MOORPARK TO PICK USE OF REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS.

Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer

With roughly $1.3 million in redevelopment funds, city officials are considering how the money will be spent next year on projects that may range from storm drain construction to street improvements to a pedestrian bridge.

``There's a multitude of projects that we could support,'' said Steve Hayes, redevelopment manager for the Moorpark Redevelopment Agency. ``We have already helped out with a number of projects that, overall, are for the city's benefit.''

Talks are under way on how the money will be allocated next year, with public works projects and the redevelopment agency's overhead costs among the considerations.

Public works projects in need of funding include storm-drain construction on Spring Road and Moorpark Avenue, as well as street improvements on Poindexter Avenue, Hayes said. Redevelopment money may also help fund a pedestrian bridge across the Arroyo Simi.

The Moorpark Redevelopment Agency was formed to eliminate blight in project areas through construction, creating jobs and increasing the economic base in the city, Hayes said.

The agency's project area was defined in 1989, and the agency became active in 1993.

The agency agreed to share its tax-increment revenues with school districts and other public agencies in the community, Hayes explained.

Since then, the group has allocated more than $220,000 to Moorpark's schools and other public agencies, officials said.

``It (the agency) has helped fix problems in the city that fall within its charter,'' Moorpark Mayor Paul Lawrason said. ``It's improved blighted areas and other areas that need improvement.''

By the end of this month, officials said, the agency will have given $220,589 to the following agencies:

Moorpark Unified School District, $120,649; Moorpark Mosquito Abatement District, $62,216; Ventura County Community College District, $33,178; and Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, $4,545.

Payments to the library, fire and flood control districts are deferred about 10 years, Hayes said.

The agency has also paid for major projects in the city including $360,000 for High Street improvements, including the pedestrian park and street lights.

Roughly $226,924 has been spent on park improvements, and another $51,500 to upgrade the Boys' and Girls' Club of Moorpark.

After the money is allocated, the agency does not control how each agency spends their share, Hayes said.

``It gives us a funding source to provide them with the tools they need,'' Hayes said. ``Many of these projects would not be under way without agency assistance.''

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: (CONEJO only) Paul Lawrason

Mayor lists projects