The Simi Valley City Council voted Monday to give nearly $750,000 in community development grants to 22 local nonprofit organizations.

The money comes as part of the annual federally-funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program available to eligible nonprofit agencies. The organizations that will benefit this year range from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Simi Valley to those that help the homeless, feed the hungry and offer other community services such as bereavement counseling.

This year, however, the council was faced with a unique problem. Due to a reported miscommunication, 10 agencies that applied for the CDBG money failed to appear for a mandatory public hearing on March 21.

The council members grappled with how to be fair to the agencies that attended the earlier meeting and those who missed it. Ultimately, they voted to fund nearly every agency’s request.

"In all the years I’ve been up here (on the city council dais), I think it’s been 10, I’ve never seen so many absentees," said Paul Miller, Simi Valley mayor.

Miller said he didn’t want any of the organizations that weren’t at the meeting to be penalized.

Other council members agreed.

"If the money is available to allocate, why not fund them?" said Michelle Foster.

The city council turned away the Simi Valley Community Care Center, which applied for two grants. The nonprofit group asked for $36,000 to pay the salaries of two child care workers it planned to add to its staff of three, and $300,000 to purchase property and a building for the center’s permanent home.

Maria Hamilton, founder and director of the center, told the council she just made an offer to buy property at Barnard and Tapo streets. The offer was accepted and escrow is set to close in mid-July, Hamilton said.

But the council refused to fund the center because of alleged fire code problems with the current building, located at 1462 Los Angeles Ave., and concern over whether the center could relocate. The money for the additional child care workers was denied.

The council told Hamilton to comply first with all government regulations concerning the workers and then they’d consider her request.

CDBG monies are paid as reimbursement when agencies present proof that items have been purchased or when work has been performed. If the monies aren’t spent, they can be used for next year’s CDBG program.

The city council told Hamilton to apply for a community development grant next year.

"I don’t know what to do now," Hamilton said later. "I’m hoping the Lord will open the doors."

The Simi Valley Community Care Center provides food, job training and English classes for low-income families. It serves about 2,000 people, said Hamilton.