CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council on Thursday convened for several hours for a budget workshop in addition to its regular meeting.
 
The workshop, which began at 4:30 p.m., was part of the council’s work ahead of finalizing its 2017-18 budget next month.
 
Some key developments from the workshop were announced in the meeting that followed.
 
During public comment, Rita Doyle, president of the Animal Coalition, asked if the council had had a chance to consider the proposal she had made at the April 27 meeting, during which she said her group wanted to join forces with the city to raise funds for improving animal control.
 
Doyle said the Animal Coalition is planning a July 8 fundraiser and expects to raise up to $10,000, which it intends to donate to the city for animal control operations. In turn, she had asked for a city match.
 
Finance Director Chris Becnel told Doyle that the city had budgeted the requested $10,000 match in its 2017-18 fiscal year budget.
 
In addition, Becnel said the city is budgeting a second officer for its animal control staff.
 
City Manager Greg Folsom reported another key budget development at the meeting.
 
He said that a major repaving project is set to start at the beginning of June on Phillips Avenue.
 
The $2 million project will repave and widen Phillips from 18th to 40th avenues, and add a bike lane, he said.
 
“We should have that done this summer, so that’s very exciting,” he said.
 
Folsom said the city is finalizing the project’s completion date now.
 
Also on Thursday, the council presented Ginny Craven of Operation Tango Mike with a proclamation declaring May as US Military Recognition Month and heard an update from the Tobacco Education Youth Coalition.
 
In separate hearings that lasted close to an hour, the council confirmed abatement orders on several properties in the avenues – 15628 37th Ave., 16288 21st Ave., 16298 21st Ave., 16036 14th Ave., 16389 21st Ave. and 16046 14th Ave. – that had been red-tagged for public nuisances, predominantly issues with large marijuana grows. It also upheld an assessment at 3925 Eureka Ave.
 
Council members also approved a new Code Enforcement Division Policy and Procedures Manual and gave consensus to the city marketing committee’s proposal for a photo contest for the city Web site and city-owned buildings.
 
Folsom also updated the council on the efforts to cleanup abandoned vehicles in the city.
 
He said the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Committee met last week, with the funding that’s accumulated over the last several years – reported to be at about $356,000 – disbursed to the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport, and to the county.
 
The city of Clearlake started towing vehicles on Monday, Folsom said.
 
As of Thursday, 170 vehicles had been tagged, 40 were towed and 34 were gone on arrival, possibly self-abated, Folsom said.
 
Folsom also reported that a joint workshop including the council and the committee it appointed to oversee the Measure V road tax spending has been set for June 22.
 
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