LAKEPORT — Downtown Lakeport”s Library Park is being considered as a site for BoardStock 2007 after Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa announced it would not host the event this summer because of problems with underage drinking at last year”s event.
Acting City Manager Richard Knoll called an informal meeting at Lakeport City Hall Wednesday morning with promoter Rob Stimmel and representatives from the county and city governments, along with Lakeport”s police department, Chamber of Commerce and Fire Protection District, among others, to begin gathering information.
“We”re really in the early stages figuring out whether it makes sense for city or the promoter,” said Knoll. No decision was made at Wednesday”s meeting, except to continue the discussion in a meeting scheduled for next Wednesday.
On the table is whether or not the event should be alcohol-free, whether it should be open to the general public or gated and involve a cover charge, what it will cost the city, how available local law enforcement would be to provide emergency services and crowd control, and the impact on local businesses and the surrounding community.
“My recommendation was to make it a non-alcohol event, a family-oriented, open event with no gates, no fences, more like a Fourth of July event or Memorial Day or Taste of Lakeport event … more of a community-oriented event as opposed to what it seems to have been at Konocti,” said Knoll. He added, “It may not be possible to do the kind of thing I”m talking about to make it financially feasible for the promoter.”
In a recent interview, Stimmel said Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa paid around $63,000 per year to host the event for the past two years. Stimmel declined to comment on plans at this point.
Knoll also identified the need to address closing the lake”s water course during the boarding competitions and ensure public safety as needing a closer look.
“The best way to characterize it at this stage is that we”re still in the fact-finding and information-gathering stage to arrive at an eventual decision,” said Knoll. His estimation of whether or not there might be a concert component were equally as conservative. Knoll also pointed to a need to bring the consideration of hosting BoardStock before the city council, adding that the Lake County Board of Supervisors would likely need to address it as well. He said the county would be integral in terms of planning and implementation, adding that the county”s experience in the event could come in handy.
“If it”s (BoardStock) going to be in the county, regardless of where, the county would want to be involved,” said Dist. 5 Supervisor Rob Brown. Knoll said the event is in line with Lakeport”s tradition of supporting tourism, and he is optimistic about its feasibility. “As I said in opening of meeting, we will have an open mind and take a look at it and just see where it goes. We owe it to the public; we”re a public entity, and frankly we need to hear from the public to some degree on this,” added Knoll.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
