CLEARLAKE — Code enforcement within the city of Clearlake is expected to return after the City Council gave consensus for staff to draft a new ordinance Thursday.
City Manager Joan Phillipe said she is preparing a code enforcement ordinance that would amend the city”s municipal code relating to code enforcement and replace it with an ordinance that reflects current laws and procedures.
She said the ordinance would consolidate code enforcement into a single section of the municipal code as well as streamline the process and reduce opportunity for error.
Phillipe said she researched and found at least one city that used the tax rolls to collect debts against properties, rather than placing a lien on a property and collecting the debt when the property is sold.
She said by placing the debts on the tax rolls instead of the current policy of placing a lien on properties, payments are assured in a much more timely manner. She said the city attorney and interim finance director concurred that this is a workable solution that would positively impact the code enforcement program.
If the city”s sales tax ballot measure passes in November, Phillipe said money would be available for abatement of properties where the city is not able to obtain owner compliance. She added that the amount of money would not be sufficient if the current lien process is used.
She said any money collected would go into a revolving account to be used for future abatements, adding that using the tax roll for collection would keep the fund continually replenished.
District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith, whose district contains most of the city, said the idea was excellent and the city would get money sooner by using the tax roll process for abatements.
Smith said the county is in a similar position with the abatement process because many properties are bank-owned and recommended Phillipe contact Community Development Director Rick Coel or County Counsel Anita Grant.
The council gave Phillipe consensus to draft the ordinance and bring it back for future consideration.
Councilwoman Judy Thein was absent.
In other matters, the council approved establishing a policy for naming and renaming city parks and facilities.
Phillipe said it was determined no policy existed after looking into a request to rename Highlands Park to Skyler Memorial Park in honor of 4-year-old shooting victim Skyler Rapp, who was killed in June 2011.
Phillipe said this wasn”t the first time renaming a park or facility had come up and recommended establishing a policy so that approval of such requests would not be on a case-by-case basis.
She said the policy would not apply to the naming and renaming of city streets.
Requests would have to meet at least one of several criteria, which include contributing to the city or community, if a person was a resident for at least 15 years or in memory of a person who touched the community because of a tragic event.
According to the policy, the city council would vote whether to approve any proposed name changes and if approved, it would go into effect immediately.
Consideration of an agreement with the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce for use of a building at Highlands Park as a visitor”s center was continued to Sept. 27.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
