How to resolve AdBlock issue? Lakeport city offices to be closed Nov. 25-29 for employee furloughs, Thanksgiving
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport's administrative offices and daily department operations – including City Hall, Public Works and the Lakeport Police Department – will be closed, due to the holiday season and staff work furloughs from Monday, Nov. 25, through Friday, Nov. 29.
All offices will reopen for daily department operations at 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2.
The city thanks community members for their patience and understanding, and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Lakeport Police officers will remain on duty to provide the necessary police patrols and be available to handle all calls for service throughout the office closure, and can be reached at the police department, 707-263-5491.
For any questions or information regarding the release of towed and stored vehicles and sex offender registrations or other non-emergency but urgent concerns, contact the duty patrol officers or supervisor at the department.
Any emergency regarding streets, water or sewer should be directed to the Public Works Department public number at 707-263-3578. The city has procedures in place to ensure that all emergency situations are responded to as quickly as possible.
For further information contact city and police administration at 707-263-5615, or Public Works administration at 707-263-3578.
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Middletown’s Gibson Museum & Cultural Center gets go-ahead from supervisors
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The last legal constraint on the creation and operation of the Gibson Museum & Cultural Center was felled on Tuesday by the Lake County Board of Supervisors, which approved an agreement for operating the center.
Specifically, the board approved a consent agenda item that included a memorandum of understanding between the county of Lake and the Lake County Historical Society for the renovation and operation of the center, which formerly housed the Middletown Library.
At the same time, the board gave its support to changing the name of the former Gibson Library to the Gibson Museum and Cultural Center and also approved a budget transfer totaling $15,000 from geothermal reserve royalties, to be used for repairs to the museum and cultural center.
The board's action ended months of fine-tuning the memorandum of understanding. The document governs the shared responsibilities for maintenance of the historic building, which the county has owned since 1974 and will extend to the society rent-free for its use as a museum.
The $15,000 will be used primarily to revamp a handicap ramp to meet more rigid contemporary standards.
The Lake County Historical Society's Gibson committee has received preliminary authorization to have much of the work performed by its volunteers, so county funds can be used for materials, including additional materials to repair damage from dry rot around window areas.
That work will be helped by a $5,000 donation the project recently received from the Hardesters, with the group also anticipating some other significant donations in the near future.
The building was first opened to the public as the Gibson Library in 1930 on the weekend of May 3-4.
Funds for construction had been donated by Chauncey W. Gibson, owner of the Castle Springs Resort near Anderson Springs.
The Middletown public library was moved last April to the new Middletown Community Center.
A grand opening of the Gibson Museum & Cultural Center is slated for the weekend of May 3-4, 2014.
In 1930, festivities celebrating the opening of the library included a grand ball, a concert and dedication exercises in the Middletown pavilion. The Salvation Army band traveled from Lytton Springs in Sonoma County for the occasion.
For next spring’s museum opening, a community-wide “Re-visit the '30s” gala is being planned. Local businesses and organizations will offer the decade’s music, movies, fads and fashions – with but a nod here and there to the Great Depression and major news.
The Gibson group’s Web sites, www.cgibsonmuseum.com or www.middletownhistory.com , offers resources for local merchants to make it easier for them to participate.
It also offers an ongoing record of how much work the volunteers have already accomplished on the renovation of the building and preparation for displays.
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Lakeport City Council approves pool repairs, continued discussions with school district
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council voted on Tuesday night to fix the broken Westshore Pool pump and to continue to negotiate with the Lakeport Unified School District about sharing costs for the pool under an agreement between the city and district.
Public Works Director Mark Brannigan went to the council to ask for direction on how to handle the future operation of the pool.
While the school district owns the pool, for several years it has not contributed any funds to maintaining the facility – which it agreed to do under a 2004 agreement with the city – leaving the city to pay for the costs of the pool's upkeep.
Several years ago the city renovated the pool at a cost of $370,000, with $169,000 of that covered by a grant secured from the California State Parks Office of Grants and Local Services by the city of Lakeport. The rest of the money came from the city's general fund, Brannigan said.
Recently the pool's pump failed. “We're going to be getting a lot more of this,” Brannigan said regarding issues with pool equipment.
Brannigan reported during the meeting that replacing the pump is estimated to cost between $5,000 and $10,000.
The city operates the pool for the public from June to August, with the pool generally closed from September to February.
It's in February that the Channel Cats – some of whose members were in attendance for the meeting – begin using it for training, according to Brannigan. The team helps cover the cost of the propane to heat the pool and pays a $25 an hour rental cost.
Brannigan sent an email earlier this month to Lakeport Unified Superintendent Erin Hagberg, asking for the district to resume contributing funds to the pool's upkeep.
He said Hagberg asked for a meeting in December with city officials and the Channel Cats, but she did not indicate if the district is willing to share costs for the pool.
Mayor Tom Engstrom asked when the school district last participated in paying for the pool. City Manager Margaret Silveira estimated it was four to five years ago.
Brannigan said former Lakeport Police Chief Kevin Burke – while he was doing double duty as interim city manager – received a letter from the district saying they would no longer participate in paying for the pool costs, citing hardships.
“How binding is this agreement?” Engstrom asked of the city's contract with the school district.
Interim City Attorney David Ruderman said it was a valid contract that the school board approved with the city.
“The question is, what remedy would the city have to enforce it short of filing breach of contract,” said Ruderman.
Engstrom noted during the meeting that there already had been a meeting about the pool that included a few city council members, city staff and school board members.
“They had other priorities, and the pool was not one of them,” he said of the message that city officials got from the school district at the meeting.
“At this point we're trying to get back to who's really supposed to be doing what,” said Council member Stacey Mattina, adding she wanted to see if the city and school can get back to the terms of the original contract.
Public Works Superintendent Doug Grider said that a survey done during the summer season showed that of those children who used the pool, 60 percent were from the county, 35 percent were from the city and 5 percent from out of the county.
Silveira said the county has contributed $5,000 a year for the last three years toward the pool, which Councilman Kenny Parlet called “a pittance” compared to the percent of out-of-city children who use the pool.
Brannigan said the expense goes beyond the dollars spent for upkeep and includes staff time for pool maintenance. It also was reported during the discussion that, at one point, the school district had considered having its staff work on maintaining the pool.
He said he anticipates more expenses ahead. “We know there is some substantial cost coming up, and how are we going to pay for that?”
Parlet said the pool pump needed to be fixed, regardless. “I think that's the prudent thing to do,” he said, explaining he didn't want the pool to deteriorate.
He moved to fix the pump, with Councilman Marc Spillman seconding and the council voting 5-0.
Separately, the council gave staff direction to continue working with the school district in an effort to reach a cost-sharing agreement.
“I'd just like to see us do everything we can to keep that pool open,” said Engstrom. “We live on a lake, for crying out loud, and kids need to know how to swim.”
In other news, the council heard updates on the Downtown Improvement Project and got a report on the fourth quarter of the city's 2012-13 budget.
There also was no action reported out of what Engstrom called a closed session “training” the council held with Lakeport Police personnel regarding what the agenda said was “a threat to public services or facilities.”
Editor's note: The story originally quoted Brannigan as saying the grant that helped renovate the pool totaled $140,000 and had been secured by the Channel Cats. City officials have since reported that the grant was for $169,000 and was secured through the efforts of the city of Lakeport.
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Lakeport City Council to discuss Westshore Pool, Downtown Improvement Project
LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Lakeport City Council will discuss options for the continued operation of the Westshore Pool and get an update on the Downtown Improvement Plan.
The council will meet in closed session to consult with Lakeport Police on a threat to public services or facilities beginning at 5 p.m. before convening in public session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
During public presentations, the Government Finance Officers Association will present a certificate of recognition for budget preparation to city Finance Director Dan Buffalo.
The new Public Works Department secretary and Finance Department intern also will be introduced to the council.
Public Works Director Mark Brannigan will go to the council to seek staff direction regarding the future operation of the Westshore Pool, particularly the Channel Cats' intended use of the pool beginning next February and what action to take with regard to the repair of the pool pump and motor.
Brannigan's report notes that the Lakeport Unified School District has not been contributing to the operation and maintenance of the pool under an agreement between the city and school district.
That agreement places the cost of operating the pool between March and June for school classes and programs, as well as for training and competitive swimming, on the school district. However, the city has been having to carry the costs of operating the pool around the year, Brannigan explained.
He noted that at the council's March 5 meeting, staff received direction “to operate and maintain the pool and pay all costs associated with opening the pool for this season, in hopes that the
School would begin participating per the pool agreement next year.”
The report said that the Channel Cats are planning to begin school swim team training in February.
“There is a lot of work that this club does to prepare for the season, and staff would like to get Council direction in regards to continuing to pay the costs to open the pool, as well as the operation and maintenance of it during the time that the School, under contract, is obligated to maintain the pool,” Brannigan wrote.
On Nov. 6 city staff found that the pool's pump motor was broken. Brannigan's staff currently is researching the cost for replacement. Brannigan said the equipment must be replaced to obtain a permit from the Lake County Environmental Health Department, which is needed before anyone can use the pool.
He said an email request was sent to Lakeport Unified Superintendent Erin Hagberg's office on Nov. 12 to ask if the school would participate in sharing the costs associated with repairing the pump.
Options Brannigan suggested include drafting a memo of understanding between the Channel Cats and city for the use of the pool during the months outside of the city’s obligated operational timeframe; the city opens the pool for the summer season, June through August.
The swim team also can seek an MOU with the school district or the council could direct staff to continue talks with the school about cost sharing, he said.
Also on Tuesday, City Engineer Scott Harter will present an update on the second phase of the Downtown Improvement Project.
Harter's report notes that the scope of the project – which has been reduced – focuses on Main Street, includes sidewalks that are 2 feet wider, adds trees and tree grates, relocates the streetlights when the sidewalks are widened, and provides for patterned intersections, crosswalks and street reconstruction.
The city has $2 million for the project's remaining engineering and construction. Harter said the design consultant will be at the meeting.
In other news, Buffalo will present to the council the fourth quarter financial report.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances and minutes of the council's Nov. 5 meeting.
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111913 Lakeport City Council agenda packet
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Supervisors to consider draft lake tax ordinance
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors is set to consider approving a draft ordinance that would place a sales tax for lake-related programs on the ballot.
The board meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. It will be broadcast live on TV8.
At 9:30 a.m. the supervisors will consider the draft ordinance that would institute the transaction and use tax.
The “Lake County Clear Lake Programs Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance” would place the half-percent sales tax before voters next June.
The measure is anticipated to raise $2.4 million annually for lake-related and water quality projects, including a comprehensive invasive species prevention program, and increased weed and algae mitigation.
Also on Tuesday, in an untimed item, the board will consider the proposed sixth amendment between the county of Lake and Quincy Engineering for engineering services for the South Main Street and Soda Bay Road Corridor Improvement Project.
The full agenda follows.
TIMED ITEMS
9 a.m., A-1 to A-4: Approval of consent agenda, which includes items that are expected to be routine and noncontroversial, and will be acted upon by the board at one time without discussion; presentation of animals available for adoption at Lake County Animal Care and Control; consideration of items not appearing on the posted agenda, and contract change orders for current construction projects.
9:05 a.m.: Citizen's input. Any person may speak for three minutes about any subject of concern, provided that it is within the jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors and is not already on the agenda. Prior to this time, speakers must fill out a slip giving name, address and subject (available in the clerk of the board’s office, first floor, courthouse).
9:15 a.m., A-5: Presentation of First Five Lake activity report.
9:30 a.m., A-6: Consideration of draft ordinance adding Article II to Chapter 18 of the Lake County Code imposing a transaction and use tax (proposed sales tax measure for lake-related programs draft).
10 a.m., A-7: Assessment appeal hearing: Dominic Amara - Application No. 330-2011 - 2315 Westlake Drive, Kelseyville, CA (APN 044-191-150-000); California Newspapers Partnership - dba Lake County Record-Bee - Application No. 430-2011 - 2150 South Main Street, Lakeport, CA (APN 005-050-010-000); Davita Inc. - Application No. 469-2011 - 14400 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA (APN 039-570-230-000); Veronica Fisher - Application No. 125-2011 - 15826 Joseph Trail, Lower Lake, CA (APN 122-041-230-000); Ronald Fernandez - Application No. 474-2011 - 13079 Venus Village, Clearlake Oaks, CA (APN 035-803-030-000); Granite Construction Co. - Application No. 425-2011 - 4300 State Highway 175, Lakeport, CA (APN 007-003-750-000); Mohammed Hussain - Application No. 462-2011 - 775 West Highway 20, Upper Lake, CA (APN 003-034-580-000); James Lujan - Application No. 336-2011 - 9378 Bonham Road, Lower Lake, CA (APN 012-035-120-000); Michael Mountanos, TTE - Application Nos. 472-2011 and 473-2011 - 2200 Point Land Farms Road and 1830 Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, Nice, CA (APNs 031-031-090-000 and 031-041-320-000); Dennis Neves - Application Nos. 218-2011 and 219-2011 - 18467 and 18495 Hidden Valley Road, Hidden Valley Lake, CA (APNs 141-052-030-000 and 141-052-050-000); Barbara Roumiguiere - Application No. 311-2011 - 370 North Main Street, Lakeport, CA (APN 025-383-010-000); Charles and Roxanne Samson - Application No. 233-2011 - 9215 Gray Road, Middletown, CA (APN 115-006-100-000); Rick Sheldon - Application No. 456-2011 - 20756 State Highway 175, Middletown, CA (APN 014-002-280-000); Angela Van Loan - Application No. 385-2011 - 4048 Manzanita Drive, Nice, CA (APN 032-271-240-000); Bryan and Linda Walker - Application No. 447-2011 - 13289 Venus Village, Clearlake Oaks, CA (APN 035-812-330-000).
1:30 p.m., A-8: Assessment appeal hearing: John McCormack - Application No. 455-2011 - 1410 Camdem Avenue, Lakeport, CA (APN 025-731-120-000).
NONTIMED ITEMS
A-9: Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
A-10: Consideration of proposed sixth amendment between the county of Lake and Quincy Engineering for engineering services for the South Main Street and Soda Bay Road Corridor Improvement Project.
A-11: Advanced from Oct. 22, Nov. 5 and 12, consideration of proposed ordinance establishing a fee schedule for and other drug services driving-under-the-influence programs (second reading).
A-12: (a) Consideration of proposed grant deed and request to direct clerk to certify for recordation (a portion of APN 008-027-25 - Gloria Hawley, Wesley Schalchli, Gerald Schalchli, Pamela Scully and Anthony Farrington; and (b) consideration of proposed purchase agreement between the county of Lake and Gloria Hawley, Wesley Schalchli, Gerald Schalchli, Pamela Scully and Anthony Farrington, for the Soda Bay Road/Cole Creek Bridge Project.
CLOSED SESSION
A-13: 1. Conference with labor negotiator: (a) county negotiators: A. Grant, L. Guintivano, S. Harry, M. Perry, A. Flora and C. Shaver; and (b) employee organization: Deputy District Attorney's Association, Lake County Deputy Sheriff's Association, Lake County Correctional Officers Association, Lake County Employees Association and Lake County Safety Employees Association.
A-13: 2. Conference with real property negotiator, (a) property located at: 3980 Gard St., Kelseyville (APN 024-081-01); (b) negotiating parties for county: Supervisor Rob Brown, Child Support Services Director Gail Woodworth, County Administrative Officer Matt Perry and Deputy County Administrative Officer Alan Flora; for seller, Kelseyville Unified School District representatives; (c) under negotiation, lease terms.
A-13: 3. Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9, subd. (d)(1) - LACOSAN v. Choy.
CONSENT AGENDA
C-1: Approve minutes of the board of supervisors meeting held on Nov. 12, 2013.
C-2: Approve 2014 Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting Calendar.
C-3: Adopt resolution reappointing Anita L. Grant, county counsel for the county of Lake.
C-4: Approve first amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and the Heart Consciousness Church for payments in lieu of transient occupancy tax, extending the terms of the original agreement for 10 years, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-5: Approve fourth amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and Cerner-Anasazi Software, for fiscal year 2013-14 software support services, with no change in cost, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-6: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Heritage Oaks Hospital for fiscal year 2013-14 psychiatric inpatient hospital services, total amount $34,200, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-7: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-96 establishing position allocations for fiscal year 2013-14, Budget Unit No. 7011, Parks and Recreation (adding one full-time parks maintenance worker for a limited term).
C-8: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-96 establishing position allocations for fiscal year 2013-14, Budget Unit No. 4121, Integrated Waste Management (deleting one 4/5 account clerk i/ii and adding one 1.0 FTE account clerk I/II).
C-9: (a) Approve change of name of former Gibson Library to the Gibson Museum and Cultural Center; (b) approve memorandum of understanding between the county of Lake and the Lake County Historical Society regarding the renovation and operation of the Gibson Museum and Cultural Center and authorize the chair to sign; and (c) approve Budget Transfer B-56, Budget Unit 1918 - Geothermal Reserve Royalties, for repairs to the Gibson Museum and Cultural Center, in the amount of $15,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-10: Adopt resolution approving right of way certification for the St. Helena Creek Bridge Replacement Project - State Agreement No. BROL – 5914(063).
C-11: Authorize out-of-state travel for Deputy Joe Dutra to attend Active Shooter Threat Instructor training in Artesia, New Mexico, from December 9-13, 2013 (tuition, meals and lodging sponsored by Department of Homeland Security, other travel costs to be paid by the county).
C-12: (a) Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-95 to amend the Adopted Budget for FY 2013-14 by canceling Obligated Fund Balance to make available for specific appropriation in Budget Unit 2214 (Sheriff-Asset Forfeiture, total amount $20,500); (b) waive formal bidding process, determining no economic benefit to the county; (c) approve purchase of 13 Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team TCI Liberator II Tactical Hearing protection/ communication devices, and authorize the Sheriff/Assistant Purchasing Agent to issue a purchase order to TCI Inc., in the amount of $8,342.41; and (d) approve purchase of 12 SWAT team LE2 body worn video cameras, and authorize the Sheriff/Assistant Purchasing Agent to issue a purchase order to VIEVU Inc., in the amount of $11,815.20.
C-13: (a) Waive formal bidding process, determining no economic benefit to the county; (b) approve budget transfer B-058 for BU 2203 Sheriff/Marijuana Suppression, from Professional Services to Fixed Assets/Equipment, in the amount of $11,000, and (c) approve request to purchase one Cellebrite Mobile Forensic machine, and authorize the sheriff/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order to Cellebrite, in the amount of $10,084 plus sales tax.
C-14: Adopt resolution approving the sale of surplus real property owned by the county (9549 Copsey Creek Way, Lower Lake, CA (APN 049-101-050-000).
C-15: Approve advanced step salary hiring (career step) for extra help eligibility worker II Karen Kelley, due to applicant’s extraordinary qualifications.
C-16: Award Bid No. SD 13-20 for 60,000 gallon bolted steel potable water storage tank in Kono Tayee, CSA No. 13, to Whitehawk Construction, in the amount of $193,768, and authorize the Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue a notice of award.
C-17: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-95 to amend the adopted budget for fiscal year 2013-14 by canceling Obligated Fund Balance in the Building and Infrastructure Reserve Fund to provide interim financing to purchase property in the Middle Creek Restoration Project Area (purchase agreement approved by the board on Oct. 8, 2013; total amount $305,000).
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