BTAC considers 5-year expansion
Tim Willert
Despite a drop in cash donations, Burbank Temporary Aid Center
officials are considering plans to expand the center’s facilities.
Center board members recently discussed hiring an architect for
the expansion project, which would cost an estimated $455,000 to
complete. So far, a site survey has been completed at no cost to the
organization, and the board is considering whether to spend $15,000
to hire an architect, BTAC officials said at their July 30 meeting.
The board is in the process of applying for a capital project
grant from the city, and hopes to complete the necessary paperwork by
the end of September, BTAC board President Jan Loporchio said at the
meeting.
Under the proposal, an outline of which has been submitted to city
grants coordinator Mas Yoshinaga, the center’s rear building would be
demolished and a new two-story warehouse would be constructed. The
center’s storefront office at 1304 W. Burbank Blvd. also would be
remodeled as part of the five-year plan.
The BTAC board would raise 15% of the cost from public and private
sources over the life of the project. The City Council, which must
approve all block grant projects, would likely take action on such a
proposal sometime in December or January, Yoshinaga said.
Attempts to reach Loporchio for additional comment on the project
were unsuccessful.
BTAC, which provides emergency aid to families and individuals,
including food, shelter, clothing and transportation, has come under
fire from donors and volunteers who questioned the board’s leadership
after executive director Pat Smola was fired in June.
At the meeting, Loporchio said the board shelved similar expansion
plans in 2002 because “we realized we just weren’t ready last year.”
Yoshinaga said BTAC began the grant process last year, but was
slowed by parking and development review issues.
“Essentially, there wasn’t enough time to go through those steps,”
he said.
Following a discussion about the project, board treasurer Isabel
Adams told members and visitors that cash donations were down during
the 2002-03 fiscal year, which ended June 30. Through the end of
June, the center had received cash contributions of $88,495, and is
seeking to raise $115,000 during the 2003-04 fiscal year, Adams said.
“We really need to get busy raising money,” she said.
According to the center’s latest profit and loss statement, BTAC
lost $30,133 during June, and finished the 2002-03 fiscal year with a
net loss of $4,051.