By Kathryn Reed

This morning’s ground breaking of Lakeview Commons almost had to be rescheduled. That’s because South Lake Tahoe’s City Council didn’t have a contractor in place until Tuesday morning.

Three items on Aug. 3’s consent agenda all related to the project. They took about as much time to resolve as it did to listen to the litany of public speakers who turned out to plead their case for keeping pot dispensaries open. (Creation of an ordinance to ban the clubs will go to the Planning Commission, then the council at yet to be determined dates.)

Beach-goers will soon have a better experience at El Dorado Beach. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Today’s 10am event at El Dorado Beach is mostly ceremonial. It was scheduled this week so outgoing City Manager Dave Jinkens could be part of the ceremony since it has been under his watch that this portion of the originally named 56-acre project has become a reality. (This is Jinkens’ last week.)

The real work to transform the beachfront area into a more user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing gathering spot will begin next week.

The council restarted the bid process in June after deciding what was sent out was a bit convoluted.

On Aug. 3 the council voted 4-1 to award the nearly $4.5 million project to Reeve-Knight out of Roseville. Councilman Jerry Birdwell voted no without giving input to why he dissented.

Clark & Sullivan Construction out of Sparks petitioned the bid award, saying Reeve-Knight’s numbers for subcontractor work v. in-house work were out of whack.

The Sparks firm was picked as the lower bidder in the first round that was subsequently quashed by the council in June.

A couple local contactors spoke at the council meeting, saying Reeve-Knight should not be awarded the bid. One spoke about the irregularity of being able to change the bid once submitted; another believes not enough locals would be hired.

City Attorney Pat Enright and engineer Jim Marino told the council they have confidence in the bids and Reeve-Knight.

In other action:

• Even though incoming City Manager Tony O’Rourke had asked for the 2010-11 budget to be worked out once he started next week, Jinkens insisted it be approved on his watch. It was on Tuesday. But it was a 3-2 vote to have a super majority (at least four) say yes to tapping into the 25 percent reserves. Councilmen Bill Crawford and Jerry Birdwell don’t like the idea of tying future council’s to that requirement.