- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Clearlake City Council to discuss airport property development, homestead program, new planning commissioner
The council will meet for a closed session at 5:30 p.m. to discuss negotiations for a property at 15970 Dam Road owned by R/M Clearlake and existing litigation against the county of Lake over Treasurer-Tax Collector Barbara Ringen’s performance before the public portion of the meeting convenes at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1.
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 the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEG TV YouTube Channel. Community members also can participate via Zoom.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to Administrative Services Director/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 town hall site and submit written comments at https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/327/forum_home. Identify the subject you wish to comment on in your email’s subject line or in your town hall submission.
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments prior to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1.
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.
On Thursday the council will present a certificate of appreciation to Clearlake Planning Commission Chair Richard Bean, who is stepping down, and also offer proclamations declaring October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
On the agenda is a discussion and consideration of actions the city can take to facilitate the development of the former Pearce Field Airport property on Highway 53.
City Manager Alan Flora’s report to the council explains that the property has been the center of development plans for decades.
The original 38.5-acre property was purchased from the county by the Clearlake Redevelopment Agency in 1994 for $840,000. In 1998, the redevelopment agency sold 10 acres for the development of Outrageous Waters water park.
The property was transferred to the city for public use in 2013 as part of then-Gov. Jerry Brown’s winddown of all redevelopment agencies, Flora said.
He said the city and the former redevelopment agencies have made efforts over the years to attract development to the site. Staff believes “significant interest remains in the Clearlake market and staff believe that with the right approach the project will be successful.”
Flora will discuss with the council the steps in the process as well as the proposal to work with RAM Development Partners, a sister company to Retail Strategies, the company that has been working with the city to attract development interest and investment into Clearlake.
In other business, the council will interview candidates to succeed Richard Bean on the Clearlake Planning Commission. Bean’s term ends in March.
Applicants are Michael McKeown, Joan Mingori, Michael A. Smith and Fawn Williams.
The council also will discuss the creation of a homestead housing program, which staff said is meant to encourage and incentivize new home construction, focusing on employed, entry-level professionals looking for quality housing. As part of the discussion, staff is proposing a $1 million amendment to the city’s 2020-21 budget to appropriate funds for the program.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the August and September meetings; second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 246-2020, amending Section 5-20.3 and Section 18-12.050 of the Clearlake Municipal Code relating to commercial cannabis businesses; second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 247-2020, an amendment to Chapter 3 of the Clearlake Municipal Code regarding development impact fees; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and ratified by council action March 19, 2020, in response to COVID-19; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017, in response to the Sulphur fire; adoption of Resolution No. 2020-42, acceptance of the State Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CDBG-CV) in the amount of $122,279; approval of an agreement with Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation on behalf of the California Center for Rural Policy for cannabis equity grant assistance in the amount of $45,000 approve agreement and authorize the city manager to sign; adoption of Resolution No. 2020-45 updating the city’s designated publications for legal notices adopt; approval of Amendment No. 2 to management and administrative services agreement with Regional Government Services for Consulting Services; and consideration of establishing an unemployment benefits internal service
fund and establishing policy guidelines, Resolution No. 2020-46.
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.