Marc Spillman and Thomas Gayner were chosen to fill two positions on the commission. Spillman, who currently serves on the commission, was seeking reappointment at the end of his term. Commissioner Walter Schlicher's term also is ending but he announced his plans to retire.
Also seeking a seat was Dennis Rollins, who previously had served 12 years on the commission.
Each of the three applicants gave presentations, beginning with Gayner, a contractor who retired from the military 11 year ago after two decades of service. He's lived in Lakeport for nine years.
"We're going to need some good insight from the Planning Commission in the next few years," he said.
Gayner said the city needs to start looking at ways to improve and expand in order to serve retiring baby boomers who are heading here.
In his application to the council Gayner said he realized Lakeport's growth potential, and said his experience as a contractor has given him an understanding of how contractors and homeowners who go before the commission might view situations. He added that the military taught him how to work within a bureaucratic system.
Mayor Buzz Bruns asked Gayner his opinion of redevelopment. Gayner said he liked the idea of redevelopment, and said the city's downtown needed to be redeveloped so that "businesses come in, prosper and stay."
Councilman Roy Parmentier asked him what Gayner thought of eminent domain in connection to redevelopment. Gayner suggested that compromises should be pursued before resulting to taking property through eminent domain.
Spillman, who is just completing his first term on the commission, said he had enjoyed his time on the commission and General Plan Advisory Committee, and asked for reappointment.
Councilman Jim Irwin asked Spillman what he would like to see changed regarding the Planning Commission and its direction.
Spillman suggested that he would like to see the council and the commission meet on a regular basis in order to stay on the "same page," and suggested that more interaction between the two bodies would be beneficial.
Rollins is a longtime Lakeport resident who previously spent a dozen years on the Planning Commission, as well as two years on the General Plan Advisory Committee and four and a half years on the Lakeport Unified School District board.
He joked that he hoped the council didn't hold it against him that while he was on the school board they didn't agree to sell the city the Natural High School property on the lakeshore.
Rollins said he had really enjoyed his time on the commission and hoped to return. He described himself as being diligent in gathering information and open-minded when making decisions.
Bruns also asked Rollins about his opinion on redevelopment, and Rollins replied that he supported it, and thought the downtown updates were moving in a positive direction. Making the city more pedestrian friendly would be a benefit, he added.
Parmentier asked him about eminent domain in connection with redevelopment. Rollins said he's been in favor of it for the purpose of improving infrastructure – widening roads and installing sewer facilities.
However, he added, he isn't in favor of what he has seen happen in other areas, namely taking private property to use it for another private purpose.
Councilman Bob Rumfelt moved to appoint Spillman and Rollins. City Clerk Janel Chapman advised him that the two seats needed to be appointed in separate motions.
Rumfelt moved to appoint Spillman, which the council unanimously approved.
Before Rumfelt could make a separate motion to appoint Rollins, Parmentier quickly moved to appoint Gayner, with Irwin seconding. The council voted 3-2 for Gayner, with Rumfelt and Vice Mayor Pro Tem Ron Bertsch voting no.
The sudden vote elicited surprised looks from Spillman and fellow Planning Commissioner John Marino, who were sitting next to Rollins during the meeting.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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