LAKEPORT, Calif. – In a special Tuesday meeting that lasted exactly 10 minutes, the Lakeport City Council and Lakeport Redevelopment Agency acted jointly to protect more than $3 million in bond assets and additional property in the event legislators approve a bill ending redevelopment in California.
Four council members, a handful of staffers and a few community members were present for the afternoon meeting, which moved rapidly to try to move the assets in light of a vote that's expected soon in the Legislature. Councilman Roy Parmentier was absent.
City Manager Margaret Silveira told the council that the city's redevelopment attorney advised them that the funds and property the city now holds under the redevelopment agency would be taken by the state if the legislation passes.
“This is a precautionary step,” said Silveira.
All of the transfers were taking place between the city and agency only, with no third party involved, she said.
Council member Stacey Mattina asked if there were any negatives involved in taking the action.
“I don't think so. A lot of other cities are attempting to do something like this” because of what's happening with redevelopment, said City Attorney Steve Brookes.
He said the effort was to protect the city's assets.
Brookes explained that the law says you can move assets to protect them as long as you don't break the law.
The concern, he said, is if the state legislation is too broad and doesn't allow them to protect their assets, in which case, “This may be for nothing.”
There was no public comment, and the council – sitting jointly as the agency – then swiftly moved through eight votes, all of them unanimous, meant to protect the $3 million in funds and a redevelopment-owned property at 902 Bevins Court.
Relating to the transfer of the Bevins Court property, the council approved two motions, one to adopt a resolution by the redevelopment agency approving the transfer and an identical motion on behalf of the council.
The council and agency members then approved two resolutions authorizing the execution of a funding agreement between the city and agency for phase two of the city's downtown improvement project, with a third resolution that approved the agreement.
The next two votes involved two resolutions authorizing execution of a cooperation and funding agreement between the city and the agency, with the last vote being to approve that agreement.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
