- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Lakeport City Council supports negotiating lease agreement for horse park project
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday night directed City Manager Kevin Ingram to begin negotiating a 30-year lease with Westside Community Park, which proposes to develop a new horse park on a city-owned property.
The unanimous vote to support the new horse park property lease came toward the end of the council’s first meeting of the year, which ran nearly three hours.
The Westside Community Park Committee is proposing to use a 7.5-acre site on City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District property, located on Highway 175 at Mathews Road, for the new horse park.
The lease is contingent on the park’s committee receiving a $3 million state Proposition 68 grant. Ingram said the grant requires such a lease agreement for approval. The city also will offer the state a letter of support for the project.
Ingram said he was excited to present the proposal, explaining that the project’s partners have worked very hard over the past year to put together the extensive grant to develop the community equestrian facility.
He said Westside Community Park’s original phase three called for an equestrian facility to be developed there. However, after years of design and other practical challenges, it was decided that the City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District, or CLMSD, site was more preferable, which Ingram said allows the main park’s third phase to be available for other uses.
The park committee and city have been working through the logistics over the last few years, including receiving a Caltrans-approved encroachment off Highway 175 near Mathews Road, which Ingram said was no easy feat.
Ingram said the park committee and equestrian committee have been holding meetings and working on the grant submission. He said it’s a very similar grant program to the one that awarded the city nearly $6 million for its new Lakeside Park development.
The lease designates the city as the property owner and the park committee as the operator, Ingram said.
He said the site also needs to be reviewed for its size. While it’s stated as seven and a half acres, it may be closer to nine acres.
The project, as proposed, includes a 150-foot by 328-foot covered arena with bleachers and an announcer’s booth, a 30-foot by 45-foot warmup arena with a portable round pen, an obstacle course, a meeting room, tractor shed, caretaker unit, picnic areas and parking, and room for overnight camping.
The committee also is seeking an easement to provide access to hill areas for horse trail development, Ingram said.
The CLMSD property is primarily used for wastewater treatment and a large part of it has sprinklers installed to distribute the wastewater. Ingram said that while it’s owned by the city, a portion of the land is within the county’s unincorporated area.
The land is zoned as open space under the county’s zoning ordinance, and most of the uses proposed for the horse park are uses by right. However, Ingram said the committee may need to get land use entitlements from the county for other uses.
Ingram said Utilities Superintendent Paul Harris has reviewed the proposal carefully to make sure the city can expand its operations for the sewer facility if necessary. The horse park site isn’t the best for the placement of sprinklers.
For the horse park, however, it’s a very good location. “I think this is a great fit,” Ingram said.
“We’re very hopeful that they're able to secure this grant,” Ingram added.
Even if they don’t, Ingram said the park committee has taken some huge steps forward on the project.
Westside Community Park Committee Chair Dennis Rollins and committee member Carol Maxwell were on hand in the chambers Tuesday night to answer questions.
Rollins, who has offered key leadership for the Westside Community Park’s development, credited Maxwell for doing the lion’s share of the grant work.
He said one of the questions in the grant application is whether the committee is able to carry out the project.
“We’ve been fairly successful” in what we’ve tried to do,” Rollins said. “I think we can pull this off if we get the grant.”
Mayor Stacey Mattina called the project “very exciting.”
Maxwell said people who have nothing to do with horses can also enjoy the horse park. “I think it will be a real addition.”
She said she couldn’t believe the beautiful views from the ridge on the property when scouting trails, adding it’s a tremendous thing to make it open to the public to enjoy.
“It is a really beautiful property,” said Councilman Michael Froio, noting he admires it every time he drives through that area. “Keeping that open for the public is quite a public treasure. I applaud your hard work.”
Councilman Kenny Parlet said it’s important to support both dog and horse people, noting they are an integral part of society and strong proponents of outdoor recreation.
“This is a wonderful project,” he said, noting the perfect location. “This would be a real feather in our cap in Lakeport if we could pull this off.”
Parlet added, “We are poised to do something really, really big here,” and praised Rollins for his efforts. “With Dennis behind the wheel, I don’t think we can fail.”
Councilman Michael Green asked if land use entitlements would be necessary if the site becomes an overnight venue with accommodations.
Rollins said the county said that without major events, the committee could probably just have a minor use permit.
That prompted Green to ask if they anticipated occasional special or larger events, which would be logical. Rollins said they would apply for a major use permit at the time of seeking county permits.
Councilwoman Mireya Turner voted to direct Ingram to negotiate the lease, contingent on approval of the grant, with Parlet seconded and the council approved 5-0.
“Good luck you guys, keep us posted,” said Mattina.
Rollins said the grant application is due Jan. 20 and a state official has told him they are not likely to be notified until sometime between July and the fall.
The council also held a public hearing to introduce city code updates to be in compliance with new state laws regarding recycling and water efficient landscaping; held a discussion on outdoor dining in the right of way that has been allowed to help restaurants during the pandemic; approved the purchase of three generators for city water treatment facilities the amount of $186,994.54; approved Mattina’s appointments of council members as liaisons to various boards, committees and commissions; adopted a resolution appointing council members to represent and vote on behalf of the City at the League of California Cities, Redwood Empire Division Business meetings and represent the city and vote at Division Legislative Committee meetings; received an update on the city’s communications strategic plan; and approved a resolution to assign a new 12th seat to the Lakeport Economic Advisory Committee, with that seat to be assigned to Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
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