HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.20.26 Work Session
CITY OF ST. JOSEPH
www.cityofstjoseph.com
“A safe and welcoming community valuing open communication and civic trust while
maintaining the enduring spirit of small-town life.”
75 Callaway Street East | Saint Joseph, Minnesota 56374
Email: cityoffices@cityofstjoseph.com | Phone: 320.363.7201 | Fax 320.363.0342
St. Joseph City Council Work Session
April 20, 2026
5:00 PM
1. Small Cities Development Grant
2. State of the City Address
STAFF MEMO
Prepared by:
Community Development
Meeting Date:
Apr 20th
☐ Consent Agenda Item ☒ Regular Agenda Item
Agenda Item #
1
Reviewed by:
Item:
Small Cities Development Grant
Council Priority: ☐ Dispensary ☐ Industrial Park Expansion ☒ Housing ☐ Public Safety Facility/Safe Crossing of CSAH 75 ☐ N/A
ACTION REQUESTED
Direction on executing the last remaining item for the Small Cities Development Program grant (SCDP)
(Excessive Force Policy). If the policy is not signed by the city the city cannot proceed forward with the grant
and will not be able to proceed with any SCDP grants in the future until city determines they are ok signing the
policy.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The EDA is supporting the grant
by paying Central MN Housing Partnership to Administer the grant.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION
• Council approved applying for the Small Cities Development Program and contract with CMHP to
write the grant proposal (preliminary application) on September 3rd, 2024 (EDA approved the
CMHP contract in August)
• Council approved the resolution to apply for the full grant on April 7th, 2025.
• October 8th, 2025 it was announced that the City received the grant in the amount of $287, 500.
• Council approved the contract with CMHP who will administer the grant on November 3rd, 2025.
• Council approved resolution on Feb. 17th, 2026. This resolution approved a plethora of Federal
grant required items as part of the next steps of the grant (including the excessive force policy)
REFERENCE AND BACKGROUND
The final federal requirement for proceeding with the Small Cities Development Grant is execution of the
Excessive Force Policy. The City last received SCDP funding in 2018, when this same policy was signed by
the Mayor and Administrator. Staff have confirmed the current policy language is unchanged from 2018
when the form was signed by the city. DEED, which administers the federal funds, also provided the
following guidance:
As a reminder, the SCDP grant will fund improvements to owner-occupied homes within the targeted area
(see attached map) through a 0% deferred, forgivable loan. The City’s $287,500 allocation is expected to
assist 10–12 homes with projects such as roofing, siding, windows, exterior, and energy-efficiency
improvements. Since announcing the grant, staff have received several inquiries from interested residents.
Also, of note every city who receives SCDP money is required to submit this signed document. SCDP is a
grant that goes towards a variety of different things like: housing, public infrastructure like sewer/water,
commercial rehabilitation, rental rehabilitation. Small Cities are offered to cities under 50,000. Cities over
50,000 people receive a direct allocation of grant money through the Community Development Block
Grant. Cities like Saint Cloud receive this allocation every year while cities like St. Joseph have to apply for
funds through SCDP. Every community, whether through SCDP or through Community Development Block
Grant must sign this policy form. If they do not, then they lose their direct allocation or cannot proceed
with a Small Cities Development Grant. If the city chooses to not sign this form, we would not be able to
proceed with any further SCDP grants.
BUDGET IMPACT
No change to already approved budget allocations
To-date $3,500 has been paid from EDA to Central MN Housing Partnership to submit preliminary proposal
and full application. Another $2,000 is due the first year of the grant cycle (coming up in June).
All payments are being made by EDA funds.
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION
SUPPORTING DATA/ATTACHMENTS
Target Area map
Signed copy of the excessive force policy from 2018
Copy of excessive force policy requested to be signed
Targeted Area A
Targeted Area B