City of Clear Lake, Iowa

What City of Clear Lake, Iowa does

City of Clear Lake, Iowa is a municipal government entity incorporated on May 26, 1871, serving approximately 7,689 residents in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. It operates under a Mayor-Council form of government with Mayor Mark Ebeling (term through 2029), a five-member City Council, and City Administrator Steven T. Diers (appointed July 2025). The city delivers a full portfolio of municipal services through dedicated departments: Police (16 sworn officers plus 8 civilian staff, 24/7 coverage), Volunteer Fire Department (24-28 members plus 13 paramedics/EMTs delivering 24-hour ambulance transport since 2006), Public Works, Parks and Recreation (80 acres across 17 parks), Public Library (BEACON consortium member with 50,000+ items and 8,579 card holders as of 2011), the seasonal Aquatic Center, Municipal Cemetery, Engineering/Building Department, and Utility Billing.

The underlying technology stack is conventional municipal infrastructure: a Municipal One-hosted website, Community Portal for online building permits and inspections, ActivityReg for facility reservations, Google Maps integration, and standard library platforms including EBSCOhost, NEIBORS digital audiobooks, LearningExpressLibrary, and BYKI language learning. No public APIs, no proprietary software, and no AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. The city operates exclusively on-premise within city-owned facilities (City Hall, departments, parks, aquatic center, cemetery, fire station, library) with no remote or multi-jurisdictional deployment beyond the joint police services agreement with City of Ventura.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: (1) property tax levies as the main funding source required by Iowa law, (2) utility billing for water, sanitary sewer, garbage collection, and recycling, (3) transaction-based licenses and permits (building, liquor, animal, cigarette, sign, contractor), and (4) fees for services including cemetery plots ($150-$1,750), aquatic center memberships ($60-$160 annually), park and meeting room rentals, and recreational programs. Distribution is direct-to-government-resident via City Hall, department offices, online self-serve portals, and phone service. The city is governed by elected officials, has no parent company, issues no equity, and operates as a public governmental entity rather than a commercial enterprise.

Name

City of Clear Lake, Iowa

Legal name

City of Clear Lake, Iowa

Website

https://cityofclearlake.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1871

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The City of Clear Lake, Iowa is a municipal government incorporated in 1871, serving approximately 7,689 residents with full-service public safety, utilities, parks, library, and administrative services through a Mayor-Council structure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG), Roadway Drainage & Stormwater Works (Culverts, Ditches, Catch Basins) (IMAFAEAG)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Public safety services
• Parks and recreation
• Public library services
• Utility and sanitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Clear Lake, Iowa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Primary funding source for general city operations, funded through property tax levies as required by Iowa law. Annual budget process with public hearings.
2. Utility Billing: Revenue from water, sanitary sewer, garbage collection, and recycling services provided to residents and businesses.
3. Licenses and Permits: Various licenses including amusement, animal, cigarette, liquor/beer, peddlers/solicitors, sign permits, building permits, and contractor licenses.
4. Fees for Services: Fees for cemetery services, aquatic center memberships, park rentals, meeting room rentals, and recreational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The City of Clear Lake, Iowa is a municipal government that provides essential public services to approximately 7,689 residents through multiple departments. Core offerings include police protection, volunteer fire suppression and 24-hour ambulance/EMS transport, water and sanitary sewer utilities, garbage collection and recycling, parks and recreational facilities (including the seasonal Aquatic Center), library services, building permits and inspections, cemetery services, and voter/election administration.

Product overview

The City of Clear Lake, Iowa operates a comprehensive municipal government providing public services through its official website and physical departments. The city offers a unified portfolio of services including government administration, public safety (police and volunteer fire department with 24-hour ambulance transport), parks and recreation (managing 17 parks across 80 acres plus the seasonal Aquatic Center), public works (utilities, garbage, recycling), library services (BEACON consortium member with digital resources including EBSCOhost, NEIBORS audiobooks, LearningExpressLibrary), building permits and inspections, cemetery services, and election administration. Services are accessible through the main city website portal, the Community Portal for building permits, ActivityReg for facility reservations, and in-person at City Hall.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• City Government Services Portal The official website serving as the primary portal for all municipal services, providing access to departments, permits, utility billing, employment, news, and community information for Clear Lake residents.
• Clear Lake Public Library Public library providing traditional and digital resources including book lending, audio-visual materials, research databases (EBSCOhost, LearningExpressLibrary), digital audiobooks (NEIBORS), language learning (BYKI), and programming for all ages. Member of BEACON consortium of 60 North Iowa libraries.
• Parks and Recreation Department Manages 80 acres of parks including 17 parks plus splash pads, playgrounds, sports courts, shelters, ice skating rink, and the Outdoor Recreation Complex with dog park. Offers facility rentals and recreational programs.
• Clear Lake Aquatic Center Seasonal outdoor aquatic facility featuring two water slides, diving boards, zero-depth entry pool, kiddie slide, spray features, and concession stand. Offers daily admission, season passes, swim lessons, and private pool rentals.
• Police Department Services Full-service law enforcement with 16 sworn officers and 8 civilian support personnel providing 24/7 emergency response, bike patrol, home security checks, and community crime prevention programs. Also serves City of Ventura through joint service agreement.
• Fire Department Services Volunteer fire department (24-28 members) providing fire suppression, hazardous materials response, emergency medical support, vehicle extrication, ice/water rescue, and public safety education. Expanded in 2006 to include 24-hour ambulance transport with paramedic and EMT personnel.
• Public Works Department Provides garbage collection, recycling programs, sanitary sewer maintenance, water department services, meter replacement, utility billing, mosquito control, snow removal, and yard waste/compost facility.
• Building Permits and Inspections Issues building permits for commercial and residential construction, additions, decks, demolitions, driveways, fences, roofing, siding, solar panels, swimming pools, and signs. Coordinates inspections through the Community Portal platform.
• Municipal Cemetery Services Maintains the Clear Lake Municipal Cemetery offering burial spaces, columbarium niches for cremation, and grave opening/closing services. Single adult spaces $450, infant spaces $150, standard niches $1,600.
• Voter Registration and Elections Provides voter registration information, precinct locations, and coordinates with Cerro Gordo County Auditor for municipal elections held the first Tuesday in November during odd-numbered years.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,579 registered library card holders served
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NIACOG Transit DirectorcoreOthersRegional transit service partnership for transportation services to Clear Lake residents, contact via (641) 357-7050
• Absolute Waste RemovalcoreOthersWaste removal services for garbage collection and recycling, contact via (641) 357-4517
• Cerro Gordo CountycoreOthersCounty partnership for property tax collection, voting precincts, rural library services, and sanitary district billing
• Landfill of North IowacoreOthersHousehold hazardous waste disposal services, contact via (641) 357-5452
• City of VenturacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint police department services - Clear Lake Police Department also serves City of Ventura
• Clear Lake Noon Lions ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organization that underwrote the cost of two police bike patrol bikes in 2007 and built shelter at Tourist Park
• BEACON Library ConsortiumcoreTechnology or IntegrationLibrary consortium of 60 North Iowa school and public libraries providing shared catalog, interlibrary loans, and enhanced services
• NEIBORS Digital LibrarycoreTechnology or IntegrationNorth Eastern Iowa Bridge to Online Resource Sharing - consortium of 94 member public libraries providing digital audiobook services
• Clear Lake Public SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool-fire education programs and library Accelerated Reader support

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• City of Charles City, Iowa: North Iowa city of comparable population tier; notably, the new Clear Lake City Administrator Steven T. Diers served as Charles City Administrator from 2014-2025. Highly comparable in scale, service portfolio, and rural Iowa municipal operating context.
• City of Spirit Lake, Iowa: Adjacent Iowa Great Lakes community serving as the commercial center for the resort region. Comparable in population tier and in offering a similar municipal service portfolio (police, fire, EMS, parks, library, utilities, cemetery) to year-round and seasonal residents.
• City of Storm Lake, Iowa: Small Iowa city with comparable population tier, diverse manufacturing/agricultural base, and similar municipal service portfolio including water utility, library, parks, and public safety. Comparable in operational structure though tourism mix differs.
• City of Arnolds Park, Iowa: Iowa Great Lakes resort community with a famous amusement park (Arnolds Park Amusement Park). Highly comparable as a small lakefront municipal government with seasonal tourism revenue, parks/recreation focus, and similar population scale to Clear Lake.
• City of Independence, Iowa: Small Northeast Iowa city where City Administrator Steven T. Diers previously served as City Manager (2010-2014). Comparable in scale and rural Iowa municipal operating profile to Clear Lake.
• City of Okoboji, Iowa: Small Iowa Great Lakes resort town with comparable population scale, lakefront tourism economy, municipal water/sewer utilities, and seasonal recreation amenities. Direct peer because both are lake-centric small-city municipal governments whose economic models depend on summer tourism and I-35/I-71 corridor travel.

Regional players

• City of Albert Lea, Minnesota: Southern Minnesota lake town (Albert Lea Lake) of similar population tier across the Iowa border. Comparable as a small Midwestern lake-centric municipal government, though it serves a different state regulatory and economic environment.
• City of Clear Lake, Minnesota: Small Minnesota city sharing the Clear Lake name; comparable in scale and small-town municipal service mix but serving a different state and regulatory environment.

Broad incumbents

• City of Fort Dodge, Iowa: Larger North Central Iowa city with a comparable municipal service portfolio (police, fire, parks, library, water, sewer). A useful broader-incumbent reference for how larger Iowa cities structure utility billing, refuse, and public works operations.
• City of Mason City, Iowa: Larger North Iowa hub city serving as the regional center for Cerro Gordo County (where Clear Lake is located). Comparable municipal service portfolio at greater scale; relevant for shared regional services and as a peer for assessing relative service capacity and budget structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cityofclearlake
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCC_JxZ20TFagc_JDlAaQ62g
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Clear-Lake-IA/City-of-Clear-Lake-Iowa/165769056786584
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-of-clear-lake-iowa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Clear Lake, Iowa