CLEARLAKE >> The Clearlake City Council unanimously approved reallocating bond funds to help facilitate the Burns Valley School and Civic Center Pedestrian Sidewalk Project.
With an expected total cost of between $800,000 and $1 million, the funds will be used as required matching funds for an Active Transportation Grant from the California Department of Transportation (DOT), which is being applied for by the city.
“We are very optimistic that we will be successful in getting grant,” Clearlake City Manager Joan Phillipe said.
The reallocated funds will come from Series A bonds from the former Clearlake Redevelopment Agency, which was dissolved in 2012 as a result of state budget issues. Series A bonds were issued for project construction, implementation and acquisition, Phillipe explained.
“We have not been able to allocate those funds to projects because of the dissolution process,” Phillipe said. “It was questionable through that process whether or not if we were actually going to be able to retain any of those funds, but we are now in the position … to be able to reallocate the funds.”
The amount of matching funds can secure additional points in the evaluation of those proposals by DOT. Applications are due on June 1.
The project will help with “facilitation of the intersection at Olympic and Lakeshore drives as presented in the Lakeshore Corridor Plan,” according to Phillipe.
Developed by the city and the Lake Area Planning Council, the corridor plan is a project aiming to address safety concerns along Lakeshore Drive.
While both of Clearlake’s schools (Pomo Elementary School and Burns Valley School) are outside of the project study area of this plan, pedestrian and bicycle improvements to and around Lakeshore Drive can help to improve access.
“We are very excited about the project,” Phillipe said. “It ties together the other safety projects we have done around Austin Park and Burns Valley School.”
Clearlake Mayor Denise Loustalot said the project is “a tremendous uplift.”
“This is a very important item that helps us to clean up our own house,” Councilman Russell Perdock said. “We are looking at asking others within our community to clean their yards and do their abatements … We all need to do this.”
Loustalot echoed the same sentiment.
“I think it’s more than better housekeeping, this is something we ask of every business owner when they upgrade and do things,” Loustalot said. “So if we have the chance and opportunity to do it, we need to do it.”
Recommendations regarding the remainder of redevelopment funds will be presented to the council at its May 28 meeting.
A total of nearly $14 million in Series A bonds was received by the city in 2005, according to Clearlake Finance Director Chris Becnel.
“The original bonds were refunded or paid off … then the balance that was remaining was about $6 million,” Becnel said.
The bonds are expected to be paid off by 2030, Becnel said.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
