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El Centro council directs CDBG funding to Frasier Field improvements, reallocates small nonprofits' grants
Summary
The El Centro City Council approved staff recommendations to use federal CDBG public facilities funds for improvements at Frasier Field and reallocated public-services grants among local nonprofits, shifting some smaller awards to the senior nutrition program; the measure passed 5-0.
The El Centro City Council voted 5-0 Feb. 18 to adopt staff recommendations for the city’s 2025–26 Community Development Block Grant spending, directing the public facilities and infrastructure allocation to improvements at Eddie White Complex’s Frasier Field and adjusting small public‑service awards among local nonprofits.
The action came after a presentation from Community Services Director Adriana Nava, who told the council the city is budgeting conservatively because federal funding levels “have greatly fluctuated” and HUD staffing changes could reduce the city’s entitlement. “We are basing it off of last year’s entitlement amount, and then we are also being conservative on how much program income we anticipate,” Nava said.
Nava outlined three options for the public‑facilities pot: Frasier Field renovations, purchase of bus shelters, or improvements to McGee Park Community Center. Councilmembers debated which project would best complete work already under way; several members said McGee Park has recently received multiple investments and picking Frasier Field would complete a long‑running series of improvements. Mayor Tomas Oliva said completing a visible project “gets us just one step closer to the lighting project” and increases the chance the work will remain in place for years.
On public services funding, the council directed staff to reallocate the small pool of public‑service CDBG dollars (about $35,498) so the senior nutrition program run by Catholic Charities would receive $20,030, the Catholic Charities homeless day center $11,468 (rounded in staff materials), and SURE Helpline would receive $4,000 specifically to cover staffing. Council discussion emphasized that several applicants are only eligible for CDBG (not other local sources such as Measure P) and that spreading very small awards across numerous providers creates heavy administrative reporting for the city and limited impact for recipients.
Councilmembers and outside speakers, including Ed Preciado of the El Centro Police Athletic League and Chief Sawyer, urged the council to consider additional funding sources for youth athletics; staff and the council agreed to pursue a separate Measure P discussion in committee and the budget process to consider a larger, recurring allocation for PAL.
The council approved the package on a motion by Mayor Tomas Oliva; the clerk recorded the vote 5–0.
Votes at a glance - Consent roll calls for approved warrant and payroll registers (multiple items): passed 5–0 during the meeting’s consent actions. - CDBG allocations and public‑services reallocation described above: passed 5–0.
What happens next Staff will finalize the eligibility analysis needed for CDBG public‑facilities national‑objective documentation and begin the environmental review and procurement steps for the Frasier Field work if the council’s project choice remains the same. Neighborhood outreach and interagency coordination with the school district will continue for project scheduling and maintenance agreements.
