The meeting will start at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St. The agenda and supporting staff reports can be found at the city's Web site, www.cityoflakeport.com/departments/docs.aspx?deptID=88&catID=102.
Kevin Burke, Lakeport's police chief and acting city manager, is taking the proposed animal control memorandum of understanding with the county to the council.
The agreement, if approved, would begin May 1, nearly a year after the city ended its previous contract with the county for animal control services.
Burke's report to the council explains that, prior to this current fiscal year, the city had contracted with Lake County's animal control agency for 20 years, with the cost – which varied over the years – arrived at by computing a percentage of the county's total animal control budget.
In the 2006-07 fiscal year, the city's contract cost was approximately $57,552, rising to $71,868 the following year – an amount that represented 7 percent of the county's entire animal control budget, Burke reported.
Unable to afford that amount, the city took over animal control services itself, assigning the functions to the police department and budgeting $25,000 for the year.
“The level of service provided by the Police Department has been significantly less than that provided by the County due to other responsibilities and in an effort to limit costs,” Burke noted in his report.
Continuing to prove a challenge are feral and pet cats, and an “observable increase” in the feral cat population, Burke said.
However, he noted his staff has implemented new licensing fees, which the council raised last year, and a licensing program and handled a number of animal-related calls for service.
The new agreement proposes a collaborate approach between city and county staff, said Burke, with the city assuming certain administrative responsibilities with the county's animal control professionals providing shelter services and handling most field situations.
The county would take over all traditional animal control functions, including all calls that require animal handling, which Burke said includes everything from surrendered, abandoned and nuisance animals to bite investigations, quarantine cases and rabies control.
At the same time, Lakeport Police will continue handling barking dog calls, issuing animal licenses and collecting license fees.
Costs to the city would be based on the number of county staff hours worked and the number of city animals taken to the shelter, according to Burke's report.
In addition, the city will pay the county $90 per animal – which is the same amount as what it pays now – and $42.50 per hour for county staff time, Burke said.
One of the agreement's most important provisions is a $30,000 cap in cost for the 2009-10 fiscal year, and a $5,000 cap for May and June of this fiscal year, which is already appropriated in the unspent portion of the city's current animal control budget, said Burke.
The proposed agreement appears to offer only positives for the city. Burke reported an estimated savings of $41,868 a year – a 58-percent cost savings – and the potential to save even more.
He added, “The agreement will restore the level of animal control service in the City of Lakeport to a level of full service and unburden the Police Department with most field responsibilities.”
Other council business slated for Tuesday includes the following items:
– A joint meeting as the Lakeport Redevelopment Agency to approve a loan agreement for a housing pre-development loan with Avalon Cottages Inc.;
– Another joint meeting as the City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District board to approve a resolution authorizing signatory authority for any amendments to an agreement with the State Board of Water Resources;
– Receipt of a report identifying estimated costs and savings for the golden handshake early retirement
program, with the council expected to direct staff to prepare a resolution approving the program for the council's April 21 meeting;
– Consideration of a resolution that would adopt a race-conscious disadvantaged business enterprises program in the city;
– Award of the contract for design of the Hartley Street Safe Routes to School Project to Green Valley Consulting Engineers;
– A resolution committing to matching funds for Cycle 8 of the Safe Routes to School Program.
– Consideration of requests from the Lakeport Yacht Club regarding proposed lease of a portion of the city's parking lot for dry boat storage; expansion and remodeling of the building, which is leased from the city; and permission to install a dock (all of the requested work would be funded by the club);
The council also will hold a closed session to consider property negotiations for 1473 Martin St.; discuss existing litigation in Lake County Superior Court, City of Lakeport v. Vincent; and conduct a performance evaluation of Burke.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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