Lakeport >> At the Wednesday, June 15 meeting, the Lake County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) on a roll call vote elected to continue their decision on an update to Lakeport’s sphere of influence to the September 16 meeting. Additionally, as a consequence of that decision, the commission voted to hold that meeting in Lakeport, instead of Clearlake as originally scheduled.
The proposed update to the current sphere, which was adopted in 1994, would redraw the city’s sphere of influence, reducing it significantly along the west side of Route 29 by eliminating agricultural land that was said would be unsuitable for urban growth, and increasing it some around the southern end of Lakeport city limits.
It was mentioned by LAFCo Executive Officer John Benoit that several people along McMahon Road submitted letters to his office objecting to annexation, thought he was quick to mention that annexation was not what was being discussed; that a sphere of influence is “just a step in that direction,” but didn’t necessarily indicate that an area would definitely be annexed. It was added by Lakeport Community Development Director Kevin Ingram that that area has actively been in Lakeport’s sphere of influence since 1994, and the proposed change in boundaries wouldn’t affect those residents in any way.
Commissioner and Lake County District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington, who was absent from the meeting, also submitted a letter to Benoit’s office, requesting that the item be continued to the next meeting. County staff also requested a continuance, on the grounds that they felt they hadn’t been given enough time to properly review the newest reports on the potential impact of the changes, having only received them the week prior. Benoit asserted LAFCo is legally required to release those documents only five days prior to the meeting, and that that requirement had been met.
It was the position of several members of the commission, including commission chair Stacey Mattina, that the contents of that report had been available for some time in various forms, and as such the county shouldn’t require any more time than was already allotted. Further, it was argued, that continuing the discussion for the sake of Commissioner Farrington would be inappropriate, as there were other representatives of the county present at the meeting.
Commissioners Jim Comstock and Joyce Overton both suggested that, should the hearing be continued, the next meeting location to be changed to Lakeport to better accommodate Lakeport city personnel and residents.
The motion to continue to and relocate the next meeting was presented by Comstock and seconded by Overton. Commissioners Ed Robey, Overton, Comstock and Alternate Commissioner Jim Abell voted in favor, and commissioners Frank Gillespie and Mattina voted against. Commissioner Gerry Mills recused himself, citing a conflict of interest as a property owner in the affected area.
