CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council has reduced fees for rental of the Clearlake Senior/Community Center in an effort to increase usage and make the facility more affordable for citizens and community organizations.

While many cleaning deposit fees were increased, rental rates for use of the kitchen remained unchanged following action taken by the council on Nov. 12 during its regular meeting at Clearlake City Hall.

Officials said kitchen rental fees are expected to increase in the near future.

Following a presentation by Finance Director Chris Becnel and public discussion, the council determined that rental rates for use of the kitchen should be increased, which reflected the sentiment of community members.

However, City Manager Greg Folsom said that while decreasing rates under the evening's agendized item was permitted, increasing rates, other than refundable deposit fees, required further public noticing and hearing.

Rates were revised because there was council concern that they were too high for the market and/or did not reflect actual cost of operating the facility.

Becnel said he performed a cost build-up analysis on the facility to determine the actual hourly operating costs.

The hourly cost build-up was based on average operating costs for the past five years, the average costs incurred and a depreciation factor for the cost of the building. The hourly rate was based upon eight hours per day for 365 days per year.

According to Becnel's calculations, the cost for the entire facility for one hour is about $75 per hour, resulting in a four hour charge of $300.

“This is $150 less than the current rate for use of the entire facility, which is currently set at $450 per four time period,” Becnel said.

Discounted rates for nonprofit organizations were determined at a rate approximately $40 less, with consideration of long-term financial factors associated with the building and in recognition of the contributions that those organizations make to the wellbeing of the community.

Becnel said the charges for specific areas in the revised rate schedule are based upon the relative square footage of the identified area as compared to the total rentable area.

He said the rentable area does not include any of the administrative areas specifically identified to the Highlands Senior Services Center, which occupies the building on a regular basis.

The rates Becnel proposed for use of the kitchen were based on usage of a 1,078-square foot area, which is the same as the auxiliary room.

Because the kitchen is commercially equipped at great expense, the council thought it reasonable to charge more for its use to protect investment.

Joe Parker, culinary instructor at Lower Lake High School, supported increasing the rate as well as the cleaning deposit for use of the kitchen, which he said should be the highest.

District 2 County Supervisor Jeff Smith also said the kitchen rental cost should be higher. “It's the place that uses the most power and cost the most to equip. I would up the hourly rate,” he said.

Rental rates for four-hour use of facilities at the Clearlake Senior/Community Center were adjusted as follows:

– Entire building (5,120 square feet): $300 standard ($75 each additional hour); $160 nonprofit ($40 each additional hour); $600 cleaning deposit.

– Building without kitchen (4,042 square feet): $235 standard ($59 each additional hour); $126 nonprofit ($32 each additional hour); $300 cleaning deposit.

– Multipurpose room (2,964 square feet): $174 standard ($44 each additional hour); $93 nonprofit ($23 each additional hour); $250 cleaning deposit.

– Auxiliary room (1,078 square feet): $63 standard ($16 each additional hour); $34 nonprofit ($9 each additional hour); $100 cleaning deposit.

– Classroom (320 square feet): $20 standard ($5 each additional hour); $10 non-profit ($3 each additional hour); $100 cleaning deposit.

Kitchen rental price remains at $50 per four hours with a cleaning deposit of $300. The commercial kitchen is 1,078 square feet.

Alcohol use requires an additional deposit of $200. 

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