Azusa City Council – Special Meeting – Goals for 2023 – 2024

On March 27, the Azusa City Council held a special meeting to discuss goals and priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.

Azusa City Manager Sergio Gonzalez presented ongoing projects and suggestions for the council’s consideration.

Mayor Gonzalez reported that the City had $300,000 remaining from the funds allocated to help local businesses recover from COVID-19 hardships. He proposed allocating $100,000 to an Azusa nonprofit organization that supports veterans, such as the VFW.

However, it is concerning that 60% of the funds originally allocated for local businesses remain unspent. Has the City conducted an outreach campaign or survey to assess the needs of local businesses for a second round of funding?

Regarding the allocation of funds to support veterans, there needs to be transparency in the selection process. The City must outline the criteria and selection process to ensure that all eligible nonprofit organizations or veteran groups have a fair opportunity to apply. These groups should have a verified history of providing the services needed by veterans.

It is crucial that the selection process is unbiased and that no “favorite” nonprofit organizations receive preferential treatment. Ultimately, the City’s priority should be to ensure that the allocated funds are used effectively to support both local businesses and veterans in need.