LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council will hold a public hearing to determine how to use funds it’s seeking through a grant program meant to help address the impacts of the pandemic.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2.
The meeting will be by teleconference only. The city council chambers will not be open to the public.
The agenda can be found here.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799. The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the City Clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments prior to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 2.
Indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council prior to the meeting.
On Tuesday, the council will receive an informational presentation from the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake.
The council’s main item of business during the meeting will be to hold a public hearing as part of the process for seeking funds through the Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act – or CDBG-CV – program.
The council is expected to approve two new funding allocation and direct staff to proceed with the preparation of a CDBG-CV rounds 2 and 3 program application for the recommended purpose.
In her report to the council, Community Development Director Jenni Byers explained that the purpose of the public hearing is to solicit ideas from the public and provide direction to city staff on potential programs to include in the city’s CDBG-CV application.
She said activities allowed under the grant are a response to COVID-19 impacts, including short-term subsistence payments for households at risk of eviction and/or homelessness and housing costs for those exiting homelessness, homeless shelter operations, and health and education support services; public facility and infrastructure improvements; public facility acquisition, including health care facilities, emergency shelters and housing for persons experiencing homelessness in response to COVID-19 impacts; housing assistance; business assistance to help businesses retain employees or, for those businesses restarting after mandated COVID-19 related shutdowns, adding employees; and microenterprise assistance for businesses impacted by COVID-19 with five or fewer employees, including the business owner.
Byers said the city held an online community meeting on Jan. 21 and also released a survey to organizations, individuals and businesses requesting their input for the funding’s use.
She said 57 people responded and provided input. “The majority of responses indicated a positive response to using the funds for Economic Development activities such as business assistance and microenterprise assistance (5 or fewer employees), followed by Public Service (specifically rental assistance) and finally Public Facility and Infrastructure with a COVID nexus.
The survey will remain open here until Feb. 2 at 3 p.m. and staff will provide a discussion of those responses, she said.
Byers said city staff has met and discussed the potential of utilizing CDBG-CV monies to provide business assistance and to replace the HVAC system at the Silveira Community Center where ongoing COVID-19 testing is occurring three days a week under a memorandum of understanding with the Lake County Health Department. The center may also be used as a vaccination site for the residents of Lakeport.
She said city staff recently learned of a program that the state will be implementing to provide rental assistance for up to 12 months. “Therefore, rather than duplicate efforts, staff would recommend residents utilize the state program as individuals would not be able to receive CDBG funds and the State funding.”
Byers said staff recommends that $191,394 be allocated towards economic development activities and the remaining $50,000 be allocated under public facilities and infrastructure to replace the failing HVAC system so that residents may continue to have a local site for COVID-19 testing.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development, which oversees the state CDBG program, has noted that CDBG-CV monies should be expended quickly to address COVID-19-related needs.
“A program to provide business assistance and install the HVAC can be achieved quickly and would be made available to various community organizations involved in combating the effects of COVID-19 in our local area,” Byers said.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on Jan. 19; warrants; and receipt and filing of the draft minutes of the Measure Z Advisory Committee meeting on Jan. 20.
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.
Lakeport City Council to hold hearing on COVID-19 funding uses
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On