Council OKs Grants From Landfill Fund

Several nonprofit organizations, schools and service groups will receive nearly $250,000 in grants from the city of Los Angeles to conduct improvement projects, using money from the Sunshine Canyon Community Amenities Fund.

The City Council approved the expenditures Tuesday, the second outlay from a fund that was established in November 1996 to help compensate for the effects of the Sunshine Canyon Landfill on the neighborhood.

As part of an agreement with the city, the dump’s owner, Browning-Ferris Industries of California Inc., established an annual fund to be used for new or existing community parks restoration or other community improvements.

City officials said that as much as $250,000 in grants will be given each year until the $1-million trust is depleted.

Qualifying agencies submitted proposals for their projects and were recommended for approval to the council by the Granada Hills Amenities Committee.

The grants given out this year range from $5,000 for the Granada Theatre to put on plays for children, to $80,000 for the American Youth Soccer Organization Region 174 to move electrical wires to make way for a new playing field.

El Oro Way Elementary School will use its $31,000 to help pay for an environmental habitat lab being built on campus.

Frost Middle School officials said they will use the $19,348 grant to install a sprinkler system on the grounds and to buy scrubbers and polishers to refinish the gymnasium floor.

Principal Ronald Frydman said the school was denied the grant last year, so he was pleased that the committee recommended their project for approval this year.

He said the school is often used after hours by outside groups for recreational activities.

“This is an improvement to the school that will affect the community,” he said. “They can have a first-class, professionally cleaned [gym] floor.”