Roy Parmentier

Age: 66

Family: Married for 36 years to wife, Diana. They have four grown children, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Experience and community involvement: I have served four terms on the Lakeport City Council, acting as mayor five times, chaired the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) and the Area Planning Council, and served on the Lake County Airport Land Use Commission. I was also a founding member and president of the Lake County Air Search and Rescue Squadron and the new Clear Lake Foundation. I am able to work closely with all our council members and staff to help bring the many changes that have and are happening now in our city.

Endorsements: The Lakeport Police Officer's Association and the Lakeport Fire Department Volunteers have both endorsed my candidacy for the office of City Council members.

1. Explain what you believe a city council member's responsibilities are. How would you fulfill these? What qualifications do you possess that make you a good candidate for office?

I believe a City Council member's responsibilities are to act as the legislative arm of our city government. To do that, I believe you must be aware of the workings and responsibilities of each department in our city's structure. You should also be aware of how the citizens of our city feel about ongoing projects, the day-to-day operations of the city that affect them, and do what is needed to keep the citizens informed and included in what is or isn't going on. And you should always be available for questions and answers.

These things I do on a daily basis. My home phone number and e-mail address are published on the new city Internet and I answer all messages addressed to me. I have shown solid leadership for the past 20 years. In tough times such as these, it is not the time to train your council representative to do what is needed.

2. There are several large development projects inside and outside of Lakeport that are being discussed. They include Cristallago, a golf course and subdivision on the city's sewer property, a potential marina and commercial development on the Dutch Harbor property, and a proposal to build a large hotel within the city limits. What is your opinion on these various projects? Are they good for Lakeport? Why or why not?

Cristallago will be a project, though not in the city, that will affect us greatly. We, the city, need to be part of the planning process to see that issues and impacts on city services and infrastructure are adequately addressed. This project will include increased sales and services for our merchants and added sales taxes to pay for city services.

A golf course and subdivision on our city's sewer property are only in the feasibility stage. If it should ever happen, it would be another amenity that would bring tourists into our area. The city would benefit from a percentage of the home sales in the different phases of build out. It would add thousands of dollars in property taxes for city services and would also bring online a new tertiary sewer plant which would produce clean effluent that could be used for irrigation of the golf course, our parks and landscaping in the development area. This reused water would save up to 55,000 gallons of potable water that would be saved in the aquifers around the city.

The Dutch Harbor property has been zoned commercial for as long as I can remember. If a commercial development and/or marina were to be built on this site it would add needed rooms for our tourists. Also, it would add needed property taxes, sales taxes and transit occupancy taxes which would help pay for the many city services provided to all our citizens.

3. Explain how your management style would be applied to your position as council member. Are you hands-on or do you set policy and delegate?

I was always hands-on in my job, but in my time on the council I've learned that you have to work together. The changes in the city have not been accomplished by one person, but by the council, city staff and the city's residents.

4. While the city of Lakeport may use eminent domain, the Redevelopment Agency currently does not have eminent domain authority as a tool for acquiring property. However, earlier this year it was proposed that the Redevelopment Agency amend its plan to include eminent domain, and that discussion is expected to be continued after the election. How do you feel about the use of eminent domain? Should the city's plan be modified to add that power?

Eminent domain is a "tool" that should only be used in the worst situations of blight. In my opinion it would only be used to assist in the cleaning and restoration of seriously blighted areas of our city that the owners refuse to conform to city policies. Eminent domain should be incorporated into our redevelopment plan but not for use against private properties.

Both the city of Clearlake and the county of Lake have redevelopment plans with this element in it.

5. Do you feel the redevelopment agency's budget is being spent for the right purposes and on the right projects?

Yes, I believe the redevelopment agency's budget is being spent for the right purposes and the right projects. The definition of redevelopment is: Planning development, redesign, site preparation and improvement, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of all or part of a project area. And that is just what the city of Lakeport is doing.

6. The city is dealing with a tight budget this year, and could be facing similar issues in the coming budget year as well. How would you propose meeting the city's budget challenges while protecting city services? Are there any areas of spending that you believe should be reconsidered, or any potential revenue streams that should be pursued?

In meeting the city's budget challenges and protecting city services, I believe constant monitoring of our budget figures and having a plan in place if adjustments need to be made. Many of our city's franchises and contracts should be reviewed and brought up to date.

7. Measure I, which generates revenue from sales tax for city projects such as roads, was instituted in 2004. Do you believe Measure I funds are being spent properly? Are there any projects that you believe are particularly appropriate or inappropriate for the funds?

I believe Measure I funds are being used as intended. The bulk of these funds should only be spent on road restoration. A tracking is in place to follow all Measure I funds. I don't believe the city should use Measure I funds to cover any general fund issues.

8. Some citizens have said they want to see more transparency in city government. As a council member, how would you address that concern? What does transparency in government mean to you?

The city has a Web site that any citizen can access to get any information needed about everything going on in our city. My home phone number and e-mail address are published on this Web site and I am available to anyone who wishes to contact me, on the phone, on the net or at City Hall. One of the candidates thinks we should drop everything and install cameras and microphones to televise our meetings. I have no problem with that but, if it means a cut in city services just to serve a few, then the TV show will have to wait until there is an improvement in our budget.

9. Over the past year the city has established a long-range business plan for the city. Do you believe this plan includes relevant projects and ideas for the city's future? What is your vision for the city of Lakeport over the next 20 years?

Our general plan is a plan for our future. It is being updated at this time. We have finished our 20-year water and sewer plans which will keep improving our infrastructure. Also we have a street maintenance plan for the restoration of our street system, and a five- to 10-year business plan to keep us on track.

Twenty years from now I envision Lakeport as both the economic and professional center of Lake County. I would like to see a new golf course, new sewer treatment plant, our roads all in good repair, and a city that is safe and healthy for all our citizens.

10. If elected, is there any project or issue you plan to tackle first?

This election isn't about me, nor is it about you. It is also about our children and grandchildren.

Clearly, we are working on and making decisions on things that will, in fact, affect our children and grandchildren. How do we know how they feel about the future plans of the city? We don't.

Our children seemed to have opted out of government in general, and can we blame them, with the nasty nature of politics? However, we must get their input and involvement. Along these lines, I am going to commit to you that during the next four years I will work as diligently as I can to assure you that we get them involved in our city government.

I am proposing we seat one or two high school students at the City Council table, alongside our council members, so that they will know firsthand what is going on in our city.

They will then carry back to the student body the information that will affect their future. In turn, we will ask them to carry back to us input from their student body so there is an exchange of ideas from the students. After all, it is and will be their community.

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