Simi Agencies Given $231,000 for Quake Relief : Recovery: City earmarks most of $5.5 million for repairing streets and homes. Nineteen groups had asked for money.

When the Jan. 17 earthquake rocked through Simi Valley, causing more than $400 million in damage, the city’s social service agencies kicked into high gear, providing food, counseling and moral support for thousands of rattled residents.

On Monday night, it was the agencies’ turn to seek help.

For two hours, dozens of community groups filed past the Simi Valley City Council, making pitches for a piece of the city’s $5.5 million in earthquake relief funding.

The money is Simi Valley’s share of $127 million in Community Development Block Grants paid by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to 11 cities and two counties to help relieve earthquake damage.

Simi Valley’s sizable allotment came as a surprise to city officials, who initially worried that they would not have enough projects to fund.

But the council began Monday’s meeting by allocating most of the funding to city street repair projects and home repair programs, leaving just $231,000 to spread among local agencies seeking $1.7 million in aid.

The groups pleading for help included food pantries, counseling services, youth programs, historical preservation projects, and advocates for the elderly and the homeless.

“There are so many really great projects,” Mayor Greg Stratton said. “It’s tough to pick and choose.”

At the urging of city staff, the council focused on projects that directly benefit earthquake victims or agencies that help them.

“You really need to be careful with the way you hand out these funds,” City Manager Lin Koester warned. “If you give earthquake money to a project that isn’t earthquake related, the city could be responsible for paying it back.”

The city selected eight of the 19 agencies that submitted applications deemed eligible by staff for earthquake relief funding.

Among those chosen was the American Red Cross, which operated a shelter and food pantry for earthquake victims at Royal High School.

Earlier this month, the agency opened its second Ventura County office in Simi Valley.

“We are grateful to be here and glad for any help you can give us,” said Diana Grace, district manager of the Red Cross’ Simi Valley office.

Other agencies that received aid include a Catholic Charities program for senior citizens; the Food Share food pantry; Lutheran Social Services, which provides counseling and support services; the Boys & Girls Club; the Simi Valley YMCA; the Simi Valley Historical Society; and the Samaritan Center, a homeless drop-in center scheduled to open in July.

Council members also set aside a reserve of nearly $600,000 for future quake-related housing projects and other programs. They encouraged some of the agencies they had rejected for funding to work with city staff and reapply for the reserve funds.

“This isn’t necessarily a final no,” Councilwoman Judy Mikels said. “Anyone who would like another chance at this can talk to staff and come back.”

The largest request rejected by the council came from Southern California Water Co., which asked for $600,000 to repair damaged water tanks. The private company supplies water to about 12,000 customers in Simi Valley.

Stratton said the water company should have had adequate insurance to cover damage.

Another bid rejected by the council came from Bottle Village, a folk-art collection of buildings made of bottles, which has fallen into disrepair in recent years.

Janice Wilson, caretaker at the village, submitted an application for $25,000 to repair further damage caused by the earthquake.

But council members flatly refused, saying they did not want to spend any money restoring the village.

“It seems like we would be putting money into something that is not going to happen,” Councilman Bill Davis said.

In the past, the city has given the village grants to make repairs. The village has remained closed to the public for several years.

In a separate action, the council disbursed its regular $738,000 federal Block Grant allocation.

Under that program, street repairs and ongoing home and commercial rehabilitation programs not related to the quake received the bulk of the funding, about $500,000.

In addition, the Simi Valley Soccer Foundation received $100,000 for installation of two soccer fields at Santa Susana Community Park.

Earthquake Funding About $5.2 million of Simi Valley’s share of federal Community Block Grant funds went for road and home repairs, leaving about $231,000 for local nonprofit and social service agencies. Here is how the City Council chose to spend that money:

Samaritan Center: $79,000

American Red Cross: $57,000

Catholic Charities (OASIS): $26,000

Simi Valley Historical Society: $20,000

Lutheran Social Services: $18,000

Simi Valley YMCA: $12,500

Simi Valley Council on Aging: $10,000

Food Share: $5,000

Boys & Girls Club; $3,400