LAKEPORT — The Lakeport City Council discussed several unresolved components of the Phase II Downtown Improvement Project during a 50-minute workshop Tuesday evening at Lakeport City Hall.
The project proposes a number of improvements to downtown Lakeport, including “reconstruction of our downtown sidewalks and street system,” according to Community Development Director Richard Knoll.
“We really need to keep the project moving forward,” Knoll told the council.
The engineering drawings are better than 50-percent complete, but the design firm requested some outstanding issues be addressed, according to Knoll, who described seven pertinent topics for the council.
The first issue pertained to expanding the project one block down Main Street. The project area on Main Street had run from Martin Street to Third Street, but the council agreed with extending the project to Fourth Street.
The estimated cost of having engineering firm RAU and Associates design the extra block is $61,050.
Knoll also presented the idea of extending the project area to include the Martin Street alley, which runs adjacent to Lakeport Furniture. The council approved of the extension, which could add $9,225 to the design costs.
The council formally directed staff to pursue amending the contract with RAU for the extra design work. The contract amendments would be presented to the council for final approval at a future meeting.
The new public hearing associated with the extensions would cost $5,075, for which the council indicated approval.
The fourth issue focused on whether to relocate existing downtown streetlights. Widening existing sidewalks by two feet is a planned aspect of the project, so the streetlights could impede pedestrians if the lamps remain as currently configured.
The council indicated approval for relocating the lights nearer to the new curbs. New trees would also line many streets as a result of the project.
Knoll also asked the council to consider having staff pursue creating a new underground utility district to move existing overhead utility lines below the surface in the project area. The council indicated support for the district, but the council would consider final approval at a future meeting.
Next, Knoll made the council aware that planned improvements do not include adding accessible parking spaces but existing spots will remain.
The final topic involved letting the council know that staff is looking at a number of new furniture options for the project area. The project proposes to add items, including new benches, newspaper racks, trash receptacles and bike racks.
Staff would bring a final furniture recommendation to the council once decisions are made, Knoll said.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
