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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 of Lake experiences wave of department head turnover
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The county of Lake is in the process of working to fill a number of department head jobs in the face of a wave of retirements and resignations.
So far this year, a third of the county's estimated 21 department heads have either retired, indicated they planned to retire or otherwise resigned, according to County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson.
Both Huchingson and Board of Supervisors Chair Rob Brown said they've never seen so many department head positions turn over at once.
Huchingson said that, normally, such changes in leadership happened in one position a year.
“I don't remember ever having two at the same time,” said Brown, who has been on the board for nearly 16 years.
While Huchingson has been with the county more than two decades, she also is in a new position, having taken over as county administrative officer at the start of April upon the retirement of Matt Perry, as Lake County News has reported.
On Tuesday, in its latest hiring decision, the Board of Supervisors voted to hire Jan Coppinger, the Special Districts compliance coordinator, as the department's new administrator, according to Brown.
Brown said the board came out of closed session to vote to confirm Coppinger's hire, which becomes effective July 6.
She will succeed longtime Special District Administrator Mark Dellinger, whose last day on the job before retirement is July 5, Brown said.
On April 19, the board also hired Assistant Public Works Director Lars Ewing as the new Public Services director after having appointed him on an interim basis earlier this year, according to Huchingson.
Kathy Maes is serving as interim Social Services director, the job Huchingson formerly held, Brown said, and Kevin Thompson is interim director at Behavioral Health.
Health Services Director Jim Brown also is set to retire in early July, with the board to consider options for an interim appointment, said Huchingson.
Before moving forward on permanent director appointments for Behavioral Health, Health Services and Social Services, Huchingson said that she's asked the supervisors for time to look combining those three agencies into a “super agency.”
Having all of those services under one “health and human services” agency is a common practice across the state, Huchingson explained.
“There are approximately 25 counties that use this model and there are some good reasons to do it,” she said.
She said it would help with funding and services, as well as consistency at the top. “We have so much change in leadership at those three agencies.”
The decision process will include looking at other counties and bringing a recommendation to the board. Huchingson said that analysis is expected to take at least a couple of months.
Earlier this year the Board of Supervisors considered combining Public Works and Public Services, but Huchingson said there is no movement in that direction now.
Brown said the new Community Development Department director also is still being recruited, with candidates to be interviewed at next Tuesday's board meeting.
Longtime Community Development Director Rick Coel resigned in March after it was revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was investigating him for possession of child pornography.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office launched its own investigation on the matter but Lt. Steve Brooks said this week that there was no new information to release, and District Attorney Don Anderson said his office also has not received any updates.
There has been no word of any other impending retirements, although Huchingson said it's a possibility, with many baby boomers still in county leadership positions.
Overall, Huchingson said she and her fellow department heads – all of whom report directly to the Board of Supervisors – are still transitioning and things “are still in flux.”
She added, “It's really a new day in Lake County government – or about to be.”
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Clearlake City Council to discuss updated universal garbage collection ordinance and city motto
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – This week the Clearlake City Council will hold a reading of an updated version of an ordinance to implement universal garbage collection in the city and discuss more recommendations of a city ad hoc marking committee.
The council will meet beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, to discuss labor negotiations before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
At its April 14 meeting, the council – in a 4-0 vote – approved the first reading of the ordinance to make garbage service mandatory in the city.
City leaders said the universal service is needed to make the city healthier and cleaner. If approved, city franchisee Clearlake Waste Solutions will not have the universal service in place until next year.
City Manager Greg Folsom's report for the Thursday meeting said the council will have to hold a new first reading on the ordinance because a change has been made to the document.
Specifically, the change was made to clarify that bad debt expense on existing customers cannot be transferred to the city and that only bad debts incurred after the implementation of the program are eligible to transfer to the city for collection.
He said it's the city attorney's opinion that this is a substantive change that will require a new first reading.
The council also will discuss additional findings and recommendations of an ad hoc committee on marketing, in particular suggestions for a city motto.
Folsom reported that the motto suggestions include the following:
– “Clearlake, South Shore Hospitality.”
– “Clearlake, Living the Lake Life.”
– “Clearlake, Sun, Fun, and Fishing.”
– “Clearlake, Where Community Comes First.”
– “Clearlake, Home of the International Worm Races.”
– “Clearlake, Get Your Bass Over Here.”
Folsom said the motto the council chooses could be used for highway signage, advertisements and banners, among other things.
In other business, the council will hold a public hearing to consider approving revised housing rehabilitation guidelines as required by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Also on Thursday, Public Works Director Doug Herren will make a presentation on the April 23 Clearlake Clean Up Day.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the April 14 meeting; and the second reading and adoption of an ordinance amending Chapter 10, Section 10-5.6 of the Clearlake Municipal Code as it relates to code enforcement.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Lake County Planning Commission to discuss Dollar General store plan, Cristallago time extension
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Planning Commission will take up several large projects within the county at its meeting this week.
The commission will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 28, in the Board of Supervisors' chambers at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
Items on the agenda include an application from Texas-based Cross Development to build a 9,100-square-foot Dollar General store at 20900 State Highway 29 in Middletown.
Dollar General last year opened stores in Clearlake Oaks and Nice, but was turned down by the commission on a proposal near Kelseyville High School, as Lake County News has reported.
The public hearing on the proposed mitigated negative declaration based on an initial study and the associated major use permit for the Middletown Dollar General plan is scheduled for 10 a.m., with the public hearing on the mitigated negative declaration and parcel map for the plan is scheduled for 10:15 a.m.
Also on Thursday, at 9:30 a.m. the commission is scheduled to reconsider the Cristallago Environmental Impact Report certified by the Board of Supervisors in 2010.
Boeger Land Development, is asking for a two-year general plan of development extension for its Cristallago project in the north Lakeport area.
Cristallago originally was to have included an 18-hole golf course. Boeger now is seeking an amendment to the project's general plan of development to allow phase one of the mixed use, residential and destination resort community to be centered around a Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard, interactive winemaking bottling and labeling facilities, and a wine cave and vista spa.
Other items on the full Thursday agenda include the final map for Lake Vineyard Estates Subdivision in Kelseyville; the subdividing of a parcel at 3463 and 3447 Stone Drive in Finley; a public hearing on the General Plan Conformity Report for the 9,000-square-foot BMX and Skate Park at the Kelseyville Community Park; and a public hearing to consider the incorporation of the Lake County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan into the Lake County General Plan Safety Element.
Commissioners include Joseph Sullivan, District 1; Bob Malley, District 2; Gladys Rosehill, District 3; Don Deuchar, District 4; and Gil Schoux, District 5.
The full agenda is below:
9 a.m.: Call to order, pledge of allegiance, action on March 24 minutes.
9:01 a.m.: Citizens' input. Any person may speak for three minutes about any subject of concern, provided that it is within the jurisdiction of the Planning Commission, and is not already on the day's
agenda or scheduled for a future public hearing. Total time allotted for citizen’s input shall be 15 minutes. Speakers are requested to complete a simple form (giving name, address and subject), available in the Community Development Department office, prior to 9:00 a.m.
9:05 a.m.: Public hearing to consider the incorporation of the Lake County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, adopted September 2012, into the Safety Element of the Lake County General Plan, adopted September 2008. County staffer: Principal Planner Audrey Knight.
9:10 a.m.: Public hearing on reconsideration of a mitigated negative declaration based on initial study (IS 07-06) for proposed subdivision (SD 07-01). The project applicant is Dennis De La Montanya proposing the final map for Lake Vineyard Estates Subdivision to divide 12.99 acres into six parcels and Use Permit (UP 07-02) to allow lots to exceed the length to width ratio limitations. The project is located at 8245 Point Drive, Kelseyville and further described as APN 044-331-23. County staffer: Mark Roberts.
9:15 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of a mitigated negative declaration based on initial study (IS 15-24) for a general plan amendment proposal (GPAP 15-02) and a rezone (RZ 15-04). The project is located at 3463 and 3447 Stone Drive, Finley, and further described as APNs 008-021-39 and 47 and proposes a general plan amendment of one parcel from Community Commercial and Agricultural, to Service Commercial, and a rezone from “A-C2-DR,” Agricultural-Community Commercial-Design Review Combining District to “C3-DR” Service Commercial-Design Review Combining District. A parcel map (PM 15-04) to subdivide the existing 3.72 acre parcel into two lots, with proposed lot one being 2.25 acres in size and proposed lot two being 1.47 acres in size. The project applicant is Steve Bella of Conser Land Surveying while the property owner is Jase Harrell. County staffer: Keith Gronendyke.
9:30 a.m.: Public hearing on reconsideration of the Cristallago Environmental Impact Report (EIR) certified by the Board of Supervisors in 2010. The project applicant is Boeger Land Development LLC proposing a two-year general plan of development extension (GPD EX 15-01) and an amendment to the general plan of development (GPD 05-05) to allow phase one of a mixed use, residential and destination resort community centered around a Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard; interactive winemaking bottling, and labeling facilities; a wine cave and vista spa. The project is located at various addresses on Hill Road, Lakeport and further described as APNs 003-046-66 and 67; 005-009-04, 05, 06 and 07; 005-010-05, 16 and 17; 005-011-06 and 07 and 005-012-33. County staffer: Joshua Dorris.
10 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of a mitigated negative declaration based on initial study (IS 15-10) and consideration of associated major use permit (UP 15-08). The project applicant is Cross Development on behalf of Dollar General proposing construction of a +/- 9,100 square foot retail store. The project is located at 20900 State Highway 29, Middletown and further described as APN 024-501-18. County staffer: Michalyn DelValle.
10:15 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of a mitigated negative declaration based on initial study (IS 15-11) for parcel map (PM 15-02). The project applicant is Cross Development on behalf of Dollar General proposing to divide +/- 3.7 acres into two parcels. The project is located at 20900 State Highway 2, Middletown and further described as APN 024-501-18. County staffer: Michalyn DelValle.
11 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of a draft general plan amendment proposal (GPAP 16-05) proposing an amendment to the Housing Element of the Lake County General Plan 2014-2019 Update. The Planning Commission will also consider recommending approval of the public review draft to the Board of Supervisors. The project applicant is the Lake County Community Development Department. County staffer: Principal Planner Audrey Knight.
11:05 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of a General Plan Conformity Report (GPC 16-02). The project applicant is the Lake County Public Services Department proposing development of an approximately 9,000 square foot BMX and Skate Park at the Kelseyville Community Park. The project site is located at 5270 State St., Kelseyville and further described as APN 024-171-09. County staffer: Joshua Dorris.
Untimed staff report: Office news.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
City of Clearlake launches logo contest
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake has launched a contest to create a new logo.
The Clearlake City Council gave city staff the go-ahead on the project at its April 14 meeting.
A city marketing ad hoc committee recommended the creation of the new logo, according to City Manager Greg Folsom.
At the committee's second meeting early in April, Folsom explained, “The existing logo was discussed and there was a consensus that it needed updating.”
Among the issues, Folsom pointed out that the current logo pictures three pine trees that appear to be in the middle of the lake.
“I'm assuming that was a flood year,” he joked.
As a result of that early April meeting, the ad hoc committee recommended that the council endorse a contest to find a new logo design, according to Folsom.
The goal is to have the new logo ready to be revealed at the council's June 9 meeting, Folsom said.
Mayor Russell Perdock asked that the ad hoc committee review the submissions and bring the council the best five.
Artists of all ages are encouraged to submit their hand-drawn or graphic designs for consideration.
The logo contest rules include requiring that designs be circular in shape and include the words “City of Clearlake” and “Incorporated 1980.” Three-dimensional designs are encouraged.
The winner will receive a $250 prize.
Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. May 31.
Entries should be submitted in JPG format to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at
Email Elizabeth Larson at