CLEARLAKE — The Clearlake City Council abandoned the idea of “detachment” during its regular meeting Thursday evening. A motion was offered authorizing staff to explore options related to returning parts of the city back to county jurisdiction; however the motion died for lack of a second.
The council discussed the issue for more than an hour before dismissing the option. Many speaking from the public conveyed opinions opposing the idea of detachment as a solution to solving the city”s financial crisis.
Any detachment would be subject to Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) approval. “I think we can survive as city,” Vice Mayor Joyce Overton said. “I have no idea what LAFCO is going to allow the county to take.”
City Administrator Dale Neiman said that in order for the city to remain viable, revenues must increase or parts of the city could be given back to county jurisdiction. He said there are only two revenue sources available to the city: bed taxes collected by motels and resorts, categorized as transient occupancy tax (TOT) and sales tax revenues.
Overton suggested raising the TOT. She also suggested evaluating costs associated with contracting police service out. Neiman said contracting police services would result in a major loss of control for the city. No motion providing staff with such direction was put forth.
Overton also said that the city is currently without a grant writer and encouraged anyone with grant writing experience willing to assist to contact city hall.
Local business owner Jeri Spittler said she opposed the idea of detachment. “In my heart I don”t feel that it”s an option to disconnect services to residents in the city,” she said. “I think it”s the wrong decision. I think there are a lot of other avenues we can check into.”
Resident Pete Gascoigne said he agreed with Spittler; however, did not agree with the idea of contracting police services. He also spoke about the continuous blocking of projects in the City of Clearlake, which Councilman Curt Giambruno also spoke of heatedly, particularly in regard to the Sierra Club lawsuit against the city pertaining to the development of the airport property.
“We would not be in the shape were in right now ? if we had not been stopped on that master plan to have a regional shopping center built,” Giambruno said. “It”s about time to tell everybody to stop messing with the 15,000 people here. It”s about time we”re able to say ?we want” and ?leave us alone.” Everything we do, somebody comes along and says we can”t do it. I”m sick of it. We need that shopping center and we need someone to push the button.”
Neiman said that in his opinion, the Sierra Club lawsuit is about protecting interests outside the City of Clearlake.
Councilmember Roy Simons said that the city was incorporated by vote of the people and any detachment should also be subject to voter approval.
While Mayor Judy Thein and council members Chuck Leonard and Curt Giambruno said they were not opposed to exploring the concept of detachment further if costs were minimal, they indicated that the option was not their preferred choice of action. Leonard offered the motion allowing staff to proceed with exploring the concept; however a second was not offered and the motion died.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
