Lodi projects included on McNerney's funding 'wish list'

Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, is asking for $42.5 million of federal money for projects ranging from groundwater cleanup in Lodi to funds for the University of the Pacific.

Lodi City Manager Blair King said it is a long shot to get federal funding, since similar funding requests are being made nationwide.

"We don't have any high expectations," said Lodi City Manager Blair King. "We know this exercise is being repeated 435 times."

Two funding proposals would directly benefit the city of Lodi, while others would benefit the region as a whole.

The city could get $1 million to help finance the cleanup of Lodi's groundwater, which is tainted with PCE and TCE contamination, and another $500,000 toward a police/fire training center at the proposed San Joaquin Delta College satellite campus off Victor Road.

The problem King sees is that Lodi will compete with many communities for groundwater cleanup money. Nevertheless, it's important for McNerney to know what's important to the city of Lodi, King said.

"You can't get anything if you don't ask," he added.

Local congressional budget requests

Among the $42.5 million in federal funds on Rep. Jerry McNerney's wish list:
• Cleanup of PCE and TCE in city of Lodi's groundwater, $1 million.
• Public safety training center on San Joaquin Delta College satellite campus off Victor Road, $500,000.
• Computer improvements for patients at Lodi Memorial Hospital, $400,000.
• San Joaquin County agriculture center in Stockton, $1 million.
• Water storage project for Mokelumne River to recharge groundwater in eastern San Joaquin County, $1 million.
• Construction of infrastructure for the Groundwater Recharge Project for eastern San Joaquin County, $1 million.
• Equipment for San Joaquin County's Emergency Operations Center, $200,000.
• Tests for effectiveness of Delta levees, $1 million.
• Bicycle/pedestrian path along the old Central California Traction line, $400,000.
• New computer-assisted telephone interviewing laboratory for the Business Forecasting Center at University of the Pacific, $400,000.
• Enhancement of the Pacific Natural Resources Institute at University of the Pacific, $500,000.
• Two grade levels added to the San Joaquin County A+ Program, a reading improvement program throughout the county, $500,000.
Source: Rep. Jerry McNerney.

Police Chief Jerry Adams said that the $500,000 proposed for the police/fire training center is substantially less than the $5 million the city requested.

The training center is needed, Adams said, because there are about 8,000 police officer openings in the state. That means there aren't enough training centers in California, he said.

Lodi also stands to benefit from $400,000 McNerney proposes for Lodi Memorial Hospital.

The money would allow patients and their caregivers greater computer access, said hospital Community Development Director Carol Farron. For example, patients could e-mail their nurses or e-mail the kitchen if they don't like their meal.

Patients could also e-mail family and friends from their hospital bed, and they can view their own medical test results, Farron said. They could also request a meal, watch TV and request movies and health videos through the new system, Farron said.

The $400,000 McNerney seeks would finance 100 percent of the hardware and software costs, Farron said. The hospital would contribute by managing the system, she added.

"Congressman McNerney is hopeful that some of these requests will be funded," said his spokesman, Andy Stone.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.