- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Lakeport City Council approves alcohol grant resolution, contracts for building services and generators
Police Chief Brad Rasmussen introduced the proposed adoption of a resolution accepting grant funding and joining the Lakeport Police Department into partnership with the State of California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or ABC, as part of the city being awarded a state grant.
However, Rasmussen handed off the item to Officer Andrew Welter, who did the grant application and explained it to the council.
Welter said the Lakeport Police Department, in partnership with the Clearlake Police Department, submitted a joint application to ABC.
“We were awarded that grant,” in the amount of $24,975, Welter said.
Welter said the grant will allow officers to work overtime assignments on alcohol education and enforcement in both cities in partnership with ABC. The activity includes the “minor decoy” and shoulder tap operations in which people are asked to purchase alcohol for a minor.
Rasmussen said his department will do the fiscal management on the grant.
He said the main thing is managing alcohol sales, and reducing alcohol to minors and alcohol-related crime.
Another big effort will be focusing on educating the community, including offering training to licensees on how to make sure they're not running afoul of any alcohol sales laws, he said.
Councilman Kenny Parlet, who owns Lakeview Supermarket and Deli in Lucerne, said most of the licensees aren’t the problem, it’s their employees, some of whom may be in their job a short time.
He said it is important to offer education. “Enforcement is going to go on one way or the other.”
Rasmussen said that under the grant’s education component, they plan to offer training courses. He said such courses are well-received; the last time they held one a few years ago, they had as many as 60 people in attendance.
“I think it will be beneficial,” Rasmussen said.
Parlet asked that the city emphasize in its communications with the public that the program is about education, not trying to catch people doing things wrong.
Mayor George Spurr agreed. “It’s more about education than anything else.”
Councilwoman Mireya Turner moved to approve the grant resolution, with Councilwoman Stacey Mattina seconding and the council approving the motion 4-0. Councilman Tim Barnes was absent from the meeting.
Following the vote, council members congratulated Welter for his work on getting the grant.
The council then went on to consider Assistant City Manager Kevin Ingram’s request to approve a professional service agreement with 4LEAF Inc. for the provision of supplemental building services in the amount not to exceed $25,000.
Ingram said the contract was necessary to fill service gaps following the retirement of longtime city Building Official Tom Carlton. He said the funding will come from fees charged for the services, including inspections and plan examinations.
The council approved the contract 4-0.
Next, Public Works Director Doug Grider presented a contract with Leete Generators in the amount of $263,536 for four standby generators to replace current units at the police department, City Hall and the city’s corporation yard, where generators have had mechanical and capacity issues. A new generator also will be installed at the Silveira Community Center.
He said the generators – along with separate costs for installation and transfer switches – will be funded by the $300,000 Public Safety Power Shutoff Resiliency Allocation Grant the city received from the state.
In anticipation of regulation changes from the California Air Resources Board, Grider said the city sought bids from companies for generators with Tier 4 engines, as Tier 3 engines – which were less expensive to purchase – will no longer be compliant within the next three to five years.
Among the five bids the city received, Grider said only Leete responded to the request for Tier 4 engines.
“I think it’s going to be a good thing getting these things installed,” Grider said, adding they are pushing the envelope to get the generators installed before September. That’s the season when public safety power shutoffs take place.
Spurr asked about plans for the old generators. Grider said they haven’t made a decision yet but are considering mounting them on trailers so they could be transported and used as backup units if necessary.
Parlet thanked Grider and his staff for getting the grants. “Our team is doing a great job,” Parlet said.
City Manager Margaret Silveira also recognized Public Works staffer Ron Ladd and Utilities Superintendent Paul Harris for their efforts with the grant.
Mattina moved to approve the contract, with Parlet seconding and the council voting 4-0.
The council finished its main agenda items by voting unanimously to appoint Turner as the voting delegate for the League of California Cities Annual Conference, which will be held virtually Oct. 7 to 9. Parlet was selected to be the first alternate and Spurr the second alternate.
Council finishes with a farewell
Council members also congratulated Silveira on her last council meeting. She retires July 31.
“You will be sorely missed and I don't think it will be the same,” said Parlet.
“You’ve just been a real asset to the community and will never be forgotten, especially now that your name will be on the building,” Parlet added, referring to the council’s action at its July 7 meeting to name the community center in Silveira’s honor.
Silveira thanked the community, staff, business and elected officials for their support during her tenure as city manager.
“It’s been a quick 10 and a half years with the amazing support I’ve had from everyone here in Lakeport,” she said.
She thanked all of the council members who have served during her tenure, explaining that their leadership is crucial.
Silveira also thanked the council for the “amazing honor” of naming the community center after her. “
“That was just unbelievable,” and totally humbling, she said.
She said she also wanted the community to understand that it is getting an excellent city manager in Ingram, who the council has tapped to be her successor. Silveira thanked the council for that decision.
Ingram has knowledge of the community and planning, and a master’s degree in public administration, Silveira said.
“He’s really ready for the job,” she said. “I think he’s going to make a great leader.”
Silveira added, “I’ve been truly blessed with this opportunity to work here in Lakeport.”
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