Clearlake council disbands Marketing Committee, plans ad hoc forums and staff-led work

The Clearlake City Council voted May 5 to disband the Clearlake Marketing Committee and to explore ad hoc forums or staff-led options for marketing, event promotion and beautification.

Council members said the committee’s broad mandate and Brown Act restrictions limited its tactical ability to carry out marketing work; several members and staff described many successful prior projects but noted that contractors and staff have taken on much of the committee’s work. Councilman Claffey and others said the group produced useful items (maps, public-art projects) but that staffing and resource allocations have shifted responsibility away from the committee.

Bruno Sabatier, a committee participant who joined by Zoom, told council the committee produced visible items such as a community sign and a photo contest and suggested annual town-hall events or ad hoc committees to provide public input while avoiding Brown Act constraints. City Manager Flora said council could remove the committee from the official committee list and then create narrower ad hoc groups or staff-led processes to accomplish specific tasks.

Vice Mayor Perdock moved, and Councilman Kramer seconded, a motion to disband the existing Clearlake Marketing Committee; the council voted in favor by voice. Council directed staff to consider ad hoc formats and community forums to collect input on event recruitment and art/beautification projects and to return with implementation options if needed.