Camarillo City Council allocates grant money to local service groups
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

The Camarillo City Council was in a giving mood last week.

Even though city staff suggested allocating $73,980 in community service grants to 13 out of 18 public service groups who applied, council members decided to give an extra $9,500 to three groups not recommended for funding.

The additional funds came from grant money that was never distributed last year. After hearing pleas from many groups at last week's regular meeting, the council decided to disperse the additional money to three groups left out of the original pot: Alzheimer's Association ($3,000), Arthritis Foundation ($3,000) and the Camarillo Family YMCA ($3,500).

Combining the federally funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and local grants, Camarillo awarded a total of $136,536 to community service groups. The council also approved $229,909 of CDBG funding for an affordable housing program. With federal funds continuing to decline, Randy Richardson, housing program analyst for the city, found a way to fairly distribute the CDBG funds among eight eligible programs.

Also, the community service grants are expected to lose $25,000 next year, City Manager Jerry Bankston said.

"There's little to no chance we'll be able to fund all these programs as well next year," said Councilmember Kevin Kildee.

The council was especially moved to offer community grant aid to Alzheimer's Association, which requested $3,500. Sue Murphy, the association's director of development, said about half of the 6,000 people afflicted with Alzheimer's in Ventura County live in Camarillo.

"It seems like we don't have a lot of money for seniors," Councilmember Mike Morgan said. "Over half of (Alzheimer's Association's) clients are from Camarillo. And more and more baby boomers will be here soon."

According to Alzheimer's Association, 10 million baby boomers- those born between 1946 and 1965- will develop the disease.

The Arthritis Foundation, which requested $3,000, provides an exercise class for Camarillo residents with arthritis, rheumatic disease or musculoskeletal conditions. The class is held at the Camarillo Community Center on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. The organization estimated that 1,536 people would benefit from the program.

The council also decided to help the Camarillo Family YMCA's senior fitness and education classes. Sixty-seven seniors and 47 senior couples make up about 15 percent of the local Y's total membership, according to Executive Director Trish Johnson, but the program is also open to nonmembers and seniors who cannot afford the class fee. YMCA requested $7,500 for the program.

Although Mayor Charlotte Craven approved distributing the grants to public service groups, she would have preferred seeing the money spread out more evenly. For instance, Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo received $22,800 in community grants. They had requested $37,800.

"One of my biggest problems is that more than 25 percent (of community grant money) is going to one organization. I have nothing against the Boys & Girls Club, but I'd like to spread it around more," Craven said. "I have a problem, when I see our funds are so limited, to give that big a hunk to one organization."

Here is the breakdown of funding for the community grants:

•Adolfo Camarillo High School Music Boosters, $5,000

•Camarillo High School PTSA's After-Prom Safe and Sober Event, $2,500

•Alzheimer's Association, $3,000

•American Red Cross of Ventura County, $5,000

•Arthritis Foundation, $3,000

•Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo, $22,800

•Camarillo Art Center, $2,000 •Camarillo Community Theatre, $4,680

•Camarillo Family YMCA, $3,500

•Camarillo Hospice Corporation, $11,500

•Girl Scouts of California's Central Coast, $3,000

•Many Motors, $4,000

•New West Symphony Association, $7,500

•Rio Mesa High School Safe and Sober After-Prom, $2,000

•Studio Channel Islands Art Center, $4,000

The following local groups received CDBG funding:

•Interface Children Family Services- 211 service, $6,034

•Long Term Care Services of Ventura County Inc.- Ombudsman Program, $8,707

•OASIS, $3,744

•Palmer Drug Abuse Program, $5,255

•RAIN Project- operations, $5,506

•Turning Point Foundation, $4,382

•FOOD Share, $9,844

•Society of St. Vincent de Paul- Winter Warming Shelter, $9,584