Circuit Sousing Strategies Corporation and Ordinance Committee Meeting - November 19, 2025
Circuit Sousing Strategies Corporation and Ordinance Committee Meeting - November 19, 2025
The meeting focused on updates to the block challenge program, a proposed budget increase, and preliminary terms for a homeowner renovation program. Committee members discussed program expansion, community engagement, and logistical next steps.
Discussion Items
- Block Challenge Program Update: Michelle reported that as of the meeting date, the program had received applications for 108 individual properties across 23 teams. Total reimbursements approved reached $53,000, with the first reimbursement request received that morning. The program is seeing higher-than-expected project costs, with many participants undertaking roof, driveway, and painting projects. The original budget of $123,000 is nearly exhausted, and staff recommended increasing the authorized amount to at least $350,000 to accommodate continued applications through spring 2026.
- Budget and Geographic Expansion: Committee members discussed the possibility of adding a cap per neighborhood (Tip Hill and Salt Springs) once the budget reaches $500,000, to ensure equitable distribution. Councillor Hogan proposed a future “little win” program for other city sectors (north side, west side, south side) using modest funding to foster community engagement. Staff noted that the current plan focuses on Eastwood and Elmwood next, contingent on securing at least $15 million in committed funds.
- Resident Advisory Committee: Staff noted that the council authorized adjustments to legal language, and five resident advisory appointments are needed—one from the council president and four from district/at-large councilors. The goal is to confirm appointments by the November 10 council meeting to convene the group before year-end.
- Legal Services RFP: The deadline for the legal services RFP expired without any responses. Staff will extend the deadline and promote it through the bar association. A selection process will involve staff interviews with potential board participation.
- Homeowner Renovation Program Terms: Staff presented draft terms for an owner-occupied renovation program, sourced from the existing Invest ESM policy. Key points: no standalone roofs or water heaters (to be referred to urgent care or block challenge); a requirement to address exterior code violations if interior work is requested; and a focus on holistic property improvements. Legal services may be needed to assist with title issues. No decisions were made; committee members will review the draft and provide feedback.
Key Outcomes
- The committee agreed to bring a recommendation to the board to increase the block challenge program budget from $123,000 to $350,000 at the next board meeting.
- The legal services RFP deadline will be extended, with staff to reissue and promote widely.
- Resident advisory committee appointments should be finalized by November 10, 2025.
- Staff will continue to develop the homeowner renovation program terms and bring refined proposals to future meetings.
Meeting Transcript
I always to worry about we do have a box in these. I know I've been watching that. I've been very worried about that. There's a little mangy. Oh man, yeah. We had a really major one come through our yard. Yeah, they're horrible. He's been hanging out in some backyards. So Tim was very paranoid about predators getting to them. And you know, he's a metal worker. So when we built the run, he sunk big steel plates like a foot down below grade. So nothing can dig under. It's a little overkill, but it's a well thought out plan. Yeah. I'm not bringing them in the house again. They lived in the house for eight weeks when they were too young to go outside. And my house was filthy. Shaky. Yeah, they live in the kitchen in like a big puppy pen. I was really regretting my decision. The eggs are so tiny. What's the word I'm looking for? Juveniles, you know. Yeah. What do you think? Yeah. All right. So I'm gonna go ahead and call the meeting to order of the Circuit Sousing Strategies Corporation and Ordinance Committee. Um note that uh that's President Hudson, Councillor Hogan. Um right, and Karen Schroeder are here. We expect at least Elser uh General Browser to join us. So we will note that uh the proof of notice was provided. It's the second page of the board's packet. Um we do not have any new business to cover, as far as I know, but we do have some other business. I'll turn it over to Michelle. Thanks, Bram. Uh so just kind of wanted to start off giving everybody a little bit of an update as to where we stand with the block challenge program as of today. So uh good news is we're uh continuing to uh keep on bringing in the applications even uh since two weeks ago when we last met. So um as of today, we are up to uh 108 uh individual properties that we've had applications for across 23 teams. Um there's kind of a breakout of the single sheet that is uh that you all have in front of you, um, showing kind of distribution of uh total estimated uh project costs, what we estimate reimbursements will be as of today, and then what kind of our uh leverage return on investment for every dollar that the Huffington Strategies Corporation is putting in, what are we generating back in terms of um homeowner investment? So I think the main kind of takeaway here, obviously there's a little bit of a um uh difference in terms of total volume that we've received between Tip Hill area and salt springs. Um, I think at this point what we're seeing is that um uh not yet at a point where I think we necessarily need to put a firm tap one way or the other on a given neighborhood. I think what we're seeing is that um Tip Hill is the applications are coming in slightly less complete, whereas Salt Springs is being very diligent about following directions kind of exactly as is. So um, I think if anything, we've been really encouraging people um uh along the line, kind of like don't wait to get all three of your quotes before sending your application in, send it in. We'll work with you on timelines there. It's easier just for us to be able to kind of review um what we're working with in terms of volume. So um continuing to kind of do that, but um I think we're numbers continue to be promising and encouraging. Uh as of today, we have a total of $53,000 in reimbursements for individual applicants who have been fully approved, received their notices to proceed with our projects. Um, and actually this morning we just received our very first request for reimbursement. So we're moving along.
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