LAKEPORT — The City Council won”t be talking about annexation anytime soon after Tuesday”s hearing on the issue was postponed indefinitely.
The city proposes to incorporate 197 acres south of its current borders along South Main Street and Soda Bay Road. The 54 parcels in the area are now in the county”s jurisdiction.
The council was set to discuss the potential environmental impacts of the project on Tuesday. However, staff recommended delaying the hearing after the city received what City Manager Margaret Silveira called “last-minute” written comments from the Lake County Administrative Office and the Sierra Club Lake Group.
In separate letters, both entities encouraged the council to demand a full environmental impact report (EIR) for the project.
City staff suggests the initial study and associated mitigation measures already prepared for the proposal represents the required amount of environmental review.
Community Development Director Richard Knoll told the council staff needed more time to review the comments submitted by the county and Sierra Club on Tuesday.
The council voted 4-0 to postpone the hearing indefinitely. Councilman Bob Rumfelt was absent.
As Police Chief Brad Rasmussen began discussing the next agenda item, an audience member stood and asked the council to allow him to speak about the annexation proposal, a request newly elected Mayor Stacey Mattina denied.
Knoll had recommended not opening the hearing to public comment because staff anticipates changing the proposal.
Silveira said Wednesday that staff thought it would be “more appropriate to have the correct version to be commented on.” She added, “Technically, we should”ve allowed public comment.”
There is no timetable for the when the issue will be brought back to the council, though city staff plans to meet with the county and Sierra Club in the interim to discuss the groups” concerns, according to Silveira.
She said people could address annexation during the citizen input portion of future council meetings.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
