Public Hearing Set for Use of Grant Funds

The city will get $85,000 in federal block grant money this fiscal year, so Tuesday’s City Council meeting will feature a public hearing on how to spend it.

By federal law, the money must be used only for public service, public facilities or to benefit low- and moderate-income residents.

In La Palma, the qualifying moderate-income level for a family of four would be $41,600 or less a year.

City Manager Daniel E. Keen said he will make recommendations to the council but hopes residents will step forward with their own ideas.

“We in city government always like to get input from the citizens on how they think the money should be spent,” Keen said. “That’s the purpose of the public hearing.”

Keen said he will recommend that the city spend the federal money on street ramps for the disabled and for rehabilitation of homes of families of modest means, he said.

“I’m recommending $55,000 for wheelchair ramps,” he said, and that “the other $30,000 be used for our housing rehabilitation program.”

Because most La Palma residents have relatively high incomes, finding families who would qualify for the block-aid will not be easy, Keen said.

Street improvements cannot be made with the money because not enough low-income residents live on streets needing repairs.

Another item before the City Council on Tuesday will be a proposal to join in a countywide study of the pros and cons of selling the county’s landfill.