Diversity & Community Relations Committee Meeting Summary - May 28, 2026

The Diversity and Community Relations Committee of the City of Joliet met on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 4:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. Chairperson Suzanna Ibarra and Councilman Joe Clement were present; Councilman Juan Moreno was absent. The primary agenda item was the review and discussion of staff recommendations for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Year 2026 funding allocations, following a record high number of applications.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (May 14, 2026): A motion by Councilman Clement, seconded by Councilwoman Ibarra, carried unanimously (2-0-1) to approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Speaker 1 (Men of Valor representative): Provided an overview of the organization’s 33-year history, programs (art classes, tutoring, prayer initiatives, feeding and clothing programs), and its impact on over 6,500 men in the community and abroad. Expressed a desire for support but did not state a specific funding request.
• Catherine Beavers (Executive Director, Family & Friends Day Center/Veterans Home): Described the organization as the only transitional housing for veterans in the area, serving veterans from Joliet and surrounding areas since 2008. Stated the organization applied for CDBG funding for the first time, needing repairs to a building damaged by a neighboring business. Expressed strong need for the grant.
• Dr. Glenda Wright-McCullum (Arise Community Development Center): Submitted a last-minute application for CDBG funding to revitalize a vacant building on the south end of Joliet into a community center providing youth programs, food programs, and neighborhood revitalization. Highlighted longstanding neglect in the area and the need for resident outreach and community engagement.

Discussion Items

• Staff Recommendations for CDBG Program Year 2026 (TMP-9925): CDBG Program Manager Brigette Roehr presented the evaluation criteria, scoring matrix, and staff recommendations. Key points:
  • The city received $924,055 in CDBG funds for 2026, with total requests of $2.4 million (more than double the previous year).
  • Staff recommended funding 6 public facilities, 5 public services, and 2 microenterprises.
  • Noteworthy recommendations included: Catholic Charities Daybreak ($190,000 for lobby remodel and security), United Cerebral Palsy ($42,000 for emergency notification systems, with Will County covering the remainder), Trinity Services ($135,000 for ADA improvements), LEDA ($75,000 reduced from previous years), and African American Business Association ($25,000, first-time funding).
  • Discussion focused on the scoring matrix’s inherent disadvantage for smaller nonprofits (e.g., lack of match funds, higher financial risk). Committee members expressed desire to widen funding opportunities for smaller organizations.
  • Councilman Clement raised concerns about Catholic Charities receiving a large allocation despite its resources, and suggested redistributing funds to smaller groups. Community Development Director Dustin Anderson cautioned that deviating from the defensible scoring matrix could set a problematic precedent, but acknowledged the committee’s authority to adjust.
  • Councilwoman Ibarra reiterated the committee’s previous directive to increase access for smaller nonprofits, and expressed dissatisfaction that the recommendations did not fully reflect that goal.
• Owner-Occupied Rehab Program: Staff recommended increasing funding to $170,000 and discussed future ranking criteria for homeowners.
• Miracle League: Request for ADA accessibility improvements to the field and bathroom modifications.
• Snow Removal Program: Staff presented two options to better target vulnerable populations: a point-based system (e.g., age 80+, disability, SNAP recipient) or limiting eligibility to SNAP recipients. Committee discussed moving away from first-come, first-served model.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to Forward to Full City Council: Councilman Clement moved, seconded by Councilwoman Ibarra, to forward the staff recommendations (TMP-9925) to the full City Council for further discussion. The motion carried 2-0 (Moreno absent). Both members expressed that while progress was made, the funding allocation still fell short of their goal to increase opportunities for smaller nonprofits. The motion did not constitute approval.
• Public Comment After Vote: Catherine Beavers (Family & Friends) criticized the scoring matrix as inherently unfair to smaller organizations serving specialized populations (e.g., veterans), and urged the committee to change the system. Councilmembers acknowledged her frustration and pledged continued work on improving equity.
• Next Steps: The full City Council will discuss the CDBG recommendations at a future meeting. The committee also agreed to begin the application process earlier (January 2027) to allow more time for applicant support and grant-writing assistance.