CLEARLAKE, Calif. – This week the Clearlake City Council will consider giving staff direction on what should be done with the former Austin Resort property, and discuss new proposed ordinances to bolster enforcement of city park rules and ban dogs in city parks.

The council will meet in closed session at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, to discuss one case of existing litigation and negotiations for several properties before convening in open session at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

City Manager Greg Folsom is asking for council direction on what actions to take with regard to the Austin Resort property, which includes a vacant building on 4.5 acres located at 14061 Lakeshore Drive, across from City Hall.

The property had been acquired by the Clearlake Redevelopment Agency, and following the dissolution process now belongs to the city, Folsom said.

While the site was intended to be marketed for uses including a destination resort in the city's Long Term Property Management Plan, Folsom said the Lakeshore Drive Downtown Corridor Plan conflicts with that, concluding that the resort plan could be detrimental to Clear Lake and possibly to the revitalization of the city's historic commercial center.

The corridor plan has suggested alternatives including offering camping along the lake, or creating a plaza and smaller commercial buildings. Folsom said integrating the parcel with the larger Austin Park parcel may be difficult or impossible.

“The City previously attempted to get this parcel designated for park use and was denied by the State,” he said in his report.

He said staff would like to demolish the building, and has received an initial estimate of $35,000 to do so, with expectations that there may be existing underground storage tanks that could increase costs, “but since there are contradicting plans for this site, staff would like direction from Council regarding the vision of the Council for this site.”

Also on Thursday, the council will hold the introduction and first reading of an ordinance relating to conduct in public parks and beaches.

Police Chief Craig Clausen's report to the council explains that budget issues and recent state legislation “has forced local governmental entities to provide increased services with decreased funding, which has led to significant local issues.”

One of those issues is the District Attorney's Office's inability to file criminal charges or to prosecute for violations of the city's current park ordinances, Clausen said.

He said there's been an increase in violations of those ordinances, giving an example of one individual who has had more than 16 arrests for law violations within city parks – at one point being arrested twice within a 10-hour shift.

Clausen said the proposed ordinance would allow violators to be ordered to vacate all city parks and beaches for a period of time depending on the number of violations.

He said a first violation would result in an order to vacate for 24 hours, with a second offense within a week of the first offense resulting in a one week removal.

A third offense within 30 days of the second offense would lead to a 30-day removal, a fourth offense within six months would result in a six-month removal order and a fifth offense within a year would require a removal of a year's time, Clausen said.

He said the ordinance would have minimal cost, and is actually intended to save staff time, as the goal would be fewer people violating city park laws.

Folsom also will take to the council the first reading of an ordinance to require dogs to be leashed and require that owners pick up dog waste within any public location – not just city parks.

Under current city regulations, dog owners are not technically required to keep dogs leashed but must keep them under control, Folsom reported.

“Realistically, few dogs have the temperament or the training to resist the impulse to run or chase when they see another dog or cat,” he said, adding that not only does that create unsafe conditions, but also a negative image of the city regarding potentially dangerous dogs that are not under leash control.

In a related matter, Folsom will ask the council to consider an ordinance prohibiting dogs in city parks outright, unless they are getting into or out of watercraft.

The council adopted an ordinance in June 2012 allowing dogs in city parks, which was a major departure from prior practice, Folsom reported. “One of the Council's goals was to reevaluate this ordinance, so we are now providing you with a description of the problems that have arisen.”

Folsom said the pet waste stations installed at city parks have been vandalized repeatedly, the bags are flushed down park toilets, causing plumbing issues, and people don't pick up after their dogs.

“Due to the over-abundance of aggressive dogs and bad pet owners in Clearlake, there are too many aggressive dogs wandering the park without leashes,” Folsom said. “The homeless and gang members tend to be the ones with their intimidating dogs in the parks, not families with playful dogs.”

He added, “All in all, allowing dogs in the parks has not contributed to a family friendly park environment and, in fact, in staff's opinion has had the opposite effect. Staff from Public Works and the Police Department whole-heartedly support prohibiting dogs in parks, except as they are getting in or out of watercraft.”

He said there will be minor costs for updating signage that will be offset by not having to buy dog waste bags or make repairs to park toilet drains. “Staff will work to identify potential locations for a future dog park.”

Also on Thursday's agenda, the council will consider updating the rental fee waiver policy for the Clearlake Community Senior Center and city parks.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers and the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 178-2015, adding section 10-8 to Chapter X of the Clearlake Municipal Code relating to the regulation of shopping carts.

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