CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A town hall meeting was held on Saturday for an informal discussion concerning how the City of Clearlake will proceed with any potential sales tax measure for placement on the November ballot.
Past measures have sought to provide revenues to support city services including road improvements, code enforcement, and animal control and crime suppression.
Approximately two dozen people participated in the discussion, which was conducted at the Clearlake Senior/Community Center.
Mayor Denise Loustalot and Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson, along with City Manager Joan Phillipe, led the discussion.
Other members of the council were in attendance; however, Councilwoman Jeri Spittler left about 45 minutes into the meeting because of a prior engagement.
Attendees were asked to identify their preferences via yes or no answers upon large pieces of paper fixed upon the wall.
Each sheet posed a specific question pertaining to the proposal of a measure, including whether or not to seek one at all.
A total of 19 people said a tax measure should be sought. Four people said one should not be pursued.
Three people marked “no” when asked if the proposal should be a specific tax that requires two-thirds (66 percent) approval of those voting, while 18 people indicated that it should.
Additionally, town hall participants were asked at what percentage – a half or 1-percent – should a specific tax be proposed.
Attendees responding were nearly split in results: 11 were in favor of half a percent, with 10 preferring 1 percent.
Results were equal when the same question was proposed as a general tax, with 10 people responding in the affirmative.
Attendees were asked to identify how sales tax revenues be used. Results in three categories were as follows: roads, 11; code enforcement including animal control, 19; and crime suppression, 8.
A total of nine people said the measure should be split into two components while eight said it should not.
The question was then posed as to whether or not an advisory measure – asking if the tax should be used for code enforcement (including animal control), crime suppression and roads – should be included if the measure is proposed as a general tax. All 14 people responding to that question replied in the affirmative.
If the measure is proposed as a specific tax, attendees were asked if the city council should appoint an oversight committee for annual review of sales tax expenditures. Of those responding, 17 said an oversight committee should be appointed while one person indicated it should not.
A total of 15 people were in favor of a sunset clause while four people indicated one should not be included in the proposal.
Attendees also were offered the opportunity to provide additional comments, which were addressed in the discussion that led to the conclusion of the meeting.
Lower Lake resident Terri Larsen directed her comments toward code enforcement.
Larsen is president of Manta Corporation Tax and Accounting, an Arizona corporation which has a Lower Lake address but an Arizona phone number. On city documents the corporation is listed as the owner of a red-tagged rental home at 3550 Pomo Road in Clearlake where last month sewage was reported to be surfacing due to an overflowing septic tank.
She suggested the council “cut the fat” and recommended the council reevaluate its health insurance and move coverage to the Affordable Care Act. Larsen also recommended the council seek advice on how to better spend the money it has.
In response, Fortino Dickson said the council is in the process of reevaluating its health coverage as discussed during recent meetings of the council, for which Larsen was not present.
Larsen, who was active in opposing the city's latest sales tax initiative, said there were ways to make code enforcement self-sustainable and that it could “make money.” She did not provide suggestions for doing so, however.
Phillipe said the city is prohibited by law from “making money” through code enforcement, or any city service.
Clearlake resident Mike Vandiver, who was active in the effort to pass the latest measure, directed his comments toward Larsen, suggesting she attend budget hearings.
Additionally, Vandiver said public meeting notices should be posted on marquees around the community.
Larsen also questioned if revenues would be used for enforcement of the city's marijuana cultivation ordinance.
Phillipe explained the ordinance is basically a code enforcement ordinance aimed at preventing large grow sites. She said it is driven by zoning regulations, which, she added, recently resulted in a number of citations for illegal fencing.
Clearlake resident Greg Rippe said that in his longtime employment in area water service, he has witnessed a continued dilapidation of roads and increased blight.
He said he is seeing a loss of interest in coming to the community as area homes are passed down through generations of families.
Rippe said that while he has opposed sales tax initiatives in the past, he now recognizes the need would supports the initiative.
Another area of discussion was Measure P, which currently requires 63-percent of the city's general fund be allocated to the police department.
Clearlake resident Adelia Leonard asked if a general tax were to be passed, would those funds be subject to the 63-percent required allocation. Phillipe said they would.
Staff will consider information gathered at the town hall meeting in developing a recommendation for the council.
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