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Lakeport Police logs: Saturday, Jan. 10
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026
00:00 EXTRA PATROL 2601100001
Occurred at Lake County Law Library on 3D....
County to put off formation of health and human services agency
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Having completed research and surveys over the last several months regarding whether Lake County should form a health and human services agency out of three departments, county administrative staff on Tuesday urged the Board of Supervisors to delay such a plan until the county is in a better financial shape.
The board ultimately agreed with County Administrative Office Carol Huchingson's suggestion, based on the county's current financial constraints, many of them the result of the long-term recovery process due to last summer's wildland fires.
Huchingson also asked the board to give the go-ahead to recruiting for permanent department heads for the three agencies – Health, Social Services and Behavioral Health – that would be covered by the health and human services agency.
All three have been headed by interim department heads while county staff was conducting the analysis.
Denise Pomeroy has headed Health Services, following Jim Brown's retirement; Kathy Maes was appointed interim head in the Social Services Department, which Huchingson herself had led before being promoted this spring to county administrative officer; and Kevin Thompson has been interim director at Behavioral Health.
The exploration of the “superagency” or health and human services model came during a time of transition for the county's department heads, seven to eight of whom had retired, Huchingson said.
Huchingson told the board that in May she convened the three interim department heads and together they created a survey that would delve into the advantages of the county adopting the superagency model.
“The combined model is used in many California counties,” said Huchingson.
County staff identified 25 small and medium counties using the model, sending out surveys to 12 of them. One third responded, she said.
All of the counties that responded enthusiastically supported the health and human services agency model for a wide variety of reasons, said Huchingson.
She said those included the ability to share budgets, more focused direction of county programs, better ability to respond to federal mandates, uniform case management practices and a potential for combined locations.
Regarding the latter, Huchingson said all three agencies currently are isolated from each other geographically, and it would be nice to be able to offer a mix of services at each of the location.
Other pluses include the ability to respond to clients' needs holistically and the reduction of redundant staffing, said Huchingson.
As part of the analysis, Huchingson said Human Resources Director Kathy Ferguson looked at the salary ranges of 11 counties with the superagency model in order to determine a health and human services director salary range.
Based on Lake County's compensation plan, Huchingson said there is not enough range for a health and human services director, the salary for whom would not come from the general fund, without increasing the highest paid general fund positions.
“Simply put, despite this model being obviously the best way to go, there's no room to insert the health and human services director class in our current compensation plan, particularly at a time when we're facing the most challenging fiscal year in many years, if not ever,” she said, noting not just fiscal costs but morale impacts on other department heads.
While the model appears to be the best for service delivery, Huchingson said she couldn't recommend the county pursue it this year.
She said that establishing the new agency would be a process that would take several years.
The county would look for an experienced health and human services director, create a classification and a complementary number of support staff, task the director with the transition and then initiate it, Huchingson said.
She said county administrative staff will look at the county's ability to implement the new agency at the beginning of every budget cycle.
Board Chair Rob Brown said he appreciated staff's work in the analysis and the objective view that Huchingson offered.
Huchingson thanked the three interim directors, noting that Thompson, Maes and Pomeroy have served in their positions since February, April and July, respectively, juggling incredible workloads.
“It's absolutely time that your board take steps to permanently fill those positions,” Huchingson said.
She advised the board that when they make job offers to the three final director candidates, the county should make it clear that it intends to move forward with the health and human services agency model when feasible, at which time salaries would be changed.
Brown said he wanted the three interim directors to know that, as the board considers going out to an open recruitment, he had no doubt in their abilities.
Supervisor Jim Comstock added that all three are “outstanding,” and he expects – and hopes – all three will apply for the permanent jobs.
At Huchingson's urging, the board wrapped up the discussion by giving staff approval to move forward with an open recruitment for all three positions.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
City of Lakeport to begin enforcing new solicitation ordinance
LAKEPORT, Calif. – An ordinance the Lakeport City Council approved in June to address aggressive panhandling has gone into effect, with city officials planning to begin enforcement.
After final passage and adoption by the Lakeport City Council, City of Lakeport Ordinance 907 (2016) regulating solicitation has been added to the Lakeport Municipal Code, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
The purpose and intent of this ordinance, which is Chapter 5.24 in the Lakeport Municipal Code, is to regulate solicitation in the city to allow residents to protect their peace and tranquility, to allow the free and safe flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and to deter fraud and other criminal behavior, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said it's the ordinance's intent to respect the rights of free expression guaranteed under the California and United States Constitutions; to constitute reasonable, content-neutral, time, place and manner restrictions; and to impose the smallest burden on expressive activity necessary to accomplish the objectives of this ordinance.
Religious and political activities are excluded from this ordinance to provide greater protection for such expressive activity as required by previous judicial decisions, he said.
The ordinance will apply to both individuals and groups who wish to solicit in the city of Lakeport, according to Rasmussen.
Prior to conducting any solicitation all persons or groups will be required to obtain a permit through the Lakeport Police Department. Rasmussen said there is no charge for the permit.
The full ordinance can be found at http://www.cityoflakeport.com/docs/907-(2016)-83201680358PM.pdf .
For more information on how to acquire a permit, contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.
Supervisors to discuss health and human services agency formation study
LAKEPORT, Calif. – After months of study, county administrative staff still take to the Board of Supervisors this week a discussion on the feasibility of combining the county's health, social services and behavioral health departments into a single health and human services agency when the county's financial situation improves.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Board_of_Supervisors/calendar.htm . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
In an untimed item, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson will go to the board to update the supervisors on staff's findings regarding forming a health and human services agency.
Huchingson said the health and human services agency model is used by many counties throughout California. Just a few of the benefits listed in her report include improved operating procedures, more focused direction of count programs, cost sharing between branches, uniform case management practices and reduction of redundant staffing.
While she outlined the benefits, Huchingson's conclusion is that the county can't afford to move forward on the proposal in the 2016-17 fiscal year.
“Staff recommends we reconsider the feasibility of implementing the HHSA model upon the start of each new Recommended Budget cycle, until we are financially able to do it,” Huchingson wrote in her report.
In another untimed item on Tuesday, the board will get an update on the abatement action taken by the county regarding Hoberg's Resort on Cobb. Much of the resort was burned in the Valley fire.
Also on Tuesday, at 9:35 a.m. the board will hold the first reading of a proposed ordinance imposing a cannabis cultivation tax in the unincorporated areas of Lake County.
The board has discussed the matter in previous weeks, making changes to the proposal, which must pass its first reading on Tuesday and its second and final reading on Aug. 9 in order to make the November ballot.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Adopt resolution expressing support for the Lower Lake High School Homecoming Parade.
7.2: Approve first amendment to the exclusive negotiating rights agreement with Veterans Housing Development Corp. (Continued from July 19, 2016).
7.3: Approve mutual aid agreement between the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the County of Lake by and through the Lake County Animal Care and Control for disaster mutual aid services, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.4: Approve minutes from the Board of Supervisors meeting held on June 21, 2016.
7.5: Authorize the Registrar of Voters to (a) render all services necessary to conduct the city of Lakeport’s General Municipal Election on Nov. 8, 2016, for the purpose of submitting to the voters, sales tax Measure Z to be voted on at said election; and (b) request to consolidate this election with the Statewide General Election pursuant to the City’s Resolution No. 2586 (2016).
7.6: Approve resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Lucerne Elementary School District ordering a school bond election, and authorizing necessary actions in connection therewith, pursuant to the district's Resolution No. 14.
7.7: Approve resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Yuba Community College District ordering an election to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds, establishing specifications of the election order, and requesting consolidation with other elections occurring on Nov. 8, 2016, pursuant to the district's Resolution No. 16-16.
7.8: Adopt proclamation designating the month of August 2016 as Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Lake County, Calif.
7.9: Adopt a resolution declaring intent to vacate an easement for public use, in Glenhaven, county of Lake, state of California.
7.10: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District, Board of Directors, approve award of bid for the 2016 Clover Creek Sediment Removal Project, Lake County CA, Bid No. WR 16-02 to Wylatti Resource Management Inc. in the amount of $78,696; and authorize the Water Resources director to sign the contract and notice of award.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of August 2016 as Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Lake County.
8.3, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of resolution approving Agreement No. 16-0052 with the state of California, Department of Food and Agriculture and authorizing execution of the contract and contractor certification clause and signatures for insect trapping activities for fiscal year 2016-17.
8.4, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of update and request for direction regarding medical marijuana land use ordinance amendments.
8.5, 9:35 a.m.: Continued from July 26, consideration of proposed ordinance imposing a cannabis cultivation tax in the unincorporated areas of Lake County (first reading).
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Staff report and update regarding Hoberg's Resort abatement action.
9.3: Consideration of staff recommendation regarding health and human services agency formation.
9.4: Second reading, consideration of an ordinance amending Subdivision (c) of Section 27-6 of Article 1 of Chapter 27 of the Lake County Code to revise fire mitigation fees for cases of locally declared emergencies.
9.5: Second reading, consideration of an ordinance amending Subsection 4.4 of Section 4-4 of Article I of Chapter 4 of the Lake County Code relating to fees for dog and cat licensing, redemptions, and other services provided by Lake County Animal Care and Control.
9.6: Consideration of (a) approval to purchase six Utility Police Interceptors from Downtown Ford in the amount of $174,058 from the Sheriff/Pursuit Replacement budget 2217/62.79; and (b) to waive the normal sealed bid process.
9.7: Consideration of (a) resolution amending approved recommended budget for FY16/17 establishing fund 256, budget unit 8356 for Anderson Springs (b) approve and authorize Special Districts administrator to accept donations from Lake County Rising and Anderson Springs Alliance for the Anderson Springs Sewer Project and (c) approve the capital project and resulting expenditures commence prior to the adoption of the final FY 16/17 budget.
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City of Clearlake reports on State Controller’s Office audit
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – City of Clearlake officials said they're pleased with the results of a state audit that looked at the city's handling of specific funds over the course of more than a decade.
During the month of May and June, the State Controller’s Office spent several weeks with city of Clearlake staff performing an audit of Special Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund, Traffic Congestion Relief Fund Allocations, and Proposition 1B Fund Allocations for the period of July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2015, a 13-year span, according to City Manager Greg Folsom.
The last time the State Controller’s Office audited these funds was in 2003, according to City Manager Greg Folsom.
According to the audit report, “Our audit found that the city accounted for and expended its Special Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund, Traffic Congestion Relief Fund allocations, and Proposition 1B Fund allocations in compliance with requirements, except that the city understated the fund balance in the Special Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund by $10,208 as of June 30, 2015, because it incurred ineligible expenses. The city agreed with the finding and reimbursed the Special Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund accordingly.”
“We were very pleased with the results of the audit report. The audit looked at 13 years of funding and millions of dollars of expenditures by our Public Works Department,” said Folsom.
“The only issue identified by the auditor was an annual cost for water that we have rectified,” Folsom said. “Public Works Director Doug Herren and his staff have done a tremendous job of spending the public’s money appropriately under the strict guidelines and limitations of the programs.”
“This is very encouraging,” said Mayor Russ Perdock. “The city received over $5 million in state road funds over this period and this report speaks volumes about the good management that staff has exercised in using these funds for road repair. Unfortunately, these funds can only be used for major arterials and collectors. Our bigger challenge is finding money to improve residential roads where the real need is in our city.”