CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week will hold public hearings on telecommunication facilities rules and administrative penalties, and consider forming an ad hoc committee to seek funds for improving the city's roads.

The council will meet in closed session at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, to discuss litigation as well as property negotiations with Katz Kirkpatrick Properties regarding a potential sale of the city's 26-acre former airport property and a possible property purchase adjacent to Highlands Visitor Center before convening in open session at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

At the start of the meeting, the council will honor retiring Clearlake Police Sgt. Nick Bennett for his years of service and Clearlake Police Chief Craig Clausen will present new police department employees.

The council will hold a public hearing to consider a draft amendment to the zoning ordinance to add a new article and provisions to regulate telecommunications towers, antennae and related systems.

City Manager Greg Folsom's report to the council explains that the city has recently received several wireless facility applications “consisting mostly of proposals to install large cellular transmission towers.”

However, the city does not have any regulations in place currently to deal with such applications, Folsom noted.

The city's contract planner has drafted a set of regulations that currently are being reviewed by the Clearlake Planning Commission, which will hold a public hearing on the regulations on Aug. 18, according to Folsom.

Folsom's report said the council is being asked to review the draft regulations and provide any technical questions to staff ahead of the next council meeting on Aug. 27.

The council also will hold a public hearing to confirm assessments totaling $87,500 for administrative penalties for failure to abate nuisances on a number of properties.

In council business, council members will consider creating an ad hoc committee to explore sources of revenue for road improvements.

The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson during the July 23 meeting.

The council has made several attempts over the last few years to pass a sales tax ballot measure to fund road improvements, but all have failed.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers and the July 23 meeting minutes.

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