CLEARLAKE ? The Clearlake City Council will meet for a regular meeting 6 p.m. Thursday July 23 at Clearlake City Hall. Members of the public may comment on any agenda item under discussion. Public comment provides citizens an opportunity to speak for three minutes on any topic of choice as well.
Consent Calendar items, which are considered to be non-controversial and will be acted upon as one, include: payment of bills approval of minutes, consideration of extending the contract with George Hills Co., Inc. for liability claims administration; consideration of rejection of claim submitted by Michael John Walton for $5,000,000; consideration of acceptance of Used Oil Recycling Grant funds for the 2009-10 block grant; and monthly reports from the grant, police and city clerk departments.
Business items include a public hearing to consider the adoption of the city”s 2009-10 Fiscal Year Budget. The item was continued from the July 9 meeting in order to allow time for further negotiations with employee associations in effort of avoiding possible lay-offs. Positions being considered for elimination include two code enforcement officers, which equates to the entire department. If the two positions are eliminated, police officers would assume the field duties of the department and the Community Development Department would become responsible for the paperwork. Cost savings is calculated at $128,000.
During the July 9 meeting, all members of the council expressed opposition to this alternative for operating the Code Enforcement Department. Vice Mayor Judy Thein said that the plan had been attempted several times in the past without success.
Other positions that face possible lay-offs include the police chief secretary and the Parks Maintenance I position. Elimination of the police chief secretary amounts to a $70,500 budget savings while the parks position amounts to a savings of $40,000. The proposed budget also recommends eliminating the Building Inspector II position, which is currently unfilled. Cost saving realized by not filling the position and eliminating it amounts to $59,730.
According to City Administer Dale Neiman”s report he contacted the labor associations the day following the last council meeting regarding possible salary reductions in order to avoid lay-offs. However, he reports that he has had no response as to whether or not employees are willing to reduce salaries in order to save positions. If employees agree to salary reductions the lay-off process will be suspended. Otherwise, the layoff process will take two to four weeks.
The proposed budget also recommends that the city assume the responsibilities of Animal Control. “We would maintain our agreement with the county and then terminate it when we are ready to take over,” Neiman”s report states. “We most likely will not realize the full $100,720 in estimated savings for a number of reasons. It will take time to purchase equipment and supplies; find a facility to house the animals; and train the staff who will provide animal control services.”
Staff is recommending that the council adopt the budget because the savings are decreasing by approximately $33,000 for each month the budget is not adopted.
Regular agenda items also include reports by the city administrator and members of the council. Staff reports for each agenda item are available for review at City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, during regular business hours.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
