CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council is set to hear about a water emergency in a local district, discuss a consultant agreement to process Walmart's plans for an expansion and consider hiring a new legal firm.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 26, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The first order of business on Thursday will be the presentation of a proclamation declaring June as LGBT Pride Month.
Frank Costner, general manager of the Konocti County Water District, will give the council a report about the district's special Wednesday afternoon board meeting to discuss its intention to declare an emergency and implement conservation measures.
The district still has several steps to follow before implementing the measures, which Costner said are necessary due to the lake's low level, difficulties dealing with this year's algae bloom and a higher-than-normal water demand from customers.
In other business, the council will consider a contract with Price Consulting Services to perform planning work as part of processing Walmart's proposed expansion project.
City Manager Joan Phillipe's report to the council explained that Walmart has been in discussion with city staff over the last several months regarding an expansion of its Clearlake store.
The project originally was under consideration in 2009 but placed on hold in 2011 at Walmart's request. In 2012 it was reactivated, only to once again be placed on hold, Phillipe said.
“In the ensuing time, the company has conducted a community survey and ultimately determined to enter into discussion with staff about the possibility of reactivating its application,” she reported.
She noted in her written report that reactivating the project “will require significant staff time to process necessitating use of a professional planner to assist the city with the process.”
The proposed contract with Price Consulting Services will be covered by Walmart, Phillipe said. A total contract amount does not appear in city documents, but the work is to be charged at $100 an hour, with mileage reimbursement of $.60 per mile and annual rate adjustments of no more than 10 percent to be made in January of each year.
Also before the council Thursday is a proposal to hire Jones and Mayer as the new firm to serve as legal counsel for the city, following Best Best & Krieger's decision to resign earlier this year.
Phillipe's report on the item explained that five proposals were received and evaluated by an ad hoc committee of council members and staff, four firms were recommended for interview before the entire council and two firms selected for further evaluation. The council ultimately selected Jones and Mayer.
The proposed monthly retainer fee would be $6,600 for 40 hours of general legal services – calculated at $165 per hour – for a total annual cost of $79,200, Phillipe reported.
Jones and Mayer has done other legal work locally, including representing Sheriff Frank Rivero in a lawsuit against District Attorney Don Anderson over Rivero's inclusion on a list of law enforcement officers with credibility issues.
The council also will get a presentation on the annual audit for the fiscal year that ended in June 2013, authorize the extension of the 2013-14 fiscal year budget and schedule a second workshop for the fiscal year 2014-15 budget, and approve the city's 2014-15 appropriations limit.
Items on the consent agenda – considered to be noncontroversial and accepted as a slate with one vote – include warrant registers, consideration of calling the Nov. 4 election, minutes of the May 14 Lake County Vector Control District meeting and consideration of a temporary closure of a portion of Golf Avenue between Lakeshore Drive and Ballpark Avenue for the Lake County Youth Services Youth Fest 2014 event.
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