LAKEPORT — The Lakeport City Council denied a contract amendment Tuesday that would have given police officers better retirement benefits.
The council voted 3-2 against the second reading of the ordinance that would have given police officers retiring at the age of 50 with 30 years of service 90 percent of their salary in final compensation. Councilmen Bob Rumfelt and Roy Parmentier dissented, voting for the increase.
The council discussed a number of issues at its meeting in City Hall.
Council members, city staff and community members arrived an hour early for a workshop on the Downtown Improvement Project. The council unanimously voted to accept the plan for the project.
Melissa Fulton of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce presented the council with a check for $4,325 to pay for half of the July 4 fireworks show. She said the fundraiser this year raised more than $11,000. The remainder will go toward 2011 fireworks.
“Lots of people who donated weren”t associated with the chamber, they just believe in the community,” Fulton said.
Mayor James Irwin accepted the check and said he appreciates the work the chamber has done.
Three council members voted to appoint Suzanne Russell as the new Planning Commissioner. Two more positions will open in October. Council members Ron Bertsch and Suzanne Lyons made nominations for John Thompson
The council voted 4-0 to allow the Martin Street Senior Housing Project to submit an application to the California State Department of Housing and Community Development for funding. Irwin sat out of the discussion, saying he has a conflict. The project would build 48 low-income housing units for seniors. The developers are asking for $1.1 million from the Lakeport Redevelopment Agency.
Mike Kelley of Pacific West Communities, which will develop and run the complex, said they would aim to hire local laborers and contractors.
“We always try to use local workforce,” Kelley said. “It”s good for us as well.”
Council members agreed to form the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee. The committee will serve as a community think tank for economic development and provide ideas to staff for council consideration. City staff will start recruiting members who live, work, shop or do business in Lakeport.
Fulton said she and the chamber are looking forward to working with the committee.
“We plan to be as involved as we can be,” she said.
Carter Irwin addressed the council during citizen input and asked if the city would authorize him and other volunteers to put leaflets on cars warning boaters of quagga mussels and the fines associated with them. Mayor James Irwin agreed to have the item posted on the agenda at a following meeting for consideration.
Council members sitting as the Lakeport Redevelopment Agency voted 3-2 to issue a request for proposals for engineering design services for the Armstrong Street Pedestrian Improvement Project. The project would fill in the gaps to provide a continuous sidewalk on the north side of Armstrong Street from South Main Street to Ruby Drive. Parmentier and Bertsch voted no.
The council unanimously approved an agreement with Lake County for animal shelter services.
Bill Irwin told the council he”s waiting on attorneys before moving forward with an affordable housing project he”s working on for 12 units at 1930 S. Main St. He said he anticipates bringing the project before the council in the near future.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
