CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Clearlake City Hall Council Chambers
14050 Olympic Dr, Clearlake, CA
Thursday, August 06, 2026
Regular Meeting 6:00 PM
MINUTES
A. ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Mayor Dirk Slooten
Vice Mayor Tara Downey
Councilmember Russ Cremer
Councilmember Jessica Hooten
Councilmember Mary Wilson
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
C. INVOCATION/MOMENT OF SILENCE
D. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
City Manager Flora removed Item 8.
Motion made by Councilmember Cremer, Seconded by Councilmember Wilson.
Voting Yea: Mayor Slooten, Vice Mayor Downey, Councilmember Cremer, Councilmember Hooten, Councilmember Wilson
E. PUBLIC COMMENT
Margaret Garcia thanked City Manager Flora and Director Leyba for meeting with her regarding her questions on the road conditions.
Jaime Aldono thanked the City's first responders and expressed gratitude for the opportunities in the city.
F. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion made by Councilmember Cremer, Seconded by Councilmember Hooten.
Voting Yea: Mayor Slooten, Vice Mayor Downey, Councilmember Cremer, Councilmember Hooten, Councilmember Wilson
1. Authorization to Renew the City's Existing Agreement with OpenGov for Cartegraph Asset Management and Public Works Service Request Software
Recommended Action: Approve the annual renewal in the amount of $26,437.00.
August 06, 2026 Page. 2
2. Authorization of an Amendment of Contract with California Engineering for Environmental Planning and Compliance Services in Support of Clearlake’s Airport Redevelopment Project.
Recommended Action: Move to amend the on-call contract with California Engineering Company in the amount of $73,415.70.
3. Minutes
Recommended Action: Receive and file
4. Warrants
Recommended Action: Receive and file
G. BUSINESS
5. Discussion and Consideration of a Clear Lake Watershed and Chi Memorandum of Understanding Co-Management Agreement
Recommended Action: Approve the Agreement and Authorize the City Manager to Execute City Manager Flora gave the staff report.
Motion made by Councilmember Cremer, Seconded by Councilmember Wilson.
Voting Yea: Mayor Slooten, Vice Mayor Downey, Councilmember Cremer, Councilmember Hooten, Councilmember Wilson
6. Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance No. 288-2026 Amending Section 18-19.280 (Vacation Rentals) of the Clearlake Municipal Code
Recommended Action: Introduce Ordinance No. 288-2026 by title only, waive further reading, and set the second reading and adoption for the next regular Council meeting.
Council Member Hooten read the following statement:
Before we take up this item, I would like to briefly address questions that have been raised in the community about my participation, given that I work in real estate. I take questions of public integrity seriously, so I want to explain why no conflict of interest exists.
California's conflict-of-interest law, the Political Reform Act, sets out a specific legal standard.
A council member must step aside from a decision only when it would have a material financial effect on her, or on a recent source of her income, in a way that is distinguishable from its effect on the public generally. That standard is not met here. This ordinance applies uniformly to every property, every owner, and every neighborhood in Clearlake. I do not own or operate a short-term rental inside the City of Clearlake. I hold no permit, have no application on file, and have no transaction or client matter pending before this Council. My occupation alone does not create a conflict. The law recognizes that council members have careers, and it requires recusal only when a decision affects our finances in a particular and personal way. Mine does not.
I have reviewed this question with our City Attorney, and my financial disclosures are filed and available to any member of the public. The residents of this city elected me knowing my profession, and my familiarity with our housing market is part of the perspective I bring to this August 06, 2026 Page. 3
Council. Where the law does not require recusal, I have a duty to the voters to participate. I will be taking part in this discussion, and I will be voting.
City Manager Flora gave the staff report.
Consensus to form an ad hoc committee and still move forward with the Good Neighbor Agreement. Council Members Cremer and Hooten were appointed by consensus to the ad hoc committee.
7. Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance No. 289-2026 Adding Article 9-5 (Supplemental Real Property Transfer Disclosures) to Chapter IX (Building and Housing) of the Clearlake Municipal Code.
Recommended Action: Introduce Ordinance No. 289-2026 by title only, waive further reading, and set the second reading and adoption for the next regular Council meeting.
City Manager Flora gave the staff report.
Council Member Hooten suggested adding information about the rental registration program.
This item was tabled to the next meeting.
8. Consideration of Amendments to the Management Benefit Plan; Resolution No. 2026-30 Recommended Action: Adopt resolution
This item was deleted from the agenda.
9. Consideration of Designation of Voting Delegate and Alternate(s) for the League of California Cities Annual Conference in September 2026
Recommended Action: Designate one voting delegate and up to two (2) alternates Director Swanson gave the staff report.
Mayor Slooten was nominated as the delegate, with Council Members Hooten and Wilson as alternates.
Motion made by Vice Mayor Downey, Seconded by Councilmember Hooten.
Voting Yea: Mayor Slooten, Vice Mayor Downey, Councilmember Cremer, Councilmember Hooten, Councilmember Wilson
H. CITY MANAGER AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
I. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Vice Mayor Downey asked for consensus to direct staff to do an RFP for operations and management of the Senior Center. She received the consensus of the Council.
August 06, 2026 Page. 4
J. CLOSED SESSION
(10) Conference with Legal Counsel: Existing Litigation: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1): Case No. CV-425596: City of Clearlake v. Highlands Mutual Water Company, et al., Lake County Superior Court
(11) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION - Initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(d)(4): (1 case)
K. ANNOUNCEMENT OF ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION
There was no action taken in closed session.
L. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Melissa Swanson, Administrative Services Director/City Clerk