CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council will discuss this week the proposed extension of an urgency ordinance first approved in April that established a moratorium on industrial hemp cultivation in the city.
The council will meet virtually at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 21. The agenda can be found here.
Because of the county’s shelter in place order, Clearlake City Hall remains closed to the public, however, the virtual meeting will be broadcast live on Lake County PEG TV’s YouTube Channel.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You can also visit the city’s new town hall site and submit written comments at https://www.opentownhall.com/8828 . Identify the subject you wish to comment on in your email’s subject line or in your town hall submission.
Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the mayor or a member of staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the beginning of the meeting will not be included in the record.
To give the city council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit written comments prior to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 21.
On the agenda is the presentation of May’s adoptable dogs from Clearlake Animal Control.
The main item of business for Thursday is a public hearing to consider extending an emergency ordinance establishing a moratorium on industrial hemp cultivation in the city.
Due to ongoing developments, City Manager Alan Flora and Ryan Jones said in their written report to the council, “At this time, it is premature to make a policy recommendation on whether industrial hemp cultivation should be regulated by the City. As such, staff is recommending that the City extend the moratorium for an additional 10 months and 15 days, which is the maximum allowed by State law. The extension would allow for further research to be conducted on the subject, and/or federal and state regulatory agencies to release the regulatory framework for industrial hemp. City Council may subsequently extend the ordinance for one year by another four-fifths vote.”
On the meeting's consent agenda – items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote – includes warrant registers; minutes of the February and March meetings; leave of absence extension for office assistant Marcia Taylor; adoption of a resolution to update the lead workers job description; and the Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting minutes from March 11.
The council also will hold a closed session to discuss a case of litigation against Pacific Gas and Electric Corp. and the proposed sale of the city-owned property at 2185 Ogulin Canyon Road.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Clearlake City Council to consider extending industrial hemp growing moratorium
- Elizabeth Larson
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