CLEARLAKE ? The Clearlake City Council held tight to its money on Thursday, denying two requests for monetary donations.
Mount Konocti Facilitation was denied its request for a $2,500 contribution while the Clear Lake Chamber was denied its request for $500.
Mount Konocti Facilitation is a non-profit organization that provides economic development and consulting services, free-of-charge, to local businesses and those seeking to start a business.
According to the report provided by facilitator Susan Harmon, the organization has assisted 153 Lake County businesses, in the past 31 months. Twenty-three of those businesses are located in Clearlake.
Although the council voiced its support of the organization, the consensus was that the city is not in the financial position to provide monetary support at this time. “There are things we need to do in the city. We don”t have the money,” Councilmember Roy Simons said, bringing up a request denied last year for a councilmember”s attendance at a redevelopment conference. “I can”t see us spending money when we don”t know what the state”s going to do to us.”
Vice Mayor Curt Giambruno and Councilmember Judy Thein commended the services of the organization.
However, both suggested that the facilitators bring their request back when the council has a better idea as to what the city”s budget is going to look like.
Mayor Chuck Leonard said he would like to see the city contribute something. He moved to donate $500 but the motion died for a lack of a second.
The Clear Lake Chamber requested $500 to use as prize money in a Lakeshore Drive beautification program.
Thein said the contest should be extended to all businesses in the area not just those located on Lakeshore Drive.
Giambruno suggested reviving a planter-box program that he and District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith was instrumental in years ago. He said most of the materials for that program were donated and that a similar program could be initiated.
Clearlake business owner Jeri Spittler said she supports contributing to the chamber; however, she believes there”s a way for conducting a beautification program without spending money.
The council was in agreement with Spittler”s presumption and denied the request, which had been pulled from the council”s consent agenda at Thein”s request.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
