City Council to Discuss Programs Benefitting Senior, Disabled, Low-Income Residents

At the , the council will discuss how to use 2012-13 funds from Los Angeles County’s Community Development Block Grant program, which annually provides money to be used strictly for projects benefiting low-income, senior, or disabled citizens.

While "low-income" may not usually come to mind when one thinks of , San Marino City Manager Matt Ballantyne said San Marino's low-income individuals may be "equity rich" but are "typically folks who have lived here over 30 years and rely on Social Security."

The distribution of the $45,591 received from CDBG for 2012-13 is outlined in a report (attached to this post) from San Marino Senior Planner Aldo Cervantes. 

The proposed allocation is as follows:

• $10,000 for continuing a housing rehabilitation program that provides residential repairs--often health and safety-related--for low-income individuals in San Marino
• Continuing administrative costs ($3,530) to offset the salary for San Marino Senior Planner Aldo Cervantes, who administers the housing rehabilitation program. Administrative costs may not exceed 10 percent of the annual allocated amount, which in this case is $4,559.10.
• $7,061 for continuing free senior outreach programs offered through the Department of Recreation. No more than 15 percent of the annual CDBG allocation may be spent on public service projects like this.
• $25,000 for the new Huntington Drive Wheelchair Ramp Project, which involves installation of a wheel chair ramp on the north side of Huntington Drive adjacent to an existing alley between 2495 Huntington Drive and 2511 Huntington Drive. The ramp would comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

The San Marino City Council meeting begins at 6 p.m. and public comment usually begins at 7:30 p.m.

What do you think of the proposed ways to spend the $45,591 received from the Community Development Block Program? How would you spend it on low-income, senior or disabled residents? Tell us in the comments below.