LAKEPORT – The Lakeport City Council will consider a state offer to purchase city property for a new courthouse location and get an update on Mendocino College's proposed new Lake Center location on Parallel Drive when it meets this week.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday 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 .

The state is planning to build a new 50,000-square-foot, $70 million courthouse in Lakeport, and the city's Dutch Harbor property, located on the lakeshore at 901 N. Main St., has made the short list of sites being considered for the project, according to a letter to the city from the Santa Rosa-based real estate firm Keegan & Coppin.

Last Friday, the state Administrative Office of the Courts' Office of Court Construction and Management wouldn't disclose the other short list sites to Lake County News, saying an official announcement is due this Tuesday.

City Redevelopment Manager Richard Knoll's report to the council explains that the basic issue that the council must determine is if it's interested in selling the 4.4-acre property

The site formerly featured a motel which was torn down in 1986, Knoll reported. The city has owned the land since 1993.

Knoll's report explains that Dutch Harbor is zoned commercial and resort residential, and selling it to the state would preclude private development that would bring the city property taxes, tax increment revenue, and potential sales and transient occupancy taxes.

He said the site has a flood zone on it, which limits its developable space. The state's requirement is for a three-acre site, and Knoll noted that Dutch Harbor might not be big enough on its own.

Next door is the Lakeport Unified School District's Natural High School property, which also is undeveloped. School district officials could not be reached for comment late last week on whether or not the site also had made the state's short list.

Besides discussing the courthouse location, the council also will receive and discuss an update on the Mendocino College Lake Center site.

The college has made an offer for a 31-acre property at 2565 Parallel Drive, as Lake County News has reported.

City staff has worked with college officials on a proposed memorandum of understanding for site improvements and a water mainline extension, which the council will consider Tuesday.

Staff also is seeking council direction to initiate a request for proposals for engineering services on the water extension and to prepare a draft reimbursement ordinance to cover the extension project, estimated to cost $550,000, according to city documents.

In other council business, officials will conduct a public hearing on adopting a negative declaration, and adopting Resolution No. 2373 (2009) to approve the city of Lakeport Housing Element Update; consider selection of RAU and Associates to prepare the engineering plan, specifications and estimates for the city of Lakeport Downtown Improvement Phase 2 Project and authorize staff to negotiate a contract; and approve Contract Change Order Numbers 1, 2, and 3 for the Forbes Creek Trail Project.

The council also will hold a closed session to discuss labor negotiations and a disciplinary action for one employee.

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