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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....
Supervisors to discuss establishing new Lake Transit hub
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will consider a request to use a county-owned property in Clearlake for a new Lake Transit Authority hub location.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, 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.
The discussion on the Lake Transit hub is timed for 9:30 a.m.
The report from the Lake Area Planning Council, Lake Transit Authority and LSC Transportation Consultants Inc. explains that the transit authority needs a new transit point where passengers can make connections between routes in the Clearlake area.
“ The existing primary transfer site at Ray’s Food Place in the City of Clearlake includes several deficiencies, particularly pertaining to security issues, inadequate size (requiring buses to turnaround and in some cases board passengers on a privately owned commercial parking lot), safety issues due to lack of curbs, sidewalks, and clearly marked pedestrian areas for some bus operations, poor public image, and a lack of control over land and utilities,” the memo said.
The Lake Area Planning Council initiated a study of a new and enhanced transit hub and is asking to use a portion of a vacant county-owned property parcel south of Center Drive and west of Dam Road Extension.
The new transfer hub could include parking for up to eight buses, covered passenger waiting area, public restrooms, driver breakroom, LTA office/counter space, and potentially office space for county Social Services or other commercial uses, such as a coffee shop and visitor center, according to the memo.
Also on Tuesday, in an update timed for 9:20 a.m., the board will get an update on the Lake County Warming Center by Taylor Johnson.
In an untimed item, the board will receive another update from staff and assisting agencies on wildland fire recovery.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Approve the second amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Gretchen Mills for the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program in the amount of $14,830 and authorize the chair to sign.
7.2: Adopt resolution to approve the third amendment to the standard agreement between the county of Lake and the Department of Health Care Services for the period between July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2017, and to authorize the Interim Behavioral Health director to sign.
7.3: Approve request for out-of-state travel for Kelly Larsen to attend the Cerner Community Behavioral Health Conference and approve request for authorization to exceed the $125 per night limit for out-of-county lodging.
7.4: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Breezy Janitorial for Janitorial Services at the Lake County DCSS Offices not to exceed $20,000 for the term May 1, 2016, through April 30, 2017, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.5: Approve purchase of 24 cubicles from AAA Business Interiors, a California Multiple Award Schedules (CMAS) vendor, in the amount of $77,625.09 and authorize the assistant purchasing agent/Child Support Services director to issue a purchase order to said vendor in the amount specified.
7.6: Approve advanced step hiring of Andrew Chapman as District Attorney Investigator I, Step 5 due to his extraordinary qualifications.
7.7: Approve request for out-of-state travel for Water Resources staff to Lake Mead, Nevada to remove, preserve and transport the county's Quagga Boat from Lake Mead, Nev., to Lake County, Calif.
7.8: Addendum, approve purchase of Core Firewall hardware, software, subscription and professional services through state GSA CMAS contract from Dimension Data in the amount of $127,433.64 and authorize chair to sign statement of work, and authorize IT director/assistant purchasing agent to issue purchase order.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:20 a.m.: Update on Lake County Warming Center by Taylor Johnson.
8.3, 9:30 a.m.: Discussion and consideration of use of county owned property for new Lake Transit Authority hub.
8.4, 9:45 a.m.: Consideration of proposed ordinance amending certain provisions of Ordinance No. 2776 establishing the Lake County Children and Families First Commission and Trust Fund Pursuant to Proposition 10, the California Children and Families First Act of 1998.
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Recovery update from staff, assisting agencies and/or community groups, consequent to 2015 wildland fires.
9.3: Consideration of letter of opposition to AB 2395, which provides a framework for telecommunication providers to relinquish landline phone service; and authorize chair to sign.
9.4: Consideration of appointment to the Upper Lake Cemetery District Board of Trustees.
9.5: Consideration of request to defer enforcement of certain fire protection standards for subdivisions in Lake County Code under specified conditions pending modification of those standards to provide alternatives which would have the same practical effect in regulating fire safety.
9.6: Consideration of (a) awarding bid to Peterson Cat for the purchase of an 826K Compactor; and (b) authorize the Public Services director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order in the amount of $755,554 to Peterson Cat for said purchase.
9.7: Consideration of (a) waiving the formal bidding process, per Ordinance #2406, Purchasing Code 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approval of agreement between the county of Lake and PJ Helicopters for calendar year 2016 in the amount of $60,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
9.8: Consideration of (a) waiving the formal bidding process, per Ordinance #2406, Purchasing Code 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approval of agreement with June Wilson-Clarkin to provide evidenced-based practices and services in the Lake County Jail in the amount of $62,400 to and authorize the chair to sign.
9.9: Consideration of (a) waiving the formal bidding process, per Ordinance No. 2406, Purchasing Code 38.2, making a determination that competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county; and (b) authorize the sheriff/coroner/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order for procurement through ProForce Law Enforcement in the amount of $24,652.
9.10: Consideration of (a) waiving the formal bidding process, per Ordinance #2406, Purchasing Code 38.2, making a determination that competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the County; and (b) authorize the sheriff/coroner/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order through procurement through TNVC, Inc. in the amount of $12,392.
9.11: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District, Board of Directors, consideration of (a) awarding construction contract for the Southeast Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Headworks Improvements, Bid No. 15-08, in the amount of $367,700., to the low bidder, HD Excavating and authorize the chair to sign (attachment No. 2) and (b) authorize the Special Districts administrator to sign the notice of award (attachment No. 3).
CLOSED SESSION
10.2: Employee disciplinary appeal (EDA-16-02), Pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54957.
10.3: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): Interviews and appointment of Special Districts administrator.
10.4: Personnel: Consideration of appointment of Health Services director (Gov. Code Sec. 54957).
Email Elizabeth Larson at
VIDEO: 'Coffee with a Cop' event connects community, law enforcement
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Community members got a chance to sit down, share a cup of coffee and a donut with local law enforcement, and talk about public safety at the latest “Coffee with a Cop” event.
The Lakeport Police Department organized the event, hosted by David Brown and Suzie Q's Donuts on Thursday morning. Christopher Caudle and AAA Welding & Fabrication paid for all the donuts.
By the end of the event, an estimated 75 community members had stopped in to chat with members of the Lakeport Police Department, Lake County District Attorney's Office, Lake County Sheriff's Office, officers from the California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Area office, the Lake County Probation Department as well as Lakeport City Council members.
The Lakeport Police Department reported that $500 in donations and $400 in sales generated from the event was donated to the Deputy Jake Steely Family Fund. Community members also can donate online at https://www.gofundme.com/29y4dxk4 .
A video with highlights of the event and interviews with those who participated can be seen above.
Universal garbage service moves a step closer to reality in Clearlake
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council is set to hold a second and final reading next week of an ordinance that will require residents and business owners to have garbage service, which city leaders believe will make the city healthier and alleviate rampant illegal dumping.
The universal garbage service ordinance was passed on its first reading April 14 with a 4-0 vote after an hour-long discussion that included input from several community members and questions from council members.
The Lakeport City Council approved universal – or mandatory – garbage service late in 2003, and while the matter has been investigated at the county level, it is still not in effect in the unincorporated county or, as of yet, in Clearlake.
Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom told the council that the requirement for universal garbage service is commonplace across other jurisdictions around California.
At the April 14 discussion (which starts at the 38:05 minute mark in the video above), several members of the volunteer group Citizens Caring for Clearlake – formed to address illegal dumping in and around the city – were on hand, wearing their orange safety vests.
Referring to that group, Folsom said they would confirm that illegal dumping “is just out of control in Clearlake,” adding that the lack of universal garbage collection is a major contributor to that situation.
An ad hoc committee appointed by the city council came up with the recommended ordinance, which would only offer exemptions for properties that do not consume or produce food, have no waste of any kind and aren't hooked up to other utilities. Vacation homes or rentals wouldn't be exempt, and neighbors would not be able to share services, Folsom said.
Folsom said the universal service wouldn't be implemented until next year, as the city's franchisee – Clearlake Waste Solutions – would have work to do to prepare, including identifying new properties to be served, securing funding, ordering new trucks and cans, and beginning an outreach program.
Clearlake Waste Solutions' current franchise agreement with the city has 13 years remaining on it, it was reported during the meeting. Folsom said a new franchise agreement would be forthcoming once the city and the company complete negotiations with relation to the universal service.
Folsom said the city expects to receive additional franchise fees of approximately $40,000 per year based on revenue to be generated by the additional customer base.
He said property owners, not renters, will be billed, so it's hoped that the number of delinquent accounts actually will be low, as the city will become responsible to collect delinquent accounts.
It also was explained that liens would be placed on properties annually if the owners failed to pay for the service.
Clearlake Waste Solutions has seen a low overall delinquency rate, with company representative Bruce McCracken telling the council during the meeting that the delinquency rate in the city is under 2 percent of the company's gross income.
During the meeting, city staff explained that it was estimated that 2,200 customers were to be added, but that number could range even higher, to 3,000 new customers.
Ten community members spoke about the proposal, with the majority voicing support for it, but others complaining about already receiving high garbage bills, questioning if it really will stop illegal dumping and who will repair roads damaged by garbage trucks, and raising the issue of affordability for low-income residents and suggesting having the ability to opt out.
Neickol Cook, one of the leaders of Citizens Caring for Clearlake, said she doesn't think universal garbage service will stop people from illegally dumping, explaining that based on her experience she believes a few people are responsible for the city's dumping problem.
Chuck Leonard, a retired councilman, offered his support. “We've needed this for a long time and it's not a new process.”
During the council deliberations, McCracken told the council that service costs for garbage and recyclables collection in the city currently average between $15 and $20 a month per customer.
Councilman Bruno Sabatier asked about giving breaks to vacation homes, and collecting less often. McCracken said state law requires garbage to be removed every seven days. He said his company also offers free pickup of bulk items – like refrigerators or sofas – twice a year.
Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson, who sat on the ad hoc committee that recommended the universal garbage service, said that implementing the service isn't going to correct what's wrong out there now. “What we're doing now is going to affect the future,” and prevent problems from compounding, she said.
Mayor Russell Perdock explained during the discussion, “What we're trying to do is become a healthy city and to become a healthy city we need to become a cleaner city.”
In response to questions from Councilwoman Joyce Overton, city Finance Director Chris Becnel went over the analysis behind revenue projections.
In assessing the number of properties that would be required to be part of the program, Becnel said the total number of properties with some kind of improvement in the city limits numbered 7,700. Of those, 3,200 didn't have garbage service, and 1,000 of those had improvements that were not residences, meaning they did not need to be included.
That brings the number of new properties to be added to 2,200, said Becnel. In addition, there are 800 other properties listed as current, nonpaying customers that could end up being added.
In estimating the $40,000 in new revenue to the city under the universal garbage service, Becnel said he was conservative and did not include those 800 properties.
Becnel said he has no reason to believe that the bad debt ratio would increase significantly and it is even possible it could go down.
He said Clearlake Waste Solutions is required to try to collect unpaid debts. If the company can't do it, the city will be obligated to do so, he said, adding it would be added to the property tax bill.
Becnel said the company's estimated 2 percent bad debt number is not at all unusual. He said other cities may or may not be comparable, adding that they recognize Clearlake “has some unusual characteristics that other cities don't have.” Becnel added that the city was impressed that the bad debt number was so low.
Fortino Dickson said she didn't anticipate the ordinance would result in immediate changes, but that it would change community culture over time.
Sabatier moved to approve the first reading, with Fortino Dickson seconding and the council voting 4-0.
The ordinance's second and final reading is anticipated to be on the April 28 council agenda.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Lakeport City Council to host interactive town hall April 25
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council will hold a special town hall meeting next week to discuss public safety concerns.
The meeting will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, April 25, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The interactive town hall will feature a presentation on the current state of public safety in the city by the Lakeport Police Department with an opportunity for public input.
Those planning to attend are encouraged to bring their cell phone to participate in a survey.
Lake County News also will be on hand to record the meeting for rebroadcast.
Email Elizabeth Larson at