Council divvies federal funds

The Costa Mesa City Council voted unanimously to approve the allocation of more than $200,000 in federal funds to various local groups, despite a few comments from audience and council members desiring alterations Tuesday.

Recommendations on which organizations to fund and how much money to give were made by the Redevelopment and Residential Rehabilitation committee prior to the meeting, and included grants to a few new applicants and cuts to others that received funding last year.

The 19 organizations that applied asked for more than $400,000, but only $202,342 were at the committee’s disposal.

“We recognize that all programs and all people that come are excellent programs. That’s what makes the decision of allocating half the required amount so difficult,” said Bob Norling, a member of the committee.

He noted that the committee decided to cut about $5,000 from senior programs this year, but the cuts represented a relatively modest amount compared with the cuts to other types of programs.

Councilwoman Wendy Leece, who has questioned the senior center management and inspected its facilities recently, said her scrutiny of senior programs was especially careful because of her status as senior center liaison, but she didn’t intend to cut any additional funding for the center.

Councilwoman Katrina Foley took issue with the fact that the audience was not presented with a summary of the programs that applied or the reasons for the funding allotted at the meeting.

She recommended a slide show with information about the organizations be presented in front of the council.

“Aside from members of the committee and the council, no one from the audience knows what organizations we’re funding,” Foley said.

Councilman Allan Mansoor disagreed that such a presentation was necessary, replying that Redevelopment and Residential Rehabilitation committee meetings were public and that anyone interested is welcome to attend.

He appealed to community members to get involved in the process early, so their opinions could be heard.

Save our Youth, a Westside after-school program, was denied funding, despite protests from Councilwomen Linda Dixon and Foley.

Dixon recommended $10,000 of the $25,000 allotment for Colette’s Children’s Home be given to Save our Youth instead, but nothing came of it.