CLEARLAKE >> The Clearlake City Council passed the first reading of a ban on alcohol possession in municipal parks and denied all four medical marijuana abatement appeals at its regular meeting on Thursday.
According to councilwoman Joyce Overton, the council concurred over the need for ordinance — which was mysteriously removed from the city’s municipal code in 2008 — and passed the reading unanimously, 4-0. Just like the related staff report, she noted the problem of mostly homeless individuals stashing booze in the city’s parks.
Since she was on the council back then, she also accepted responsibility for the allegedly accidental redaction of the law.
“That was me not catching it,” Overton said.
Another highlight of the meeting was the first four medical marijuana cultivation appeals since the city allowed growing for personal use back in March.
All four were denied. However, one person’s growing privileges for the year were spared by the council because he was able to convince them that he thought he was following the law.
Overton explained that the appellant, Louis Hamil, owned numerous properties in the area of Mason Street so he thought he could grow 12 plants on a lot on the 15300 block. However, the land did not have a house on it, thus making it a vacant and therefore prohibited from growing by the municipal code.
“He didn’t realize he was growing on a vacant lot,” she added. “But a home was not on it.”
The rest had their privileges suspended for a year and were given ten days to abate their properties.
