Applications are being sought for an unexpected vacancy on the City of Lakeport’s Planning Commission.  The successful applicant will complete a term expiring December 31, 2022.
The application may be found on the City’s website, https://www.cityoflakeport.com/City%20Clerk/City%20clerk%20documents/Application%20for%20Comittee%20comission.pdf.

 The Planning Commission consists of five members who serve four-year terms.  The commission currently meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.  Qualified applicants must be residents of Lakeport.
 The Planning Commission reviews matters related to planning and development and is the advisor to the City Council on land use planning.  The commission considers issues such as the General Plan, rezoning, use permits, subdivisions, architectural and design review, planning policy and interpretations.
 Contact Hilary Britton, Deputy City Clerk, for more information, (707) 263-5615, ext. 102, hbritton@cityoflakeport.com.  Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on September 3. 

New Art Exhibit at City Hall 

 Lake County artists featured in a new exhibit displaying prints, mixed media and tempura painting participated in RESTORE, a fire recovery project initiated by the Middletown Art Center (MAC) in response to the Valley Fire of 2015, and to other wildfires in Lake County and in the region, including the Mendocino Complex Fire of 2018 which occurred mid-project.

 RESTORE offered Lake County residents the opportunity to participate in low-cost art classes in sculpture, mixed media, creative writing and printmaking.  The project is culminating with public exhibitions indoors and community spaces outdoors, as well as poetry readings and a book of poetry.  Support from the California Arts Council and Lake County organizations, businesses and individuals contributed to the goal of addressing a community’s collective healing through both individual and collaborative group work.

 Featured artists are Mary Daly, Alicia Farnsworth, Erica Felton-Parisi, Holly Green, Erica Kinsel, Georgina Marie, Elen V Marsh, Darina Simeonova, Jane Thanx, Emma Wakefield, and Kim Baughan Young.

 Most of the artwork is for sale.  More information about the Middletown Art Center’s vital work in Lake County is available at www.MiddletownArtCenter.org, or by calling (707) 809-8118. 

Prop 68 Grant Application – Lakefront Park Proposal

  Thanks to the passage of Proposition 68 by California voters in 2018, over $250 million in state funding is being made available this year for the creation of new parks and recreational opportunities within jurisdictions with critically underserved communities, for which Lakeport is eligible. Grant applications may range from $200,000 to $8.5 million.

Qualified activities include but are not limited to the acquisition of land, active recreational uses (ball fields, playgrounds, skate parks as examples) and passive features (such as paths, trails, gardens, picnic areas and amphitheaters).  Priority is given to uses that are open and free to the public and serve a broad range of community needs (youth, families and seniors).  Competitive applications include a minimum of four public outreach and participation events.  Applications for the 2019 grant cycle are due August 2. 

 Between March and May of this year, the City held three public outreach workshops with each attracting 20-45 participants.  Over 150 community members then voted, selecting locations for desired features and the favored proposal from the four designs to create a final park concept which will be submitted with the grant application.  Voting occurred at the Concert in the Park on June 28, at City Hall during the week of July 1-4, and through an online survey on the City’s website.

 After public meetings and community input, the City of Lakeport in 2017 adopted the Lakefront Revitalization Plan to cover the area from Clear Lake Avenue to C Street.  Central to this plan was the eventual improvement of the Natural High and Dutch Harbor properties bordering North Main Street.  The overwhelming public desire expressed for this area was to maintain views of Clear Lake from Main Street, as well as to see this area remain available for public uses such as special events and passive recreational opportunities.

Key areas and opportunities identified for the grant through the community process include event space, amphitheater, splash pad, dog park, community gardens, promenade, seaplane ramp, lawn and open space, children’s activity area, boat house, shade structure and more.  The final concept plan is shown on the following page.

                                                           Margaret Silveira, City Manager 

Final Concept Plan 

Click on image to enlarge