Council approves federal public-service allocation cut; staff clarifies housing and asbestos items

The El Centro City Council approved a consent-agenda item that adjusts federally funded public-service awards after the city’s final allocation came in lower than earlier estimates.

City staff told the council that an earlier estimate for the award had been $526,655 but the final allocation was $502,738. Under the funding rules discussed, up to 15% of the allocation is eligible for public services; staff said the city reduced each award proportionally to fit the final allocation. “When we received our final allocation, it was 502,738. For public services, 15% is eligible of the amount we received, and so we shaved down accordingly and evenly amongst the various public services providers,” staff said.

Council members asked clarifying questions about whether items listed on the project summary—such as a line item showing the “purchase of bus shelters” and an “asbestos removal” entry—were tied together. Staff said the bus shelter purchase had not been selected and that council had chosen Frasier Field improvements; asbestos costs are an annual line tied to housing-rehab projects because older housing stock requires asbestos checks during rehab work. Council voted to approve item 9 by voice; the motion passed 5-0.

Staff said other previously awarded amounts to recipients remained unchanged except for the proportional reduction tied to the final allocation. The council did not add new funding or change priorities; it approved the adjusted awards as presented. A council member asked that staff ensure the budget pages and line-item descriptions clearly separate housing rehabilitation asbestos checks from unrelated capital purchases.