CLEARLAKE – After refining and discussing the concept over several meetings, the Clearlake City Council voted Thursday night to form an advisory committee for the Clearlake Redevelopment Agency.

Robert Riggs and Jim Scholz of the Clearlake Vision Task Force Steering Committee brought the proposal to the council last month, as Lake County News has reported.

The council approved of the concept, and at the last meeting gave City Administrator Dale Neiman direction to work out the details of establishing the committee. Neiman met with Riggs and Scholz and came equipped Thursday with several guidelines and suggestions.

The proposed resolution to establish the committee suggested a five-member body that council members would appoint. To be considered for the committee, the candidates must live inside the city limits.

Neiman said the committee will be subject to the restrictions of the Fair Political Practices Commission and so candidates cannot purchase property within the redevelopment area after joining the committee. If they already own property that is not a conflict.

Councilman Roy Simons said he wanted to see more members on the committee in order in inject diversity. "You need a group of people who will sit and argue for a while."

However, Council member Joyce Overton suggested that larger committees can sometimes result in less action.

Simons considered the point well taken. "Maybe I have to agree with you a little bit on that."

Council member Judy Thein asked about the timeframe of choosing committee members. Neiman said they could choose them at the next council meeting but they also need to establish bylaws for the group.

Community member Rick Mayo said that five members aren't enough, and suggested seven positions might offer a better cross section of opinion.

Overton asked how they'll handle committee applications. Neiman said when the applications come in, he'll pass copies to all of the council members.

Neiman told the council that if they wanted to increase committee membership, they could bring it back for a vote.

Vice Mayor Chuck Leonard moved the resolution to form the committee, with Thein seconding it, and the council voting 5-0.

According to the resolution's guidelines for the redevelopment advisory committee, two members shall be appointed to an initial term of one year and the rest of the members shall have two-year terms. Afterward, all members shall be appointed to two-year terms.

The resolution calls for the agency's executive director – in this case, Neiman – to advise the committee and make recommendations to them. The executive director will schedule meetings when necessary, but the committee chair or a majority if members can call for meetings as well. All the meetings will be subject to state public meeting laws.

The committee must adopt by-laws that establish the body's purpose and authority, relationship to the board of director (which also is the City Council), selection and responsibilities of the chair and vice chair, procedures for chairing meetings and bylaws approval and amendment.

The resolution calls for the committee to assist the agency's board of directors in assessing housing and economic development strategies; and making recommendations to the board regarding economic development strategies, potential use of bond proceeds (except for the sale of property), guidelines to carry out the planned first-time homebuyer program, and any other requests assigned by the board.

For an application, call Clearlake City Hall and speak with City Clerk Melissa Swanson, 994-8201, Extension 106.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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