Elizabeth Wilson–Record-Bee staff
LAKEPORT– A grant from the City of Lakeport”s redevelopment agency helped accelerate phase one of the Soper-Reese theatre project, and now organizers working to restore the historic 61-year-old movie house plan to report the progress to city council at its meeting tonight at 6.
In 2006, Soper-Reese received $200,000 from the city, $30,000 from the county, and $250,000 from a housing and urban development grant it clinched with the help of Congressman Mike Thompson.
According to Soper-Reese steering committee chairman Mike Adams, $480,000 is still needed to complete the renovation.
He said phase two will be conducted in two parts, and will follow the philosophy of the first phase ? “before we start, we want to have all the money in the bank to do that phase, so we have enough money to pay operating expenses.”
About $77,000 is “needed to maintain that buffer,” Adams said, adding that when that amount is secured, phase 2.1 will begin.
Currently, $330,000 is in the bank for the project. And the next phase ? 2.1 ? will cost about $307,000.
“That”s not too bad. At the rate we”ve been raising money, sometime in the next six to eight months we should be able to hit that threshold,” Adams said.
He added that the presentation during the city council meeting would be a good opportunity for citizens to learn how the project is going.
Prior to the council meeting, the city plans to conduct a three-hour-long budget workshop, one of many lengthy discussions the council has held as it crunches numbers and prepares to drastically tighten its belt in anticipation of a $1 million shortfall in next year”s budget.
On the consent agenda, the council will receive and file a report regarding adoption of an updated set of rules for city personnel. And it will approve a contract with Municipal Energy Consultants, LLC, for federal excise tax recovery service.
Convening as the Lakeport Redevelopment Agency, the city council will approve a resolution authorizing redevelopment bond proceeds be added into the Local Agency Investment Fund. And the city will adopt an investment policy for idle funds.
In regards to the downtown transformation project, slated to begin this summer, an agreement with Ruff and Associates for design services for the fa?ade improvement portion of the program is up for approval. City Council already has approved hiring Ruff and Associates for the downtown transformation project.
Adjourning from the Lakeport Redevelopment Agency, city council will consider the suggestion of a citizen to adopt a resolution in support of the North Coast Rail Authority and the restoration of rail freight and passenger service along the north coast.
Closing out the meeting, City Attorney Steve Brookes will lead a discussion regarding payment of increases for retiree health benefits, with possible action taken by the council.
The council meeting begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 225 Park Street, Lakeport.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com.
