CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council on Thursday will consider adopting the city's proposed 2015-16 fiscal year budget and discuss an ordinance to streamline residential solar installations.
The public portion of the meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 25, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. for a closed session to discuss a case of existing litigation against the city by its former mayor, Jeri Spittler, her husband Anthony and another marijuana patient, Robin Farnham, over a now-rescinded marijuana ordinance.
Labor negotiations with the Clearlake Police Officers Association also will be discussed during the closed session.
At the start of the public portion of the meeting, the council will offer a proclamation declaring June 2015 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.
One of the meeting's main items is the adoption of the proposed 2015-16 fiscal year budget.
City documents show that the operational and capital projects budgets total $9.2 million – $6.08 million for operational costs, $3.12 million for capital projects.
The 2015-16 fiscal year budget also includes 54.86 positions – up 3.86 positions from last year – with $100,000 to go into the city’s reserve, according to budget documents.
In other business, the council will hold its first reading of a proposed ordinance to streamline the permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems.
City Manager Joan Phillipe's report to the council explains that in September Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 2188, which mandates that cities adopt ordinances to expedite and streamline the residential solar permitting process by Sept. 30.
“One of the purposes of the bill is to discourage local agencies from creating unreasonable barriers to the installation of solar energy systems,” Phillipe explained. “This means that cities are prohibited from imposing local regulations that go beyond those necessary to ensure that the solar energy system does not have a specific, adverse impact on public health or safety.”
The kinds of small, residential rooftop installations that would be covered under the ordinance are no larger than 10 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or 30 kilowatts thermal, Phillipe reported.
Also on Thursday, the council will consider naming the Redbud Park softball field in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Valentine.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the May 28, June 4, June 11 and June 18 council meetings; minutes of the May 13 Lake County Vector Control District meeting; award of a contract for drainage and stormwater system survey services for the city's Community Development Block Grant Planning and Technical Assistance Grant to LACO Associates for an amount not to exceed $52,000; and a report on moving the Clearlake Police Department exterior door.
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