- Elizabeth Larson
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Clearlake City Council approves property purchase, supports animal control ad hoc committee
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council has approved the purchase of an apartment building with redevelopment bonds and directed staff to form an ad hoc committee to address animal control-related issues.
At its Jan. 25 meeting the council gave the go-ahead to purchase the eight-unit apartment complex, along with a single-family residence, located at 14141 Lakeshore Drive. The asking price is $850,000, with $5,000 in closing costs.
City Manager Greg Folsom took the proposal to the council, explaining that the city has $3 million in 2006 Series B bond redevelopment funds that it must use for housing-related projects.
He said city staff looked at several options, including student housing at the community college, purchasing existing housing and converting it to low- or moderate-income rentals, buying fixer uppers, purchasing new modular homes and putting them on vacant land, and purchasing existing low-moderate income apartments. The last option was the one they concluded was best.
Folsom said the property would provide monthly cash flow, with a total of $70,000 annually in gross rent, an 8-percent annual return on investment. He said the funds would go into the enterprise fund, not the general fund, which was a mistake in the staff report.
He said they have a staffer with experience in property management so they would not need to hire a project manager. They also don’t need to renovate or rebuild the complex, as the seller has already made significant upgrades and had agreed to do some other fixes – including installing a new roof – prior to the close of escrow.
Folsom said the current owner is in escrow to purchase the Jules Resort property in order to fix it up for corporate housing.
Joan Mingori, who owns nearby property, criticized the city for considering the purchase, saying that they want to build a stronger resort and business community yet were supporting low-income housing on Lakeshore Drive.
Other comments from community members led Folsom to clarify that the city isn’t converting it from a resort to apartments. “We’re not making any changes. It’s not currently a resort.”
Councilwoman Joyce Overton pointed out that if the city owns it, it can make sure it’s cleaned up.
Based on Overton’s questions of the ability for the city to sell the property in the future to a developer, City Attorney Ryan Jones said that, over a period of time, the city could sell the property to someone else who could convert it to another use.
Overton also asked about a loan program for property owners to make improvements, but city Finance Director Chris Becnel said that the cost of administering small loans exceeds the cost of the loans themselves.
Councilman Phil Harris said the community is faced with rising rent costs and limited housing. He said they need to take steps to keep affordable housing available in the city.
Councilman Russ Perdock pointed out that the complex already is fully occupied, and the seller has put in significant investment, including new kitchen facilities and paint.
Mayor Bruno Sabatier said the purchase is a great way for the city to benefit and pursue its goals.
Overton moved to approve the purchase, which the council supported 5-0.
Another key item on the agenda was the council’s support for the creation of an ad hoc committee to support Clearlake Animal Control.
Folsom said the city has done ad hoc committees for other topics – including the cannabis ordinance and the Measure V road sales tax – and suggested it as way to make outreach to the community on animal control-related issues.
“Animal control is an issue that has been receiving a large number of complaints in the city,” he said.
Folsom suggested that the committee can help disseminate information regarding animal control-related challenges and planned improvements to its shelter facilities, and would encourage citizen interaction.
Overton said she had concerns about ad hoc committees, stating that the marijuana ad hoc committee had gotten out of control.
The council received positive public feedback on the proposal.
Retired veterinarian Dr. Debi Sally, who has been volunteering with animal control for the last few months to help them with animal health issues, said she can see that there has been a tremendous amount of improvement.
Sally said the ad hoc committee would have more transparency, and people would appreciate the difficulties animal control has.
Harris said forming the ad hoc committee is a way of inviting the community to help, and he said he was very excited about it. He said he already has had interest expressed from a number of community members.
Sabatier suggested the Animal Coalition and possibly Orphan Dog rescue be included on the committee, along with him and Harris, Sally, a representative from the police department – which oversees animal control – and two public members at-large.
Overton said she didn’t want to limit it to city residents due to concerns of missing out on expertise and experience, a sentiment with which Sabatier agreed.
Applications are being accepted through Feb. 8 and can be downloaded at http://clearlake.ca.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=208 or picked up at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The meeting also included what Folsom anticipated would be the final update on the Sulphur fire cleanup.
Folsom said 155 rights-of-entry had been submitted for debris removal, 114 sites were signed off as cleaned, there were 13 owner cleanups and two summary abatements. Contractors through the US Army Corps of Engineers are done pending final testing of cleaned sites.
He said that 22,583 tons of debris were removed from the Sulphur fire area as of Jan. 24.
The council also confirmed assessments of administrative penalties totaling $55,000 for failure to abate public nuisances at 4054 Lansing Ave., 14170 Konocti St., 14541 Lakeshore Drive, 3634 Redwood St., 6352 James St., 3786 Oak Ave., 15890 20th Ave. and 16216 34th Ave.
In other business, the council reviewed and considered the submittal of the recognized obligation payments schedule for fiscal year 2018-19, and decided against a citizen’s request to refunding assessments collected by the city from a county held tax defaulted sale of property.
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