Clearlake council leans to appoint city manager as interim treasurer and to put the elected treasurer question on a future ballot

The council discussed how to fill the vacant city treasurer seat, which becomes vacant Nov. 9 and for which no qualified candidates filed. City Clerk/Finance staff reviewed Municipal Code section 2‑5.1 describing the treasurer’s responsibilities—receiving and safeguarding public funds, preparing monthly accounting reports and paying warrants only on legally designated signatures.

Staff presented three options: accept applications and appoint at the Dec. 1 meeting if a qualified elector applies; begin a special election; or appoint the city manager in the interim. Several council members said the treasurer role has become largely administrative and duplicative of the city manager and finance director’s duties, and favored appointing the city manager now and placing a measure on a 2024 ballot to eliminate the elected position.

"I think we should, appoint, our city manager as the city treasurer and, direct staff to hold a whole update and put it on a ballot at some future day to receive the position can be eliminated," Mayor Slotin said. Other speakers—including District Supervisor Bruno Sabatier—urged care in removing elected oversight, noting that the treasurer position provides an additional check if filled properly.

Council directed staff to accept applications and to appoint the city manager at the December meeting if no candidate meets the council’s standards. Staff said in a prior ballot effort in 2016 the clerk appointment measure passed while the treasurer appointment narrowly failed; the clerk suggested the council could revisit a ballot measure in 2024.

Next steps: staff will open an application process, evaluate applicants and, if none meet the council’s expectations, appoint the city manager to serve as treasurer at the Dec. 1 meeting; council also directed preparation to place a ballot measure on the future ballot if it chooses to pursue elimination of the elected position.