LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Lakeport City Council will consider adopting a program to assist property owners with making energy and water efficiency upgrades to their homes.
Before convening in open session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, the council will meet in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St., at 5 p.m. for a closed session to discuss labor negotiations with City Manager Margaret Silveira, property negotiations for 2025 S. Main St. and a conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation from the city's former attorney, Steve Brookes.
During Tuesday's meeting the council will consider adopting a resolution authorizing the California Enterprise Development Authority, through Figtree Energy Financing, to offer its Property Assessed Clean Energy – or PACE – program in the city.
Assembly Bill 811, passed in 2008 and going into effect in 2010, authorized the groundwork for the program, which allows property owners to enter into contracts to place assessment liens on their property in order to install energy efficiency and conservation, water efficiency and conservation, and renewable energy generation upgrades, according to a report to the council from Mark Akaba, the city's temporary engineer.
The California Enterprise Development Authority now has more than 80 cities and counties participating in its program, with another 49 cities and counties participating in Figtree's program, Akaba explained.
The report said that the California Enterprise Development Authority would pay for the improvements through bond sales.
“The bonds are secured by a voluntary contractual assessment levied on such owner’s property, with
no recourse to the local government or other participating jurisdictions,” said Akaba, reporting that participation in the program is 100-percent voluntary.
“Property owners who wish to participate in the program agree to repay the amount borrowed
through the voluntary contractual assessment collected together with their property taxes,” Akaba reported.
The Figtree Program, in place since October 2010, issued its initial bonds in December 2011 as part of a pilot program that funded seven projects in Fresno, Palm Springs, Clovis and Exeter, at a total value of just over $800,000, according to Akaba.
Akaba also noted in his report, “it should be noted that the City of Clearlake and Lake County are already utilizing this program. The establishment of these programs in local jurisdictions is primarily contractor-driven and has provided the main reason for its proposed establishment here in Lakeport.”
Also on Tuesday, the council will present awards to the winners of its Halloween coloring contest.
Finance Director Dan Buffalo will receive kudos in the form of the Government Finance
Officers Association's Distinguished Budget Award.
The council also will approve a reclassification of the utilities superintendent position from salary range exempt 1/exempt 2 to exempt 2/exempt 3.
In addition, the council is expected to authorize having the city manager sign owner-engineer agreement amendment Nos. 2 and 3 for the USDA Water System Improvement Project, and amendment Nos. 2 and 3 for the USDA Wastewater System Improvement Project.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; warrant registers; meeting minutes; adoption of a resolution approving the memorandum of understanding between the Lakeport Employees’ Association and city of Lakeport for the period Nov. 4, 2014, through June 30, 2016, and authorizing its execution; and adoption of a resolution authorizing execution of a state standard agreement for Housing Related Parks Program Grant.
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Lakeport City Council to consider adopting PACE energy program
- Elizabeth Larson
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