(Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city’s expenditures appearing on upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agendas. Many of the items have been part of public discussion in the past.) CITY HALL The City Council is expected to spend nearly $700,000 tonight to help low-income residents make home improvements and improve customer service at the Big Blue Bus.
Elected officials are being asked to extend a contract with Comprehensive Housing Services, Inc. (CHS), which has been in charge of administering the Residential Rehabilitation Program for the last three years, according to a city staff report.
The extension is being recommended so that CHS can complete six rehabilitation projects that should be completed by the end of the year, as well as the rehabilitation of 11 mobile homes at Mountain View Mobilehome Park.
City Hall has operated the rehabilitation program since 1996, providing financial assistance for a variety of repairs to low-income homeowners and property owners renting to low-income tenants. Priority has been given to multi-family properties housing Section 8 tenants; multi-family properties where at least 51 percent of the tenants qualify as low income to moderate income; low income owner-occupants that are over 62 years of age; and low income disabled households.
To better serve the public and keep cash coming in, Big Blue Bus is asking the council for $447,507 to purchase new software and fareboxes that will be able to read the new $20, $10 and $5 bills.
New software is needed to accommodate a change in fares and the creation of a day pass. Reprogramming the existing software would result in a minimum delay of six months at an estimated cost of $20,000, according to a city staff report.
Combined with lost revenues from the delayed fare change, the shortfall would be approximately $800,000.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 19, 2007. Read the original PDF.