LAKEPORT — The advisory committee aiming to help economic development within the city received positive reviews from city council members and staff Tuesday evening.
“I feel that we”ve made some good progress in the short time we”ve been together,” City Manager Margaret Silveira said during the Lakeport City Council meeting at City Hall.
The council listened to a progress report and considered future goals for the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee (LEDAC).
According to its mission statement, the committee “is an advocate for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and is a conduit for communicating and implementing the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport”s economic and business programs.”
Community Development Director Richard Knoll led most of the 45-minute discussion during which he described some of LEDAC”s accomplishments to date.
He pointed to a number of enhancements made to the city”s website, including an inventory of vacant commercial lands, a list of empty storefronts and a page with information for people interested in starting a business in Lakeport.
Councilman Tom Engstrom said he was “very impressed” with the website additions.
The council also accepted several goals for LEDAC to focus on during 2012-13 fiscal year.
The committee will continue updating the vacant land and building inventories, implement a business recruitment and retention plan, and work on a city-specific marketing plan.
LEDAC will also interface with the county and other entities to try to develop a regional economic development approach.
The committee has several vacancies and people interested in joining can contact City Clerk Janel Chapman at 263-5615, ext. 12.
In other business, the council voted to authorize Silveira to open a separate Westamerica Bank account for the Lakeport Redevelopment Successor Agency.
The council directed staff to enter into a contract with PACE Engineering, Inc. for design and management services on the city”s Wastewater System Improvements Project, to be funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service.
The contract with Redding-based PACE is not to exceed $685,900.
Council members voted 4-1 to introduce an ordinance to revise regulations for signage for large individual retail buildings and shopping centers. Councilwoman Suzanne Lyons dissented.
The changes, intended to give distinct direction to property owners and developers, would not alter the allowable maximum height of sign letters or the total area of signage, according to city staff.
The city is “modernizing our sign ordinance a piece at a time,” Knoll said.
The second reading of the new ordinance is set to occur at a public hearing on June 19.
