Before the council voted on the purchase, city staff held a workshop in order to explain how to use iPads for city agendas and reports.
Council members can opt to purchase the iPads for themselves and so be able to use them for personal documents and Web browsing, with the city offering a no-interest $750 loan that must be repaid within a year.
They also can opt to use the iPad the city purchases for them, but cannot use it for any purpose other than city business.
City Clerk Janel Chapman said she is now working on a policy to govern how the devices should be used.
Chapman’s report to the council estimated that iPads for the five-member council would cost $2,743 – less if council members buy their own – and would save the city more than $1,000 in staff time and close to $1,400 in copy fees in order to make just under 14,000 copies annually.
During the regular meeting City Manager Margaret Silveira asked the council to allow executive management staff to purchase iPads through the no-interest purchase offer available to the council. She said many cities offer zero percent financing purchase programs for staff to purchase work-related computers.
The council agreed to the proposal, and Councilman Bob Rumfelt wanted to go one step further and offer the zero percent financing and repayment plan to all of the city’s 40-plus employees.
City Finance Manager Dan Buffalo estimated it would cost about $34,000 up front to make that offer to employees, but it would all be repaid within 12 months.
Rumfelt offered the motion, which died for lack of a second, as the rest of the council didn’t agree to the proposal.
Mayor Pro Tem Stacey Mattina said she “didn’t feel super excited” about spending the money on the devices for the council in the first place, although she added, “I see how the dollars make sense” when it comes to saving staff time and copying charges.
However, she didn’t feel comfortable with Rumfelt’s staffwide proposal. “I don't think we should be putting out that kind of money right now,” or devoting staff time to set up repayment agreements, said Mattina.
Councilman Roy Parmentier and Mayor Suzanne Lyons agreed with Mattina.
Mattina did go on to make the motion to approve iPad purchase for council members and executive staff, with zero-percent financing for those who wanted to purchase the devices for themselves. Rumfelt seconded the motion, which was approved 4-1, with Lyons voting no.
The council also took the following actions at Tuesday’s meeting:
– Voted 5-0 to approve a resolution allocating up to $100,000 from the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund for the Lakeport Police Department.
– Voted 5-0 to support Police Chief Brad Rasmussen’s letter to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, supporting liquor license modifications for the Lakeside Family Fun and Event Center, 872 Lakeport Blvd. Rasmussen said the police have had no liquor-related issues with the business since modifications were implemented by the latest owner, Charles Richardson, who had requested the modifications from the state.
– Voted 5-0 to approve a warrant ratification process to streamline the Lakeport Finance Department’s bill paying process.
– Voted 5-0 for a resolution approving a joint powers agreement to allow for rehabilitation of Sunshine Manor Apartments, a senior apartment complex.
– Voted 5-0 to approve a budget amendment to reduce financial liabilities through payment of “old bank” compensation time and vacation time still on the balance sheet.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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