CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake city staff are asking the Clearlake City Council this week to keep a local emergency – declared last month due to a heavy storm and the associated flooding – in place as damage estimates continue.
The council will meet in closed session at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, to conduct a performance evaluation of City Manager Joan Phillipe, discuss an employee discipline matter and hold a conference with legal counsel regarding Mosqueda v. City of Clearlake before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m.
At Thursday's meeting Phillipe will give the council an update on the emergency declaration that she made on Dec. 11 – and which was ratified days later by the council – due to the storm that dumped several inches of rain on the county, resulting in flooding and road closures.
As a result of the storm, Clearlake, the city of Lakeport and the county of Lake all made emergency declarations, as Lake County News has reported.
Lake County's state legislators, Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblyman Bill Dodd, also have asked Gov. Jerry Brown for a disaster declaration for Lake, Sonoma and Marin counties as a result of the storm.
The granting of that declaration requires the completion of damage estimates, which are still under way, according to Phillipe, who reported that city staff is recommending that the emergency declaration not be terminated.
Phillipe said the city has been advised by Lake County Emergency Services Manager Marisa Chilafoe that the director of the California Office of Emergency Services and his staff will be in Lake County on Thursday to meet with city staff and ascertain the level of damage in the city as a result of the storm.
“He will be making recommendations to Governor Brown based on the visit,” Phillipe said.
The Office of Emergency Services has contacted Lake County News to say Cal OES Assistant Director of Recovery Charles Rabamad is the agency executive who will be visiting Lake County on Thursday.
In other business, the council will take up a request from Councilwoman Joyce Overton to discuss the US Department of Labor final rule extending the Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wage and overtime protection to home care workers, and a request to support a letter requesting suspension of the implementation of the rule.
Also on Thursday, the council will consider proclaiming and/or supporting recognition of World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, confirm Mayor Denise Loustalot's appointments of council members to various committees and commissions for the coming year, and appoint representatives to vote on behalf of the city at the League of California Cities Redwood Empire Division meetings and to represent the city and vote at division legislative committee meetings.
Items on the consent agenda – considered to be noncontroversial and accepted as a slate with one vote – include warrant registers; minutes of the Dec. 11 and 18 council meetings; and adoption of the Fair Political Practices Commission Form 806.
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