HLVRA holds special meeting Tuesday — pushes funding request forward

The Honey Lake Valley Recreation Authority Board of Directors believe the pool, funded through a Joint Powers Agreement between the city of Susanville and Lassen County, needs more money in order to continue to operate and provide the same service to the community.

Currently, the city and the county each provide $80,000 per year to fund the pool operation. The board seeks at 50 percent increase in funding from each agency — raising the annual contribution for each entity to $120,000 and extend the length of the agreement. The board is comprised of two members of the Susanville City Council, two members of the Lassen County Board of Supervisors and a public member.

According to the staff report, “At the November HLVRA meeting the board approved Resolution No. 24-59 to officially notice Lassen County Board of Supervisors and the City Council of the City of Susanville of their intent to amend the HLVRA agreement.

“On Dec. 4, 2024, the HLVRA executive director took a discussion item before the city council to get their opinion about the amendment. (The) council was very hesitant to endorse any budgetary changes that would affect the general fund. They eventually asked for the last five years of HLVRA accounting records and asked the city manager to look at the budget for next fiscal year to see if an increase to the HLVRA would be viable.

“The city manager accepted the task with the stipulation that it would be several months before he could return with the assessment. At the Dec. 14th board meeting staff recommended that the board table the amendment item until March of 2025.

“However, the board directed staff to move forward with Resolution 24-60 to execute amendment II, but unfortunately an official vote was not taken and in order to move forward Resolution 24-60 to execute amendment II must be passed by four fifths vote of the board.”

Click here to see the agenda and Amendment II.