Council Recommends Grant Funding for Community Service, Street Improvements

Requests for over $450,000 in grant funding to support street improvements and community service projects in Colton are now headed for consideration of approval by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors next month. The Colton City Council approved recommendation of requests for a total $458,738 in Community Development Block Grant funding by the city's public works and community services departments as per staff's recommendation during the regular meeting on March 3. Mayor Richard De La Rosa, Mayor Pro Tem Frank Navarro and Councilmembers David Toro, Dr. Luis Gonzalez and Isaac Suchil voted yes to approve the recommendations. Councilmember Deirdre Bennett recused herself from voting on a possible conflict of interest and Councilmember Summer Zamora-Jorrin was absent from the dais due to illness. Staff reports indicate that a total of 12 eligible proposal applications requesting CBDG funds were received by the city, collectively totaling $521,200 - over the $458,738 amount delegated to the city by San Bernardino County. An ad-hoc committee consisting of three city council members and three planning commissioners was created to review funding applications and prioritize and submit its recommendations to staff and the council. The approved recommendations were as such: $291,000 allocated to Public Works to fund street, curb and cutter improvements including striping for safety and ADA improvements to the area of South C Street between Rancho and Pennsylvania avenues; $106,738 allocated to Public Works for street improvements to alleyways between Olive and Hanna streets; $25,000 to Community Services to continue funding of library literary services and youth after-school homework assistance; $12,000 to Community Services to continue funding the city-wide "Provision of Healthy Lifestyle through Fitness, Exercise and Nutrition" program,which helps promote healthy activity and eating choices to residents; $12,000 to Community Services to continue its Mobil Access to Technology program, which helps provide technology and broadband access to residents; and $12,000 to Community Services to continue its teen center after-school programs. Fifteen percent of the total $458,738 allocated CDBG funds were available to be allocated for capital improvement projects if delegated by the city, staff reports show. Upon the approval, the council's recommendations for CDBG funding will head to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors for consideration.