CLEARLAKE >> The Clearlake City Council will consider fining numerous property owners for code violations at its regular meeting on Thursday.
According to city documents, the code enforcement department is recommending that liens be assessed against 19 properties for failing to fix the problem despite notification. Most of the penalties are worth $2,500; two are worth $5,000.
“If we want our municipal code to mean something, we need enforcement,” Councilman Bruno Sabatier said. “I don’t want to fine people, but we need to make sure we do what’s right for our neighbors.”
This is the latest in a handful of similar items seen by the council since January 2014, he added, which is around the same time the city revived enforcement.
Although the crackdown has pleased the government, some citizens have argued against it.
A post in April on one of the local Facebook groups suggested a class action lawsuit against the city. Based on the comments, it seems that the public thinks that the notices and penalties have been handed out unfairly.
“We almost feel singled out after seeing others that truly have pig stys,” one resident wrote, noting that her deceased mother’s car was given a notice although it’s been in the late woman’s driveway for six months.
When asked about the pushback, Sabatier said that he understood the frustration because they haven’t had enforcement since the department was cut around the 2008 recession.
“It’s kind of hard to tell adults what to do without some kind of pushback,” he said. “People are like, ‘nobody told me I was doing anything wrong.’”
However, he argues that people need to get more involved with the process and have discussions with either code enforcement staff or the council members.
“Our goal is to solve the problem, not make you pay the fine,” he noted. “I want to look into things.”
If the liens are approved, citizens can avoid paying the full amount — 10 percent of it — by mitigating the violation within 30 days.
Highlands Park Property
As part of its recent efforts to improve Highlands Park, the council will also take up a proposed deal to purchase land adjacent to it with the intention of creating additional parking.
The property, located at 14335 Pearl Ave., is offered at $90,500, according to the report. It will be paid by bond funds allocated by the current fiscal year budget.
“The price is right,” Sabatier noted.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Clearlake City Hall.
