City staff told the Mount Shasta City Council on Oct. 31 that the city has submitted a draft grant narrative, preliminary budget and project pipeline to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for a Castle Creek daylighting project and expects agency comments in time to meet the program's Dec. 1 grant deadline.

"We have submitted a draft grant narrative, preliminary budget and, pipeline to Sierra Nevada Conservancy for the Castle Creek daylight," said Todd, a city staff member. Todd said the program's maximum award is $500,000 and described the funding as intended to pay for planning and engineering work ahead of seeking construction funding.

Todd also said staff continue to meet regularly with developer representatives. He said developers proposed moving forward with housing "on the landing property on the East Side Of Mountcastle Boulevard" and suggested structuring the project so that "consistent with Air Force Land Act, 25% of that, as being affordable." Todd said developers also raised ideas to advance workforce housing.

Staff characterized the Sierra Nevada Conservancy application as a planning-stage grant that would improve the city's chances of winning later construction funds; no construction funding was identified at the meeting. The council did not take formal action or vote on the grant or on any developer proposal during the session, and staff said they expect to receive feedback from the grant program and return with further details prior to the Dec. 1 deadline.