Huntington Park Mayor Mario Gomez
Story Created:
Mar 12, 2010 at 1:15 PM PST
Story Updated:
Mar 12, 2010 at 1:15 PM PST
HUNTINGTON PARK — A number of grants totaling about $5.6 million and good business practices have helped the city get through a tough financial year, according to Mayor Mario Gomez.
He spoke at the annual State of the City breakfast March 4 at the Family Center, sponsored by the Greater Huntington Park Area Chamber of Commerce.
“We feel that it is a prudent business decision to utilize these grants rather than the precious general fund dollars for improvements,” Gomez said, adding that each city department has been the beneficiary of grants to reduce the use of taxpayer funds.
Those grants included a federal stimulus program to fight homelessness, $665,000; federal transportation funds for operating the Combi Bus routes, the Pacific Boulevard shuttle and dial-a-ride; federal funds of about $395,000 for playground equipment and trail development at Salt Lake Park and federal stimulus funds of $469,000 to stabilize neighborhoods by purchasing and remodeling abandoned homes.
Salt Lake Park also benefited from state and county parks and open space grants of about $200,000 and federal and county grants of $2.3 million for street improvements, Gomez said.
“We have used sound business practices to obtain rebates such as $20,285 in insurance rebates and a dividend check for $99,066 in rebates from our liability insurance,” he said.
The city’s finance department received a certificate for excellence in financial accounting, Gomez added.
The grants allowed such projects as a $1 million addition to the Community Center in Salt Lake Park for senior citizen use, remodeling of City Hall and refurbishing a donated antique piano, renovation of restrooms at Salt Lake and Robert Keller parks and law enforcement grants for police department programs such as the Click It or Ticket seat belt efforts.
One of the largest grants was $2.7 million from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for Pacific Boulevard upgrades, such as benches, landscaping and parking meter upgrades, Gomez said.
Another federal grant totaled $1.6 million for a program to remove lead paint from buildings and educating the public about such dangers. The program will prevent exposure to lead poisoning to about 150 children in approximately 90 homes.
Another anti-pollution federal grant of $200,000 was used to clean up toxic wastes on a site at Alameda and Randolph streets to pave the way for redevelopment and possibly 85 new jobs.
Goals for the coming year include finding $200,000 for soccer fields at Salt Lake Park and a splash pad at the park.
The city also plans to replace five motors in city wells with a $150,000 grant from the federal Department of Energy and rehabilitating water well No. 17, costing another $150,000 with an EPA grant.
Badly needed development is seen in the coming year, including the Tierra Mia Cafe moving from South Gate to Pacific Boulevard and expansion of the Alexander BMW/Mini Cooper dealership, which would create about 80 new jobs, Gomez said.
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