LAKEPORT >> City Council candidates whose names will appear on the November 5 ballot proffered ideas of how to attract new business to town in council chambers at the candidate debate on Monday.
Vice Mayor Kim Costa noted 50% of the city’s revenue comes from sales tax. “Businesses can flourish here,” she said. “The question is what businesses can thrive here- we have a beautiful lake, people want to come for fishing tournaments, but we need other groups, for example, dog owners want vacations where dogs are welcome. Also, the Redbud Audobon Society (a conservation organization for migrating birds), and the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center has ongoing projects and plans to bring in trains (tourists).”
Council Member Brandon Disney explained the council floated the idea of an ordinance limiting the time for maintaining a vacant building. It included a minor penalty for exceeding the time limit. But he cited the High Street Village new ownership has recently reduced some tenant’s rent. “The business was once a vacant shopping center is now thriving,” Disney said. The rehab was done with private funds, yet it encouraged the landowner to help out businesses to revitalize the space.
Christina Price remarked that small downtown businesses are struggling. She suggested increasing accessibility to store fronts could encourage startups to invest. “Lake County has plenty of small farms and mom and pop shops,” she said. “But we need to provide better training for those coming out to the business world with an idea of what they want to do.”
Candidate Carl Porter explained in the January/February period, he took a survey of downtown restaurants, food and beverage shops. “It was 29 businesses within 0.6 of a mile,” he recalled. “It should really be a wonderful place to shop and dine, now we have three lanes of moving traffic. What I want to do is have one lane of traffic north bound between Martin and 11th Street and go up Ingle Park both sides.” Porter said 85% agreed with his idea and that was his plan in a nutshell.
Yet Mayor Michael Froio remarked when people drive to town for the first time if they are charmed by what they see on Main Street they will want to come back year after year or live here. Yet he recognizes investment capital is scarce. “Times are tough up and down in California and in the U.S.,” The mayor said. “We have an ideal place for people to visit. We want to see our motels cleaned up. Offer them an incentive.”
He encourages residents to coalesce around a Main Street vision to turn around downtown’s appearance.
Council Member Kenny Partlet noted in the current economic conditions he could not recommend anybody invest their life savings to go into in Lakeport and open a business. “Do you have a business that can compete with a big box store or online business that can deliver a product to someone’s door at a price that still can make a profit?” he said. Inflation is taking everybody’s money. Partlet recalled customers coming into his business explained they would have purchased this or that business, but the state is letting the Public Utilities Commission allow utility companies charge exorbitant prices. “This is a devastating climate,” he added.
Regarding law enforcement, Costa noted what is important is listening to police ad what they need. “I’ve come to know we have a police department who wants to do an excellent job and go above and beyond,” Costa said. She added they need to continue high level training and equipment. “We have these special programs; school resource officers, K-9 officers, let’s continue to hold onto gains and make them understand they’re valued.”
Froio noted the police are finally fully staffed and now have a dedicated Downtown officer. “It’s working out terrific,” he said. “I like to see higher visibility of patrol cars, see them engage with neighborhoods and have them know who the watch group leaders are and get information they would otherwise not obtain.”
As for public transportation, Price would like to increase crosswalks, add designated bike lanes to create a buffer from vehicles and sidewalks. She also advocated for bus stops with benches and canopies to escape the weather elements. “If we add flashing beacons, traffic calming devices, it will allow people to get where they are going and stay safer.” she said.
On the subject of commercial cannabis most candidates were amenable to consider a retail store front business on Main Street with the exception of Mayor Froio, who preferred to keep the ordinance as it is. But nobody favored allowing outdoor cannabis events as it could unintentionally pique the curiosity of children.
