SIMI VALLEY : $120,000 Granted for Community Projects

The Simi Valley City Council allocated more than $120,000 to eight nonprofit groups Monday for community projects such as new soccer fields, a van to take veterans to get medical treatment and the opening of a low-cost family counseling clinic.

The groups will receive shares of the city’s Community Development Block Grant funds, received from the federal government.

Last month, Simi Valley staff members urged the council to turn down requests by nonprofit groups for the grant money, saying the city needed to spend nearly all of its federal funds to comply with a law that requires cities to make public buildings and sidewalks more accessible to people with disabilities.

In recent weeks, however, city officials learned that they had an additional $800,000 that could be spent on community groups and accessibility projects. Previously, the city believed this money could be used only on affordable housing projects.

With this extra money in hand, the council allocated $15,000 for a van that will take local veterans to and from the hospital in North Hills; $21,750 for a structural safety study of the historic Simi adobe; and $20,950 to help Interface set up the local counseling center.

In addition, the council gave $50,000 toward the construction of two new soccer fields at an undeveloped portion of Rancho Santa Susana Community Park; $7,825 for office equipment at the Simi Valley Free Clinic; and $4,000 for legal assistance for senior citizens. The council also gave $5,135 to the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley for sports equipment and $1,050 to Simi Valley Vikings football association to subsidize registration and equipment fees for needy children.

The council also set aside $1 million in federal funds for City Hall improvements, sidewalk ramps and other accessibility projects.