Kent City Council analyze grant money, debate possible marijuana ordinance
The Kent City Council discussed grant money and a special city event at their February 19th meeting.
One topic discussed was the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plan and 2020-2024 CDBG Consolidated Plan.
The CDBG Program “provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons,” according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Aside from housing the CDBG is also used for community development activities, as well as the construction of public facilities and improvements. Examples of these renovations include street paving, water plumbing and demolishing old buildings within the city.
The CDBG was cut along with other programs in the Trump administration’s FY 2020 budget request. $44.1 billion for HUD was requested, which is 18 percent lower than the FY 2019 enacted level last year.
Kent City Councillor Roger Sidoti explained that the grant allows for citizen members to renovate their houses and help community members in need.
“We are able to do various things in terms of low income housing, and working in various neighborhoods to provide infrastructure,” Sidoti said.
He went on to say that housing in Kent has become very expensive, and would like to see the grant be used to support the lower income communities of the city.
“As a whole, I think we are all connected,” he explained, “it doesn’t matter where we live in the city, anytime we can help people within the city to improve their sanction of life, it impacts all of us.”
The motion to continue establishing the CDBG plan was passed. The goal is for the plan to be approved in June by HUD.
An ordinance authorizing the City Manager, Dave Ruller, to approve a special event application on Main Street for the Kent Rainbow Weekend was passed.
Kent Rainbow Weekend will take place March 6th and 7th in the downtown area. The event will consist of live comedy, a bar crawl, art exhibits, drag shows, live music and much more.
Presented by Absolut and sponsored by NOPEC and Hall-Green Agency, the weekend is intended to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in the Kent area.
The event will temporarily close the west side crosswalk at the intersection of Main and Water Street.
Within the past year, Kent State University has been named one of the most LBGTQ-friendly campuses in the U.S.
The city of Kent would like to continue to diversify the city.
Councilor Heidi Shaffer is proud the event will take place downtown, and hopes for more diversity in the future.
“I think it is one of the best events that has come out in the past few years,” she explained, “this truly is a diverse community, we want to celebrate our diversity, we want to make sure that everyone feels comfortable here.”
Shaffer is also a big fan of the name of the event.
“And come one, ‘Rainbow Kent?’ It just has a great ring to it,” she said.
