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Treasurer reports lower year-end cash; council approves increased grant-writing contract and an active-transportation grant award
Summary
City Treasurer reported a drop in cash from Dec. 2023 to Dec. 2024; council approved a contract amendment for grant-writing services and accepted a $300,000 SCAG active-transportation award (partial of requested $700,000).
The City Treasurer reported year-end cash balances that were lower at Dec. 31, 2024 than a year earlier, and council approved two items tied to grant programs and grant-writing support.
At the meeting the city treasurer reviewed cash-by-account tables comparing Dec. 2023 and Dec. 2024. The treasurer reported general-account cash of $100,406,644 at December 2023 and $77,083,629 at December 2024, a variance of $23,323,015 reported by staff. The successor-agency account fell from $17,533,756 to $5,000,410 (a variance of about $12.1 million), and staff reported the combined column differences totaled roughly $35,000,616. City staff described the overall city cash position as “strong” and noted liquidity remained sufficient for short-term needs.
On the consent calendar the council approved a limited amendment to the city’s contract with Blaze & Associates (grant writing services) to increase the not-to-exceed amount by roughly $30,000. Acting staff said the city’s use of grant-writing services has yielded significant funding — staff cited the SAFER grant program and other awards and said grant revenue in recent years has funded positions and programs (staff referenced approximately $6 million from one multi-year SAFER award).
The council also accepted a Sustainable Communities / Active Transportation safety grant administered through SCAG. Staff said Montebello requested $700,000 for a cycle-safe corridor project on Whittier Boulevard and received a partial award of $300,000. SCAG prioritized “quick-build” elements such as wayfinding, striping and lighting rather than full paving; staff said the Madison Neighborhood Way project remained on a contingency list for potential future funding.
Councilmembers approved the grant-related items by roll call. Councilmember Scarlett Peralta moved the amendment to the Blaze contract and Mayor Pro Tem Temayo seconded; the motion passed unanimously. Peralta also moved acceptance of the SCAG award, with Temayo seconding; that motion also passed unanimously.
