Lakeport City Council candidates’ spotlight: Martin Scheel

Personal information:

Name: Martin Scheel

Age: 43

Family: Wife, Jennifer, a teacher and coach at Clear Lake High School.

Career/current job: Owner, Konocti Marine Construction; consultant, Konocti Energy Associates.

Education: Attended Santa Rosa Junior College and California State University, Sacramento.

Length of residence in Lake County and your particular city: Over 25 years, Clearlake, Nice and now Lakeport.

Web site or email address where community members can contact you:  www.scheelforcitycouncil.com , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , www.facebook.com/scheelforcitycouncil .

Questions:

1. Please outline your experience serving the local community. Include all community or volunteer service.

Volunteered, worked and/or acting member in: Clear Lake High School Sports Foundation, Lakeport Enhanced Education Foundation (LEEF), Lake County Community Radio (member), KPFZ (programmer, host), Rising Stars Music Competition (benefiting charities in Lake and Mendocino counties), Lakeport Rotary (volunteer labor for the Pearl Harbor Memorial-Meek Construction and Lake County display for the California State Fair-Meek Construction), athletics at Clear Lake High School.

2. Why did you decide to run for public office?

I want to give back to the community that continues to give my wife and me a happy home.

3. What are the important qualities you would bring to public service?

I bring an open ear, open mind and common sense to the decisions that need to be made for our community. As a small business owner, I have had to make tough choices through good and bad situations. This experience will be crucial in helping move our community forward on a positive path. I can compromise when needed, stand firm to my ideals and those of our community.

4. What are the primary functions of a city council member? What are the important skill sets a council member should possess?

The city council sets policy to give direction to the city manger and staff. The city council adopts ordinances to govern the operations and finances of the city as well as protect the welfare and safety of the community. The city council promotes our city. A city council member should possess the ability to compromise, listen and research thoroughly the subject of discussion to help make decisions based on all facets of the community.

5. What is your city’s single greatest challenge? How would you address it?

One of the biggest challenges for the city of Lakeport is getting visitors back on our sidewalks. This will help to promote our local businesses and attract new businesses. This will make our community more appealing for residents as well. The start for bringing more visitors should be the challenge of the lake. It truly is our best resource. It is time to bring the city of Lakeport and the county of Lake together with the community to achieve a better lake.

6. If you are elected, what will your top issue be? What other issues are of particular interest to you?  

See the answer to question No. 5 for the top issue. Other issues that are important to me are getting the community more involved in city government. Make sure our infrastructure is being maintained properly and properly addressed in the finical world so we don’t get the cost increase surprises. We need to come up with a new business retainment and recruitment plan. The current plan is nine years old. Continue to support the Westshore Pool and our local parks.

7. Is there a matter that you’ve seen the council handle that you believe should have been approached differently? If so, how would you have handled it?  

I believe the water/sewer rate increase could have been handled better. It was going to be a tough decision regardless and work is needed so these systems do not fail. However, I would like to have seen a more flexible program built into the plan that could address lower income families and seniors who will be heavily burdened by the increase. I would’ve also liked to see a more flexible billing cycle allowing the city council to make adjustments if needed to help offset part of the rate increase. And although the community was given early opportunities to be a part of the discussion, I feel a different, more creative approach to notifying our citizens could have produced a better community awareness and involvement.

8. What ways, if any, would you encourage public and media interaction with you and the city council should you be elected? How would you approach public interaction, especially on controversial issues?  

I will encourage the public to interact with me via social media, through town meetings, possibly bring back “Breakfast with the Council,” email, phone and good old fashioned face to face. I will also expand my radio show to involve the community on issues that affect us all.

9. When you think of your city in 20 years, what do you hope it will look like? When considering that future vision of your city, what would you want your legacy to be in improving your community?  

In 20 years I would like for Lakeport to be a destination city that provides a wonderful experience for its visitors and a prosperous environment for our citizens and businesses. I would hope in part for my legacy to be that I was part of getting the community, city and county working together to make this vision a reality.

Financial information: See Form 470 below.

Lakeport City Council Candidates - Martin Scheel - Form 470

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Written by: MARTIN SCHEEL

Published: 17 October 2012

Lakeport City Council candidates’ spotlight: Marc Spillman

Personal information:

Name: Marc Spillman

Age: 49

Family: I have been married to my wife Karen for 28 years. Karen is my best friend with all the best benefits. I am proud of that relationship beyond all else. I have two great sons. My oldest son Casey (refined-clean cut-pomade) and Alex (charged-spiked up-putty). Their hair treatment is the best description possible for them.

Career/current job: I worked for Piedmont’s truss division in Calpella for 19 years and I now work for Kelseyville Lumber’s truss division in Finley. My wife and I were blessed to secure new employment after the fall of Piedmont. We were the only husband and wife working for them in the final year. Being human – there are bad days where you complain. We truly have nothing to complain about, given what has occurred with so many of our friends and family in the past few years. I am not accepting donations. I do not accept group or organizational endorsements. I commute daily, on all dry days, between Finley and Lakeport on my little red road bike. I have a council sign on my bag. Please beep your support, just before or after me – please just not next to me. In life you are defined by how you respond to defeat.  

Education: Graduated from Piner High School, Santa Rosa; attended college at Santa Rosa Junior College at Sonoma State University, but did not receive degree.

Length of residence in Lake County and your particular city: 13 years in Lakeport.

Web site or email address where community members can contact you: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 707-349-4100.

Questions:

1. Please outline your experience serving the local community. Include all community or volunteer service.

I was a planning commissioner from 2005 to 2008. During that time I was also chairman of the General Plan Committee and a member of the Measure I Committee. I stepped down from city planning to take a seat with the Local Area Formation Commission ( www.lakelafco.org ).

I am currently a Westside Park Committee and nonprofit board member (weed-eating parties – not as much fun as they sound). I’m also an active organization committee member of the Lakeport Main Street Association. Dennis Rollins and Carol Hays deserve a big hand for the work they do.

My wife and I are the initiator and the hub household in the formation of the first Lakeport Neighborhood Watch Program. We have 19 homes connected in a four by five block area of Forbes Creek neighborhood, where we live.

I am a continuing member of the Lakeport Early Lake Lions. You will always see me working the main local events. (Grillin’ on the Green, Taste of Lakeport, Kelseyville Pear Festival, Oktoberfest). Even with the list above, I still find three nights a week to read to my wife.

2. Why did you decide to run for public office?

I have transitioned from the man seeking the office to the office seeking the man. I had no intention to run again – but I have had a large number of residents nudging me to give it another try. My heart is still very much in it, I just felt it was time to move on. Thinking I would not be a candidate again, I took on LAFCO, the Westside Park, the Main Street Association and Neighborhood Watch. Let’s just say the last couple of months have been very busy. If you want to be a good civil servant - start as an outstanding community servant.

I have five personal candidate endorsements I am proud of and would like to list in alphabetical order: Tom Engstrom, current council member and retired Lakeport Police chief; Bill Knoll (Mayor Bill), previous council member; Roy Parmentier, current council member; and Dennis Rollins, Westside Park chairman and previous planning commissioner. Another endorser is George Spurr, previous co-candidate. George Spurr is a worthy competitor that I will miss this year. I went to George’s home to encourage him to run again and later ended up with his endorsement. His absence is Lakeport’s loss in this election.

The diversity and depth of the endorsements above will hopefully speak to my depth and my diversity as a candidate.

3. What are the important qualities you would bring to public service?

The qualities would be that I am well qualified, responsible and strongly involved as a community service member. I have lived in this community for only 13 years, but that short amount of time I have become invested in Lakeport. I care about the people who live here and what goes on around me.

I have attended the majority of council meetings for several years. I am not a one issue person and I am not a person who tries to look at 10 things at a time. I am not indecisive and I am aware that tough votes do have to be made with unhappy residents and friends in the room.

I understand that sometimes you will go on the side of the greater good and sometimes the balance will swing to the rights of the individual. Balance is very important in a council position.

I work hard at the duties I take on and in taking on a council seat; I will work hard to make good decisions.

4. What are the primary functions of a city council member? What are the important skill sets a council member should possess?

First – make decisions based on the merits of the issues. Second – honor the law’s and public’s expectation that agency policies will be applied consistently. Third – support the public’s right to know and promote meaningful public involvement. Fourth – support merit-based processes for the award of public employment and public contracts. Fifth – Be impartial and do not favor those who either have helped you or are in a position to help you. Sixth – promote equality and treat all people equitably. Seventh – Excuse yourself from decisions when you or your family’s financial interests may be affected by your agency’s actions. Last – Credit other’s contributions in moving your community’s interests forward.

I ran across the above list when completing ethics training, a number of years back, and have kept this on my office wall since. This should be the guideline and goal of every council member.

The council has three crucial functions that no other body can perform: legislation, oversight and representation.

5. What is your city’s single greatest challenge? How would you address it?

The main challenge is that Lakeport is a DUC: Disadvantaged-Underprivileged-Community. A lot of the residents are poor. Good jobs are few and this has been magnified and sharpened with the downturn of the past few years. Decisions made for the city should always take this into account.

The only areas above the median income level are Cobb and Hidden Valley. Lakeport (and Lake County) is an island of sorts – the shipping and commuting lanes, in and out of the area, are difficult at best.

Improving downtown business would give a small boost to Lakeport and would help with tourism – but this would not bring in the quantity or quality of jobs needed for this area. With the low cost of housing and the difficulty of commuting – maybe a telecommuting program/recruitment would be a better fit for our area.

The federal and the state governments (not just business) have been making a large effort, in recent years, towards work at home to help cut costs.

There is no magic bullet sometimes. The council does have an impact on the quality of life in Lakeport and must always remember that we are a DUC.

6. If you are elected, what will your top issue be? What other issues are of particular interest to you?

In the past few years – the LAKE is Lakeport’s greatest issue. Not only for the enjoyment of the local population – but for the enjoyment of visitors who would bring their dollars to Lakeport later in the summer.

I have read numerous articles on the various reasons for the lake’s condition and also articles on the multitude of solutions to help it. I am not a versed student of this issue, but this would be my top issue and my top study.

I am also interested in filling downtown shops (not completely for the tax revenue and fees) but for the benefit of the downtown appearance to visitors and to locals.

My wife and I moved to Lakeport after walking and driving the downtown. We didn’t go into a single shop or eatery. It was the look and feel of the bones of downtown and the immediate proximity to the lake that sucked us in (plus cheap housing). With the exception of empty shops, the current downtown area looks better than 10 years ago.

Another interest would be to prioritize the spending of Measure I funds. The council will always have the discretion to use those funds when and where needed – but at least officially prioritize where they should go.

7. Is there a matter that you’ve seen the council handle that you believe should have been approached differently? If so, how would you have handled it?

I’m not happy about how the water/sewer rate increase has come about. The nine projects were sold to most residents as the main financial focus. “We have to have clean water to drink and flush that toilet.”

The projects are only going to take 15 percent of the new revenue starting in year five. Lakeport is looking to draw in an additional $2.11 million a year and only pay out a quarter million a year on the loan for the projects. Lakeport also has some old debt service that will bring the total going out to about a half million.

The $2.11 million extra in and a half million out for projects and old debt, and they need the additional $1.5 million a year – or 75 percent of the increase – for what? It seems like there is a lot of cash on the back end of this increase and the mostly needed projects were given the spotlight when they were a very small part of the new revenue pie. Again with the DUC.

This is a very large increase that will crush some of the very poor in this community. As a council member, if I continued to feel there was too much on the back end of this increase I would work to encourage a majority of the council to reduce the increase.

8. What ways, if any, would you encourage public and media interaction with you and the city council should you be elected? How would you approach public interaction, especially on controversial issues?

“When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property” – Thomas Jefferson. I quote this because I believe that council and city staff should always be wide open to both the public and the media.

Another item on interaction of controversial issues – I have heard some grumbling about the giving of extra minutes at the water/sewer meeting. I know this is usually only done at higher government levels – but I support it. I received some of these additional minutes and I needed them badly when dealing with a complex issue. Your three minutes go very fast when you have a lot to cover.
Other than that – lean forward, speak into the microphone and keep everything recorded and up front.

9. When you think of your city in 20 years, what do you hope it will look like? When considering that future vision of your city, what would you want your legacy to be in improving your community?

I would like to see Lakeport become even more the beautiful hub of Lake County. I would like to see shops filled and the lake in better condition. I would like to see a nice downtown project filling Dutch Harbor (with a lot of community input) and I see the majority of Natural High kept open as part of the developed downtown city park. Maybe a nice open, but safe and sound city gazebo building for the sculling boats at Natural High and a program for the locals to have some access to their use.

I would like to see the main roads in the city in good shape and the back city streets that are failing now improving, and infrastructure kept up.

I would like to see 20 neighborhood watches and 20 neighborhood potluck barbecues like the one we had this last month.

I see Lakeport having twice the spring/summer events they have now. It would be nice to have events that cost less to the locals, are still loads of fun and kid friendly. I think bring back the pine box derby – maybe similar to Nevada City’s event. Have some temporary sidewalk extensions for outdoor eating during the good weather. See an increased Lake County wine presence in Lakeport – maybe even a group wine tasting store co-ran by just the local wineries. WHEW!!

Financial information: See Form 470 below. He is not accepting donations, or group or organizational endorsements.

Lakeport City Council Candidates - Marc Spillman - Form 470

Details

Written by: MARC SPILLMAN

Published: 17 October 2012

Lott named new CHP Northern Division commander

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The California Highway Patrol has named a new commander for the agency’s Northern Division.

Bridget Lott has been appointed to oversee the division, which encompasses 13 Northern California counties – including Lake – and 36,000 miles of interstate, and state and county highways.

Lott, 51, took over the position as of Aug. 31, the CHP said Tuesday.

A 29-year veteran of the CHP, Lott previously had been assistant chief in the Golden Gate Division, with leadership responsibilities for five commands encompassing most of the East Bay, including Contra Costa, Alameda and Santa Clara counties.

She also served as transportation management coordinator and occupational safety coordinator for the entire Golden Gate Division, the CHP reported.

Lott’s previous assignments include serving as commander of the CHP’s Redwood City office for four years.

In that capacity, she collaborated with a number of law enforcement agencies and other public and private organizations, as well as homeowners, in developing a working tri-county motorcycle safety task force.

At the same time, Lott helped develop and implement a highly successful older driver traffic safety program which received 100-percent support from the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and county residents. The CHP has since taken the program statewide.
 
Before taking over as Northern Division commander, Lott had worked in the CHP Headquarters office as a commander, overseeing programs including motorcycle safety, grants, transportation planning and older California driver safety.

Lott has worked a variety of other assignments during her career, from the northern to the southern end of the state. Two notable assignments included riding a motorcycle in a supervisory capacity and serving as an administrative assistance to the CHP’s assistant commissioner.

Chief Lott has been an active force in her community as well, serving as a board member for the Assistance League of Amador Valley and previously teaching religious education through her church.

She holds a master’s degree from San Jose State University; a bachelor’s degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; completed an executive level leadership course at the California Leadership Institute, Sacramento; and graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

The Northern Division is based in Redding.

Details

Written by: Lake County News reports

Published: 17 October 2012

Lakeport Public Works crews plan work on 11th Street water leak Wednesday

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Public Works crews will be at work on 11th Street on Wednesday morning to make repairs to a leaking water pipe.

Utilities Director Mark Brannigan said that the leak is located on 11th Street between Pool and Manzanita streets.

Starting at about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday – after the bulk of the morning commute traffic – Public Works crews will have controlled traffic in place in 11th Street’s westbound lane as they work to repair the leak, Brannigan said.

He said an older copper lateral off of one of the city’s water mains is the source of the leak.

Brannigan told the Lakeport City Council on Tuesday night that the pipes used to be flared in order to attach to fittings. That process of flaring made the copper particularly thin.

Over time, due to vibration and corrosion, the pipes become thinner and, eventually, can start to leak, he explained, adding that crews need to get to repairs as soon as possible.

Brannigan told Lake County News on Tuesday evening that the goal is to have the work completed by noon on Wednesday.

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.

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 16 October 2012