CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A years-long project to bring additional medical services to the Clearlake area took its next major step forward on Tuesday when Lake County Tribal Health Consortium leadership and board members gathered to break ground on their new Southshore Clinic.

The new 25,000-square-foot outpatient health clinic will be located at 14440 Olympic Drive, between the Clearlake Post Office and DaVita Clearlake Dialysis.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Tribal Health Chief Executive Officer Ernesto Padilla.

Padilla, who in January will mark 10 years with the consortium, has watched the project develop from its earliest inception. He said he remembered when the clinic was first discussed by the leadership and started out as an action item on a project list.

He said he’s excited. “This is a big deal that we’re doing here.”

Bret Woods, Tribal Health’s chief financial officer, said the new clinic will offer primary medical care, pediatrics and dental services, and also will have room for visiting specialists.

Woods said it will roughly double the capacity of Tribal Health’s patient base, and they expect several thousand more people will be able to take advantage of its services.

In addition, Woods said it’s expected to add 45 to 50 new employees, both medical providers and support staff.

The ceremony featured a blessing led by Elem Colony Elder Thomas Brown, who walked a circular path near parked construction equipment while followed by a line of Tribal Health leadership and local officials.

Steve Rugg, Tribal Health’s special projects manager, has worked with the consortium since 1998 and was involved in building its main facility at 925 Bevins Court in Lakeport.

The new clinic will be roughly the same size as the one in Lakeport, he told Lake County News.

He said the Southshore Clinic will be a state-of-the-art facility offering 10 enclosed dental operatories with ultraviolet disinfection to destroy airborne viruses, along with 12 medical exam rooms in four pods that include a separate pod for pediatrics.

Rugg said the clinic also will feature larger treatment rooms, two airborne isolation rooms to keep all employees and clients safe from infectious disease, rooms for telemedicine and an on-site pharmacy so that prescribing and obtaining medication can be a one-stop-shop.

With the help of Realtor Dave Hughes, Tribal Health found the property and completed escrow on it in July 2017. From there, Rugg said the consortium’s board and administrative team embarked on an “ambitious design program,” that began with establishing the basics and then moving into considering every detail.

Embedded in the process – down to the specifics of room sizes, security systems and even cabinet designs – is the knowledge and experience that Tribal Health has amassed in its 40 years of serving Lake County, he explained.

Partnering in the process was NorthStar Designing Solutions of Chico, the architect, along with assistance from civil engineering group Ruzicka Associates of Lakeport. Rugg said Tribal Health entered into a design-assist agreement earlier this year with Hilbers Inc.

Rugg offered a shout-out of praise for the city of Clearlake, which along with different local districts have been very supportive and accommodating of the project, Rugg said. He said they’ve become partners in the clinic’s creation.

Larry Hilberts said Tuesday at the event that his firm is acting as the construction manager and general contractor on the project.

Hilbers said his firm has a 20-year history with Tribal Health, having built its administration building on Bevins Court in Lakeport.

He said they plan to push the 18-month timeline to get it completed earlier. “This is going to be a smooth project.”

Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora said there is a really rich tribal history in Clearlake and there need to be more examples of honoring that history.

Flora said the new clinic will do just that as well as bringing much-needed medical care to the area.

“Thank you for choosing to grow your services here in the city,” Flora said.

Padilla then stepped forward to present Flora with a $25,000 check meant to go toward improvements at the city’s Austin Park, which has been undergoing major improvements for several months.

Flora said the funds will be used for the park’s new bandshell, which will feature the Tribal Health logo.

Padilla noted that Tribal Health is the only health care organization operating locally that is owned by Lake County residents.

One of the clinic’s additional benefits is its location on the side of the lake where 25 percent of the county’s tribal members live, Padilla said.

Woods said the clinic is expected to be completed in the spring of 2022. At that point, they’re looking at another celebration – a grand opening.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.