HOLTVILLE — An application to finance an income survey and an impact study on mobile home parks closure through a federal grant, was approved Monday by the City Council.
Census demographics data place the city above the “predominantly low- to medium-income range” in terms of grants, said City Planner Justina Arce.
This puts the city at a disadvantage when it competes for grants against cities that are in the predominantly low- to medium-income range.
This quantification error comes as lower income families tend to be less responsive to census inquiries, Arce said.
“It’s an advantage to be disadvantaged in this particular instance?” asked Councilwoman Colleen Ludwig.
“That is correct,” responded Arce, adding that more grant money is available for communities that prove to be more disadvantaged than others.
About 23.4 percent of the population from 2006 to 2010 lived below the poverty level, according to Census Bureau statistics.
Meanwhile, the median housing income through that same time was $36,202. Besides looking for $30,000 to fund the income survey, the city is also looking for about $70,000 in CDBG funds for the impact study on mobile home parks closure. The study will assess the potential impacts of closing Browning Trailer Park, Trailer Mecca Court and Holtville Mobile Home Estates.
Meeting glance
Here are three other issues decided during Monday’s meeting
1 — A so-called bid protest policy resolution was introduced and approved by the council unanimously. Bid protests establish how to file alleged improprieties in public bidding procedures. Federal law requires cities to have a bid protest policy when applying for federal grants. Without the policy, the city jeopardized grant funding for rehabilitating a water tank damaged during the Easter earthquake.
2 — The payment schedule the city has to make to the state on behalf of its former redevelopment agency was approved by the council. From February to June the city will pay a little more than $1 million, but the total debt of the RDA’s successor agency is $12.4 million.
3 — An agreement between the Red Cross and the city, which allows the Red Cross to establish a shelter for humanitarian relief, was approved by the council. As part of the agreement, the Red Cross will provide equipment, supplies and volunteers, as well as an emergency cache, for up to 72 hours for 30 firefighters.
Staff Writer Alejandro Davila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpressonline.com
Census demographics data place the city above the “predominantly low- to medium-income range” in terms of grants, said City Planner Justina Arce.
This puts the city at a disadvantage when it competes for grants against cities that are in the predominantly low- to medium-income range.
This quantification error comes as lower income families tend to be less responsive to census inquiries, Arce said.
“It’s an advantage to be disadvantaged in this particular instance?” asked Councilwoman Colleen Ludwig.
“That is correct,” responded Arce, adding that more grant money is available for communities that prove to be more disadvantaged than others.
About 23.4 percent of the population from 2006 to 2010 lived below the poverty level, according to Census Bureau statistics.
Meanwhile, the median housing income through that same time was $36,202. Besides looking for $30,000 to fund the income survey, the city is also looking for about $70,000 in CDBG funds for the impact study on mobile home parks closure. The study will assess the potential impacts of closing Browning Trailer Park, Trailer Mecca Court and Holtville Mobile Home Estates.
Meeting glance
Here are three other issues decided during Monday’s meeting
1 — A so-called bid protest policy resolution was introduced and approved by the council unanimously. Bid protests establish how to file alleged improprieties in public bidding procedures. Federal law requires cities to have a bid protest policy when applying for federal grants. Without the policy, the city jeopardized grant funding for rehabilitating a water tank damaged during the Easter earthquake.
2 — The payment schedule the city has to make to the state on behalf of its former redevelopment agency was approved by the council. From February to June the city will pay a little more than $1 million, but the total debt of the RDA’s successor agency is $12.4 million.
3 — An agreement between the Red Cross and the city, which allows the Red Cross to establish a shelter for humanitarian relief, was approved by the council. As part of the agreement, the Red Cross will provide equipment, supplies and volunteers, as well as an emergency cache, for up to 72 hours for 30 firefighters.
Staff Writer Alejandro Davila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpressonline.com
