Clearlake City Council discusses plans for managing former redevelopment agency's properties

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Another task in the dissolution of the Clearlake Redevelopment Agency was completed as the Clearlake City Council took action as the redevelopment successor agency on Thursday.

A long range property management plan, developed by Fraser & Associates, was presented and adopted by the agency in line with the state's process to dissolve the redevelopment program.

David Spilman, special consultant to the agency, said the State Department of Finance issued a finding of completion letter to the agency in April.

He called the finding a milestone in the redevelopment dissolution process. The process requires that the agency develop a long range property management plan for approval by the Department of Finance by Oct. 22.

The plan's purpose is to detail the type, uses and values of agency property, and identify a plan for disposal of assets in a planned manner that will generate the greatest amount of revenue for redistribution to the county, city and other local agencies.

The agency has 27 properties, including multiple lots, which Fraser & Associates consultant Anastasia Efstathiu said were reviewed by each type of property, history and original purchase, current value, environmental issues and certain planning objectives.

She said the Department of Finance can now accept or reject the plan; however, it is likely it may accept the plan yet continue to reject certain properties that Efstathiu addressed in her presentation of the plan to the agency.

The plan identifies properties in three categories: properties retained for government use, properties to be retained for future government use and properties proposed for disposition.

In addition, the plan identifies one property for future disposition and private development when economic conditions improve.

Properties identified for retention for government use include Clearlake City Hall, the Public Works corporation yard and property required for drainage.

Efstathiu said the Department of Finance has approved these properties for such use in the plan; however, future development may warrant the disposition of some properties in the area of the Public Works corporation yard.

Should this occur, she said the corporation yard would either need to be relocated or consolidated onto one or more of the existing parcels. The property would then be sold and net profits distributed to applicable taxing entities.

The three properties identified for future government use are not being accepted by the Department of Finance, Efstathiu said. The properties include two adjacent to the corporation yard that should be retained for future road circulation improvements.

The third property is that located at 14295 Lakeshore Drive, which was purchased with the intent to expand the adjacent public lakefront park and renovate an existing dilapidated structure for use as a visitor center.

Efstathiu said the firm will continue to appeal the Department of Finance's ruling. With regard to the Lakeshore Drive property, they are arguing that the intent to use the property was clearly there and that redevelopment's plan was in motion prior to the agency's dissolution.

A total of 16 properties are identified for disposition. The objective of the disposition plan is to sell the subject properties for private development consistent with the city's general plan and existing zoning ordinance land use designations.

Additionally, property located at 14061 Lakeshore Drive, in the area of city-owned property known as Austin Park Resort, is identified for future disposition.

Efstathiu said the property has been identified as being an essential component in the city economic development plan and should be held for future disposition when the real estate market has improved.

Councilman and agency member Joey Luiz recused himself from the vote, citing a possible conflict with regard to his new position with the Clearlake Chamber of Commerce.

The remaining agency members voted unanimously to adopt the plan.

In other dissolution business, like actions were taken by the agency and the council to approve a revised loan agreement for past city loans to the redevelopment agency.

The city made loans totaling nearly $1.8 million to the former redevelopment agency.

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Upper Lake High School District Board approves agreement for school resource deputy

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Thanks to the Upper Lake High School District Board's approval of a proposed agreement with the Lake County Sheriff's Office, the district is looking forward to soon introducing a new school resource deputy.

The board unanimously approved the proposed memorandum of understanding with the sheriff's office at its Wednesday night meeting.

The agreement calls for the district to reimburse the sheriff's office for 50 percent of the cost of one deputy sheriff without overtime, which totals $51,500, with the sheriff's office being responsible for the remaining payroll costs in excess of that amount.

The school resource deputy will be responsible for conducting a variety of safety-related functions, according to the agreement, from identifying the best routes and staging areas for responding law enforcement and emergency responders in case of critical incidents, to continually reviewing emergency action plans.

The deputy also will investigate criminal activity, coordinate with other law enforcement agencies, provide crime prevention materials and information to students and staff, provide trainings and participate in presentations, maintain continuous communication with staff and administrators, assist in school attendance review board meetings and coordinate with the sheriff's juvenile crimes investigator, among a lengthy list of other duties.

Before the vote was taken, Board member Keith Austin asked students in the audience if they felt it was a good idea, with one teen responding that she thought it was a “great idea.”

“School safety is very important,” said Board member Valerie Duncan. “We are excited about it also.”

Upper Lake High Superintendent/Principal Patrick Iaccino said he expects the new deputy to be in place soon.

“Hopefully by January he will be on campus,” said Iaccino.

“Or she,” interjected Duncan.

In addition to increased safety on campus, district officials are hoping for other benefits from a deputy's presence.

Austin said at Wednesday night's meeting that he believes the school resource deputy will go a long way toward improving the school's culture.

In a separate interview, Iaccino told Lake County News that he hopes to put the school resource deputy to work addressing truancy issues in the district.

Attendance runs about 92 to 93 percent at Upper Lake High School, but is less at the continuation school, which affects the school district's funding, he said.

Iaccino said he plans to have the school resource deputy find truant students and bring them back to school.

Based on past practice, it's expected that the memorandum of understanding between Upper Lake High School District and the sheriff's office will now go to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.

That was the case with a similar agreement for a school resource deputy – which included the identical payment amount – between the sheriff's office and the Kelseyville Unified School District.

That agreement received the supervisors' unanimous approval in January, as Lake County News has reported.

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 discuss redevelopment successor agency business this week

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council will present a proclamation before convening as the redevelopment successor agency when it meets week.

The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

The council will reconvene to discuss the scheduling of a workshop to address relations within the council.

The redevelopment successor agency will first consider adoption of a long range property management plan.

The plan is in step with the completion of the process to dissolve the redevelopment agency.

The purpose of the plan is to detail the type, uses and values of redevelopment successor agency property and identify a plan for disposal of the assets in planned manner that will generate the greatest amount of revenue for redistribution to county, city and other local agencies.

The redevelopment successor agency also will review and consider a revised loan agreement for past city loans to the former redevelopment agency and their eligibility as enforceable obligation.

City staff is recommending the council schedule a workshop on a Thursday, in which a regular meeting is not scheduled, to discuss relations among the council.

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .