LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Planning Commission has new leadership in place as its prepares to take on a new year of projects and planning issues.

The commission held the election of new officers at its Jan. 13 meeting.

In introducing the election item, Community Development Director Kevin Ingram thanked Commissioner Ross Kauper for staying on for a few extra meetings while the city recruits his successor.

Kauper – whose term expires at the end of December 2018 – had announced his plans to retire from the commission at the end of last year.

However, Ingram said the city is still recruiting for the new commissioner, which he expected will be in place in February.

Ingram said the city recently amended planning commission rules to match other city commissions so that leadership is elected in January rather than at start of fiscal year in July.

He said the rules also prevented a chair from serving more than two consecutive terms, which meant that then-Chair Tom Gayner could not continue in the job.

Vice Chair Suzanne Russell nominated fellow commissioners Ken Wicks Jr. and Harold Taylor as chair and vice chair, respectively, for 2016, with Kauper seconding and the commission approving the motion 5-0.

Gayner and Wicks then switched seats, and Wicks thanked everyone for the honor of being chair.

“I will try to do my very, very best,” he said.

The commission spent the remainder of the meeting considering plans for the former Victorian Village development on S. Main Street, including a general plan and zone change from resort residential to major retail for a 0.70-acre parcel at 1930 S. Main St.; a general plan amendment and zone change from resort residential planned development to residential for a 5.39-acre parcel at 10 Queen Ann Way; and approval of a parcel map to create four new parcels.

Commissioners approved the proposals and are recommending that the city city council approve accept them as well. The council is due to consider the recommendations at its Feb. 2 meeting.

The commission also reviewed and discussed its goals for the coming year and the work program for the Lakeport Planning Department.

The commission meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 5 p.m. in the city council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St. Meetings are open to the public.

Commissioners are appointed by the Lakeport City Council, and advise the council on land use planning matters.

For more information about the commission visit http://www.cityoflakeport.com/departments/home.aspx?deptID=68 .

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.