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CLEARLAKE – Despite making cuts in staff and programs, the city of Clearlake continues to face budget struggles, which will be one of the discussion topics at this Thursday's Clearlake City Council meeting.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
City Administrator Dale Neiman's report to the council for the Thursday meeting notes that the city's first budget quarter for the 2009-10 fiscal year wasn't a good one.
Sales tax revenues were down by 15.5 percent, and if that trend continues Neiman estimated the city's revenues will be $162,000 less than anticipated in the budget.
Overall, sales tax generates 23 percent of general fund revenues, Neiman reported.
A significant drop also was noted in the city's bed tax, which Neiman said were 42 percent less than last year, totaling $30,870 in lost revenue.
One bright spot was development review services, which Neiman said were 4 percent higher than budgeted for this year.
The city earlier this year chose to make more than $568,000 in budget cuts, including reorganizing code enforcement and taking over animal control services, as Lake County News has reported.
While the city expects to realize most of those savings, Neiman said code enforcement savings, originally estimated at $128,000, won't be as much as anticipated due to having to pay out vacation time.
As for animal control, the city – which had expected to save just over $100,000 by taking over services – is trying to figure out how to collect fees from people to cover the costs of taking care of surrendered or abandoned animals.
He said the alternatives the city has at this point are to use the general fund to subsidize animal control services or reduce personnel expenditures, meaning more staff cuts.
The council also will discuss a request to modify the city's zoning ordinance to establish regulations for where and under what conditions wind turbines can be installed in the city, according to a report from Neiman.
Businessman Jim Jonas applied for the changes, which Neiman said the Clearlake Planning Commission unanimously recommended the council approve. He said the Planning Commission also recommended the city adopt a new permit process to issue site plan review permits for the turbines.
Other business items on the council's Thursday agenda include a request by Wendy Fetzer to waive administrative penalties for failure to abate a public nuisance at 3258 Emerson St.; consideration of purchasing procedures and establishing a policy for conferences and training; and a policy concerning waiver of the rental fees for the Highlands Senior Center and city parks.
Police Chief Allan McClain will present a citizen commendation to Ray Knapp, the council will honor city Halloween volunteers and Dan Felperin of FRESH Energy Systems will share with the council information on the Energy Star certification and solar power.
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