Grover Beach discusses plans of park property and sewage system updates

GROVER BEACH, Calif. - Locals in Grover Beach are questioning a decision made by city leadership about where to direct grant money.

The City of Grover Beach recently made a decision to re-allocate more than 3 million dollars of grant funds.

That grant money will now be used to improve Ramona Garden Park.

“There were a number of different possible projects. We couldn't apply for all those different uses. The council needed to winnow down to a few for that application period,” says Matthew Bronson, Grover Beach city manager.

Local residents are questioning this decision.

They believe the funding should go towards fixing the city’s aging sewage system. 

“We have old sewers. They need to be upgraded, but not at the cost of the taxpayers,” says Brenda Auer, broker for Auer Realty.

“It wasn't a matter of prioritizing one or the other. It was a matter of what was the best fit with that particular grant cycle and the information we had from the state was that the Park project was a better fit in 2024,” says Bronson.

City leadership confirms the decision to direct CDBG funding from 2024 toward the city's parks, and they have directed their staff to bring the issue of sewage system updates forward for the next CDBG program in 2025. 

“Even if we had applied for the sewer project with last year's grant process, the amount of money received would be far less than what we need with our sewer system overall. So there is still a need to increase sewer rates to be able to address our sewer needs going forward,” says Bronson.