Clearlake City Council selects new planning commissioner
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council has selected a local businesswoman to join the Clearlake Planning Commission.
At its Jan. 24 meeting, the council voted unanimously to choose Lisa Wilson, owner and general manager of Clear Lake Campground, to fill an open commission seat that resulted when Dirk Slooten was elected to the City Council in the fall.
City Clerk Melissa Swanson’s report to the council explained that the city received applications from Wilson, as well as Steve Gibson and Erin McCarrick for the four-year term, ending in March 2023.
“This is an extremely important position to our community,” Mayor Nick Bennett told the three applicants as the council began its interview and selection process, which lasted under an hour. “Many things go through the planning commission before it ever comes to the council.”
Each of the applicants was interviewed while the others were out of the room. All of them offered enthusiasm and a love for Clearlake, as well as a desire and a commitment to improving the community.
Wilson, who also serves on the city’s marketing committee, said her parents bought the resort she now owns in 1980. She went off to school and a career in e-commerce, living in both the Bay Area and New York, before eventually returning due to illness in the family.
She decided to keep the resort and invest in the community, adding she feels good about that investment.
Wilson also told them that, thanks to her work in the community, she knows what is going on in the county, not just the city.
She said she’s a critical thinker, curious, open-minded and fair, and has good communication skills. “I think those characteristics would be of value to you on the planning commission.”
During her interview, she also demonstrated her knowledge of current city projects and planning priorities.
Councilman Phil Harris asked her about her future vision for the city.
“What I would like to see here is an engaged community, happy and proud to live in the city of Clearlake, living the lake life,” she said.
As the council deliberated on its choice, Councilwoman Joyce Overton thanked all three applicants for stepping forward, noting that she can tell their care about the city and have heart.
Both Councilman Russ Cremer and Bennett encouraged them to apply for other committees as well, with Bennett also suggesting they attend council meetings.
In tallying up the council members’ rankings, City Clerk Melissa Swanson said they ranked the candidates with Wilson first, followed by McCarrick and Gibson.
Slooten moved to appoint Wilson, which was seconded by Harris and approved unanimously.
The Clearlake Planning Commission meets the first and third Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The commission’s Feb. 5 meeting was canceled, so Wilson’s first meeting as a commissioner is expected to take place on Feb. 19.
She joins commissioners Richard Bean, Kathryn Fitts, Nathalie Antus and Robert Coker.
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