CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week will discuss an agreement with a developer, reconvening and expanding the city's marijuana ad hoc committee and an assessment of the city's energy usage.

The council will meet for a closed session regarding anticipated litigation at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

The meeting will start off with the presentation of two proclamations – recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month – and an update from City Clerk Melissa Swanson on the city's plans for its Halloween Trick or Treat Party.

On Thursday's agenda is a public hearing for the consideration of a development agreement between the city and Orosco Development No. 19 LLC for the property located at 15885 Dam Road.

In August the Clearlake Planning Commission recommended to the council the approval of the agreement, which has an 18-month term and would require the company to pay the city $50,000 to cover city road improvements.

The property had formerly been the proposed site of a Fresh and Easy supermarket, but that company went into bankruptcy, according to a report from city officials.

Orosco Development No. 19 LLC, based in Monterey, is proposing to build a large commercial retail center on the property with a single tenant. During a meeting last month, a company representative said several national big box retailers had indicated interest, but a tenant hadn't yet been determined.

In other business, the council will review a preliminary assessment by Aircon Energy of energy usage at certain city facilities in an attempt to save the city money.

Finance Director Chris Becnel's report to the council notes that management is concerned that most of the HVAC equipment at both City Hall and the community center “is significantly past its useful life and is very inefficient by today's standards,” and so could be costing the city money.

By upgrading equipment and pursuing a solar project, Becnel estimated the city can have a net savings of nearly $1.7 million over 25 years.

In other business, the council will consider new appointments to the city's marijuana ad hoc committee, which staff is recommending be reconvened to review and make recommendations for amendments to the city's dispensary and marijuana cultivation ordinances.

City Manager Greg Folsom's report on the item explains that there are several issues that it would be helpful for the ad hoc committee to discuss.

Those include the ordinance's effectiveness and potential ramifications of what Folsom said is the likely passage this November of Proposition 64, which would legalize recreational use of marijuana.

He said there also are “several ambiguities” in the city's dispensary ordinance that have come to light and need to be cleared up, with that document also needing to be reviewed with respect to Proposition 64.

The committee's membership currently includes Keith Ahart, Liz Byrd, Dan Griffin, Dave Hughes, Pete Loustalot, Vince Metzger and Willie Sapeta, all of whom are not city staffers, along with Mayor Russ Perdock and Vice Mayor Bruno Sabatier, Folsom said.

“Since changes to the ordinances would potentially impact the three dispensaries, staff will invite all three dispensary owners to participate,” said Folsom.

He said staff also suggests that the council direct the planning commission to appoint two of its members to the committee, “since any changes will likely go through the Planning Commission as land use issues.”

Also on Thursday, the council will consider adopting environmental review guidelines which were recommended for approval to the council by the planning commission last month.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the June 23, June 30, July 14, July 28, Aug. 11, Aug. 25 and Aug. 31 council meetings; and consideration of resolutions for employer-paid member contributions for the Middle Management Association, the Clearlake Police Officers Association and the Clearlake Municipal Employees Association.

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.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – When it convenes this week the Middletown Area Town Hall will once again devote most of its meeting to hearing from candidates on the November ballot at the state and local levels.

MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Middletown Community Center, 21256 Washington St.

Meetings are open to the community.

The meeting will begin with public comment and a review of the group's bylaws.

MATH will then hear from two candidates for the Fourth Assembly District seat, Republican Charlie Schaupp and Democrat Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.

There also will be a forum for District 1 supervisorial candidates Monica Rosenthal and Jose “Moke” Simon III. MATH had hosted Rosenthal in Simon at a forum in September as well.

The MATH Board includes Chair Fletcher Thornton, Vice Chair Claude Brown, Secretary Margaret Greenley, and members Linda Diehl-Darms and Gregg Van Oss.

MATH – established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 – is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.

Meetings are subject to videotaping.

For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Candidates for this fall's Lakeport City Council race participated in a forum at Lakeport City Hall on Monday night.

Michael Green, Ted Mandrones, Nathan Maxman, Kenny Parlet and George Spurr appeared at the forum, hosted by Lake County News.

Tim Barnes had originally confirmed his appearance but said he was unable attend due to a business trip.

The video of the 80-minute-long forum is above. Below is the list of questions with the time at which they are presented in the video.

Opening statements: (2:19)

Questions:

1. Please share your reason – or reasons – for running for a seat on the Lakeport City Council. (6:22)

2. What particular experience, knowledge or education do you possess that you believe makes you a good candidate for the Lakeport City Council? (10:24)

3. Imagine this scenario: In November you’re elected to the Lakeport City Council and in December you take your seat. In your first 90 days, what would be your priorities as a new council member? (15:31)

4. The annexation of the South Main Street corridor has been a long-term goal of the city for many years and it’s also become a point of friction with the county, particularly the Lakeport area’s representative on the Board of Supervisors. Do you believe that very important commercial corridor should be added into the city limits? If so, how would you go about addressing the disagreements with the county and businesses in that area over the prospect of annexation? (19:43)

5. Since 2013 Lakeport has implemented and enforced some of the county’s most strict rules related to medical marijuana cultivation. Those rules include prohibitions against growing in residences or within 300 feet of schools, day cares, parks and playgrounds; requirements that it be grown in a secure, detached structure with odor filtration, perimeter fencing and that the plant canopy be no larger than 80 square feet. Do you believe these rules are successful at balancing both the needs of patients and the concerns of city residents? As a council member would you plan on attempting to amend these rules? (24:58)

6. Over the last few years the city has seen a spike in the number of homeless. Local officials have not been able to pinpoint a specific cause for this, but point to various issues, including a lack of mental health and other services. What do you think may be driving the growth of Lakeport’s homeless population, and how do you think the city of Lakeport should begin to address it? (29:32)

7. There are numerous local measures on the November ballot, and among them is Measure Z, which the Lakeport City Council voted in July to put before voters. Measure Z is a one-cent sales tax that is estimated to generate $1.5 million annually that would be used for a long list of items including police and public safety, road paving and repairs, park and facilities maintenance, and enhancing business attraction and youth programs. What is your opinion of this measure? Do you support it? Why or why not? (34:59)

8. Let’s turn to policing. The city has its own police department that, like other departments its size in rural areas, it is challenged with recruitment and retention, while its officers – like their colleagues across the state – face growing constraints on their day-to-day operations. The city council has traditionally been very supportive of the police department and worked to give it additional resources in order to keep the community safe. Please share your knowledge about the city’s current challenges with regard to crime, the constraints on police and what you as a council member would do to offer solutions. (39:56)

9. Lakeport is an important business center in the county. The city has been expanding its efforts in the areas of economic and business development, establishing the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee, offering business assistance loans and launching efforts to study uses of the Carnegie Library and the lakefront that would enhance businesses and the community overall. How would you rate these efforts by the city? How do you think they can be improved? What is the business community telling you that it needs that the city isn’t now offering? (44:56)

10. Over the past five years the city’s water and sewer rates have nearly doubled, which city officials said was necessary because its utility system was approaching insolvency. Rates were reportedly not keeping up with maintenance needs, there were dwindling reserve accounts, 10 major water and sewer projects needed to be completed and state regulatory requirements had to be met. It was initially a very unpopular decision by the council, but the city has moved forward with completing the projects and upgrading operations, and in June the council voted to put off the last of the sewer rate hikes because the financial outlook for the system was better than anticipated. As a city utility user, do you think the city and council did the right thing in approaching the utility rate hikes? In your campaign so far, have you encountered concerns from community members about the city’s utility rates? (51:16)

11. Clear Lake is at the heart of Lake County’s economy, and both showcasing it as a destination and protecting it against invasive mussels and weeds are critical local concerns. As a council member, what would you do to protect and promote Clear Lake? Would these be new initiatives you would introduce, or would you build on current city efforts? (56:18)

12. Over the past two years several Lake County communities have been devastated by wildland fires. Lakeport historically has been threatened by wildland fire and in a council meeting last month, when weed abatement measures were discussed, it was explained that Lakeport is still very vulnerable to a wildland fire, particularly from the Cow Mountain area. Do you have ideas or a plan for how to make Lakeport more fire safe? (1:00:50)

13. Roads are a huge issue all over Lake County and in Lakeport. Measure Z is the approach the city is taking now to bolster its road repair and maintenance efforts. When you’re talking to community members about your candidacy, what solutions are you offering them to improve the city’s roads? (1:05:35)

Closing statements (10 minutes): (1:10:36)