CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week will take up a request for much-needed police equipment, and honor new and existing employees.

The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 10, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

The meeting will begin with a presentation by Clearlake Police Lt. Tim Celli of the agency's annual report, new officers, the new traffic enforcement officer, and the employees and volunteer of the year.

The council also will present a proclamation honoring the Lower Lake High School cheerleading team for its first place national championship win in Varsity Co-Ed Division 1 at the Jamz National Cheerleading and Dance Competition in Las Vegas on Feb. 29.

One of the main items of business on Thursday will be a request from the Clearlake Police Department to approve a contract for a new communications radio processor, hardware and installation.

Det. Sgt. Martin Snyder's report to the council included an estimate from Advanced Communication Systems of Lakeport for the equipment totaling $46,897.32.

At its midyear budget review during the Feb. 4 meeting, the city council approved funding to replace a dispatch/communication panel and accompanying hardware that is well past its 20-year lifespan.

Snyder's report explains that the equipment is “a vital function of the inner workings of the Clearlake Police Department,” allowing dispatchers and officers to communicate, and also allowing dispatchers to open various locations in the department and complete other functions from a central location.

If the equipment were to fail, it would create an emergency situation for the department, according to the report.

Staff is requesting the council exempt the purchase from the competitive bidding process due to the immediacy of the need.

Also on Thursday, the council will honor city employees who have served five, 10, 15 and 20 years.

In other business, the council will hold a public hearing to confirm assessments totaling $90,000 in administrative penalties for failure to abate public nuisances, and will consider adopting a policy for appointing boards, commissions and committee members.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the regular Feb. 25 Clearlake City Council meeting; minutes of the Feb. 16 Lake County Vector Control District meeting; and consideration of the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 184-2016 amending Chapter V, Section 10.9 “Skate Park Rules and Regulations” of the “Police Code” of the Clearlake Municipal Code.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.