Lakeport to discuss drought relief

LAKEPORT >> The Lakeport City Council is being asked to approve a grant with the Small Community Drought Relief Program, approve the submission for Competitive Permanent Local Housing Allocation (CPLHA) funding and and to discuss the reuse of the Carnegie Library Building for the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center (CLERC) at tonight’s city council meeting.

The Department of Water Resources is accepting applications for their Small Community Drought Relief Program. The city is looking to apply for the amount of $1 million.

This program is designed for small communities to improve, upgrade or replace infrastructure that can be impacted by drought.

With these funds the city will look to replace the Well at Scotts Creek.

According to the staff report, the well is the second highest producing well in the city and will likely run dry in the fall due to current drought conditions.

The City Council will also receive a presentation from the CLERC and discuss the reuse of the Carnegie Library building.

The Lakeport City staff was contacted by the CLERC to use this building as laboratory space

for a public environmental resources center.

“CLERC is committed to bringing science, education, government, tribal and business groups together to resolve issues involving Clear Lake along with studying the unique properties of the lake and surrounding area,” the staff report states.

The CLERC would look to use the basement floor for offices and laboratory space, and the second floor for community outreach meetings and an environmental information center.

The City Council is being asked to adopt a resolution authorizing the City of Lakeport to submit an application to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (CDHCD) for funding under the CPLHA.

The CPLHA is a new program that is funded under the Building Homes and Jobs Act. Recently, Pacific

Southwest Community Development Corporation reached out to the city and requested they apply for the funding.

The maximum application amount, including administrative costs, for assistance through program activities is $1 million. The minimum application amount shall be $500,000.

These funds, if the city is selected, will assist with the development and construction of new affordable family apartments at 1310 Craig Ave.

City Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Regular Council meetings begin at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 225 Park Street. The public is invited to attend all Council meetings although meetings have also been streamed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information on meetings or to check the minutes of previous meetings, visit https://www. cityoflakeport.com/city_ council/index.php.