Panel suggests block-grant link with plans

An ad hoc mayoral committee studying the use of federal community development block grants in Spokane has concluded that City Hall could do a better job of planning the spending of that money. But it says the current system of using citizen input for a portion of the grant allocation has been working well.

About $1 million in community development block grants is divvied up through recommendations of neighborhood steering committees, which have requested money for park development, sidewalk repair, street trees and projects at nonprofit agencies. Kehoe Park in Hillyard and Polly Judd Park on the South Side are examples of projects that have benefited from community development grants.

In all, the city gets about $4.3 million in federal community development money, with housing rehabilitation making up a portion of that.

Mayor Dennis Hession appointed a 10-member committee in May to review the way the city is spending the money and to consider how that money could be used to increase economic development in neighborhoods.

Initially, the mayor’s effort was met with complaints from people who believed the current system of allocating the federal money was working well. Volunteers involved in community development have turned out at public hearings in recent weeks to argue that the system has been working pretty well.

In its report issued last week, the mayoral committee apparently agreed, although it came up with several suggestions for improvements.

“Spokane funds more projects each year than many comparable cities,” the committee said in its report issued last Thursday.

The committee also found that “neighborhood volunteerism is extensive and passion is incredible. Citizen participation is to be commended.”

However, the committee recommended that City Hall come up with ways to measure the effectiveness of the block grant spending and to integrate the spending with strategic plans. The committee also suggested looking for ways that community development money could be spent in conjunction with foundations or other private interests.

In addition, the committee recommended creation of a “redevelopment authority” to oversee the development of affordable housing. It also criticized City Hall for using the block grants for programs such as park development that should be funded with local tax money.

During a meeting last Thursday, committee member Mark Hurtubise commended Hession, who is running for election this fall, for seeking improvements in the grant spending.

“It took courage to do this in an election year,” Hurtubise said.