LAKEPORT >> County and city documents were combed by the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), drawing more ideas as the board closes in on finalizing the Lakeport Economic Strategic Plan.
Five documents were reviewed, but the primary focus was the five-year implementation plan from the city’s former Redevelopment Agency (which was disbanded in 2012) and the Lake County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for 2016. Community Development Director Kevin Ingram led the committee through them and noted well-made observations in the analysis.
“They are still the same objectives, but unfortunately we don’t have much of the resources,” Ingram said, speaking of the implementation plan, which was made nearly 7 years ago and was meant to span from 2009 to 2014.
One of the goals in the plan sparked discussion — additional parking for the downtown area and finding adequate land for it.
“That’s one of the detractors people keep bringing up over the years,” Melissa Fulton, CEO of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, said. Both Fulton and Ingram disagreed with the assessment but acknowledged it as a problem due to the perception’s magnitude.
Some possibilities for a parking structure’s location were brought up like the vacant lot on Fourth and Forbes streets, on Armstrong Street near the Soper Reese Theatre, or the lots adjacent to Coach Craft Auto Body on Fifth Street. Fulton called the latter an “excellent location.”
“It would accommodate all in this area,” she added.
However, due to Phase II of the Downtown Improvement Project Ingram didn’t think it would be the right time to do a need assessment on the issue.
Local business owner Nancy Ruzicka also offered input and suggested that clear signs be put in place to direct drivers towards additional parking such as Fifth Street boat launch lot.
Other ideas included downtown façade improvements and right-of-way work.
Regarding the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, LEDAC pulled a lot of applicable analysis out of it despite it being primarily an unincorporated county document.
Mostly, the conversation centered on increasing local agricultural tourism as it relates to lodging development.
City Manager Margaret Silveira expressed optimism in the future of development due to the continued growth of Lake County’s grape growers.
To support this, she mentioned local winemaker Andy Beckstoffer, former president of the Grape Growers Association in Napa. She said he saw the area grow from having no restaurants to the tourist destination it today. He told her that he sees the same thing for Lake County, but it will take “baby steps.”
Nearly 25 years ago, there were only 6 wineries in the county, according to Fulton. But, now that number has grown to 35 in addition to the tasting rooms and virtual wineries.
“It’s gonna increase the value of our properties,” Silveira said. “The restaurants and lodging will come.”
Ingram added that they are also coming closer to the Lakeport city limits and thus the city is encouraging growth.
“Certainly, the attraction of ancillary agricultural type businesses is something we feel we have niche that can be filled here within the city limits,” he said. “We’ve reached out to them in trying to generate interest locating services here in Lakeport as well.”
At next month’s meeting, LEDAC will finalize its main goals for the strategic plan and may discuss modeling strategies.
