CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A draft policy for establishing an “adopt-a-park” program was approved by the Clearlake Planning Commission on Tuesday.

The policy will be sent to the Clearlake City Council with the commission's recommendation for adoption.

It is expected to be considered by the city council at its regular meeting on March 26.

City Manager Joan Phillipe said that, once the policy is adopted by the council, it will serve as the protocol for individuals, groups and organizations to be active participants in the maintenance, upkeep and beautification of the city's parks and other public spaces.

The policy also will provide the opportunity to construct specific projects set forth in park master plans.

Phillipe said the policy aims to foster city partnerships with local organizations and individuals to work in coordination to preserve, beautify and maintain city parks and open spaces.

“It gives residents a direct connection to the parks they use and, therefore, more pride,” Phillipe said.

Participation in the adopt-a-park program can come from local businesses, neighborhood associations, faith-based organizations, schools and students, civic associations, community groups, scouting organizations, individuals and others.

“I think it's a good opportunity particularly for seniors in high school who have to do community service to graduate,” Phillipe said. “This policy formalizes our ability to work with the schools and so on.”

There will be limited supervision on projects; however, all projects will require the approval of the city through the Public Works Department.

Project suggestions include pruning, raking and weeding; light painting, graffiti removal, litter removal, tree and flowing planting, including watering; construction of projects specified in the city's approved park master plans.

Participants will be required to complete a city volunteer application form, which may include a background check.

Commissioner Mike Vandiver requested the process somehow be streamlined as to not lose the interest of willing participants.

Phillipe said the application and background process are relatively quick; however, they may take longer, particularly when youth are involved to ensure volunteers are safe to work around them.

Facilities up for adoption include Austin Park and its amenities such as the skatepark and basketball and tennis courts; and Skyler Rapp Children's Playground at Austin Beach.

Also available are Redbud Park/Thompson Harbor, Highlands Park, Clearlake Senior/Community Center.

Phillipe said more locations will be added as more parks and open spaces come into the city's park system.

The city will present certificates of appreciation, annually, to participants of the program.

Opportunities for participation will be posted on the city's Web site, www.clearlake.ca.us , and other social media outlets.

More information is available at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council voted Tuesday to enter into a contract with an engineering firm to work on the next steps in the Downtown Lakeport Improvement Project.

Special Projects Coordinator Richard Knoll took to the council the proposed contract with Crawford and Associates, which calls for the firm to develop and complete civil engineering design services and plans for the project at a price not to exceed $164,835.

The first phase of the project was completed in the 2007-08 fiscal year. It included an improved streetscape – such as sidewalks, street trees and grates – on Third Street and Park Street east of Main Street, along with the construction of a public parking lot north of Lakeport City Hall.

The project's second phase was held up for reasons including the state's dismantling of redevelopment.

As a result, in November 2011 the council directed staff to reduce the scope and cost of the project, which now will cover N. Main Street from First to Fourth streets.

The city has $1.8 million in former redevelopment bond funds to pay for the second phase, which will include reconstructing and repaving several blocks of Main Street; relocating streetlights; widening sidewalks; installing new street trees, grates and street furniture; and installing new curb storm drain inlets, sewer and water piping infrastructure, according to city documents.

At its Oct. 7 meeting, the council considered a professional services agreement with George Rau and Associates of Ukiah for engineering services and construction plans for the second phase of the project, but ultimately voted to have staff put out another request for proposals.

City staff did issue that followup RFP, sending it out to 16 firms, and receiving back only one proposal in January, from Crawford and Associates, which has offices in Sacramento and Ukiah, Knoll said at the meeting Tuesday.

A consultant selection board composed of Knoll, city Community Development Director Kevin Ingram and interim City Engineer Mark Akaba reviewed Crawford's recommendation, with City Manager Margaret Silveira also involved in the review and recommendation.

Knoll said Crawford has a relationship with Rau and Associates, having acquired services of some of the Rau staff recently.

City staff had a “a fairly extensive negotiation” with Crawford and Associates and Cathy McKeon, formerly with Rau and Associates, who will be the primary engineer on the project, Knoll said.

McKeon was to have been at the council meeting Tuesday to answer questions but was in a vehicle crash in Ukiah on the way to the meeting. Knoll said she was not seriously injured.

Staff recommended that Crawford and Associates be hired at a cost not to exceed $164,835, which was higher than the amount the council considered from Rau last October but down by about $15,000 from Crawford's original proposal to the city. Knoll said city staff negotiated Crawford's original cost down from $179,899 to $164,835.

Since the city was dealing with only one proposal, Knoll and Silveira reported that they also did outreach to other design firms for the purpose of third party review, and were told that the proposed price was fair and that there could be risk in going out for another RFP.

Knoll said there is a rule of thumb in design engineering costs – they normally are equal to 10 percent of construction value.

With the city looking at a construction value of between $1.7 million and $1.8 million, Knoll said Crawford's proposal falls within that 10-percent industry standard.

Councilman Marc Spillman asked when the project would be done.

“We're still on track but currently we're a month behind” based on Crawford's schedule, Knoll said.

Based on the assumption that the council would approve the contract Tuesday night, Knoll said design planning would begin. Construction bidding would take place in August and September, with the issue notice of award to the contractor in early October, followed by agreement and insurance work that same month, and work on the project starting after that. Knoll said he was not sure if the construction could take place during the winter.

“Any time you go out for new RFPs, you run the risk of getting all-around higher bids,” said Councilwoman Stacey Mattina.

Mattina said she felt the city did pretty well in this situation, getting a more detailed bid in the process. Delaying a project also can guarantee a higher expense, she added, noting she felt the bid was fair and she was excited to move the project forward.

Mayor Martin Scheel said he could support it, agreeing with Mattina that “it would be nice to get the project going.”

Mattina moved to approve the contract with Spillman seconding, and the council voting 5-0.

In other business, the council held a brief public hearing in order to adopt a resolution adding supplement activities including accessibility upgrades – such as an elevator – to the Carnegie Library and street improvements to the city's current Community Development Block Grant contract.

The council also supported the creation of a new department secretary in the Administrative Services Department and approved a contract with Mercer-Fraser for the USDA Water and Wastewater Improvement Project.

Email Elizabeth Larson at [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission will meet to discuss a proposed adopt-a-park program for the city.

The meeting will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

The commission will consider recommending to the city council a policy adopting an adopt-a-park program.

City Manager Joan Phillipe’s report to the commission notes that, at the Clearlake City Council’s request, the commission – sitting jointly as the Parks and Recreation Committee – considered at its last meeting the possibility of recommending an adopt-a-park policy.

She said direction was given to city staff at that meeting to return with a draft policy for the commission to consider for its recommendation to the council.

Phillipe said the draft policy’s content is based on the commission’s discussion as well as input from staff, review of other similar park adoption programs in other cities and review by public works staff.

“This is a new policy proposed for adoption by the City Council,” Phillipe wrote. “Once adopted, the policy will serve as the protocol for individuals, groups and organizations to be active participants in the maintenance, upkeep and beautification of the city’s parks and public spaces. It will also provide opportunity to construct specific projects set forth in park master plans.”

While there will be some financial cost to the city, Phillipe said it’s expected to be minimal “and in the form of providing safety vests, gloves and other materials and supplies.”

The Clearlake Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Committee's membership is composed of Chairman Carl Webb, Vice Chair Cheryl Hutchinson, and commissioners Bill Perkins, Alvaro Valencia and Mike Vandiver.

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.

031715 Draft Adopt-A-Park Policey for city of Clearlake, Calif.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will discuss expanding the use of grant funds for upgrades to the city's Carnegie Library, and consider a contract for the next stages of the city's downtown improvement project.

The council will meet in closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, regarding ongoing litigation with the county of Lake over the former sheriff's decision to limit Lakeport Police's access to a shared law enforcement records system before convening in open session at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The council will hold a public hearing for the purpose of adopting a proposed resolution approving the submittal of supplemental activities to the current Community Development Block Grant contract.

The city wants to use program income funds from the grant for a business loan program and a lakefront revitalization plan, as well as making the Carnegie Library compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and completing some street improvements.

In other business, the council will consider authorizing City Manager Margaret Silveira to enter into a contract with Crawford and Associates to develop and complete civil engineering design services and plans for the Downtown Lakeport Improvement Project Phase 2 civil engineering design services/specifications at a price not to exceed $164,835.

Also on Tuesday, the council is expected to authorize city staff to execute the approved form of contract with Mercer-Fraser for the USDA Water and Wastewater Improvement Project pursuant to funding from US Department of Agriculture and consider approving funding for a department secretary position assigned to the Administrative Services Department.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes from the March 3 regular meeting and March 5 special meeting; Application 2015-006 from Community Care Management Coop. for the 2015 Lake County Aids Walk on Setp. 12; Application 2015-007 from Latinos United Lake County for the Cinco de Mayo Celebration to be held in Library Park May 3; Application 2015-008 from The Center for Life Choices for the 2015 Walk for Life and 5K Run on April 25; and authorization to accept the tank site project and recording of notice of completion with the county of Lake.

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.