LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Lakeport City Council will consider the introduction of an ordinance to deal with soliciting and panhandling on private property and discuss staff's suggestion that a sewer rate increase set to go into effect in July be put off for a year.
The council will meet in closed session beginning at 4 p.m. for a conference with the labor negotiator and negotiations for a utility easement concerning 818 Lakeport Blvd. Before convening in open session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
Lakeport Police Lt. Jason Ferguson will introduce the solicitation ordinance to the council and ask that a public hearing be set for June 7.
“Within the past two years, the City of Lakeport has experienced an increase in subjects soliciting money, food or services from citizens in the community. These solicitors are typically associated with the homeless population and located at various retail establishments throughout the city wherein; civilian traffic is heavy,” Ferguson explained in his report to the council.
“At times, the Police Department is called upon when solicitors become too aggressive after being denied money and asked to leave the premises by representatives of the property. Currently, the officers are not allowed by law to request the solicitor to leave private property such as, Safeway, without first having the property owner, or their representative, make the advisement to leave the property,” he said.
He said law enforcement has tried to consult with property owners and corporate executives regarding prevention of solicitation on their properties “with negative results,” adding, “Without the ability to regulate soliciting under these circumstances, it is likely the solicitors will continue to aggressively panhandle within our community.”
Ferguson said the ordinance has two purposes. The first is to regulate solicitation by requiring a permit, free of charge, for those who wish to solicit “in any place of public accommodation, in any place of
business open to the public generally, on city streets and sidewalks, in the public parks, or in any public places.”
Second, the ordinance would provide officers the ability to request solicitors to leave private properties such as, Safeway and Kmart, if the solicitors do not have a permit, Ferguson said.
In other business, city Finance Director Dan Buffalo will ask the council to consider delaying the sewer rate adjustment that was set to begin on July 1 by exactly one year and schedule a public hearing to formally begin the process of making that change.
Buffalo reported that sewer rates are expected to be 7 percent higher than anticipated this year, “adequately capturing the revenue requirement for sewer operations, debt service, reserve enhancement, and capital improvements for this time period. Delay of the final adjustment is not expected to adversely impact the sewer enterprise in 2016.”
City Manager Margaret Silveira on Tuesday will give an update on the public safety town hall the council hosted on April 25 and ask the council for direction to staff regarding the results of the event.
In her report on the meeting, Silveira said staff is recommending holding a budget town hall next to address issues raised at the public safety town hall.
Also on Tuesday, the council will meet new Lakeport Police Officer Victor Rico; consider approving a resolution authorizing Silveira to submit an Active Transportation Program grant application for the Hartley Street pedestrian improvements project; and consider resolutions involving the use of lease revenue bonds for financing for the police station and acquisition project.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; warrant registers for May 11; minute of the special city council meeting of April 25, 2016, and the regular city council meeting of May 3, 2016; approval of Application No. 2016-014 with staff recommendations for the Lake County Chamber of Commerce for the following events for the annual Memorial Day Parade on May 28 and Oktoberfest on Oct. 1; approval of Application 2016-002 with staff recommendations for the annual Grillin’ on the Green fundraiser to be held at Westside Park on Aug. 6; approval of the proposed 2015-2017 memorandum of understanding between the city and the Lakeport Main Street Association (LMSA), and receive and file the 2014/2015 LMSA Annual Report; and approval of the employment contract with Silveira for city manager services.
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Lakeport City Council to discuss ordinance on panhandling, consider delaying sewer rate increase
- Elizabeth Larson
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