Lake Rec update: joint powers authority prioritizes trails and scaled aquatic projects, urges grants over taxes for now

Mayor Disney presented an update on the Lake County Recreation Agency (Lake Rec), a regional Joint Powers Authority (JPA) formed to expand recreation access across the county, at the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 19.

The JPA — a partnership among the County of Lake, the city of Lakeport and the city of Clearlake — has completed needs assessments and feasibility studies since 2021 and formed a seven-member board with county and city representatives. Mayor Disney outlined priority projects identified in feasibility work: the Burns Valley Recreation Center in Clearlake, a west-side aquatic center (pool) for the Lakeport area, and the Mount Konokhtai trail system as a relatively low-cost way to expand access. The JPA has also organized regional programming, camps and events to activate existing park resources.

Funding remains the chief constraint. Mayor Disney said Lake Rec currently has no dedicated revenue source; the county previously set aside $2,000,000 for recreation but has not allocated it to a specific project. Polling presented to the JPA found 87% voter support for more recreation funding overall but lower support (about 62%) for an added tax measure, which presenters said made a ballot measure difficult in the recent cycle. Given limited staff and ongoing operational costs of large facilities, the JPA is prioritizing lower-cost projects, trail activation and grant-seeking while keeping larger facilities (pools, rec centers) as long-term goals and discussing scaled designs to reduce construction and maintenance burdens.

Supervisors asked for more granular cost options and expressed concern about long-term operations funding; Supervisor Swatili pressed whether bond or tax options had been fully explored and urged concrete funding options. Mayor Disney said polling and feasibility work have been done and that the JPA is focusing near-term on grant opportunities and projects that require less ongoing operating subsidy.

Public commenters raised cultural and volunteer issues. Kyle Bill, executive director of Konokitai Native Wellness, urged the JPA to consult tribal communities about Mount Konokhtai, calling it a sensitive cultural site and asking for respectful engagement. Margo Kambara recommended maximizing volunteer involvement for trail work and reducing barriers such as onerous insurance requirements; county staff responded that certified county volunteers can be covered by county workers’ compensation after vetting.

No funding allocations or tax measures were approved at the meeting. The JPA will continue feasibility work, seek grants and present options for budget consideration.

Why it matters: Expanding recreation infrastructure and programming can affect county quality of life, tourism and health outcomes, but construction and ongoing operations have long-term budget implications that the county must reconcile with limited staff and funding.