CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council is set this week to hold the first reading of a proposed ordinance to deal with the issue of abandoned shopping carts in the city.

The council will meet in closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, to discuss an existing case of litigation and negotiations for three properties – the proposed sale of the city's airport property, and possible city purchases of land at 2185 Ogulin Canyon Road and 2560 Highway 53 – before convening in public session at 6 p.m.

City Manager Greg Folsom is taking the proposed ordinance to the council.

His report to the council explains that, while state law requires that all shopping and laundry carts be signed with the owners' identification, that it's illegal to remove carts from business premises and to be in possession of a cart off the premises, “These State laws have not been effective in Clearlake.”

Folsom goes on to explain, “Abandoned shopping carts litter the streets of Clearlake.”

He said the city council asked staff to come up with an ordinance to help reduce the number of abandoned shopping carts throughout the city.

City staff came up with the document after working with the California Grocers Association and providing draft copies to the managers of each of the  impacted retailers on or before Nov. 2, including Dollar Tree, Foods Etc., Grocery Outlet, Ray's Food Place, Rite Aid, Safeway and Walmart, he said.

Modeled closely on an ordinance in effect in the city of Livermore, Folsom said it applies to all businesses that provide five or more shopping carts at any one business location; applies to any person in possession of an off-site shopping cart; requires shopping cart identification signs on each cart; requires a plan to prevent cart removal; requires retrieval measures; provides for penalties for failure to submit a plan or implement a plan; and allows the city to impound abandoned carts.

In the first year the ordinance is in effect, the city would emphasize education and assistance to businesses before moving into the realm of administrative warnings, fines and citations, Folsom said.

In other business, the council will consider a resolution approving revisions to the Highlands Senior Center's rental rates for fiscal year 2015-16, and also will look at adopting a resolution consenting to the inclusions of properties within the territory of the city in the California Statewide Communities Development Authority Open PACE Program and a resolution adopting revised council norms and procedures and Rosenburg's Rules of Order.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the council's Oct. 15 and 22 meetings; consideration of adoption of Resolution No. 21015-37 to allow a temporary street closure for the annual Christmas parade and tree lighting; agreement between the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport and the county of Lake for the operation of the public, educational and governmental cable television channel; adoption of Resolution No. 2015-35 for designation of agents for purposes of applying for an processing applications for disaster assistance with the California Emergency Management Agency; consideration of a memorandum of understanding with the Konocti Unified School District for a school resource officer; and the general plan update economic technical review.

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