Nobody should be holding their breath waiting for the federal government to show Thousand Oaks residents the money from the stimulus package.

So far, the city has received authorization for only two items—Dial-a-Ride buses and the building of a bike trail.

After the federal government passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on Feb. 17, city staff went full speed ahead preparing to apply for every cent for which the city would be eligible. On April 21, the City Council approved the financial support required for the city to apply for ARRA formula and competitive grants.

The act was said to include $787 billion for tax relief, unemployment benefits, social programs, education, healthcare, housing assistance, infrastructure and energy.

"We responded in a positive manner and are as wellpositioned as anyone to get a favorable response," Councilmember Dennis Gillette said.

City staff from each department reviewed the 39 competitive grant funding categories and determined there were 21 "shovel ready" projects for which the city was eligible. Projects must create jobs and must be implemented in 120 days and completed in two years.

Twenty of those projects have potential financial obligation requirements by the city, such as matching funds and maintenance costs. The city determined funds were available to cover those costs that were not from the general fund.

A grant for public safety would require money from the general fund to pay for one year of a four-year contract for one police officer and an additional $491,000 salary expense not covered by the grant.

Formula grant applications total $4.5 million. These include grants given out using a formula, usually by population, to determine how much money each municipality gets.

"The formula grants are pretty much assured," said Jay Spurgin, deputy director or public works.

But that doesn't mean there is money in the bank. First the grants have to be officially authorized. Then the city spends the money and is reimbursed, he said.

No one seems to know how the competitive grants will work since many of them have never been awarded before, Spurgin said. "It's complicated."

The city had to wait for various agencies to create the applications. Now those agencies are figuring out how to award the money, he said.

"We haven't gotten specific approvals on any of the competitive grants," Spurgin said.

"We're hearing the agencies don't have the staffing to review the applications," city legislative affairs officer Mina Layba said.

The city has applied for a total of $40 million in competitive grants.

So far, approval has come for five new Dial-a-Ride vehicles from formula grants of $425,000 through the Ventura County Transportation Commission from the federal highway administration.

Another $1.3 million for a Conejo Creek bike path has also been awarded through a formula grant from the federal highway administration.

Other formula grants hoped for include improvements for streets, the waste treatment plant, the library, storm-water drains, water meter replacement, solar projects and retrofitting low-income housing.

Competitive grants sought include fuel reduction of wild land fire hazard areas, stormwater drainage improvement, upgrades to Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant, reservoir painting to replace lead paint, a new pump station and solar projects.