Before the council's open session begins at 6 p.m., a closed session will be held to discuss the sale of the 26-acre business park to Katz Kirkpatrick Properties. The closed session begins at 5:15 p.m.
City Administrator Dale Neiman said Wednesday that the exclusive negotiating agreement the city entered into with Katz Kirkpatrick earlier this year includes a schedule that would lead to a disposition and development agreement in February. That, he said, would include Katz Kirkpatrick's plans for the property, which so far have not yet been disclosed.
In addition, Neiman said, “The appraisal should be done in the very near future.”
Thursday night's closed session discussion is just to get more direction from the council as negotiations move forward, said Neiman.
On the council agenda under business are the following items:
– Skate park repairs
The council will consider amending this year's budget to repair the park, where the skating surface has become damaged from use. BMX bikes have been using the park more even than skateboarders, said Neiman, and the facility wasn't designed for bike use.
People have requested the city reopen the park immediately, according to Neiman's staff report. However, he said the city needs to weigh those requests against the need for repair and possibility liability in case of injury.
He is urging the council to wait for its mid-year budget review before making any decision; at that point, his report says, the council will be able to assess whether or not the city can afford the repairs.
This is the third time since the skate park was built in 2002 that it has required required repairs, Neiman's staff report to the council states. This is also the most expensive round of repairs, as 75 percent of the park's surface is damaged.
It will cost $5,600 just for the surface materials needed for the repairs, plus the labor to fix the surface, Neiman said.
– Reducing city copy charges
City Administrator Dale Neiman is taking to the council Resolution 49-2007, which reduces the city's current charges for copying from $.50 per page to $.10 per page.
At a recent meeting city resident Alice Reece complained that the city was charging too much.
Neiman promised to research the issue. In his staff report to the council for the Thursday meeting, Neiman said his research shows that state statute only allows for charging $.10 per page.
That amount covers direct costs only, meaning copier and paper costs, and not staff time to find the information or make the copies. Neiman's report said he assumes that staff time being charged contributed to the higher costs.
– An agreement with Lake County Animal Care and Control Services
Lake County Animal Care and Control provides animal control services to the City of Clearlake. Neiman's report to the council explains that the city and council have been entering into yearly agreements for animal control services.
Neiman said in his staff report for Thursday that, between 2003 and 2007, the amount the city pays the county for the services has risen from $76,480 to $160,300, a 110-percent increase.
The county is proposing another 29-percent increase this year, which would take the annual amount to $207,320, which Neiman said is a $47,000 increase the city wasn't expecting.
Due to rising costs, Neiman suggests in the future that the city consider taking over animal control services on its own in order to save money.
Reestablishing animal control services was an issue brought to the council recently by proponents of the city's disincorporation. At a meeting to discuss their concerns, citizens including Frank Brumfield asked the council if they would consider taking that function over again, an idea to which the council and Neiman reacted favorably.
– Working with Habitat for Humanity on a city first-time homebuyer program
The city's Redevelopment Agency recently decided to create a first-time homebuyer program for city residents.
The city is looking at negotiating a memorandum of understanding with Lake County's Habitat for Humanity chapter to carry out the program.
“The council gave me authorization to prepare some draft guidelines,” Neiman said Wednesday.
Neiman said the city is required to provide a certain amount of low- to moderate-income housing. While the exact shape of an agreement with Habitat for Humanity isn't certain yet, Neiman said the city and the nonprofit could work together in a way that would be mutually beneficial.
That could include selling Habitat for Humanity the lots, and having them in turn do the self-help building projects while the city pays their administration fees, Neiman suggested.
“It's basically to see how we can work together to achieve the goals for them and us,” Neiman said.
Habitat for Humanity also is talking to the Lake County Redevelopment Agency about a memorandum of understanding, Neiman said.
In other business, the council will consider closure of Ninth Avenue between Boyles and Irving to the public, only allowing access to a property owner and emergency and city officials, as the area was previously gated to prevent illegal dumping. The property owner must then install a gate and maintain the area.
The council also will consider approval of the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund Grant expenditure plan.
Clearlake City Hall is located at 14050 Olympic Drive.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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