CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council this week will discuss a fire mitigation fee program, an agreement for a school resource officer, and updates to management staff benefits and salary schedule.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 18, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

The agenda can be found here.

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. The webinar ID is 893 9230 7654, the pass code is 379358. One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,85482512914#, or join by phone at 669-444-9171 or 253-205-0468.

On Thursday, the council will meet one of July’s adoptable dogs, will host a swearing-in of new police department employees, receive the 2023 annual tourism report and present a proclamation declaring July 2024 as Parks Make Life Better! Month.

Under business, the council will discuss a mitigation fee program on behalf of the Lake County Fire Protection District.

The council also will consider a memorandum of understanding with the Konocti Unified School District for a full-time school resource officer for the 2024-25 school year.

Police Chief Tim Hobbs’ report said that, under the proposed MOU, Konocti Unified will pay $160,992.62 to fund the cost of the full-time school resource officer, which includes salary, benefits, overtime, training and vehicle usage costs.

“The City can also recover additional overtime costs for other officers used at school events,” Hobbs said.

In other business, Finance Director Kathy Wells will ask the council to consider updates to the city’s management classification and benefits plan and city salary schedule.

Wells said the council is being asked to consider providing a 3% cost of living adjustment to management, as was provided to other bargaining groups beginning July 1.

“It should be noted that over the past five years, prior to Fiscal Year 22-23 the CPI provided to management had fallen behind the COLA provided to all other units, which resulted in increasing compaction of salaries over time,” Wells wrote. “In 22-23 Council voted to approve a 6% COLA to bring management to a level increase over time matching the City’s other bargaining units. Staff recommends Council consider a 3% increase, consistent with other agreements for this year.”

Also on Thursday’s agenda is consideration of holding the first reading of Ordinance No. 270-2024, which amends Section 2-3.7 of the Clearlake Municipal Code to authorize the city manager to sign documents as specified in Government Code Section 40602.

“These documents may include warrants, contracts, conveyances, or any documents requiring the city seal, such as resolutions or ordinances,” Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson said in her staff report.

Swanson explained that the California Department of Housing and Community Development requested the change due to updates in Government Code sections 40601 and 40602.

On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; minutes of the June 12 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting; authorization of an amendment of contract with Square Signs LLC for the Digital Marquee Signs Project in the amount of $48,583.75; consideration of amendment to agreement with OpenGov Inc. to expand services to include OpenGov/Cartegraph Suite; continuation of director of emergency services/city manager proclamation declaring a local emergency for winter storms; and notice of expiring committee appointments.

The council also will have a closed session to discuss the liability claims by Gina Doidge and Jeffrey Dryden; labor negotiations with the city’s unrepresented management employees; the city’s lawsuit against Highlands Mutual Water Co.; and the Koi Nation of Northern California’s lawsuit against the city that’s moved to the California Court of Appeal.

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.