CLEARLAKE >> The city of Clearlake began a long awaited vehicle abatement project this week after red tagging over 150 vehicles, slated to be towed and removed.
This is all part of the Abandoned Vehicle Authority (AVA), a joint body including Lakeport, Clearlake and Lake County. The AVA was created after the passage of Proposition 218 and has accumulated approximately $370,000 toward the removal of derelict vehicles.
These funds were on hold for five years, however, due to a debate over the legality of the proposition itself. Some argued that it created a tax rather than a fee.
The AVA is being provided the money in annual distributions. Because of the extended delay and accumulation of funds over that period, the state will not release the next amount until $290,000 is given to the parties of the AVA.
The distribution to the county and its two cities is based upon a formula that is based upon population (50 percent) and the number of tows completed by June 21 this year (50 percent).
“We have about $35,000 to work with until June 21. At that point we will get a second distribution of money from the Abandoned Vehicle Authority based on the number of tows we have completed out of the total number of tows in the county,” Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom said.
The city will continue to tow cars until June 21 unless they run out of money. After that, they will receive new funds and assess how many more vehicles can be towed. Folsom added that this will greatly help clean up Clearlake as part of the city’s General Plan.
“This program is going to help us to make Clearlake a visibly cleaner city. We anticipate making a significant impact toward ridding Clearlake of illegally abandoned vehicles that create blight in our neighborhoods,” Folsom said. “This is not an opportunity for people to dump their vehicles. We will be going after the last registered owner of those abandoned vehicles seeking reimbursement of taxpayer costs.”
More tows will be happening around the county and vehicles will continue to be red tagged as they turn up.
