CLEARLAKE, Calif. – This week the Clearlake City Council will discuss the adoption of a policy regarding the use of the council chambers for candidate forums.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 8, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
On the agenda is the discussion and possible adoption of a use policy for the council chambers and TV8 for candidate forums.
City Clerk Melissa Swanson's report to the council explains that there will be an election this November for two council seats, as well as the city clerk and treasurer positions.
TV8, the county's cable access television station, is housed at City Hall and ultimately the city can be held responsible for the materials that are broadcast, and “can be held liable for fines and possible litigation if election information is not presented in a fair and unbiased manner and if each candidate is not given equal time on TV8,” Swanson reported.
The firm that currently provides the city with legal counsel, Best Best & Krieger, drafted a policy meant to prevent ambiguity and confusion over the city's responsibilities, according to the report.
The one-page policy, which can be seen below, requires that all forums be held in a “fair and unbiased” manner, which consists of inviting all candidates and giving all of them who choose to participate an equal opportunity to answer questions and explain their positions.
At Thursday's meeting, City Manager Joan Phillipe originally had planned to ask the council to discuss an effort by a group called “Evolve, A Community Organization” to close a tax loophole in Proposition 13 relating to commercial properties.
However, an updated report from Phillipe to the council released Wednesday explained that the League of California Cities is urging cities to not take a position on the matter as changes to the proposal are being made.
Items on the consent agenda – considered to be noncontroversial and accepted as a slate with one vote – include warrant registers; a response to the April 24 public comment question regarding the Pacific Gas and Electric Bill for the light district; and a receipt of notice from Clearlake Waste Solutions of the annual rate modification.
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