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Residents press council on potholes, vacant resort site, park ADA access and fire hazards during public comment
Summary
Multiple residents and community members urged the Clearlake City Council to address potholes, a long‑vacant resort property, inaccessible park bathrooms and vegetation that local speakers said creates a fire danger, asking staff to prioritize basic maintenance and accessibility work alongside other city business.
During the public‑comment period at the Clearlake City Council meeting, several residents raised local maintenance and safety issues and asked the council and staff to prioritize repairs and accessibility improvements.
Sheryl Almas (listed in the record as Cheryl Almas) described repeated requests to have potholes repaired on her street and said a large pothole measuring “about 35 inches across” had persisted despite multiple requests made since April. “Maintenance has been done very shoddily…we put in multiple requests, at least 4,” Almas said. Several other commenters also raised pavement and sidewalk concerns, noting accessibility problems for people using wheelchairs.
Alice Reese (recorded as Alice Bridal) urged the council to reconsider a possible sale or redevelopment of the long‑vacant Austin’s resort property, saying the community needs more park and green space and that a hotel or dense development would reduce public access and increase traffic.
Resident Rick Mayo spoke about a vegetation and homeless‑encampment problem bordering the Alton complex (3930 Old Highway 53, bordering Davis Avenue) he said posed a fire risk. Mayo said he had discussed the site with the fire chief and code enforcement. “If this thing ever lights off…you’re gonna have to evacuate 350 families just in that complex alone,” Mayo said, and added that city enforcement is limited because abatement funds and enforcement are constrained.
Multiple speakers raised a related concern about the absence of ADA‑accessible public restrooms at Austin’s Park. Several commenters said past grant opportunities were not used to install an accessible bathroom and urged the city to pursue funding and design solutions.
Council members and staff acknowledged the concerns. City Manager Flora said staff is allocating resources — including use of code enforcement and assistance from police detectives for weed abatement — and gave updates on related matters (including towing of derelict vehicles under a Clean California grant and an ongoing receivership action for an apartment building near Lamplighter Hotel). The meeting’s public‑comment speakers asked for clearer follow‑up and more prompt action on basic maintenance and accessibility issues.
No formal council action was taken specifically on these public‑comment items at the meeting; councilors said they would continue to work with staff on code enforcement, park access, and infrastructure needs.
