The need to replace a handicapped lift at Lincoln Pool could trump work on city-owned parking lots in downtown - at least for now.

The Manteca City Council is conducting a hearing tonight during their 7 p.m. meeting to consider transferring $10,800 from federal Community Development Block Grant funds set aside for the parking lot work to the pool project. The council meets at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St.

City Manager Karen McLaughlin said the city still intends to move forward with the downtown work this year.

The problem is part of the money set aside has to be spent by June 30 or else the federal government could take it back. At the same time the pool lift is not compliant with newer American Disabilities Act standards.

Both the swimming pool and downtown area are located within a census tract that qualifies as low- to moderate-income. That is a federal requirement for spending the CDBG funds.

The block grant funds are given to cities each year. Local officials then must determine how best to spend the money.

McLaughlin said the parking lot rehab project would not be ready to go to bid by June 30 due to other public works priorities. That would place the city at risk of losing the money.

She noted the funds can’t be used for maintenance type of work -such as filling in potholes. Instead it has to go toward the reconstruction of a parking lot under federal guidelines such as what happened at Lincoln Park last year.