LAKEPORT – The Lakeport City Council has a packed agenda for its Tuesday meeting, with the general plan, fireworks and support for a longstanding murder investigation up for consideration.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

On March 24, the council held a lengthy hearing on its draft general plan, which has been several years in the making. However, Councilman Jim Irwin was absent from the discussion, which prompted the council to put off a decision on the document until all members could be present.

The general plan is an important planning document for the city, which lays out priorities and guidelines for growth and development over a 20-year window.

The council also is set to take up another hot topic, that of the use of safe and sane fireworks, and review its fireworks ordinance.

At the March 24 meeting, the council denied applications from four local nonprofits – that have been allowed each year to sell the fireworks as a fundraiser – based on Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells' concerns about fire danger in a drought year.

However, city staff said at the council's April 7 meeting that they want direction from the council about the future of the ordinance, which allows the fireworks to be sold.

The council also will consider a request from the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce to enter

into contract for the July 4 fireworks display.

Another item of special community concern will be the request from Kevin Burke, the city's interim city manager and police chief, to grant an exemption from the city's hiring freeze to allow Burke to hire a part-time investigator.

As Lake County News report on Friday, Burke is seeking to bring in a retired homicide investigator to take over handling the Barbara LaForge murder case. LaForge's murder on an October morning in 2002 in downtown Lakeport remains unsolved. Burke has not yet named the investigator he wishes to hire at a cost of $35,104 for one year.

In other council business, the council will consider and adopt a resolution establishing the “golden handshake” early retirement program. The resolution will allow the city to go forward with offering early retirement, with two years additional services credit, to employees over age 50 who are eligible. The measure is meant to help avoid layoffs and save the city money.

The council also will review Measure I Committee applications and appoint members to the committee, approve a redevelopment agency loan agreement for housing pre-development loan for Avalon Cottages LLC., and consider applications for the June Hope Fellowship for Youth/Children Outreach and the Cinco De Mayo celebration.

Following the open portion of the meting, the council also will hold a closed session to discuss existing litigation, City of Lakeport v. Vincent, and a performance evaluation of the city manager.

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