CLEARLAKE >> The Clearlake City Council voted to amend the budget at a special meeting on Thursday, using acquired unallocated funds to cover equipment replacements for police and public works.
In a presentation to the council, Finance Director Chris Becnel noted that the city has gained $258,891 in net unallocated funds halfway through the 2015-2016 fiscal year. The city plans to use more than 80 percent of that surplus.
Becnel stressed that the Clearlake Police Department needs the money, especially to replace the two communication panels that connect the people to the dispatchers. One is broken while the other is, according to Lt. Timothy Celli, at least 20 years old and in “very poor condition.” He estimated the replacements to be $47,000
“If that panel fails, the PD is screwed,” he said. “The consequence of a failure is extremely serious.”
Mayor Russell Perdock agreed that those panels need to be replaced but assured that contingencies are in place if the last one goes down.
Other upgrades are needed for tasers, body cameras, and most importantly, police cars. According to Becnel’s presentation, the department needs two cop cars (out of 22 total) that are estimated to cost $86,000. All of these expenses will be a grand total $149,600.
In his analysis of the budget, he estimated that the equipment reserve for the police department needs to be budgeted at $212,600 per year, five percent of the CPD’s annual budget. This covers the possibility to pay for new computers as well.
Public Works needs upgrades to its vehicles as well, but is limited as a decrease in gas taxes revenues has tightened up its budget even more. According to Public Works Director Doug Herren, the city needs two half-ton, off-road pickup trucks. The last time the city purchased this type of truck for the department was 2002, Herren said.
They were originally estimated at $60,000, but Councilwoman Joyce Overton was worried that wouldn’t be enough to purchase them, so she decided—with the board’s consensus—to increase the allocation by an additional $20,000.
“It’d be easier to allocate it now,” she said, wanting to avoid changing the budget later. “They’re driving their own vehicles and it makes me uncomfortable.”
The department also baldy needs a trailer to transfer heavy equipment like a mower. According to Becnel, its current one is not even street legal and cannot be made to be so. A new one will cost $10,000.
“It sounds like we need a new trailer,” Perdock said.
With these upgrades, the board adjourned the meeting optimistic for the future of the city.
“This is forward looking into the future of what we are going to need—not tomorrow, but the next 10, 15 years,” Councilman Bruno Sabatier said. “That makes me feel more comfortable to know we are able to do this and take these steps today.”
