LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — On Tuesday night, the Lakeport City Council welcomed two newly appointed members and elected its 2023 leadership in its last meeting of the year.
When the meeting convened, Mayor Stacey Mattina, Mayor Pro Tem Kenny Parlet and Councilman George Spurr were on the dais, with Councilman Michael Froio absent.
Their first order of business was accepting the certification of the Nov. 8 general election and receiving the resignation letter of Mireya Turner.
Turner resigned in August to accept the Lake County Community Development director job but at that point already had filed to run for a third term. Since she was elected on Nov. 8, she had to once again resign.
Then it was time to bid goodbye to Spurr, who the council had appointed in September to serve out the remaining months of Turner’s unfinished term. He had previously served one term on the council before deciding not to run for reelection and leaving the council at the end of 2020.
Mattina gave Spurr a big wrapped package. “We could not have done this without you,” she said, adding he hadn’t had the easiest meetings during the last few months.
Spurr thanked them before stepping down off the dais.
Mattina, who was elected to her fourth term in November, then went to stand along with new council members Kim Costa and Brandon Disney to take their oaths of office.
The council held a special meeting on Dec. 12 and 13 in order to select two community members to fill the seat Turner had been elected to as well as the seat vacated by Michael Green, who was appointed to the Board of Supervisors.
Costa and Disney, who were selected during that special meeting, will serve two years until the next municipal election in 2024, at which point Froio and Parlet also will be up for election.
After they took their oaths, the three took their seats along with Parlet, who moved to make Mattina mayor for another year. That vote was 4-0.
Parlet also nominated Froio as mayor pro tem, noting he had spoken to him about it and Froio was amenable to filling the role. The council also voted unanimously for that motion.
Also on Tuesday, new Lakeport Fire Chief Patrick Reitz came to the meeting to say hello.
Reitz joined the Lakeport Fire Protection District as chief on Nov. 1.
He said he’s been meeting with City Manager Kevin Ingram and other city staff. “I think that we’re going to make a good team,” Reitz said.
In other business, the council approved professional services agreements with NHA Advisors LLC, part of the city’s finance team, and with the Lake Family Resource Center for the Crisis Intervention Responder Program, and Chief Building Official Bethany Moss updated the council on the Clean Water Program.
There were several announcements about city leadership during Tuesday’s meeting.
As part of the consent agenda, the council approved the first amendment to Ingram’s employment agreement. That amendment gives him a raise of 6% effective on Dec. 6, which will raise his annual salary to $149,295. On July 1, he will receive another 3% increase, giving him an annual salary of $153,774.
During council and staff communications, Ingram reported that Paul Harris, who has been the city’s utilities superintendent, will now be utilities director, and Ron Ladd, who has been Public works superintendent, will now be Public Works director.
Ingram called those title changes “very well deserved” for both men.
He said the council will next meet on Jan. 3, at which time they will discuss council member appointments to various committees.
Disney and his wife are expecting a baby and so he said he will not be able to make that meeting. “We are very excited for you,” said Mattina.
Costa thanked everyone for the warm welcome. She said she is looking forward to the experience on the council, adding that she thinks it will be an “enjoyable adventure.”
Mattina said she is glad to be on the council for another term and grateful to be reelected.
“We have a lot going on in the city. I’m really excited for this next year. It’s going to be busy and fun. I’m glad you guys are along for the ride,” she said.
After wishing everyone a merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Mattina adjourned the council’s final 2022 meeting.
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Lakeport City Council welcomes new members, selects leadership for new year
- Elizabeth Larson