Staff outlines $15 million in active grants; council hears proposed reallocations and project timing

City staff presented an overview of 13 active grants totaling about $15 million, summarizing funding sources, current project status and near-term tasks.

Melissa, the city’s grant manager, said the largest awards are from the State Water Board for water-distribution system improvements and related design work. She outlined near-term activity on road and pedestrian-safety projects (Mount Shasta Boulevard partial completion, Lake Street planning with a STIP grant, and ongoing Safe Streets work), senior snow-removal services out to bid, and an ongoing parks and recreation grant under which staff anticipate funds will be reallocated to better meet community needs.

Staff also discussed a grant with multiple subprojects that includes visitor-center work, City Hall plaza landscaping, and an originally budgeted paving project for a Chestnut Street lot. Staff described informal, state-level approval to shift some allocations from paving to other priorities such as a parking plan and roof repairs at the visitor center; staff said they would prepare any required reallocation paperwork and budget adjustments.

Council members asked for further discussion about specific allocations and agreed to review Prop 68 (labeling in transcript: the "prop 60 8" reference) funds at the finance committee. Staff said three projects are expected to complete in the 2025–26 fiscal year, and that the water-distribution construction may begin imminently. The Landing master-plan grant will run through 2027, giving time to complete master planning and outreach.

Staff noted grants require substantial staff time and cross-department coordination; the presentation was informational and council did not take a separate vote on the grant portfolio during the meeting. Council members requested further review of the visitor-center and Chestnut-parking reallocations at upcoming finance-committee meetings.