LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council last week directed the city manager to form a committee to explore possible vendor opportunities at the city's boat ramp in Library Park, and met the city's newest police officer and volunteer.
City Manager Margaret Silveira, at the suggestion of Mayor Suzanne Lyons, had taken to the council's June 7 meeting a proposal to allow a vendor to sell items at the boat ramp and also assist with monitoring boats to make sure they adhere to the rules for having invasive mussel stickers.
“This quagga threat is really, really serious,” Lyons said of the invasive quagga mussel, which has infested numerous bodies of water across the United States and in Southern California.
She said the city's quagga ranger position hadn't worked, and she also didn't believe volunteers could be depended upon to monitor the area.
Councilman Bob Rumfelt didn't agree, saying that volunteer monitoring programs have been working in the county.
He also was concerned about liability to the city as well as having someone “cluttering up” the boat ramp.
Councilman Tom Engstrom said he had spoken to a Nice resident who has a hot dog cart that he transports to Ukiah, where he is stationed in a downtown area. The vendor pays for his space but also keeps an eye on the park and calls police if he sees any problems.
Lake County Chamber Executive Director Melissa Fulton, also a member of the county's invasive species council, said during public comment, “The thing that is very, very obvious is, no matter how good our volunteer program is, it will not answer all of the questions for us.”
She said of the vendor plan, “I think it deserves more conversation and exploration.”
Silveira suggested forming a committee to come up with some criteria for possible vendors.
Rumfelt said he felt some of the city's efforts at mussel prevention haven't worked. When Lyons pressed him on what he meant, he brought up washing stations.
Replied Lyons, “Boats are getting on the lake that have not been screened. That's the issue.”
Engstrom moved to direct Silveira to put together a committee, with Rumfelt offering the second. The vote was 3-1, with Lyons voting no. Councilman Roy Parmentier was absent from the meeting.
Lyons didn't like the necessary delay to form the committee.
“I'm opposed to the way we're doing this,” said Lyons. “This is of the essence.”
Engstrom said it wouldn't take long. “We just want to do it right,” he told Lyons.
Also at the meeting, Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen introduced his new police volunteer, Jerry Wilson, who brings with him seven years of experience from his former position working with the Lake County Office of Emergency Services.
Rasmussen also introduced Gary Basor, Lakeport Police's newest officer, who formerly worked for the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Basor has 15 years of law enforcement experience, and since joining the department late last month already has received numerous compliments from the community regarding his professionalism, Rasmussen said.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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