CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week will discuss whether the city should follow a city administrator- or city manager-led form of government, a mission statement for the city and renovations to the youth center.
The council will meet for a special closed session at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 8, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, to discuss the city administrator appointment and labor negotiations before coming into open session at 6 p.m. TV8 will broadcast the meeting live.
At its Feb. 23 meeting the council had begun a discussion regarding whether to move from a city administrator form of government to one led by a city manager, but held the matter over to determine how hiring decisions would be made.
A report from interim City Administrator Joan Phillipe to the council explained that the discussion came out of a Feb. 2 council workshop focusing on city goals and core values.
According to Government Code Section 34856, the city manager “may” be responsible for hiring department head positions such as the police chief, but not the city attorney. Phillipe said the council could retain responsibilities of hiring the police chief if it preferred to do so.
If the city clerk and treasurer positions were changed from elected to appointed, the city council would make those appointments unless the council vested the city manager with that responsibility through an ordinance, Phillipe reported.
On Thursday, the council also will continue a discussion on the city's mission, vision and core values statement, which began at that special Feb. 2 workshop.
The list, which will be reviewed annually, currently includes items such as the form of government, the general plan relating to budget, code enforcement, administrative penalties, the finance department, department structuring, public safety and police, budget, economic development and the shopping center, marijuana growing ordinance/dispensary ordinance, emergency planning, youth activities, the senior center and the first-time homebuyers' program, among other issues.
Also on Thursday, the council will consider approving renovations and improvements proposed for the city-owned building at 4750 Golf Ave., which is being leased by the Lake Community Pride Foundation for use as the city's youth center.
Phillipe's report to the council said proposed renovations to the building include Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant restrooms, office space and kitchen upgrades.
The lease requires the city approve the proposed upgrades, but Phillipe reported that there is no provision in the lease for administrative approval of those renovations. The foundation also has requested waiver of several hundred dollars in fees, which Phillipe said the council must approve.
Also at the Thursday meeting, Carolyn Ruttan of the Lake County Department of Water Resources will give a presentation on the county's Invasive Mussel Prevention Program.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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