Lakeport — The Lakeport City Council decided Tuesday night to withhold approving payment of the second installment, worth $8,650, of the Pyro Spectaculars warrant, or bill. The City Council paid the first installment of the warrant, worth $8,650, in May.
Pyro Spectaculars is the Oakland-based company in charge of this year”s Fourth of July fireworks show, and has been in charge of previous Fourth of July fireworks shows for the past 20 years. Pyro Spectaculars declined to comment by press time.
Mayor Pro Tem Robert Rumfelt called this year”s fireworks show, “A total disaster,” and the City Council decided to consider another company to do next year”s fireworks show. No companies were mentioned.
During citizen input, eight current and retired city employees addressed their grievances over a possible 134-percent increase in their health insurance premiums. “This is a burden on a lot of us,” Rick Johnson said during citizen input.
Andrew Britton, Planning Services Manager, requested reconsideration of the possible increase of health insurance premiums during citizen input. Bob Barthel, retired city employee, told the City Council of his own increase in health insurance premiums for his family, worth $817 a month.
During public hearing, adoption of Ordinance No. 880 was addressed; no public input was delivered.
According to Tuesday”s City Council staff report, Ordinance No. 880, “Will amend the City”s Zoning Ordinance to establish regulations regarding the development of emergency shelters and related housing issues.” Ordinance No. 880, which was reviewed by the Planning Commission in May, is part of the City Council”s Housing Element, a five-year housing redevelopment plan, adopted in 2009. Ordinance No. 880 unanimously passed the City Council 5-0. The ordinance will go into effect Aug. 5.
Richard Knoll, Redevelopment Manager, reported on the Fa?ade Improvement Project. The Fa?ade Improvement Project is, “A program offered through the city redevelopment program. We offer up to $5,000 in design, then if the property owners decide to go forward in construction of the newly designed project, we will offer up to $25,000 in grant money to do construction.” Knoll said.
The Fa?ade Improvement Project will help, “Get a more city-standard design,” and also, “Encourage property owners to renovate property to increase retail sales and other business activities,” Knoll said.
The City Council approved the owner participation agreement between the Lakeport Redevelopment Agency and David and Paula Borg, for the business of Performance European, a loan of $8,585 for retaining wall, curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements to E Street frontage and Oak Knoll Avenue frontage, both on the corner of South Main Street, with a vote of 5-0. The Redevelopment Agency will pay expenses exceeding the loaned amount.
The City Council also approved the owner participation agreement between the Lakeport Redevelopment Agency and Barry and Janalyn Parkinson for curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements, as well as reconstruction of a parking lot adjacent to the present businesses, Switchblade Tattoo and Penny Lane Thrift Shoppe, respectively, with a vote of 5-0, which are located on 470 and 490 South Main Street.
An improvement project award, for the bid of $291,346.75 offered by North Bay Construction Inc., located out of Petaluma, for construction of the South Main Street Pedestrian Improvement Project, was passed by the City Council by a vote of 5-0. No parties protested the award.
City Manager Margaret Silveira proposed a new credit card policy for city employees and staff, which, “Gives staff rules to go by to how to use their cards,” Silveira said. The proposed credit card policy will make it easier to better know how fiscal dollars are spent and how to spend fiscal dollars in the future. The policy was approved by the City Council by a vote of 5-0.
Contact Richard Dasher at rdasherjr@live.com.
