Yorba Linda accepts federal funding for residential rehabilitation, senior nutrition, ADA compliance

 

Residential rehabilitation, senior citizen nutrition and compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations will benefit with Yorba Linda's acceptance of federal funding through the Community Development Block Grant program for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

A unanimous City Council vote at an April 5 meeting outlined the proposed expenditures for an anticipated $258,530 in funds from the program that is administered through the federal government's Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Some $90,000 in rehabilitation grants will go to qualified homeowners for general property improvements and repairs to meet local codes, standards and ordinances under the city's Neighborhood Improvement Program.

Applications for grants are available at the city's Community Preservation Division counter at City Hall. More information on homeowner qualification is available by calling 714-961-7181.

Another $38,779, or the 15% maximum public service allocation allowed by grant guidelines, will go to pay some of the operational costs of the city's senior lunch program now operating as a frozen meal pick-up offering of a week's worth of meals at the Community Center.

Distribution is currently scheduled on Tuesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to noon at the center, although days and times are subject to change (call 714-961-7181 for more information and to verify days and times). Suggested donation is $3 for ages 60 and above and $5 for others.

The Americans with Disabilities Act improvements involve public property. Senior Community Preservation Officer Mary Lewis reported to the council that several curb ramps are not up-to-date with ADA requirements, and $78,045 will help offset the compliance costs.

And 20% of the total grant monies will go to administrative tasks, such as development, management, coordination and monitoring. This $51,706 will be split evenly between the city and the county.

The city has used some $5 million in funds from the federal program since 2003. The grant program was developed in the Nixon administration and implemented during the Ford term.

If Yorba Linda decided to not participate in the program, the funds that the city would have received would have gone to the county, which would distribute them to other county cities using a competitive process, according to the report from Lewis.

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The City Council plans to consider a resolution opposing an initiative currently in the state-wide signature-gathering stage regarding the establishment of local taxes and the revenue collected by cities for municipal operations, with action currently scheduled for an April 19 session.

Well-financed supporters of the Taxpayer and Government Accountability Act are seeking signatures for the initiative to appear on the Nov. 8 mid-term election ballot. The La Habra, La Palma and Cypress councils already have adopted resolutions in opposition.