Ad Hoc Committee — Portland, ME
Date: 2026-06-17
Time: 08:00

City of Portland
CDBG Priority Setting Task Force:
Meeting 5

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM Zoom



To submit written public comment on an agenda item, email cdbg@portlandmaine.gov. Submissions must be
received by 12:00 pm the day before the CDBG PSTF meeting to guarantee their inclusion in the agenda
packet. All submissions must include the commenter's name and legal address. To help ensure your comment is
submitted for the correct item, please include the name of the agenda item (see below).

REMOTE ACCESS INFORMATION:
The CDBG Priority Setting Task Force (PSTF) will conduct this meeting remotely via Zoom pursuant to the
Remote Meeting Policy adopted by the CDBG PSTF. Allow your computer to install the free Zoom app to get
the best meeting experience. If you are not able to attend live either in person or via Zoom, a recording will be
available in the Agenda Center following the meeting.

For public comment via Zoom, you will need to use the "raise your hand" feature. To raise your hand via the
telephone, please hit *9. You will be unmuted by the host when it is time for public comment.

You are invited to a Zoom webinar!
When: Jun 17, 2026 08:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Jun 17, 2026 08:00 AM

Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/j/84398845920?pwd=x46c5hLRwObPWWhOMlo1oayF2WymV3.1
Passcode:460875

Phone one-tap:
+13017158592,,84398845920# US (Washington DC)

Join via audio:
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Webinar ID: 843 9884 5920
International numbers available: https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/u/kb2QvOXTUl



1. Welcome and Roll Call
2. Review and accept Minutes of CDBG Task Force from the June 3rd, 2026 meeting
 a. June 3, 2026 Meeting Minutes
3. PSTF Process & Application Overview

 1
City of Portland Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM
CDBG Priority Setting Task Zoom
Force: Meeting 5
4. Decide & Draft Priority Impact Levels
 a. Neighborhood Investment & Infrastructure
 b. Housing Availability
 c. Economic Opportunity
 d. Address the Needs of the Unhoused
5. Review Guiding Principles
 a. CDBG Guiding Principles
6. Adjournment
 a. Next Meeting: July 1, 2026 at 8AM - 10AM via Zoom




 2

City of Portland
CDBG Priority Setting Task Force:
Meeting 5

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM Zoom



To submit written public comment on an agenda item, email cdbg@portlandmaine.gov. Submissions must be
received by 12:00 pm the day before the CDBG PSTF meeting to guarantee their inclusion in the agenda
packet. All submissions must include the commenter's name and legal address. To help ensure your comment is
submitted for the correct item, please include the name of the agenda item (see below).

REMOTE ACCESS INFORMATION:
The CDBG Priority Setting Task Force (PSTF) will conduct this meeting remotely via Zoom pursuant to the
Remote Meeting Policy adopted by the CDBG PSTF. Allow your computer to install the free Zoom app to get
the best meeting experience. If you are not able to attend live either in person or via Zoom, a recording will be
available in the Agenda Center following the meeting.

For public comment via Zoom, you will need to use the "raise your hand" feature. To raise your hand via the
telephone, please hit *9. You will be unmuted by the host when it is time for public comment.

You are invited to a Zoom webinar!
When: Jun 17, 2026 08:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Jun 17, 2026 08:00 AM

Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/j/84398845920?pwd=x46c5hLRwObPWWhOMlo1oayF2WymV3.1
Passcode:460875

Phone one-tap:
+13017158592,,84398845920# US (Washington DC)

Join via audio:
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Webinar ID: 843 9884 5920
International numbers available: https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/u/kb2QvOXTUl



1. Welcome and Roll Call
2. Review and accept Minutes of CDBG Task Force from the June 3rd, 2026 meeting
 a. June 3, 2026 Meeting Minutes
3. PSTF Process & Application Overview

 1

 Page 1
City of Portland Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM
CDBG Priority Setting Task Zoom
Force: Meeting 5
4. Decide & Draft Priority Impact Levels
 a. Neighborhood Investment & Infrastructure
 b. Housing Availability
 c. Economic Opportunity
 d. Address the Needs of the Unhoused
5. Review Guiding Principles
 a. CDBG Guiding Principles
6. Adjournment
 a. Next Meeting: July 1, 2026 at 8AM - 10AM via Zoom




 2

 Page 2
Priority Setting Task Force - Meeting 4
Minutes
This meeting was held on June 3rd, 2025 and is the fourth of ten meetings scheduled for the
Priority Setting Task Force.


Meeting Information
  ●​ Meeting Context: Fourth of 10 Priority Setting Task Force meetings focusing on
 reviewing needs, goals, and activities for future funding.

Attendees
  ●​ Tae Chong (Chair)
  ●​ Kristen Dunphey (Co-Chair)
  ●​ Matt Starr
  ●​ Teale Smith
  ●​ Miyabi "Abbie" Yamamoto
  ●​ Barbara Ginley
  ●​ Stephanie Miller
  ●​ Gwendolyne Tuttle-Beaudoin
  ●​ Jill Johanning
  ●​ Colleen Cooper
  ●​ Carly Lappas

HCD Staff
  ●​ Mary Davis (HCD Division Director)
  ●​ Laken (HCD Staff)
  ●​ Cameron George (HCD Staff)

Actions Taken
  ●​ Approval of Minutes: The meeting minutes from the previous meeting were unanimously
 approved. Matt made the motion, and Teale and Abby seconded.
  ●​ Task Assignments for Staff: Rather than wordsmithing live, the committee tasked HCD
 staff (Cameron, Mary, and Laken) with revising and editing the Priority Goals to
 incorporate committee feedback while ensuring alignment with CDBG eligibility rules.
  ●​ Agenda Adjustments: The committee agreed to move criteria like "Flexible service" and
 "Development of private-public partnerships" to the scoring matrix discussion, rather than
 listing them as standalone priority goals.
  ●​ Items Tabled: The committee decided to defer the discussion on the "Needs of the
 Unhoused" and the final high/medium/low priority rankings to the next meeting due to time
 constraints.




 Page 3
Major Discussion Points
Defining Evaluation Lenses
 ●​ The committee established two primary lenses for evaluating proposed activities: whether
 they reach the most people, and whether they create transformative change.
 ●​ "Transformative" was discussed extensively. A proposed definition included: “Promoting
 creative responses that provide short to long term community wide impacts”
 ●​ The Committee emphasized it is creating a framework for the next five years, so goals
 must remain broad enough to invite creative solutions from applicants without being
 overly restrictive.

Neighborhood Investment and Infrastructure
 ●​ Public Safety Improvements: Tae proposed adding public safety (e.g., lighting,
 technology, clearing sightlines) to the priorities. Mary clarified that while broad public
 safety infrastructure (like streetlights) is a city responsibility, targeted efforts by nonprofits
 (like neighborhood watch programs or targeted safety tech) could be eligible. Staff will
 refine the wording to reflect this.
 ●​ Snow Removal: Jill advocated for snow removal (sidewalks and driveways) to be
 included to address accessibility and housing retention for vulnerable populations, such
 as the elderly and disabled. Mary cautioned against funding general city maintenance, but
 the committee agreed to frame this as addressing a specific gap for target populations,
 such as volunteer shoveling programs.

Housing Availability
 ●​ Multilingual Support: The committee supported adding multi-language communication
 and engagement services as a high priority. Members emphasized that this involves more
 than basic interpretation; it requires cultural brokerage and process navigation (e.g.,
 multilingual housing navigators) to ensure housing retention and understanding of leases.

Economic Opportunity
 ●​ After-School Programs and Childcare: These were discussed as crucial components of
 job retention support services. While Barbara raised concerns about the complexities of
 food procurement using federal funds, the group agreed to focus on the programming and
 childcare aspects as a priority for working families.
 ●​ Barrier Removal Improvements: Jill explained this refers to ADA accessibility
 improvements for existing buildings (e.g., adding ramps or lifts). The committee agreed
 this pairs logically with facade improvement priorities.
 ●​ Multilingual Specialists: Abby reiterated that economic opportunity programs need
 multilingual specialists (e.g., community engagement coordinators) rather than just
 interpreters to effectively help individuals find and retain employment.




 Page 4
Next Meeting
 ●​ Complete the Address the Needs of the Unhoused section
 ●​ Prioritize Activities Based on High/Medium/Low Priority
 ●​ Review Guiding Principles if time permits




 Page 5
This section is taken from the 2025 CDBG Policies (pgs 9 - 11); please refer to the 2025 CDBG
Policies document for additional information.


VIII. SCORING CRITERIA

 Applications will be reviewed by staff to establish eligibility with the federal eligibility
criteria outlined in the above sections. If staff determines an application to be ineligible, the
applicant will be notified and the CDBG Allocation Committee will be made aware. Staff will
review all eligible applications and provide comments on the organization’s capacity to deliver
proposed services.

 All eligible applications will be evaluated by the CDBG Allocation Committee (see Rules
and Regulations on City of Portland website), who will generate scores and award
recommendations, which in collaboration with the City Manager will then be presented to the
City Council, for final review and approval.

Funding recommendations will be determined by utilizing the following guiding criteria:
 ●​ Consistent - All projects and programs will be reviewed with respect to the Consolidated
 Plan and other HUD requirements; City goals, priority impact levels, and other CDBG or
 HOME investments. Proposals should be coordinated with relevant City Departments
 where appropriate and align with City initiatives.
 ●​ Measurable Community Impact - Programs and projects will be evaluated based on
 how well they create a significant and measurable community impact.
 ●​ Diversity and Inclusiveness - Programs and projects shall address the community’s
 diversity and create a culture of belonging.
 ●​ Priority to Lower Incomes - Priority will be given to projects and programs that serve
 the lowest income persons.
 ●​ Leveraged Funding - CDBG cannot be the only source of funding for a program or
 project; leveraging other funds is essential.
 ●​ Location* - Project benefits the targeted LMI area or neighborhood and considers other
 nearby improvements.
 ●​ Sustainability* - Project demonstrates benefit to the environment through energy
 efficiency or similar considerations, as well as demonstrates economically sustainable
 practices.
 ●​ Letters of Support and MOUs - Demonstration of support from peer organizations and
 clients.
*Does not apply to social service applications.

The CDBG Allocation Committee will score each application based on the criteria above. Each
Committee member will rate how the application addresses each scoring category using one of
the following: Absent, Very Poor, Poor, Fair, Good, Outstanding. There will be corresponding
point values for each rating which will total a maximum of 100 points.




 Page 6
 Goal, Priority Impact Level & Community Need 30 Total
Goal 15
Priority Impact ​
(5pts high Priority, 2pts priority, 0pts eligible activity) 5, 2, or 0
Community need 10
 25 to 30 Total Points
Guiding Principles: Activity Dependent
Measurable community impact 10
 10 Social Service or
Diversity and inclusiveness 5 Construction
 10 Social Service or
Priority to lower incomes 5 Construction
Location (construction only) 5
Sustainability (construction only) 5
Capacity to deliver: 25 Total
Financial need 5
Leveraged funding 5
Experience providing service 5
Readiness to proceed 5
Financial stability 5
Partnership/Collaboration 15 Total



PENALTY POINTS DEDUCTED

Missing section/s 1 point deducted per item
Failing to follow Submission Guidelines, section
I.C.3 (including but not limited to: application not typed, page 0.25 point deducted per
limits, max/min request amounts, etc) instance
 0.25 points deducted per
Errors (e.g. in budget calculation) instance




 Page 7