The council will meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, for negotiations regarding property at 910 Bevins St. and discuss anticipated litigation before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The council will consider a report from Lakeport Police Lt. Jason Ferguson on speeding, speed surveys and traffic control measures being taken on 20th Street between Alden Avenue and Hartley Street.
Due to state law, the city had to raise the speed limit in that area from 25 to 30 miles per hour in November 2016, but Ferguson noted in his report that during the hearing on the matter “it became clear that residents had serious concerns regarding vehicles speeding in the area.”
He pointed out that the city had no choice in the matter. “Due to state restrictions, if the speed zone was not reset, police would have been unable to enforce the speed limit.”
Ferguson’s report said that the council approved the recommendation with the understanding that police would strictly enforce the new speed, provide public education and that departments would investigate appropriate traffic control measures with the goal of reducing the 85th percentile speed back down to between 25 and 30 miles per hour.
He said the city has worked to develop a traffic enforcement plan for the area that has included releasing public education materials to residents, Nixle community messages, social media information, and additional patrols and radar certified officers to work traffic enforcement in the area. Last fall, the Lakeport Public Works Department completed traffic control measures that included raised traffic dots that narrowed the travel lanes, white fog lines and a double yellow centerline.
Despite that work, additional speed data collected between December and march showed that the 85th percentile speed was 37 miles per hour, Ferguson reported.
He said that from April to September radar-certified officers continued to work the area, writing citations and educating drivers about speed.
Ferguson said the River fire and staffing shortages have hampered the department’s ability to be more proactive on the speed effort.
“At this time, deployment of the radar trailer, increased enforcement and public education is planned for the area prior to staff recommending another formal speed survey,” he wrote.
Also on the agenda is the introduction of new city employees Anthony Lynott and Alex Sharp; the presentation of a proclamation to representatives of the Lake Family Resource Center designating the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the city; and a public hearing to adopt a proposed ordinance amending Chapter 3.05 to the Lakeport Municipal Code to take advantage of the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the council’s regular meeting on Sept. 18; the Sept. 24 warrant register; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency in the city of Lakeport, approval of Application 2018-028, with staff recommendations, for the 2018 Clear Lake High School homecoming parade, to be held Oct. 12 on Main Street; and approval of a letter of support for a Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire Program Grant Application.
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100218 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd