LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Tuesday night, the Lakeport City Council approved the contract with Kevin Ingram to serve as Lakeport’s new city manager.
Ingram, named assistant city manager in January as part of the city succession plan, previously served as the city’s Community Development director.
The council’s approval of his contract formalized his hire as of Aug. 1, the day after retiring City Manager Margaret Silveira’s last official day on the job.
City Attorney David Ruderman presented the contract negotiated with Ingram to the council at its virtual Tuesday night meeting.
Ruderman went over the key points of the contract, which runs for an initial term of two years and eight months, from Aug. 1, 2020, to March 31, 2023. The contract automatically renews in additional one-year increments thereafter, unless the city council provides advanced notice of nonrenewal.
The base salary is $140,844, with an annual performance bonus of up to $1,500 and cost of living adjustments that match other at-will city employees, Ruderman reported.
The contract’s terms give Ingram regular CalPERS retirement benefits, life insurance and long-term disability insurance that is equal to that provided to the city’s management employees, 20 days per year of vacation leave, one sick leave day per month, 80 hours of administrative leave each year, a monthly car allowance of $400, a cell phone stipend and technology allowance.
“I’m so pleased that we did the succession planning that we did and we have such a great candidate to take over,” said Councilwoman Stacey Mattina.
Mayor Pro Tem Kenny Parlet, who ran the meeting in the absence of Mayor George Spurr, said he couldn’t agree more with Mattina’s sentiments.
There was no public comment before Councilwoman Mireya Turner moved to approve the contract, which was seconded by Mattina and approved 4-0.
Also on Tuesday night, during its consent agenda items, the council approved a retirement incentive for Silveira, which Ruderman explained was a cash-out of 822 hours of salary that will create salary savings because Silveira is retiring 18 months ahead of the end of her contract term.
Silveira told Lake County News last month that she decided to retire early in an effort to save money for the city – which is facing revenue challenges due to COVID-19 – while at the same time taking the opportunity to spend more time with family.
Ingram told the council that he’s honored to be the next city manager, adding it’s been a privilege to work with Silveira.
“She’s been a fantastic mentor from day one,” he said, adding she’s left big shoes to fill but also has provided the tools to do the work.
Parlet said Ingram has a huge job to do to catch up to Silveira’s accomplishments, wishing him luck in doing so.
In other business on Tuesday, the council voted to rename the city’s community center in Silveira’s honor and directed staff to start the process of changing the name of Westside Park Road to “Charlie Jolin’s Way,” in honor of the man who played a key role in envisioning and creating the park.
The council also held a public hearing for the adoption of the housing element update of the general plan, continued a protest hearing regarding vegetation abatement to the Aug. 4 meeting, directed the preparation of a report detailing properties that are delinquent in water and sewer charges, approved an amendment to the franchise agreement with Lakeport Disposal Inc. and awarded a $567,141 construction contract to Team Ghilotti Inc. for the Second Street Sidewalk Improvement Project.
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