CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week will consider authorizing a Taser purchase for the police department and discuss city road projects.

The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White is asking for the council’s authorization for a five-year purchase agreement with Axon for the Taser 7 Certification Plan for 24 full-time, sworn officers.

White said the cost of the program is $17,704.42 per year, for a total purchase cost of $88,522.10, which includes a trade-in credit of $5,000.40 for old Taser units.

He’s also asking for authorization to add additional users as necessary, and to waive the competitive bidding process.

The contract includes virtual reality, scenario-based training, which White said in his report “is a new technology designed to better prepare the officers for dealing with mentally ill subjects. According to Axon, 7-10% of all police encounters involve mentally ill subjects and 25-50% of all fatal police shootings involved subjects with untreated severe mental illness. The modules in the training program support de-escalation curricula and were developed with law enforcement, crisis intervention and mental health experts.”

The council also will discuss the gravel roads chip seal project, get an update on the paving rehabilitation work on Highlands Harbor Drive and Harbor Lane and consider an amendment of the award of construction contract with Darren Taylor Construction for the Meadowbrook Area Pavement Rehabilitation Project in the amount of $1,175,131.00 for the Base bid, bid alternate No. 1 and also include bid alternate No. 2 and authorize the city manager to approve up to 10 percent for additional unforeseen contract amendments.

Also on Thursday, the council will present a certificate of appreciation to the Lakeshore Lions Club in recognition of the group’s presentation of the 62nd annual Redbud Parade and July 4 celebration.

On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; adoption of Resolution No. 2019-33 accepting liability for worker’s compensation for peace officers injured in the line of duty while out of state; minutes of the May and June meetings; and continuation of a declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017.

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