CLEARLAKE, Calif. – This week the Clearlake City Council will hold a reading of an updated version of an ordinance to implement universal garbage collection in the city and discuss more recommendations of a city ad hoc marking committee.

The council will meet beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, to discuss labor negotiations before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

At its April 14 meeting, the council – in a 4-0 vote – approved the first reading of the ordinance to make garbage service mandatory in the city.

City leaders said the universal service is needed to make the city healthier and cleaner. If approved, city franchisee Clearlake Waste Solutions will not have the universal service in place until next year.

City Manager Greg Folsom's report for the Thursday meeting said the council will have to hold a new first reading on the ordinance because a change has been made to the document.

Specifically, the change was made to clarify that bad debt expense on existing customers cannot be transferred to the city and that only bad debts incurred after the implementation of the program are eligible to transfer to the city for collection.

He said it's the city attorney's opinion that this is a substantive change that will require a new first reading.

The council also will discuss additional findings and recommendations of an ad hoc committee on marketing, in particular suggestions for a city motto.

Folsom reported that the motto suggestions include the following:

– “Clearlake, South Shore Hospitality.”
– “Clearlake, Living the Lake Life.”
– “Clearlake, Sun, Fun, and Fishing.”
– “Clearlake, Where Community Comes First.”
– “Clearlake, Home of the International Worm Races.”
– “Clearlake, Get Your Bass Over Here.”

Folsom said the motto the council chooses could be used for highway signage, advertisements and banners, among other things.

In other business, the council will hold a public hearing to consider approving revised housing rehabilitation guidelines as required by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

Also on Thursday, Public Works Director Doug Herren will make a presentation on the April 23 Clearlake Clean Up Day.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the April 14 meeting; and the second reading and adoption of an ordinance amending Chapter 10, Section 10-5.6 of the Clearlake Municipal Code as it relates to code enforcement.

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