CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council will discuss the Cache fire response and the state redistricting process when it meets this week.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel. Community members also can participate via Zoom or can attend in person.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 2.
Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the mayor or a member of staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the beginning of the meeting will not be included in the record.
On the agenda is a discussion on the city’s response to the Cache fire.
City Manager Alan Flora’s report said staff will update the council and community on the current status of various aspects of the Cache fire recovery effort.
The fire, which began in the city on the afternoon of Aug. 18, destroyed 57 homes and 81 outbuildings.
On Aug. 19, the City Council ratified a state of emergency issued the night of the fire by Flora in his capacity as city emergency services director.
Then, on Aug. 24, the Lake County Board of Supervisors ratified the public health emergency and declared a county state of emergency as a result of the Cache fire.
“While no state or federal declarations or significant aid have yet been approved, we are working with various state agencies and our legislative representatives to respond to the immediate need for housing, and cleanup as we prepare for rebuilding,” Flora wrote in his report to the council.
In other business, the council and staff will discuss California's redistricting process.
“As a result of the 2020 Census most political boundaries must be redrawn to adjust districts based on population. This process has been significantly slowed due to the Census being conducted during the global COVID pandemic,” Flora explained in his report to the council.
He said the state’s citizens redistricting commission is currently gathering public input on boundaries.
“The City’s political support (or lack thereof) in the state and federal legislature is critically important to our plans for the future. It is important for the City to provide input on any redistricting that provides the best footing for ensuring support for issues that are important to Clearlake residents,” Flora wrote.
In April the Lake County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution asking the commission to continue to include Lake County with Napa and Sonoma in representation due to similar issues such as the wine industry.
Flora said the council should consider seeking specific goals in its representation, and may want to request the Board of Supervisors’ support and submit its own letter to the commission.
Also on Thursday, the council will present a proclamation declaring September 2021 as Senior Center Month.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; consideration of Resolution No. 2021-43, a resolution approving a temporary road closure for the Soap Box Derby; award of a contract for inspection and materials testing for the Sulphur Fire Roadway Disaster with Green Valley Consulting Engineers for the total amount of $227,360 and authorize the city manager to approve up to 10% for additional unforeseen contract amendments; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action on Oct. 12, 2017; and continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and ratified by
council action on March 19, 2020.
Following the meeting, the council will have a closed session to discuss properties located at 6452 Francisco and 6461 Manzanita with Edwin Jinks.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Clearlake City Council to discuss Cache fire response, state redistricting
- Elizabeth Larson
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