CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council approved an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan for the city during its regular meeting on Thursday at Clearlake City Hall.
The development of the plan is a requirement of federal regulations implementing the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires all organizations receiving federal funds make their programs available without discrimination toward people with disabilities.
City Manager Joan Phillipe said because the city receives federal grant funds through Caltrans for street maintenance and improvement projects, as well as other federal grant programs, the city is required to adopt such a plan.
The plan is a working document that can be amended as needed by the city.
The plan was developed under contract with Moore Iacofano and Goltman Inc., with grant funding provided through the Lake County/City Area Planning Council.
Citizen Peter Shandera was commended by Phillipe, as well as members of the council, for time he volunteered to assist with the development of the plan.
Mayor Joyce Overton said Shandera's service was greatly appreciated by the council and the community.
Tim Gilbert, principal with Moore Iacofano and Goltman, presented an overview of the plan, noting that 20 percent of the population lives with disabilities while 10 percent lives with severe disabilities.
He said the plan is a working document that is meant to “keep up with the demographic shift of our communities” and serve the population through the long term of people's life spans.
The plan, through review and analysis, identifies physical barriers for people with disabilities in accessing city programs, services and activities. It identifies areas of service and provides guideline options for maintaining compliance.
The plan also prescribes the city's responsibility for ensuring future construction meets ADA requirement and compliance with use of current state building codes.
Rick Mayo, who is a disabled Clearlake citizen, commended the efforts exerted in developing the plan.
“It's very extensive. I read the whole 150 pages and I was impressed,” he said. “I did find a few areas of concern but, as you said, it's a working document.”
Mayo said a lack of lighting at Highlands Park is of concern to him as person with disabilities. He asked the city to address the issue when money becomes available. He also cited the lack of legends in correspondence with maps included in the plan.
Finally, Mayo suggested an ADA committee be formed to help address additional barriers not identified in plan.
The ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan is available for public review at Clearlake City Hall.
In other council business, a temporary building moratorium on Lakeshore Drive was extended.
The extension is to provide time to implement design guidelines to be used in the processing of planning and building permit applications that are within the “design district” overlay on the commercial zone districts in the Lakeshore Drive corridor.
The council also authorized the city manager to terminate a contract with Pun and McGeady for auditing services and execute a contract for services with Terry Krieg, CPA.
Phillipe said Pun and McGeady was not providing the adequate advisory services to staff.
“While Pun and McGeady certainly have the accounting expertise to do our audits, I and others in our department, both current and prior, feel the service we are receiving is not the quality we would like,” she said.
The contract with Pun and McGeady has a “no cause” clause, allowing the city to terminate the agreement.
Email Denise Rockenstein at
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