Commissioner Grove stated she would like to include Services for Abused and Neglected Children, with Commissioners Schubach and Cannon agreeing.

MOTION:

Commissioner Cannon moved to prioritize the top 8 scoring categories. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Schubach. Approved unanimously by viva voce vote 6-0.

D. 2026 CDBG Public Service Application, Timeline and Evaluation

Commissioner Schubach noted that presentations lack integration of grant funding into budgets. Staff Member Murphy stated that application training will address this issue.

Commissioner Cannon inquired if an audit is required in the application. Staff Member Murphy explained that HUD recommended it in 2016.

Commissioner Grove asked if the audit would be internal, and Commissioner Schubach stated that it would be.

Commissioners discussed the advantages and disadvantages of requiring an audit.

Commissioner Kolditz questioned the potential for fund mismanagement. Commissioner Grove stated that funds must be used per the rules, and organizations must provide documentation of how funding is utilized.

Commissioner Grove suggested requiring that applying organizations are GATA-certified, and commissioners discussed the challenges with requiring a GATA certification.

Commissioner Grove asked if each funded organization undergoes a site review. Staff Member Murphy stated that there is a monitoring session to ensure that HUD requirements are met and proper documentation is provided.

Commissioners asked for clarification on whether an audit is mandatory. Staff Member Murphy stated that staff members will support HUD’s recommendation of an audit; she will confirm with Director Dulin if it is mandatory and provide an update at the next meeting.

Commissioner McGhee stated that commissioners would independently research GATA certification and continue the discussion at the next meeting.

Commissioner McGhee questioned whether section C.18. is required in the application, noting it wasn’t considered in the scoring. Commissioner Schubach asked if the data collected from the section continues to be shared with the requesting party, and Staff Member Murphy answered that it is not.

E. Next Meeting Date and Time

Commissioner McGhee stated that the next meeting, scheduled for April 18, 2025, falls on a holiday.

Staff Member Murphy stated the meeting room is available on April 25th, and the commissioners agreed to reschedule the meeting for that day.

F. Other Business

Commissioner McGhee asked if commissioners could receive the schedule for City visits to funded organizations so that commissioners can join. Staff Member Murphy said that the schedule will be sent once it’s finalized in a few months, and the visits can be either on-site or virtual.

G. Public Comments

No public comment was received.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION:

Commissioner Cannon moved that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Grove. Approved unanimously by viva voce vote 6-0.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 a.m.

https://il-peoria.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04252025-868