Memorandum
Date: February 25, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Susan Parker, County Administrative Officer
Stephen L. Carter, Jr., Assistant County Administrative Officer
Matthew Rothstein, Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer
Subject: (a) Consideration of Priorities for FY 2026 Community Project Funding; and (b) Discussion and Direction to Staff on Which Priorities to Further Pursue for Potential Submittal to Congressman Thompson
Executive Summary:
On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, the County received a Letter from Congressman Mike Thompson inviting Community Project Funding requests. As with the FY 2025 cycle, the letter noted Final Guidance from the Appropriations Committee had not been developed, and that remains the case. Congressman Thompson is asking that priorities be submitted by end of day (Friday) March 7, 2025.
Staff reached out to County Department Heads and others seeking input on projects that could be granted priority for the County's FY 2026 submittal(s).
Past successful submittals have generally been well-established, community supported projects (e.g., Armory Repurposing Project, Middle Creek Restoration Project, update to the Full Circle Effluent Pipeline Project Feasibility Study, the Kelseyville Sidewalk Project, and Clearlake Burns Valley Sports Complex/Recreation Center, including a joint request from the County, both Cities).
As noted in the attached Letter, "Members of Congress are limited to submitting 15 Community Project Funding requests," responsive to needs across the entirety of their Districts. There is no guarantee all requests submitted will be funded, and strong local support for projects is frequently pivotal in the Committee on Appropriations' competitive evaluation process. Congressman Thompson's Letter further advises, "this year's environment will be especially challenging," so it is critical only the highest priority projects are submitted for consideration.
In total, thre...
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