Hearing Seeks Input on Block Fund Uses

After suffering a drought last year in federal funding for community services and neighborhood enhancement, the City Council will have more than twice as much money to spend this year.

On Monday night, the council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on how best to divvy up $883,876 in Community Development Block Grant funds--131% more than the city received last year.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development gives the money to cities each year to spend on infrastructure and social service programs.

This year, 26 agencies in Simi Valley filed nearly $2-million worth of grant proposals for the federal funds.

Traditional block-grant recipients have returned to the trough, such as FOOD Share Inc. ($8,000 to buy a refrigerated truck to pick up and deliver food for the needy) and the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley ($45,200 to buy computer hardware and instruction for at-risk teenagers).

The city, too, wants a piece of the federal block grant pie: Officials are seeking $100,000 for the revitalization of the Tapo Street business corridor and $500,000 for citywide road improvements.

And there is at least one request that was already labeled ineligible for such federal funds: the Simi Valley Historical Society’s request for $12,700 to build an artifact storage facility.

City administrators have made one special request of the council this year--that the block grant money be spent only on direct costs, and not on the salaries of executive officers, accounting staff or other support services.

The City Council meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 2929 Tapo Canyon Road.