CLEARLAKE — While the Clearlake City Council meeting enjoyed an entertaining start Thursday, the session escalated into what one attendee likened to the Jerry Springer Show. At one point the meeting recessed for an unscheduled break to allow Clearlake Police Chief Allan McClain the opportunity to address a slightly physical altercation between two members of the council.
McClain was also forced to address a problem situation with a member of the audience who refused to obey his directions.
The meeting began on a high note with a spirited presentation by Lake County Youth Services Youth Dancers. The troupe of girls performed the Maori poi ball dance that they performed earlier this month during the “Spirit of Aloha” fundraiser. Mayor Judy Thein graciously thanked the girls for their performance and commended them and their director Alice Reece, for their hard work and dedication.
Soon after the performance Councilmember Roy Simons pulled the warrant register from the consent calendar to address an abatement expense allocated through the Redevelopment Agency budget. Simons, who has a history of questioning City Administrator Dale Neiman”s interpretation of RDA laws and allowable usage of RDA monies, argued that the abatement expense should not use RDA dollars.
While Simons argued that the abatement process is the responsibility of the city not the RDA, Neiman contends that a primary purpose for RDA funds is to eliminate blight, which includes abatement operations. Neiman said that the RDA has been budgeting $100,000 for abatement for the past three years.
“The abatement is the responsibility of the property owner. I have to correct you there. Not the city. The city shouldn”t have to bear the burden. The taxpayers shouldn”t have to bear the burden,” Councilmember Chuck Leonard said to Simons. “This is something that has been done; will be paid back to the RDA. That should be clear.”
Simons said it was never the intent to use RDA money for abatement. Neiman told Simons that similar discussions have occurred and that they both know that they have a difference of opinion. Simons responded with hostility saying, “Ya, your opinion counts here; no one else”s.” Subsequently, Mayor Thein said that there needed to be civil tone here.
“It seems to me that my opinion must count and your”s must Roy because you voted the budget in when we appropriated that; that $100,000, we”ve been doing it for three years now,” Leonard said. “The thing is if you will go back and look at redevelopment, if you would read it and study it you would find out that blight is one of the things we are after removing and this is removing blight. I don”t know how simple it has to get for you.”
In discussing proposed guidelines for establishing a homebuyers program, Simons said the only area he questions is the three-person loan committee, which is proposed to include the city administrator, the finance director and one person from the community preferably with banking or real estate experience. Simons indicated that he would prefer a larger committee similar to the six person committee which the county uses.
Neiman said while it was up to the council, in his experience such committees utilized three persons but the committee could obviously be more.
Neiman said that when he came to the City of Clearlake staff could not find enough people to sit on the committee so it was changed to three persons. Vice Mayor Joyce Overton said that staff could probably find qualified people now and that she would like to see at least two more people on the committee. “I do believe we could find people now,” Overton said. “We do have people who are wanting to step up and get involved in our city.”
In discussing the item Simons turned an attack directly onto Neiman stating that he didn”t care about his past experience and that he would definitely like to see more people on the committee especially if Neiman was on it. “We had enough of your stuff,” he said.
“This is about enough of these direct attacks. This is silly to talk to somebody in tone that you don”t care about their experience. Dale, whether you like him or not, has 10 times, no not even 10 times; thousands times the knowledge you do about running the city. You have no idea what the hell you are talking about,” Leonard said civilly as he was interrupted by council candidate Jeri Spittler, who yelled for a point of order from the audience.
Leonard continued, “Let”s not just sit here and just yell insults at people that don”t make any sense. Try to study what”s going on and find out. Your idea might be good but you”re being so nasty and stupid about it, how do you expect to get any support that way?”
Leonard”s comments incited a hostile reaction from Simons in so that Leonard asked Simons to take his hands off of him. Simons then directed his attack toward McClain, who was approaching in attempt to separate the men. Hostile actions and words continued then Simons asked Leonard if he wanted to go outside to settle it.
McClain asked the men to cease their actions so as to avoid any additional police action.
The meeting was recessed for a break as animosity among the council members continued. Estella Creel, who is currently vying for a seat on the council, then proceeded to approach the council bench. McClain directed her to stay in the appropriate section for the public; however, she continued to approach the bench and McClain positioned himself between Creel and the council. McClain repeatedly told Creel to have a seat or step outside. Creel eventually went outside.
“I bet you guys never had this much fun before,” Simons said following his statement with a laugh.
A member of the audience said that the situation was not fun while another asked if it was the Jerry Springer Show.
After returning from the break, the council”s consensus was to continue to the item in order to allow more time for further research and study of the proposed guidelines.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
