LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council gave its unanimous support on Tuesday night to a staff proposal to seek a $600,000 state grant to make improvements to the Forbes Creek trail.
The trail improvement project would be made as part of phase two of the development plan for Westside Community Park, where the trail is located, according to Richard Knoll, the city's special projects coordinator.
Knoll took to the council a proposed resolution to approve the application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation's Recreational Trails Program.
If the city were to receive the grant, it would require a 12-percent match, or about $72,000, in city funds, Knoll said.
In July, the state announced the availability of the grant funding, which Knoll told the council totals a “fairly substantial amount” for trail projects.
The report Knoll submitted to the council for the Tuesday meeting explained that up to $4 million may be requested per application. To be eligible, trails must be separated from a road and not within a road right-of-way.
Knoll said the city previously received a grant of more than $100,000 from the state's Recreational Trails Program for the first phase of the Forbes Creek trail.
He said a fast track application is under way for the new grant funding.
His written report stated that the funding considers eligible developments to include construction of new trails, development of trailhead facilities including parking lots and staging areas, benches, interpretive signage and drinking fountains, with landscaping generally not considered unless needed to prevent erosion and trail degradation.
Knoll said the proposal is for a total of 1,700 linear feet of trail, which would be continued from the current trail near the proposed beach volleyball court along the west side of the parking area.
He said it would be 12 feet wide, and most likely would be asphalt paving. Another spur of the trail would be 8 feet wide.
“Another big component of the project is the trailhead parking facilities,” said Knoll.
Improvements to that area – where parking already exists on a surface of asphalt grindings – would include 134 parking spots, he said.
The project would solve environmental concerns, including dust issues, and would include surface water drainage improvements, Knoll said.
Knoll said the city would use the grant funds to install at least two water fountains, 10 benches and four double fixture trailhead parking lot lights. “There isn't any lighting out there now.”
Councilwoman Stacey Mattina asked about bike racks. Knoll said the plan didn't include any but he said they would add them.
Other improvements Knoll anticipated the funds being used for included striping, signage and bollards.
In response to a question from Councilman Marc Spillman about how soon the money would be available if it was awarded, Knoll estimated at least 18 months out.
“This is a big opportunity for Lakeport that we ought to pursue,” said Knoll. Even though there may be many other projects with which Lakeport has to compete, Knoll added, “I think you have to take a run at these kinds of things.”
Mattina asked if the improvements would result in additional expenses under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA.
Knoll said the original CEQA document on the park was done about 10 years ago. “It's an old document and the city really out to update that,” he said, adding he thinks city staff can do it in-house.
Wilda Shock, whose family has donated funds for improving the park, told the council that community members are willing to fund items like bike racks, drinking fountains and benches. “I think those are very easy to leverage.”
She said the grant would facilitate the next step in development of a great recreational facility. “It's a great amenity for our community and our visitors.”
Mayor Martin Scheel said he was comfortable with having the city come up with the $72,000 match, noting it's a small price for what the grant ultimately would bring to the city.
“For me it's a win-win,” he said.
Spillman moved to approve the resolution supporting the grant application, with Mattina seconding and the council approving 5-0.
Also on Tuesday, the council adopted program guidelines for the Community Development Block Grant Business Assistance Loan Program; awarded a $724,491 contract to Synagro for the City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District's oxidation ponds sludge removal project, which is being paid for by funding through US Department of Agriculture Rural Development; and approved a plan for restructuring the city's unfunded accrued actuarial liability under the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.
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Lakeport City Council approves grant application to improve Forbes Creek trail
- Elizabeth Larson
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