Clear Lake council approves direct‑sale application for tax‑defaulted properties and several governance items

The Clear Lake City Council voted on multiple formal items at its February meeting, advancing property, governance and intergovernmental measures.

Tax‑defaulted properties: The council authorized the city manager to prepare and submit an application under state law and to spend up to $150,000 to acquire select tax‑defaulted parcels from Lake County. The city manager told councilors the purchases are intended to address blight, merge parcels for future use and rehabilitate a small number of homes that are repairable. Council member Kramer moved the authorization and the motion passed on a unanimous roll call (Slotin, Overton, Kramer, Claffey, Mayor Purdock recorded 'Aye').

Lake County Recreation Agency (JPA): Council approved Resolution 2023‑10 to execute a joint exercise of powers agreement among the city of Clear Lake, city of Lakeport and Lake County to form a Lake County Recreation Agency. Council also appointed two representatives to the JPA board as part of the motion; the motion language in the meeting record named "councilman Lotan" and Vice Mayor Claffey as the appointees, and the motion carried by unanimous vote.

Norms and procedures (teleconferencing): Staff presented updates to the council norms and procedures to reflect changes after the COVID emergency period and AB 2449, returning many Brown Act notice requirements to pre‑pandemic rules while allowing non‑noticed remote participation only in narrow "just cause" circumstances (childcare, contagious illness, travel on official business, disability, or emergency). Council adopted the norms and procedures resolution (identified as 2023‑13 unanimously).

Ordinance — property abatement method of service (first reading): City attorney and police staff presented ordinance 268‑2023, a code cleanup to make the method of service for property maintenance and abatement consistent across the municipal code and to specify that first‑class mail is acceptable for notice (with certified mail reserved for final abatement notices). The council introduced the ordinance on first reading and voted to move it forward.

Procedural notes: All motions described above passed on unanimous roll call votes as recorded in the meeting minutes. No controversial roll calls or nay votes were recorded in the open session on these items. Follow‑up responsibilities include preparing the state application on tax‑defaulted parcels, executing the JPA signature process after counterparts approve it, and scheduling the ordinance second reading and adoption at a subsequent meeting.

Actions recorded: authorization to apply and spend up to $150,000 for direct purchase of tax‑defaulted properties; approval of JPA Resolution 2023‑10 and JPA board appointments; adoption of norms & procedures Resolution 2023‑13; and introduction/first reading of Ordinance 268‑2023 (property abatement method of service).