The uncertainty surrounding the state budget trickled down to the local government Tuesday, when the Hanford City Council withheld its vote on dispursement of grants to various community organizations. The California Legislature ended its 78-day budget impasse in the wee hours Tuesday morning, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promised to veto the budget hours later.

With further cuts in budget possible, Councilman Dave Thomas expressed ambivalence in making a decision, especially a decision to give away the city's discretionary money, until the state budget settles.

"I believe every single one of these organizations are great, and I would love them to get the money they want," said Thomas. "But we need to get the budget fixed before we know exactly how much money we can give out. I'm not ready to give money out and end up sacrificing our employees because of our bad decision."

Councilwoman Marcie Buford moved to delay the vote, and the council voted unanimously to agree.

Each year, the city distributes funding to various agencies to support their causes.

This year nine organizations have submitted funding requests totaling $50,756, but the budget allows for $25,000. On Tuesday, the city council was expected to discuss and determine the amounts of allocation to these organizations while keeping them within the budget.

Among the organizations seeking the city grant are Church of the Savior Soup Kitchen, the Sister City Program, the Burris Park Foundation and the Senior Nutrition Program.

In other business, the city council took action to allow the installation of a four-way stop sign at the intersection of 13th Avenue and Grangeville Boulevard as a temporary traffic control measure. The area is increasingly busy because of the opening of Frontier School and the development of the Hanford Joint Educational Center.

Deputy Public Works Director John Doyel said the measure is similar to what the city has done earlier this summer with 9-1/4 Avenue and Grangeville Boulevard. Both intersections have met the criteria for traffic signals, but four-way stop signs are taking their place as the city awaits the next budget cycle to pay for the installation of signals, Doyel said.

The city council also took following actions Tuesday:

appoint Howard Jay Sands, a retired teacher/counselor at Hanford High School, to the city Planning Commission,

appoint Jack Schwartz, retired city public works director and former planning commissioner, to the GWF Environmental Oversight Committee,

authorized the purchase of a 2008 Scion xB from Valley Toyota for $15,000. The car will be used as part of the attraction to new Gang Resistance Education and Training program the police department has launched this year to replace the DARE program. The department phased out the highly popular program with the retirement of Officer Mark Dillon, who led the program for nearly 20 years.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(Sept. 17, 2008)