CLEARLAKE — The Clearlake City Council agreed to form a partnership Thursday aimed at creating uniform streetscape on Lakeshore Drive. The partnership is between the city, the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce (CLCC) and the Konocti Career Pathways (KCP) program at Lower Lake High School (LLHS).
Students in the KCP welding and manufacturing program will be producing the furniture according to designs developed by Public Works Superintendent Doug Herren, chamber executive director Lori Peters, and KCP representatives Anna and Frank McAtee.
Through the partnership the City of Clearlake agrees to consider the KCP program in any future purchase of products such as benches, tables, light poles, etc. It also agrees to encourage area service groups and businesses that purchase such products to buy them from the KCP in effort to support the program as well as create a uniform aesthetic design for the city.
“We are asking the Clearlake City Council to accept the City of Clearlake Streetscape Design Plan as an extension of the Clearlake Vision Task Force proposal and the Lakeshore Drive plan to define our town as our own, to keep it distinctive and one-of-a-kind while improving the function and aesthetic integrity of Clearlake,” Peters stated in her report to the council. “If we are thinking of purchasing something for the City of Clearlake, we would like the Konocti Unified School District (KUSD) Career Pathways program to be included as a vendor.”
Peters said that the CLCC is working with area businesses and the community to raise awareness to the program as well as obtain sponsors for public projects in the city.
Streetscape guidelines call for the products to be constructed of one-quarter inch steel with a rust finish. Commemorative bronze plaques may be customized with dedication or insignia that relates to a unique neighborhood within the city. Peters said this suggestion is provided as a means to celebrate specific areas of the city.
At present, the product list includes benches, variously-sized planter boxes, planters with bench combination, waterfall feature, sign poles, light poles, landscape fencing, tables and chairs, picnic tables, bus stops, utility covers, banner holders and over-the-street banner holders. “These items and more can be mixed up to create many unique designs. The combinations are endless,” Peters stated.
Additionally Peters said, “Probably the most difficult objective to quantify is visual pleasure or appeal. It is also the easiest objective to compromise or denigrate. Visual appeal implies not only the satisfaction of all the foregoing objectives, but also the creation of a strong and positive image of the City of Clearlake, both by day and by night. This image is distinctive, recognizable and memorable to Clearlake residents and guests. Yet, also allows for the uniqueness of the community and businesses to forge their own identity.”
KCP students will be displaying and selling their wares during the upcoming “Day in Your Park” event scheduled for May 22 at Anderson Marsh Historic State Park in Lower Lake. All vendors at the event will be school-related.
For more information regarding the products available through the Konocti Career Pathways program, please contact Lori Peters at the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, 994-3600.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
