Funding

CITY HALL — Community development officials on Tuesday will send a proposed federal spending plan that includes less money for social service nonprofits to the City Council and Housing Authority for final approval. Most of the $6 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is earmarked for ongoing housing assistance and homeless services, but it is the relatively small $480,000 allotment for social service nonprofits that is sure to receive the lion’s share of attention and political scrutiny next year.

The first of three community forums meant to examine challenges faced by Glendale Unified will take place 7 p.m. Wednesday at Crescenta Valley High School. Supt. Dick Sheehan is scheduled to speak about new developments in curriculum and assessment, while also addressing technology and infrastructure upgrades funded by Measure S. The district's budget outlook is also on the agenda. “A couple of years earlier in this budget crisis, when the district was faced with making significant cuts, parents asked why we didn't come to them sooner,” Sheehan said.

Even though Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic lawmakers failed this week to reach a deal on public worker pensions, the Legislature may be ready to approve billions of dollars in spending on high-speed rail and related projects. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) told reporters on Tuesday that lawmakers would vote on the funding this week. Legislative approval would be a victory for Brown, who has championed high-speed rail despite uniform opposition from Republicans and scattered concerns among Democrats.

The plan to build a bullet train has so many funding uncertainties and so many other details that remain unclear that the state should delay any decision this year to commit billions of dollars to the project, the nonpartisan research branch of the Legislature recommended Tuesday. The tough advice came on the day before two key legislative committees are to examine the plan and an accompanying request by Gov. Jerry Brown for funding to start a $6-billion construction segment in the Central Valley.

DOWNTOWN — The Glendale Unified School District will dig into its own funds to pay for the completion of a previously state-funded construction project at Columbus Elementary School, the Board of Education decided Tuesday. Trustees agreed with administrators, who suggested that the district use leftover funds from Measure K — a $186-million bond measure for facilities improvements passed by voters in 1997 — to makeup for the interruption of funding from the state, Supt.

A mental health agency that services clients throughout the Southland has experienced a deluge of clients in Glendale since opening here last summer, far outpacing its 10 other locations in Los Angeles and Orange counties. “We realized there was a need, because there is not a comparable agency providing mental health facilities for children and adults, but we had no idea how pent up the need was,” said Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services President Kita Curry. Since opening in May 2011, the nonprofit has seen about 50% more people in Glendale than Didi Hirsch's next largest site in Inglewood.

The state Senate voted to fund California's ambitious high-speed rail project on Friday, handing a major victory to Gov. Jerry Brown and the Obama administration. The $8-billion legislation will fund the project's first stretch, covering 130 miles from Madera to Bakersfield. The project had become increasingly controversial as Democratic senators from around San Francisco and Los Angeles asked why construction was was set to start with a 130-mile stretch in the Central Valley.

Tim Willert NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- The state has restored $4 million in funding for 10 domestic violence shelters, including one operated by the Glendale YWCA. The YWCA will receive $414,000 over the next two years to operate its shelter, which offers a variety of services, including a 24-hour hotline, a 45-day crisis center and two traditional housing programs "This is excellent news," YWCA Interim Executive Director Wayne Page said Tuesday.

Federal funding cuts continue to impact the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge, where 40 workers were laid off last week, the latest notch in a prolonged period of cutbacks for the agency. It was the second round of layoffs this year for NASA's JPL, which cut its workforce by 250 people in February and March, agency spokeswoman Veronica McGregor said. The latest round of layoffs affected the business and facilities divisions, McGregor said. No science or research jobs were affected, she added.

CITY HALL — Nearly $500,000 in federal grants are headed to 16 local social service programs after the City Council on Tuesday voted 4-1 to confirm its funding recommendations. Local homeless shelters, food banks, youth work programs and immigrant services will share $487,920 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the annual rite of Community Development Block Grant funding allocations after a relatively seamless hearing Tuesday. Since funding requests from the nonprofit sector typically far outstrip HUD’s annual allotment to Glendale, competition for funds sometimes provokes political battles and infighting, but not this time.

The Glendale Unified School District is going after a grant of almost $3 million to boost its science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs. The federal grant became available this spring as most states prepare to adopt new federal standards that further emphasize the programs, commonly known as STEM. Worth $2.99 million, the five-year grant would benefit Clark Magnet High School as well as Roosevelt, Rosemont, Toll and Wilson middle schools. As Glendale school officials wait for federal approval to turn in the grant's full application, they have submitted a seven-page pre-application and started considering how millions of dollars could benefit Glendale schools.

A business leadership summer camp for girls came under fire this week as the City Council, acting in its dual role as the Housing Authority, decided how to divvy up shrinking federal funds for public social services. Councilman Ara Najarian said he didn't want to give "Camp Rosie: Rosie Goes to Wall Street" $10,000 of community development block grant funds because the program, although beneficial, is run by a city commission with a $60,000 fund balance. "The idea is to give it to the have-nots and not the haves," Najarian said.

If Teri Hatcher could snag a few items from her own celebrity yard sale, they would include a cashmere sweater from Ellen DeGeneres' closet and a pair of "really sexy" high heels from "Modern Family" star Julie Bowen. "Hollywood is definitely a generous community," the "Desperate Housewives" actress said of the stars - from Al Pacino to Gwen Stefani - who donated to her Juvenile Arthritis Assn. fundraiser at the Americana at Brand Saturday. "And everybody likes a yard sale. " PHOTOS: Yard sale at Americana at Brand hosted by Teri Hatcher   While shoppers could bid on a signed portrait of Jason Alexander in his underpants in a cracked frame or peruse booths selling cupcakes and designer clothes, there were no old lampshades or hand-me-down dishware.

Meatball, the famed Glendale bear, seems to be adjusting to his new life in San Diego County, snacking on Little Debbie strawberry shortcake rolls and peanut butter-and-honey sandwiches - but his new caretakers say they are short of the money needed for a new habitat for the 500-pound bruin. Also known as "Glen Bearian," the black bear spent his first months at Lions, Tigers & Bears in a 15-by-20-foot caged quarantine area, and then in a 12-foot-by-18-foot "safety bedroom" near three other bears.

Councilman Rafi Manoukian's committee against a ballot measure that would make the city treasurer's position an appointed rather than elected position is in debt to the tune of $10,865. Manoukian, the sole candidate for treasurer, has spent $12,965 on mailers, advertisements, signs, phone calls and voter lists, but has raised just $2,100 - all of it from himself and his parents, according to the latest campaign disclosure forms filed last week. Manoukian said a fundraiser he had after the disclosure forms were due should cover much of the expenditures, which are all on credit cards.

Did Pat Boone receive a speaker's fee for his appearance at the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, or was he just allowed to use that forum to sell his most recent book? The whole concept of a prayer breakfast rubs me the wrong way. The mayor (and the city council) should pay attention to city business. They can pray on their own time, in their own church. Don't use any city funds to pray for guidance. David Foster Glendale

A preliminary Los Angeles County civil grand jury report unsealed this week criticizes Glendale for using its utility as a "piggy bank" to cover budgetary shortfalls and heralds a more thorough review in the months ahead. The report, which was released Monday, comes a week before the April 2 election, when voters will decide whether to approve Measure B, a city ballot measure that would change how the city collects tens of millions of dollars from the electricity fund of Glendale Water & Power.

With across-the-board federal spending cuts constricting an already tight budget, officials in charge of restoring thousands of acres in the Angeles National Forest left damaged by the 2009 Station fire are turning to nonprofits for help. Although the U.S. Forest Service hasn't calculated how sequestration will impact specific regional programs, the agency is facing a 5.2% overall reduction of its budget. The cuts are expected to result in the temporary closure of approximately 670 campgrounds, trail heads and picnic sites across the country during the upcoming peak season, although where specific closures will occur is still being determined.

Glendale's planned affordable housing development that will focus on veterans is getting a funding boost from the county. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday in gave the project $850,000 in county funds as part of a motion to issue $11 million to eight affordable housing developments across the county. They gave the recommendation a first reading, and the motion will be voted on at next Tuesday's meeting. Veterans Village, located at 327-331 W. Salem St., will include 44 units that give priority to veterans who qualify for low-income housing.

At the first Glendale Unified school board election forum of the season Wednesday night, candidates discussed districtwide diversity, language programs and commemorating the Armenian genocide. About 20 people attended the event hosted and televised by the Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee. All candidates said they supported making April 24 - the day commemorating the Armenian genocide - a non-instructional day, effectively giving students the day off while district staff and teachers work on professional development and other matters.