LAKEPORT— The Lakeport City Council, during their Tuesday meeting, discussed potential spending and public outreach options for their Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (FRF.)
Lakeport Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nick Walker said based on the City of Lakeport census data, $1,197,542 has been allocated to the city. The first half in the amount of $598,771 was received on July 13, 2021. The city will receive the second half within 12 months.
The council agreed on some ways the money can be put to use including assisting local nonprofits, assisting with infrastructure and obtaining cleaner drinking water. The council felt they should get public input before making any further recommendations.
“Until the Department of Treasury adopts a final rule on the spending of this money, the city has to follow the interim rules,” Walker said.
A citizen survey will be sent out to get some public input on how the funds should be spent Walker said.
Walker said that in March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law by President Joe Biden and a section of that law made the recovery funds available.
The legislation established the funds for non‐entitlement communities of local government populations of fewer than 50,000, which includes the City of Lakeport.
FRF is intended to provide support to state, local and tribal governments in responding to the impact of COVID‐19.
These funds do not have to be used until Dec. 31, 2024.
Walker said that due to limited staffing, selecting only a few projects would be the best option. He said this way the city can complete the projects within the time limit the funds are available.
Lakeport City Manager Kevin Ingram said the greatest need right now is with infrastructure.
“I don’t see any harm in doing the public engagement to see if we are missing something and bringing it back to council,” Ingram said.
In other council business, an update on Westside Park was presented to the council by Dennis Rollins from the Westside Community Park Committee.
One project Rollins said they recently finished was installing curbs, gutters and sidewalks for the park area. The project cost is around $68,000 according to Rollins.
He added that the committee is currently working on the Lakeport Lions club playground. The committee raised about $20,000 for the park Rollins said. This is additional to the amount the Lions Club has already contributed.
“This week we are going to get the drainage for the drinking fountain,” The curbing to go around the containment area should also happen at the end of this week or the beginning of next week,” Rollins said.
The playground is expected to be installed by the beginning of November. The park committee has also reduced irrigation at the park due to the drought. Rollins added that the committee has been working to complete projects with reduced funding due to COVID-19.
Rollins said the committee is down about $60,000 due to a lack of fundraising because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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
