CLEARLAKE – The Clearlake City Council will discuss developer impact fees, live meeting broadcasts and loans to support local building projects at its meeting Thursday night.

The council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

One of the first items for discussion involves developer impact fees, and whether the city should adopt them to expand public facilities to accommodate a growing population.

A report from City Administrator Dale Neiman said developers pay the fees so that existing residents don't subsidize new development. The Konocti Unified School District, Lake County Fire Protection District and Highlands Water Co. already have such fees in place, Neiman's report points out.

Had the city adopted such fees, since 1990 it would have had millions of dollars available for city improvements. Neiman's report includes a copy of the Lake County/City Area Planning Council study looking at regional transportation impact fees, which are proposed for the cities and county.

Neiman also is asking the council for direction on how city staff should proceed regarding the issue of having council meetings broadcast live on the PEG Channel, TV Channel 8. Televising the meetings has begun in recent weeks under the guidance of interim station manager Allen Markowski.

The council is being asked to decide if they want the meetings shown live and under what circumstances, according to Neiman's report. Planning Commissions also are proposed for broadcast; Neiman suggests the council consider that or turn the decision over to the commission itself.

His report also points out the need for appropriate wiring for the camera, a switch that can turn off the cable feed if an inappropriate remark is made, which Neiman suggests the mayor control. He's also asking the council to consider where they want the camera located and if they want signs posted saying the meeting is being broadcast.

Several items on the agenda are related to the Edgewater Village senior housing project, proposed by developer Global Premier Inc.

At a previous meeting Global Premier has requested a loan from the city to help it complete the housing project.

In a report on the proposal for Thursday night's meeting, Neiman is encouraging the council to make a $700,000 loan with a simple interest rate of 3 percent over 30 years.

By making the loan, Neiman said it will assist the city with making its state-mandated housing obligations. That's because the loan agreement would include affordability covenants on 154 units.

In concert with that proposal, Neiman is encouraging the council to approve submission of an application for a HOME grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. The city would receive the grant and then loan it to the developer to help finance the project.

Global Premier also is asking the city to abandon a portion of Hill Drive, which serves three parcels being merged as part of the project.

In other business, the council will hold a nuisance abatement hearing for property at 14865 El Camino Real, belonging to Anthony Lincoln. The property is reported to have become a public nuisance due to violations including refuse, abandoned vehicles, deteriorated structure and substandard wiring. A staff report from Code Enforcement Officer Lee Lambert said Lincoln has made no effort to solve the problem.

The council also is expected to designate voting delegates and alternates to attend the League of California Cities annual conference in September.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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