CLEARLAKE >> Clearlake”s Park and Recreation Committee will be re-established after a discussion held by the Clearlake City Council Thursday.
Originally established in March 2000, the Clearlake Planning Commission acted as the committee, but eventually disbanded it because of idleness.
“It was not being utilized in the way that it should have and rather than continuing to meet just for the sake of meeting, we felt it was better to disband it and just focus on planning items,” Clearlake Vice Mayor Gina Fortino-Dickson, who was a member of the committee, said.
“There is a lot less planning now than there was back then and I think the planning commission can handle it,” Fortino-Dickson added.
The duties of the re-established committee will include issuing recommendations to the city council regarding rules, regulations and policies relating to conduct in public parks, beaches, recreation and activity centers, as well as use of public property, according to Clearlake City Manager Joan Phillipe.
Additional duties include preparing an inventory of parks and park facilities in the city. The body will also be charged with identifying and recommending revenue sources to fund activities and capitol projects.
Capitol projects may include maintenance, development, expansion of city parks.
Because the original resolution creating the parks and recreation committee was never rescinded when it disbanded, no action was required by the council.
The committee will be discussed at the next Clearlake Planning Commission meeting, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Clearlake City Hall.
Phillipe said the council may receive recommendations regarding the committee”s duties after the meeting.
“It is nice to have a body of people whose job it was just to think about our parks and recreation system ? to come up with a well-rounded plan to meet the city”s needs,” Fortino-Dickson said.
During public comment, Clearlake resident Chuck Leonard, who regularly attended planning commission meetings when committee was in affect, said the committee “was a total failure. It fell apart and that is why they quit doing it. It wasn”t functional.
“I hope it goes better if you do it again, but you have to find some way so that they have some information on things to do,” Leonard continued.
Councilwoman Joyce Overton agreed that “information was the main thing that lacked.”
However, “with appropriate information and guidelines, they will be a very useful tool and can assist when the council needs additional input,” Phillipe said.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
