LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will discuss a proposal to allow for control burnings in the city limits and consider appointing two of its members to an ad hoc committee of local governments that will address the public safety power shutoffs.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will ask the council to consider and discuss allowing the Lakeport Fire Protection District to sponsor and supervise controlled burning to mitigate fire hazards within the Lakeport city limits.

Ingram’s report explained that last year the council revised the Lakeport Municipal Code requiring hazardous weeds and dry vegetation that create a fire hazard to be abated by June 1 rather than the first week of July.

“As a part of that discussion staff was provided with direction to explore other possible ordinance revisions aimed at reducing wildfire hazard risks, most notably a possible revision to Section 8.11 of the Lakeport Municipal Code that prohibits ‘burning of all kinds’ within the City limits,” Ingram wrote.

He said that over the past few months, the city has been working with the Lakeport Fire Protection District, Lake County Air Quality Management District and interested citizens on possible amendments to the city code. They’ve identified potential revisions that would establish a permit procedure allowing for outdoor burning on properties larger than one acre in size, similar to what is permitted within the unincorporated areas of the county.

Permit requirements would include review and approval of individual properties by the Lakeport Fire Protection District and the review and approval of a smoke management plan by the Lake County Air Quality Management District, Ingram said.

Before bringing forward a formal ordinance revision, Ingram said the group is suggesting some supervised controlled burns to monitor the effectiveness of the revisions.

Ingram is seeking direction from the council on what actions to take next.

Also on Tuesday, City Manager Margaret Silveira will present to the council a proposal to select two council members to participate with the county of Lake and the city of Clearlake in an ad hoc committee that will draft communications and advocate for Lake County residents with regards to Pacific Gas and Electric’s public safety power shutdowns.

On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on Oct. 22, the emergency meeting of Oct. 31 and the special joint meeting of Oct. 31; the Oct. 30 warrant register; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the Mendocino Complex fire; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the February 2019 storms; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the October 2019 public safety power shutoff; receipt and filing of the draft minutes of the Oct. 9 MZAC meeting; authorize out-of-state travel for Officer Ryan Cooley to attend the Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings Training Course in Socorro, New Mexico.

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110519 Lakeport City Council Agenda Packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd