LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council and Lakeport Redevelopment Agency will hold a special Tuesday workshop on the Brown Act before holding a regular meeting in which members will consider a memorandum of understanding with the state regarding the proposed new courthouse.

The workshop will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The full agenda and staff reports for the meeting can be downloaded at www.cityoflakeport.com/departments/home.aspx?deptid=88 .

City Clerk Janel Chapman and City Attorney Steve Brookes will give the presentation to council members on the Brown Act.

The regular meeting will follow at 6 p.m.

Under Lakeport Redevelopment Agency business, the council – sitting jointly as the agency board – will consider the memorandum of understanding between the Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, the city and the agency for the new courthouse.

The $70 million, 51,000-square-foot courthouse project is set to be built in Lakeport, with a site at 675 Lakeport Blvd. the preferred located, as Lake County News has reported.

A report from Richard Knoll – the city's community development, redevelopment, housing and economic development director – explained that city staff recently reviewed and commented on the draft California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) initial study on the project.

Knoll said that the MOU is meant to address the city's concerns and recommendations about the project, to which the Administrative Office of the Courts has tried to respond. However, he said, “it has been indicated that there are limitations on what they can commit to on the project. City staff has attempted to negotiate a stronger agreement.”

He continued, “A recommendation is being made to approve the MOU with the understanding that there is a leap of faith present that the State will address the issues appropriately and work with the City on traffic and right-of-way issues, storm drainage concerns, and related matters.”

In council business, City Manager Margaret Silveira will ask the council to approve an exemption from the city's hiring freeze in order for the city to hire a new finance director.

Knoll will seek the council's approval of a professional services agreement between the city and Ruzicka Associates for the Green Ranch Parcel Survey, at an anticipated cost of $7,069.

The city is working to purchase part of the Green Ranch property, which is the site of a municipal well, according to Knoll's report.

The council will hold a closed session following the open meeting to discuss negotiations with the Lakeport Employees Association and Lakeport Police Officers Association.

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