LAKEPORT — The Lakeport City Council agreed to take no action in regards to voluntary COVID-19 employee testing and the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funding for vaccine incentives during their regularly scheduled Tuesday meeting.

Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Kelly Buendia said currently the city has various COVID-19 protocols in place that follow CDC Guidelines. This includes, but is not limited to social distancing, plastic barriers, masking requirements, cleaning protocols, daily COVID-19 symptom screenings and rapid COVID-19 testing.

The Lakeport COVID-19 vaccination rate is about 70 percent Lakeport City Manager Kevin Ingram said. There have been zero COVID-19 outbreaks for the City of Lakeport employees.

"We take our employee health very seriously and will monitor any upticks," Ingram said.

Councilmember Mireya Turner said the city staff has done an outstanding job at keeping the employees safe.

"I have full confidence in our staff that they will continue their proactive approach and prioritize the safety of staff and public," Turner said.

Testing will remain unmandated for City of Lakeport employees by any federal, state or local authority or under any known pending regulations.

The City Council also reviewed the revised boundary maps for Congressional, State Senate and State Assembly Districts and provided possible direction to staff to prepare a response to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission in favor of the districts.

Lakeport City Manager Kevin Ingram said as a result of the 2020 Census, most political boundaries must be redrawn to adjust districts based on population.

On Oct. 26, 2021, the commission that draws the new district lines posted Visualization maps that will be utilized to guide upcoming public discussion.

One recommendation that the city wanted to make within the letter to the redistricting commission Ingram said, was to keep Lake County in one Congressional, Senate and Assembly district.

"I know that both the City of Clearlake and the county put in a request to keep us (Lake County) with the Napa and Sonoma Districts," Ingram said.

The current redistricting maps show Lake County under one district.

He added that over the next few weeks, the commission will be hosting public meetings and taking comments on the proposed visualizations.

During the council presentation portion of the meeting, the Lakeport City Council presented a proclamation to recognize Doug Grider for his years of service to the city upon his retirement.

Grider was hired as the Public Works Superintendent for Lakeport in July 2004. He was then

promoted to Public Works Director in 2016.

"He has been a champion of Lakeport. I think all of us that know him really well, he is always there for the City of Lakeport. He has left the city in a much better place than he has found it," Ingram said.

As Public Works Director Grider provided leadership to: Administration and Compliance, Roads and Infrastructure, Parks, Buildings and Grounds, the former Westshore Pool, Water Operations and Maintenance and Sewer Operations and Maintenance.

"What an honor and pleasure it has been to work for the City of Lakeport. No individual on their own can make great things happen. My staff made it possible for me to be successful," Grider said. "I feel confident that as I leave the department will not miss a beat. The staff will be there and they will carry on in the honor and tradition that I have carried on."