CLEARLAKE — The Clearlake City Council will consider taking on responsibility for the Lake Local Agency Formation Commission’s finances when they review an agreement to that effect at their Thursday, September 27 meeting.
The Lake LAFCO was established in 2000 as part of a statewide local government reorganization bill that sought to restrain urban sprawl by better managing jurisdictions. Lake LAFCO’s finances are currently handled by the county, which Lake LAFCO pays $2,500 annually for those services. If the agreement with the City of Clearlake is approved, Lake LAFCO would pay the same amount to Clearlake.
Mayor Bruno Sabatier, who is also the Chair of Lake LAFCO, requested on September 19 that the county transfer all LAFCO funds it is holding to Clearlake, which would become a fiduciary for Lake LAFCO. Other members of the commission include District 4 Supervisor Tina Scott, District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon (who is Vice Chair), and Lakeport City Council Members Stacey Mattina and Kenneth Parlet.
The Clearlake City Council will also consider authorization of recently appointed Police Chief Andrew White’s request to apply for a 911 call center status change for the police department. Whereas ‘secondary’ Public Safety Answering Points are dependent on ‘primary’ PSAPs to properly field emergency calls, ‘primary’ PSAPs receive emergency calls directly. White could not be reached for comment, but his career experience with communications and technology was specifically highlighted by Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom during White’s appointment process. If authorized, White would begin an application for primary status with the Federal Communcations Commission.
Also on Thursday, the council will consider an extension of nearly a year to the city’s moratorium on new tobacco-related businesses, which was established in August in an urgency ordinance citing public health and safety as motivators. The moratorium, according to a statement by City Attorney Ryan Jones and City Manager Greg Folsom, would be extended by 10 months and 15 days, “pursuant to state law.” This extension would require a supermajority vote to pass.
According to the same statement, “The City has been approached by a company that wants a business license to open up a smoke shop on Lakeshore Drive. The City’s zoning ordinance does not distinguish between tobacco retailers, smoke shops, or hookah or vapor lounges and any other type of retailer. Staff would like additional time to research and determine what regulations are necessary for this industry. In addition, the Police Department can explore the possibility of additional enforcement efforts.”
Other items scheduled for Thursday’s meeting include consideration of the appointment of David Claffey to the Marketing Committee and filing of the mayoral appointments for the upcoming year. Presentations will be made declaring September 28, 2018 as Native American Day in the City of Clearlake and designating the second week of October, 2018 as “Code Enforcement Officer Appreciation Week.”
