LAKEPORT— The Lakeport City Council approved multiple landscape changes within city limits during the regular Tuesday meeting to help improve the quality of life for the community.
The first of the few projects were changes to the Lake Front Park Site Plan to utilize an estimated $800,000 of the city’s General Reserve Funds. Lakeport City Manager Kevin Ingram and various councilmembers said they felt this would be an appropriate use for the funds because it will bring in more tourism and funds to the city.
Staff noted that after escalating construction costs and geotechnical issues, fiscal changes needed to be made to the Lakefront Park Site Plan.
Even though the city will be using a large amount of General Fund reserves, Ingram said there tat still leaves 70 percent of reserves the city has untouched. Ingram added that some of these projects would be cheaper to have completed now with this extra cost rather than try to make changes later down the line.
“The city budget is in a safe place,” Lakeport Councilmember Mireya Turner said. “The percentage of the general fund will leave us in a very secure position.”
The City Council approved the moving of the existing 20-minute parking spaces along Park Street to be on Second Street. This would provide access closer to the main entrance of City Hall and the utility payment drop-box.
The two spaces on Park Street will now be non-limited parking spaces and can be used by visitors for Library Park Ingram said. This is all part of the paving of construction of the Second Street project.
In other city business, the council approved naming of the downtown walking path “The Ann Blue Walking Path” to honor Ann Blue.
Blue was a key player in the development of the walking path while on the Parks and Recreation Commission for Lakeport Public Works Director Doug Grider said.
She worked with the city staff and other Parks and Recreation Commissioners to create a plan for the path and worked many hours walking and mapping possible routes.
“There really was a lot of work put into this path. Ann walked that path many times, making sure it would all work and working with staff. Ann was very active in a lot of community projects besides being on the Parks and Rec. Commission.”
The path was completed in Spring of 2020 with the placement of the last bench and directional medallion along the waterfront. Officials said Blue wanted this project to be a living project so the next step is in the design as part of the Lakefront Park Project.
With the approval, Lakeport City staff will place Blue’s name on the walking path sign in Library Park, the city website and any other location where the path is referenced.
“To say that Ann Blue walked this path a few times is an incredible understatement,” Ingram said. “There was an incredible amount of thought and work that went into this.”
