Council comes to agreement

Jose Paul Corona

After much debate and

several revisions the City Council came to an agreement on how to

distribute $1.6 million in Federal funds meant to aid residents with

low to moderate incomes.

The Citizens Participation Advisory Board recommended 25

Huntington Beach programs receive a slice of the Community

Development Block Grant funds provided by the Federal Department of

Housing and Urban Development. But when it came time to dole out the

funds there was only money enough available to fund 11 programs,

council members found.

Of the many groups waiting with collective fingers crossed,

Project Self Sufficiency, the Oak View Community Center, the

Huntington Beach Community Clinic and Adult Day Services of Orange

County were awarded funds.

Project Self Sufficiency was awarded $56,496, the Oak View

Community Center was given the recommended $35,000, the Huntington

Beach Community Clinic was granted $23,000, Adult Day Services of

Orange County was given $10,000 and the Community Job Center was

awarded $59,992.

Some of the programs that will have one less funding source this

year include the Orange County Council on Aging, the Boys and Girls

Club and local parks.

While council members knew from the outset that no one would be

completely happy with the final outcome, they did their best,

Councilman Ralph Bauer said.

“I think it was a good compromise,” he said. “I

was sorry to see that we couldn’t find some extra bucks

[because] everything is so worthwhile.”

Louann Brunson, senior analyst with the city’s economic

development department and community development block grant fund

manager, was pleased with the council’s final decision.

“I think it worked out well, I think they made good choices,” she

added.

* JOSE PAUL CORONA covers City Hall and education. He can be

reached at (714) 965-7173 or by e-mail at jose.corona@latimes.com.