Lake City — The Lake City Council on Aug. 7 approved a resolution authorizing steps to convey the city-owned Woman's Club property back to the Lake City Woman's Club for the purpose of historic restoration, and agreed to cover an outstanding electric bill so the structure's systems remain operational.

City Attorney Martin told the council the resolution (Resolution 2025-113) would "authorize the mayor to execute, conditionally execute documents conveying the property back to the Woman's Club for the purpose of them facilitating historic restoration and preservation of that structure." The council voted by roll call to approve the resolution; all members present voted yes.

The resolution and accompanying presentation traced the property's ownership history. Martin said the city received a 1935 deed from the Woman's Club and returned day-to-day management to the club under a 25-year lease; after World War II the city recorded a 99-year lease that remains on the records. Martin told the council the property is a contributing structure in the Lake Isabella Residential Historic District and that federal tax incentives could encourage private investment in restoration.

Resident Stephanie Bennett addressed the council during the reopened public-comment period to ask whether the conveyance would divide the parcel that contains the clubhouse from the adjacent park. "I needed to know if that got discussed or somewhere in here that it got divided," Bennett said. Martin replied that the deed described "just the lot that it presently sits on, the Fractional Lot 47." That clarification was recorded in the public discussion before the council moved to approve the resolution.

Following the vote on the resolution, Councilors discussed a separate administrative item: an outstanding electric bill for the clubhouse. Council members said the city had kept power on to the building to prevent wood warping and additional deterioration. Council consensus authorized City Manager Rosenthal to pay an outstanding electricity bill of $532.11 so the building's electrical and cooling systems remain active while restoration planning continues.

The council added Resolution 2025-113 to the special-meeting agenda at the start of the session after a motion to do so and a voice vote to place the item on the agenda. The resolution approval was recorded by roll call: Mayor Walker — yes; Council member Carter — yes; Council member Harris — yes; Council member Young — yes; Council member Jernigan — yes. The payment of the electric bill was approved by consensus and no roll-call vote was recorded.

City staff and council members said the city has held title to the parcel for nearly a century but that the Woman's Club historically managed and paid for most facility expenses. Martin described past uses of the clubhouse, including wartime use as a USO facility and earlier community functions, and noted that private investors can claim certain federal tax advantages when restoring contributing structures in a historic district.

No timetable for transfer or specific restoration funding was provided during the meeting. The council closed the special-called meeting to reconvene for its regularly scheduled session at 6 p.m.