CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council entertained a short agenda in its first regular meeting of the new year held on Thursday at Clearlake City Hall.

The council provided its support of World Autism Awareness Day, which is to be held in April; extended a declaration of local emergency related to December storm damage; and Mayor Denise Loustalot announced her committee appointments for the coming year.

Clearlake resident Adelia Leonard requested support for World Autism Awareness Day as organizer and mother of two autistic children.

She said her family often struggles for acceptance within the community. Raising awareness, she said, will increase public understanding of the conditions associated with autism and help those afflicted gain acceptance in society.

“We want to be able to feel comfortable in our own city,” Leonard said.

According to the National Autism Association (NAA), autism is a bioneurological condition that generally appears before the age of 3 years.

It impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skills and cognitive function.

Autism is diagnosed four times more often in boys than in girls and now affects one in 68 children, which Leonard said has increased from one in 80.

The NAA states about 40-percent of children with autism do not speak while about 25- to 30-percent have some words at 12 to 18 months but later lose them. Others may speak but not until later in childhood.

Leonard said she has about 30 area businesses willing to assist in the awareness campaign by placing blue lights in their windows.

She requested the city show its support by way of proclamation and by running blue lights up the city flagpole at Austin Park, which Public Works Director Doug Herren said would be possible. Leonard said she would provide the lights.

Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson said the campaign falls in line with Child Abuse Prevention Month, which also takes place is April.

She encouraged Leonard to coordinate her effort with those of the Lake County Children's Council and offered her assistance in connecting them.

“It's all about making everybody feel inclusive in our community,” Councilman Bruno Sabatier said.

Lake County Emergency Services Manager Marisa Chilafoe was on hand to discuss the declaration of a local emergency issued on Dec. 11 due to major flooding in the Clearlake area that resulted from a heavy rainstorm.

Ultimately, the declaration was extended by vote of the council.

Chilafoe said the action is currently in the recovery process, which consists of the assessment phase.

“(State representatives) were here today (assessing the damage) and will decide what recommendations to make to the governor,” she said.

According to City Manager Joan Phillipe, issuing the declaration does several things, not necessarily limited to: authorizing the undertaking of extraordinary police powers if necessary;providing limited immunity for emergency actions of public employees and governing bodies; authorizing the issuance of orders and regulations to protect life and property;allowing special purchasing and contracting directly related to the emergency; sending a proactive message to the community; and possibly providing property owners documentation for insurance purposes.

Extending the declaration provides additional time for property owners to submit their claims to city officials.

However, submitting a claim does not guarantee reimbursement for damages sustained in the storm.

Appointments for annual city representation rounded-out the evening's agenda.

Councilman Russ Perdock will serve as the voting member to the League of California Cities while Loustalot will serve as the alternate.

Additional committee appointments were made by the mayor as follows:

– Abandoned Vehicle Authority: Clearlake Police Chief Craig Clausen, member.
– Sewer District 1-6 Advisory Board: Bruno Sabatier, member;
– Resource Management Committee: Joyce Overton, member; Gina Fortino Dickson, alternate.
– Integrated Waste Management Task Force/Solid Waste Diversion Committee and Clearlake Solid Waste Committee: Public Works Director Doug Herren, member; Gina Fortino Dickson, alternate.
– Vector Control Board of Trustees: Curt Giambruno (former councilman), member.
– Public, Education and Government (PEG) Board: Denise Loustalot, member; Gina Fortino Dickson, alternate.
– Traffic Safety Committee: Joyce Overton, Denise Loustalot, Joan Philippe and Doug Herren, members.
– Redevelopment Oversight Board: Bruno Sabatier and Joan Phillipe, members.
– Area Planning Council (APC)/Lake Transit Authority: Denise Loustalot and Russ Perdock, members; Bruno Sabatier, alternate.
– Lake County Clean Water Advisory Council (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System): Gina Fortino Dickson, member; Denise Loustalot, alternate.
– Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo): Joyce Overton, member; Bruno Sabatier, alternate.
– Lake County Airport Land Use Commission: Russ Perdock, member; Denise Loustalot, alternate.

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .