Story Created:
Mar 4, 2010 at 12:30 PM PST
Story Updated:
Mar 4, 2010 at 12:30 PM PST
SOUTH GATE — The City Council has approved spending $1.3 million in federal funds for public improvements and another $300,000 to allocate to nonprofit, charitable organizations and city programs which serve residents.
The money is from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and must be used in the coming fiscal year 2010-11 for public improvement projects and programs aimed at low- and middle-income residents, said Steve Lefever, director of community development.
The council approved the spending Feb. 23 after a public hearing.
The city will spend $400,000 on code enforcement programs, $900,000 for South Gate Park infrastructure improvements and $400,000 for administrative costs.
The public service allocations to charitable groups and city programs were reviewed by a citizens advisory committee at several meetings in January and February after soliciting requests from nonprofit groups last October, Lefever said.
Public service allocations recommended by the committee included $11,000 for family violence prevention and education programs, $1,500 for crime prevention programs, $1,000 for home security programs, $10,000 for emergency management programs, $10,000 for the Police Explorers program, and $200,000 for graffiti abatement.
Other allocations include $10,000 for the Police Activities League, $10,000 for the Steelworkers Oldtimers Foundation senior meals program, $20,000 for the Southeast Churches Services Center, $10,000 for the Teen Challenge Ministry Institute, and $8,500 for the South Gate High School football team.
The city may change the allocations before the May 11 deadline to submit the spending plan, Lefever said.
In other action Feb. 23, the City Council:
• Approved a request from T-Mobile to install a wireless communications facility at 9812 Long Beach Blvd. The vote was 4-1 with Vice Mayor Greg Martinez dissenting. Lefever said the plan is to install a 45-foot high tower made to look line a pine tree with a 32-by-23-foot enclosure at the base surrounded by a block wall. The site is zoned for commercial use. The tower and base will take up two parking spaces. Nearby residents have protested, voicing fears of health problems from the antennae while some have said thet are unattractive.
A T-Mobile representative said the company needs to close a communications gap in South Gate for better service to their customers, some of whom experience dropped calls and poor reception.
• Set a public hearing for March 23 on the request of the Los Angeles Unified School District to vacate Adella Avenue between Tweedy Boulevard and a point 175 feet south of Wood Avenue to make way for construction of South Regional High School No. 9. The school district has paid $6,913 to cover city costs of processing the request, Public Works Director Robert Dickey said.
• Hired Wildan Energy Solutions to prepare a grant application to Southern California Edison for up to $1 million for projects to save energy and reduce pollution on city facilities. The firm won’t charge for the application unless a grant is approved, Dickey said.
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