LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday approved a supplemental law enforcement services agreement between the police departments of Lakeport and Clearlake that in the short-term will help Lakeport deal with being short-handed.
The Clearlake City Council approved the agreement at its July 21 meeting, with the Lakeport City Council’s approval the final step.
The two police departments have a history of working collaboratively, and the two chiefs — Brad Rasmussen of Lakeport and Andrew White of Clearlake — said the agreement will allow them to help each other when having personnel shortages.
“We’ve had some ongoing staffing issues,” Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen told the council.
Rasmussen’s department has 13 sworn officers in its $2.5 million budget while White’s has 24.5 sworn positions in a $7 million budget. Lakeport’s population is just under 5,000 residents compared to more than 16,500 for Clearlake, according to the California Department of Finance’s May population estimates.
Rasmussen has been dealing with several vacancies. Thanks to recent hires, they’re just down two positions, but four new hires are in training that Rasmussen said will continue for some time.
In the meantime, the department is short-staffed, with not enough police on the street to keep officers safe and quickly handle calls.
White, referring to the two departments’ long history of helping each other, recalled that his first day on the job in the summer of 2018 was spent in Lakeport helping with the response to the Mendocino Complex, which resulted in the entire city being under mandatory evacuation.
He assured the council that his officers will provide professional and trustworthy service, and will help protect the community and officers. Whatever way they can support the city and keep it safe and officers safe, they will do it.
Rasmussen said the unions of both departments were in overwhelming support of the agreement because they felt it is important.
He said there is no fiscal impact at this time due to salary savings. Costs will be tracked every month.
Councilman Kenny Parlet wondered why Clearlake was doing so well with hiring compared to Lakeport. Rasmussen said he didn’t have the answer.
Clearlake’s officers will be able to use their own vehicles of Lakeport’s, it was explained during the discussion.
Rasmussen said they will strive to have Lakeport Police officers be the lead on investigations.
During the discussion White said that his department is in the position to help right now and it might be the opposite in a few years, with Clearlake needing the help. In that case, the framework will be in place.
In events such as fires, Rasmussen said the departments won’t bill each other but will maintain their mutual aid agreement.
“This is just a more specific patrol type service” that needs to be dealt with, he said.
There was no public comment. Parlet moved to approve the agreement and Councilman Michael Froio seconded.
“I appreciate the cooperation,” said Mayor Stacey Mattina before the vote. “I think it’s really forward thinking.”
She added that it’s exciting, and that they never know when the tables will turn.
The council then voted 5-0 to approve the contract.
In other news on Tuesday, the council held a public hearing and approved a resolution identifying delinquent utility accounts with a total of $8,000 in unpaid bills and sending them to the Lake County Auditor-Controller’s Office for inclusion on the property tax roll.
Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nick Walker said the action will create a lien on the properties in question, meaning they will be paid when the properties change hands. He said the city also has applied to the state for funds to pay off the unpaid utility bills.
On Tuesday the council also approved a plan to help the Lake County Fair address its parking concerns by designating 20 disabled parking spaces.
The spaces will be located in the entire 200 block of C Street, between South Forbes Street and the C Street entrance to the fairgrounds and the entire block of D Street, between South Forbes Street and the D Street entrance to the fairgrounds from the time period of 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 4, at midnight.
Other items the council approved included a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement for apportionment of Retirement Obligations of California Intergovernmental Risk Authority and approval of a $51,000 professional services agreement with Quincy Engineering Inc. for the Lakeport Blvd Project Study Report Equivalent.
Just before the hour-long meeting ended, there was a short interruption due to a full power outage. That required the council to use a staff computer to close out the meeting.
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Lakeport City Council approves law enforcement agreement with Clearlake Police
- Lakeport City Council
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