On Tuesday, the council will present a proclamation honoring Lakeport Police Lt. Jason Ferguson for his years of service to the community. His last day with the agency was Friday; he’s departing to take over as chief for the Cloverdale Police Department, as Lake County News has reported.
City Manager Margaret Silveira will ask for the council’s approval to submit an application for Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program Grant Funds, through Proposition 68, for the development of new parklands on property located at 800 and 810 N. Main St., the former Natural High property.
The city began holding public workshops and surveys in the spring in preparation for submitting the plan to the state.
Silveira’s report said the final proposal includes an amphitheater, multiuse lawn, picnic tables and barbecue grills, bathrooms, concession area, basketball court, ninja gym, splash pad, a large shelter area, an area for a potential future boathouse, a boat ramp and parking.
The property is owned by the Lakeport Unified School District, which the city has been negotiating with about the land for several months.
Silveira said the district will be supplying a letter to the city this month outlining its intent to support Lakeport’s grant application for the development of the new park on their property at Natural High subject to the completion of required Education Code regulations and procedures.
“This letter will indicate their intent to sell the property or provide other suitable agreement with
the City to allow the development of the proposed park lands at this site. Acquisition of the land is eligible for reimbursement through this grant program,” Silveira’s report said.
In other business, Silveira is asking the council to approve a proposal from The Retail Coach for a retail recruitment and development plan. She said the firm will “conduct an assessment of the downtown and provide targeted data sets and educational opportunities focused on sustaining and enhancing existing businesses as well as recruiting new ones.”
The council also will discuss artistic matters on Tuesday.
They’ll get an update from Lisa Kaplan of the Middletown Art Center about the RESTORE project and their contributions to art in public spaces.
Staff also will ask for approval of three murals proposed by the Lakeport Main Street Association and the Lake County Rural Arts Initiative.
Peggy Campbell has selected a local bird scene for her building, which will be painted between the panels on the south side of her building at Main and Fourth streets; staff is recommending a waterskiing mural for the north side of City Hall and a Native American mural for the south side of the Lakeport Community Center.
Also on Tuesday, Finance Director Nick Walker will ask the council to authorize a written report to be prepared and filed with the city clerk containing a description of property parcels within the city and the City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District which have delinquent water and sewer user charges, fees for the period of July 1, 2017 through May 31, 2019.
In other business, the council will nominate voting delegates for the League of California Cities Annual Conference to be held Oct. 16 to 18 in Long Beach; meet new employees; hear a report from the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee on its Business Walks outreach program; and present a proclamation committing to join the Energy Upgrade California initiative’s efforts to take action to save energy, and to conserve and preserve natural resources.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on June 18; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the Mendocino Complex fire; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the February 2019 storms; adopt a resolution of the City Council of the city of Lakeport appointing Gerardo Gonzalez to the position of interim police lieutenant; approve the participation of the city of Lakeport in the National Night Out event, with street closures and the gazebo reserved for the event; event application 2019-020, with staff recommendations, for the 2019 Lake County Fair Parade event; approve event application 2019-021, with staff recommendations, for the 2019 Sponsoring Survivorship Fun Walk/Run event.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
071619 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd