- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Lakeport City Council approves general plan amendments, ad hoc committees, liquor license determination
City Manager Kevin Ingram presented resolutions for the council to establish ad hoc advisory committees for design and construction review of the new Lakefront Park and to revise the city’s existing right-of-way ordinance.
At its Oct. 6 meeting, the council had approved Ingram’s proposal to freeze the activities of the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee and the Parks and Recreation Committee and instead create the new ad hoc advisory committees.
Ingram’s reasoning was that there has been difficulty in recruiting, low public turnout and a general lack of items for the committees when they have met.
On Tuesday, Ingram said the first of the two new committees will focus on the new Lakefront Park that’s being developed.
The second will look at the city’s right-of-way ordinance, which has been seen as a barrier to development because, as it currently stands, about $60,000 in property upgrades triggers a requirement for landowners to make expensive curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements.
He called addressing the right-of-way ordinance “not an easy item but a worthy item” that has been among the council’s goals for a few years.
If the new committees don’t work out, Ingram said they can return next year to the previous approach and restart the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee and the Parks and Recreation Committee.
Mayor George Spurr asked how membership will be determined. Ingram said at the first meeting of each committee, which will include two appointed council members, they will discuss asking specific people to join.
Spurr suggested waiting until after the election to select members for the right-of-way ordinance ad hoc advisory committee.
Councilman Kenny Parlet moved to approve the resolution forming the right-of-way ad hoc advisory committee, with members to be chosen in January, which the council approved 4-0, with Councilman Tim Barnes absent.
Councilwoman Mireya Turner moved to approve the formation of the Lakefront Park ad hoc advisory committee, on which she and Parlet will serve. The council approved the motion 3-0, with Councilwoman Stacey Mattina abstaining due to owning property close to the park.
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, new Community Development Director Jenni Byers presented general plan amendment and zone changes for two projects during two public hearings.
The council approved both requests, one for Bridges Construction that will allow the company to build a mini storage facility on 6.6 acres at 1296 and 1320 Craig Ave., which by the action changed the zoning to major retail, and the second for Cory Poso, who sought to change his property at 1339 and 1343 Broten Court to low residential zoning so he can build a home there.
In other business, the council approved granting a Type-42 liquor license to Barbara Flynn for the new wine bar, Wine in the Willows at 125 Park St.
Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said that due to state Alcoholic Beverage Control rules, when there is an overconcentration of certain liquor licenses in an area, ABC won’t issue a license without the governing body making a decision and determination that public convenience or necessity would be served by the issuance.
“These don’t come up really often,” he said.
Under ABC rules, 10 licenses are allowed without question, but over that threshold, the determination has to be made. Rasmussen said it’s based on census tract, and in this case, census tract 0004 – which takes in the entire city of Lakeport south to its sphere of influence and north to Park Way – has 21 licenses.
He said there are no other Type-42 licenses, which are for wine and beer bars, in the tract.
Rasmussen said his assessment of the location and the new business is that it wouldn’t cause any crime issues for the city or the police department.
“I think it’s a very nice looking establishment and would be a good business in that location,” he said.
Council members agreed, noting they were glad to see a new business opening up in such a challenging time.
Rasmussen also noted during the discussion that while there are a lot of liquor licenses for various establishments, “In reality, we don’t have a lot of bars.”
Flynn told the council she’s excited about the new project and thinks it will be an asset to the county.
Michael Green, a city planning commissioner, said he wasn’t against the project but raised
Issues about its close proximity to Library Park.
He said if a cannabis-based establishment was proposing to be in the same location, it would get a “hard no.” He said he wanted to have an enhanced ability to review projects before ringing the park with bars.
Rasmussen pointed out that the city already has the ability to allow alcohol consumption in the park near the playground.
Turner moved to make the determination, which the council approved 4-0.
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