LAKEPORT – On Tuesday the Lakeport City Council is expected to take the final vote on an ordinance that will ban safe and sane fireworks in the city boundaries, and to consider an interim city manager appointment.

The council will hold a budget workshop at 5 p.m., to be followed at 6 p.m. by the regular meeting in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St. The agenda is posted online at www.cityoflakeport.com/departments/home.aspx?deptid=88.

Introduced last month, Ordinance No. 878 will amend Lakeport's municipal code to prohibit the sale, use, discharge and explosion of state-approved – or safe and sane – fireworks within the city.

The council held its first reading of the ordinance on May 5, and approved it in a 3-2 vote, with Council members Suzanne Lyons and Jim Irwin voting against the measure.

Fireworks supporters are working to put an initiative before voters this fall that would allow safe and sane fireworks to be sold.

The effort is backed by local nonprofit groups that have sold them as part of an annual fundraiser – the Miss Lake County Scholarships Organization, the Clear Lake High School Booster Club, Terrace School Parent Teacher Organization and the Lake County Channel Cats – and well as American Promotional Events and TNT Fireworks, as Lake County News has reported.

Interim City Manager Kevin Burke's report to the council notes that City Clerk Janel Chapman has received 693 signatures in support of the initiative – well over the 260 signatures that were required. Those 693 signatures still need to be verified, according to Chapman.

In other council business, Community Development Director Mark Brannigan will ask for direction on the city's housing element. Staff is requesting direction to submit the city's draft housing element to the state Department of Housing and Community Development for a 60-day public review period.

Under City Council communications, the council will receive an update on Westside Community Park.

Following the public portion of the meeting, the council will hold a closed session to discuss an employee disciplinary action and consider a six-month appointment to the interim city manager position.

Burke, also the city's police chief, has been filling the position on an interim basis since last August, when City Manager Jerry Gillham was deployed to Iraq by the Oregon National Guard. Gillham had health issues and has since returned to the United States, but is on medical leave.

City officials have not stated publicly whether Burke is being considered for a reappointment. Burke could not be reached by Lake County News for comment on the matter on Friday.

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