LAKEPORT >> Lakeport is now in the process of recruiting members for the Measure Z Advisory Committee.
The city is looking for five volunteers to serve terms of no more than four years, one for each city council member. Kelly Buendia, City Clerk for Lakeport said the people who apply for the ordinance have to be a citizen of Lakeport prior to applying for the position.
The committee will be able to advise and make recommendations to the council about which projects should be taken into consideration under terms of Measure Z.
“The committee will meet quarterly starting in April this year and will be going over various revenues and expenditures that the measure will cover,” Buendia said.
The Measure Z committee will also be able to make comment or give some recommendations to the upcoming 2017-2018 budget. These will be given to the council for consideration.
Measure Z is an ordinance that was adopted last year for a one percent sales and use tax to help improve the city in areas that are needed. Some of these include additional staffing for the police department and repairs to city roads Buendia said.
“This is a general fund tax and what we have heard from our citizens is there is a definite need to support our police department,” Buendia said. “And with the roads, this will make us able to do road maintenance projects and capitalize on grants.”
Since recent budget cuts, the Lakeport police are unable to fully staff the force. With the Measure Z and increase in the budget, they will be able to hire more officers and keep them on staff to reduce emergency response times, improve neighborhood patrols and keep the community safer. Buendia said they are looking to hire a business officer.
Repaving roads in the city has become a major priority for the city and is another way for the city to improve its safety. Since 2004, when voters approved Measure I, there has been $12 million in funds put into road and street repairs and Measure Z will now provide even more funding.
The application deadline for those looking to apply and be a part of the measure is March 16.
