- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Clearlake City Council to discuss legal expenses, water rate increase
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom or can attend in person.
The agenda can be found here.
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..
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5.
The meeting will start with the swearing in of new police department employees, and presentations of proclamations declaring October 2023 as Domestic Violence Awareness
Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
On the agenda is a public hearing in order to close out a Community Development Block Grant for Code Enforcement.
Under business, the council will consider increasing its expenditures with the Downey Brand law firm from $250,000 to $500,000.
City Manager Alan Flora’s report explains that this year he executed the contract with Downey Brand “primarily related to the recent onslaught by the Koi Nation to challenge all economic development projects in the City of Clearlake.”
Flora continued, “On March 3, 2023 the Koi filed a lawsuit against the City, challenging the CEQA determination for the 18th Avenue Road Improvement Project. In July the Koi Nation filed a second lawsuit against the City, this time regarding the Burns Valley Sports Complex and Recreation Center Project. The 18th Avenue project is scheduled for trial on October 20th, with no trial date set yet for the Burns Valley lawsuit.”
He said that in March the council authorized $250,000 to be spent in defense of these projects and that some additional funds will be required. That is why city staff is requesting an additional $250,000 be authorized, for a total of $500,000.
“While the City continues to believe these lawsuits and the tribe’s actions to be an overreach and frivolous, significant taxpayer funds will nonetheless be required to defend these projects,” Flora wrote.
In other business, the council will consider selling a city-owned property at 15903 36th Ave. to Jerry Lambert and Alexis Silimon.
Management Analyst Crystal Melanson’s report to the council explains that in March Lambert and Silimon were approved for the City’s Homestead Program by the Housing Committee.
The Homestead Program offers participants a city-owned lot at no cost or $10,000 toward the purchase of a privately owned lot, Melanson said.
She said Lambert and Silimon chose the city-owned lot for the site of their new home.
The council also will consider possible action related to Golden State Water Co.’s request for a rate increase. Under the different scenarios, rates could rise between 32 and 41 percent over a three-year period.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants and City Council minutes, minutes of the Aug. 9 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting, approval of contract with BPR Consulting Group for the 2023-2024 fiscal year not to exceed $100,000 for building inspection and plan review services, accept interest in real property conveyed by trustee deed upon sale dated July 19 from Placer Foreclosure Co., approval of Amendment No. 3 to the Clearlake Municipal Employees Association Memorandum of Understanding deleting the senior maintenance worker premium
pay, award of contract for the Senior Center Kitchen Remodel Project to Pro-Ex Construction in the amount of $593,880.00 and authorize the city manager to approve up to 10% for additional unforeseen contract amendments, authorization of road closure for the Robert Viramontes Memorial Soap Box Derby.
The council will hold a closed session after the meeting to discuss two cases of existing litigation involving the Koi Nation of Northern California.
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.