Clearlake council unanimously backs Dam Road annexation by Kenoctet County Water District

Clearlake City Council unanimously approved Resolution 2023-43 on the Dam Road annexation, supporting a LAFCO application from Kenoctet County Water District to add about 108 acres between Cache Creek and Dam Road and clarify a property-tax exchange, city staff said.

In a staff presentation, identified in the transcript as Mr. Flora, council heard that a number of mobile-home parks damaged in the Cache Fire had been served through emergency connections and that the water district is proposing a new water line to serve the area. Mr. Flora said the annexation would "be good for the customers in that area." He also told council the county auditor is responsible for negotiating property-tax allocations as part of the annexation process and that the proposed city resolution is intended to clarify that the city will not be surrendering its existing property-tax revenue.

The staff report noted the parcel area covered by the application runs from the Lake Street Bridge to the east for roughly 108 acres and that the district has started design and environmental work; construction would follow annexation and completion of those steps. The report also said Golden State's proposed rate increase was postponed to the November meeting because the utility's representative was not available.

Council Member Kramer moved to approve the resolution and Council Member Overton seconded. The motion passed with a unanimous council vote.

Next steps described by staff include LAFCO processing of the annexation application and property-tax-allocation negotiations led by the county auditor. The resolution itself expresses the city's support and clarifies the city's current property-tax receipts will not be given up as part of the annexation process.