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Paramount reports $3 million surplus and expands public‑safety, homeless‑assistance programs
Summary
City Manager John Moreno told the State of the City luncheon that Paramount closed 2024 with a $3 million surplus and has launched new public‑safety and homelessness initiatives, including a nightly neighborhood patrol, a $1 million federal solar grant, and PLHA‑funded rental assistance.
City Manager John Moreno told the Paramount Chamber of Commerce State of the City luncheon that the city closed 2024 with a $3,000,000 surplus and is directing funds and grants to public safety, homelessness services and infrastructure improvements.
"We are in love with Paramount," Moreno said as he opened his remarks, summarizing the city’s stated philosophy that staff work out of civic pride. He described an expanded community engagement program, a redesigned city website, and growth in the city’s social media following to nearly 40,000 across platforms.
On public safety, Moreno announced a private‑security neighborhood patrol that operates nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., the addition of a dedicated motorcycle deputy for traffic enforcement, and six new surveillance cameras at busy intersections. He said an ordinance enacted in 2020 to curb street takeovers has reduced incidents by 37 percent since implementation; the city reported towing 28 vehicles and issuing 88 spectator citations in a recent enforcement period that generated $176,000 in fines. Moreno also said the fireworks suppression program increased enforcement, yielding about 900 pounds of confiscated illegal fireworks and more citations.
The city cited several funding wins and program investments: a $1,000,000 federal grant to start a solar‑panel incentive program, $500,000 from "congresswoman, Beragon" toward the Paramount Park Community Center expansion, and a $70,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente for homeless outreach. The city manager said it also launched a five‑year capital improvement plan and resurfaced over five miles of streets in 2024.
Paramount’s homelessness work was detailed in a video and by Community Preservation Manager Stephen Comparulus, who described the city’s use of Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funding over a five‑year period. "PLHA is funding that we applied for from the state of California and we were granted for a 5 year period of time," Comparulus said in the video. He explained PLHA rental assistance can cover a percentage of rent for a minimum of six months up to two years and that the program aims both to house individuals and prevent homelessness. Moreno reported the 2024 homeless count at 43 people (an 8 percent reduction from 2023), engagement with 93 individuals, 59 connections to shelter services, 18 families accepting housing services and five permanently housed during the year.
Economic development highlights included announcing Sprouts Farmers Market and Panera Bread as tenants planned to open in 2026 at Paramount and Somerset Boulevard, creation of a $2,500 small business scholarship tied to the Chamber’s centennial, and a security rebate program offering up to $1,000 to businesses that install cameras, lights or alarms.
Moreno credited Measure LR — a voter‑approved revenue measure passed in November — with funding public safety resources and community programs; he did not give specific future allocations tied to the surplus. No formal council votes were taken during the luncheon.
The city manager closed by inviting the public to upcoming events and noting that further details on the five‑year capital improvements will be presented in 2026.
