LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday went over updated preparations for the city’s July 4 celebration, approving an application with enhanced safety measures that is the result of months of planning.
The July 4 holiday, a centerpiece of the city’s event calendar, didn’t take place in 2020 due to concerns about bringing thousands of people together during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, with COVID-19 case numbers declining and California expected to fully reopen on June 15, the city’s staff has worked over the last several months to create a plan for a safer, modified event.
“This has been a tremendous group effort going forward,” City Manager Kevin Ingram told the council.
On April 20, after an initial discussion on the plan, the council directed staff to move forward with the event, which includes COVID-19 mitigation measures.
Since then, COVID-19 guidelines have changed at least a half a dozen times, Ingram said.
One of the directions from the council at its April 20 meeting was to create a larger area for safe and sane fireworks to be used in order to ensure social distancing.
Ingram said the discharge area will be located along Fourth Street at the city’s parking area, where streets will be closed.
“That’s a much larger area than in years past,’ he said.
The fireworks barge will be moved and positioned more to the north of its usual spot offshore of Library Park, which Ingram said will make the fireworks display more visible from the former Natural High School property — where the new lakeside park is being built — as well as from Library Park.
He said the plans also have been reviewed by Lake County Public Health, which did not have immediate comments, other than to direct the city to keep reviewing and monitoring state guidance.
Ingram said the plans include Police Chief Brad Rasmussen’s recommendation to prohibit alcohol use and sales to ensure social distancing. That will be in effect just for this year.
The staff report included maps and signage that will be used for the event, showing that there will be no alcohol allowed. Participants will be asked to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms and sanitize their hands, and masking and social distancing of 6 feet will be required.
Administrative Services Director-City Clerk Kelly Buendia said staff will continue to watch guidance from both the state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for guidance on large events.
“We don’t believe this is going to rise to the large event standards that are proposed,” said Buendia. As a result, “It doesn't look like masks are going to be required for an event like this.”
Ingram said the most recent guidance they’ve seen on “mega-events” — which are defined as having 10,000 or more people participating — includes a masking requirement. But in past years, Lakeport’s July 4 event has seen in the range of 5,000 people, but never more than 7,500.
“We don’t anticipate we’re going to come near that mega-event threshold,” he said.
Mayor Kenny Parlet said he appreciated the work staff had put into the plan.
“It may be one of the best Fourth of Julys ever,” Parlet said.
Councilman Michael Green, a proponent of masking throughout the pandemic, suggested that masking and social distancing may not be enforceable for July 4 if this past weekend’s Memorial Day parade is a litmus test.
At the parade, social distancing was good but Green said masking was slim to none. As such, he said they may not want to require masks.
Ingram said that, to the best of staff’s knowledge, the new guidance the state is expected to issue on June 15 would not require masks.
Staff will wait and see what is released officially on June 15, and if masks aren’t required, they can amend the signs planned for the event, Ingram said.
Councilwoman Mireya Turner agreed with Green’s position, noting that enforcing the alcohol rules will keep everyone busy.
Councilwoman Stacey Mattina added, “We’ve followed the state the whole way,” so it makes sense to continue to do so.
Turner moved to approve event Application 2021-016 for the July 4 fireworks display, with Mattina seconding and the council voting 5-0.
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Lakeport City Council approves updated plans for July 4 celebration
- Elizabeth Larson
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