LAKEPORT – This Tuesday the Lakeport City Council will discuss the possibility of having a Habitat for Humanity building project in the city and decide what to do about an underground storage tank discovered during a city street project.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The agenda and supporting staff reports can be downloaded at http://www.cityoflakeport.com/departments/docs.aspx?deptID=88&catID=102 .

Habitat for Humanity, building houses in Lake County since 2002, is preparing to start on its 15^th building project, said President Richard Birk.

While the group's charter calls for serving the entire county, thus far all of the houses it has built have been in Clearlake, where it has been able to get lots donated and where the largest need also exists, said Birk.

The group has wanted to branch out to other areas, said Birk. “We've been talking to the city of Lakeport for some time.”

Bruce Shimizu, who had proposed to build an affordable income property on Berry Street, had gone to Habitat for Humanity and asked them to help take it over, said Birk, who recalled telling Shimizu that the project's infrastructure needed to be in place.

“I was a little nervous about the whole thing, what our commitment was going to be,” said Birk.

Shimizu also had gone to the city of Lakeport to ask for funding assistance, and had a promise of some predevelopment loans. However, Shimizu recently lost the land to foreclosure, as Lake County News has reported.

Recently, Mayor Ron Bertsch approached Birk to discuss initial interest in working together, and Birk said he was receptive to the idea.

Birk said if they could find infill lots for building, as well as getting permit fees waived – which can total between $10,000 and $15,000 – it would be a big step for the group.

There are many volunteers in the Lakeport area, said Birk. “I think we would get a lot of support.”

Bertsch said there hasn't been much low-income housing built in Lakeport, and he wanted to explore fulfilling those needs.

If he gets approval from the council, Bertsch said they can start exploring if there are available lots. The city can offer the permit waivers through the redevelopment agency, he added.

Working with Habitat for Humanity offers a less-expensive way of building affordable housing, he said. Bertsch explained that some of the larger proposed affordable housing projects would have cost the city a great deal more money.

“I'm hoping the council will back me up on this,” he said.

If they do, they can start exploring the possibilities, and Habitat can then come and make a formal presentation to the council at a future meeting, Bertsch said.

Underground storage tank, applications also on agenda

Also on Tuesday, City Engineer Scott Harter will ask the council for direction on what to do regarding an underground storage tank that was discovered during the Main Street and Forbes Street sidewalk project.

During excavation, the project's contractor found the fuel storage tank directly behind the proposed sidewalk, Harter's report said. None of the tank's contents were spilled during the excavation.

Harter said the tank, although mostly located on private property, appears to extend by 1 foot into the city's right-of-way, and it's the city's opinion that the city has no responsibility for its removal. Despite that, he said he expects the tank's owner to be at the council meeting to plead for city responsibility.

Initial cost estimates to remove the tank are for $5,500, an amount predicated on the materials not being hazardous and no leakage into the soil underneath. Costs could escalate quickly, Harter reported, if the soil underneath the tank is contaminated.

The council also is set to receive an update about drainage problems in the Pier 1900 area, located along S. Main Street.

A letter to Councilman Jim Irwin from Kenneth Boss, president of the homeowners association, said the issues, which he attributed to the city's controlled easement, is draining into the association's waterways and making the lagoon hazardous and unnavigable.

In other council business, under the council's consent agenda, which generally is accepted on a single vote at the beginning of the meeting, they will approve the Sept. 30 warrant register, the Sept. 15 council meeting minutes, receive the Lakeport Fire Protection District's annual financial report dated Sept. 7 and approve an agreement with Lakeport Camper & Truck for operation of a watercraft cleaning station.

In public presentations, the council will present a proclamation to Ron Raetz for his service to the Westside Community Park Committee and the city of Lakeport; approve Lakeport Elementary's application to hold its annual annual Halloween Parade on Main Street from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, with additional requests for police escort and blocked streets; and approve the Clearlake Road Riders' application to hold a Toy Run Parade through Lakeport from 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, which also includes requests for police escort and traffic control at Lakeport Boulevard, Third Street and 11^th Street.

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