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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 officials prepare to move forward on larger Hoberg's Resort abatement
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday got an update on the abatement of the Hoberg's Resort property's fire-damaged wastewater system and discussed moving forward on an overall property cleanup, while hearing from a number of residents concerned about the impacts on their community.
County officials indicated that not only are efforts to get the property cleaned up moving forward, but District Attorney Don Anderson indicated his office is conducting an investigation into criminal wrongdoing relating to environmental damage from the property's condition.
Last week, after a series of storms surcharged the resort's wastewater system – causing it to run off into a nearby creek – the county served resort management with a 48-hour summary abatement based on a health emergency, as Lake County News has reported.
When the deadline came and went at 5 p.m. Thursday without the work being completed, the county hired Cobb contractor Ken Gifford to come in and finish the work, which he did over the weekend, according to Board of Supervisors Chair Rob Brown.
“They did a good job and they did it just in time,” Brown said of Gifford.
Brown said staff is now working on a 30-day abatement for the damage the resort sustained during the Valley fire in September as well as for removal of logs that had been stored there in anticipation of a milling operation that the resort management had wanted to carry out but which the county shut down.
He said the county can't afford to pay for the cleanup should the property owners, Lake County Partners LLC, fail to complete it.
“The taxpayers should not be on the hook for this, so it could potentially mean condemnation of the property in order to pay for it,” Brown said.
He said the county has spoken with the owners about having it cleaned up in 60 days, as it likely can't be completed in just a month. Brown said several different contractors will most likely need to be employed at once.
He said he's remained in constant communication with state Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblyman Bill Dodd about the property. “They're monitoring this program extensively, daily,” he said.
In January, the California Office of Emergency Services told county officials that they would not allow for further commercial property cleanups, as Lake County News has reported.
That was despite the fact that several commercial properties damaged by the Valley fire had been cleaned up before the end of the year as part of the state-led cleanup effort overseen by CalRecycle, according to county officials.
CalRecycle told Lake County News that the determination, ultimately, was up to Cal OES, which had decided commercial properties were not eligible unless they created a public health risk.
Before the commercial property cleanup was halted, county officials said CalRecycle had conducted cleanups at a tire shop, Havy’s restaurant near Hidden Valley Lake, at the Middletown water company and at Harbin Hot Springs, which Brown said cost $5 million alone.
Lake County Environmental Health Director Ray Ruminski told Lake County News in an interview last week that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is reimbursing CalRecycle $43 million for a portion of the Valley fire cleanup, doesn't consider commercial properties eligible, meaning the state would have to cover them.
On Tuesday, Brown reiterated that McGuire and Dodd were trying to get assistance for the county in the Hoberg's case.
Brown pledged that the Hoberg's Resort cleanup will be heavily monitored by the county. “We're going to be actively involved in this cleanup from one end of it to the next,” he said, adding, “We're serious about this. We've got to have this thing cleaned up.”
Ruminski said Tuesday that, before the commercial cleanups stopped, CalRecycle's contractor had carried out a site study on Hoberg's. The county has so far not been able to get that information, but over the weekend Cal OES staff told the county they would make the reports available.
He told the board that a significant part of the debris on the resort is burned asbestos waste from the buildings. Ruminski said the asbestos hazards should be identified and removed before the wood slash and logs.
Brown proposed having the property owners – who he said have money available for the cleanup – place those funds in an escrow account or have the county hold onto the money as it would do when an environmental study is done in order to make sure contractors are paid.
He said he also wanted a performance bond on the property, with Scott De Leon, the county's Public Works director and interim head of the Community Development Department, looking into that possibility.
Robert Stark, general manager of the Cobb Area County Water District, presented to the board results of the testing his district had done on the stormwater runoff from the resort's wastewater system.
Ruminski clarified during the discussion that Hoberg's did not have a septic system such as a residence would have, with a tank and a leach field. Rather, it consisted of a series of drains from the buildings to a lift station, which pumped it to an oxidation station.
Stark said the testing found high levels of materials such as aluminum, which was 42,000 parts per billion, when 11 parts per billion is the limit, he said. It was not detectable in the water from his district, located next door to the resort. He said there is no other place the aluminum could come from but the fire debris.
He also said barium – which does not occur naturally – was tested at 280 parts per billion, with 100 being the maximum contaminant level allowed.
While Stark noted that those levels aren't necessarily toxic, they are well beyond the desired limits, and he argued that they are proof that the elements are coming from the debris flow.
During public comment, board members heard from upset Cobb residents who ran the gamut from accusing the county of not taking action until the recent storms to questioning the priority of the cleanup.
“We've always considered this to be a priority. We don't establish the priorities for the state,” Brown responded at one point.
Jessyca Lytle, who watched Hoberg's be engulfed by flames as she was evacuating family members, told the supervisors, “It behooves this entire board to act swiftly,” going on to ask all of them what they have been doing to deal with the situation and wanting assurances that they will follow through.
Lytle also volunteered to help with lobbying state officials for assistance. “It's a job of many, not of one, not of a few.”
Brown said during the meeting that the county does not want to get stuck with owning the resort property, which accounts for $25,000 a year in property taxes on the county tax roll. He said the county is looking at a huge drop in property taxes in the near future. “We've got to have every nickel we can.”
He said the documentation provided by Stark will be very valuable in the effort to prove a health hazard exists to state officials.
Dave Svec, a business consultant for Lake County Partners LLC, said the county has been good to work with, and noted that the resort had issues attempting to find contractors to do the work last week.
Svec also distinguished the current owners from Cobb Mountain Partners, under whose ownership manager Dan Nelson had carried out a cleanup on the resort that resulted in him being prosecuted.
Nelson was convicted last spring of a misdemeanor for willfully violating a Cal/OSHA standard for potentially exposing his employees to asbestos during a 2012 renovation project. Earlier this month, he began serving his 60-day sentence in the Lake County Jail.
The resort could be looking at more issues with the law, based on comments made by District Attorney Don Anderson at the meeting.
Anderson spoke to the board, accompanied by Rachel Monten, a circuit environmental crimes prosecutor with the California District Attorneys Association.
“We have an independent investigation going on into the Hoberg's environmental crimes,” said Anderson, explaining that he wants to partner with the county on that effort.
He said they have reached out and spoken to some county officials, but have been unable to get testing and other information from others.
The California District Attorneys Association, he said, offers resources to help the county get the cleanup completed.
“We have a hammer. We have a big hammer. Not only criminally, but through civil litigation, which we can do through the DA's association. But we really need cooperation and to work together with you guys,” Anderson said.
Monten said the most important thing she and the District Attorney's Office need is copies of any sampling that's been done on the resort property.
“I need to know what's on the site so we can make an assessment about what charges, if any, would be appropriate,” Monten said.
Brown said he would send out an email to schedule a meeting with all relevant county staff on Wednesday, adding he couldn't imagine any of them wouldn't be cooperative.
Anderson referred to his office’s previous work on issues relating to Hoberg's before, mentioning Nelson, who he confirmed remained in custody. The audience applauded him as he ended his remarks.
Brown told Lake County News later on Tuesday that he is scheduled to meet with department heads at 10 a.m. Wednesday to discuss Anderson's request regarding the investigation.
He said staff continues to work on the 30-day abatement of the full resort property, but didn't yet have a firm date of when it is expected to be served.
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Clearlake City Council to discuss filling council vacancy, interview planning commission candidates
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – With one of its members having announced her plans to resign, the Clearlake City Council this week will discuss options for filling the soon-to-be-vacant seat.
The council will meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m. to discuss labor negotiations before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 24, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
At the March 10 meeting, Councilwoman Denise Loustalot announced that she was resigning her seat because her family had just purchased a home outside the city limits.
She said her resignation would take effect March 25. Her term is set to expire in December.
The council will discuss options for filling the seat, which could include an appointment or a special election.
Also on Tuesday, the council will hold interviews of applicants for a vacant seat on the Clearlake Planning Commission.
In February, Commissioner Bill Perkins announced his resignation after a decade on the commission. His term ends next March.
The council will consider two applicants, Russell Cremer and Peter Shandera.
In other business, the council will hold a public hearing for the granting of an updated franchise to Golden State Water Co., review real estate owned by the city and the former redevelopment agency, accept the final master plan for Highlands Park, and hold a first hearing of an ordinance which will reinstate administrative items and building permits within the area served by the Southeast Wastewater System.
Also on the agenda is a presentation to former Planning Commissioner Bill Perkins; presentation of proclamations declaring April Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month; and the presentation of the Lake County Economic Profile Report.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; the first amendment to the Clearlake marketing agreement with the county of Lake; the first amendment to the agreement between the Public, Educational, Governmental (or PEG) cable access television station and the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport, and the county of Lake; and the general plan update for the additional parks expansion component.
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Lakeport City Council directs staff to pursue solar project option
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council has given city staff the go ahead to pursue the next steps in the ongoing effort to create a municipal solar project that is expected to save millions of dollars in electricity bills.
Mike Adams, who retired as Mendocino College's facilities planning director, has been consulting with the city on the project.
At the council's meeting last Tuesday, Adams gave the council an update on the options available to the city, with Finance Director Dan Buffalo following up by asking for the council to select a financing option and direct staff to negotiate with the most suitable financier.
Adams said the first and second phases of planning on the project have been completed.
The first included reviewing utility loads, selection criteria, funding options, developing a planning schedule and budget, investigating potential sites, reviewing existing site topography and soils, and identifying solar program options through Pacific Gas and Electric.
In the second phase, a planning budget was adopted, the first phase soils investigation was conducted, a solar electrical engineer was contracted for system design recommendations, a cost and benefit analysis for the recommended system was developed, as was a final project budget.
The project is expected to cost between $2.4 million and $2.9 million, with Adams explaining that the preferred option is a prepaid power purchase agreement, which calls for the project to be installed and owned by the operator at an estimated cost of $2.9 million.
The city can purchase the project after five years from the investor for 82 percent of the total cost, or about $2,378,000, according to Adams.
He said the city's projected net savings in electricity bills over a 25-year period is estimated at approximately $8,122,146.
The 1.150-megawatt system will have two segments – a 750 kilowatt system at a city site meter location on Highway 175 and a 375 kilowatt system at the city's Linda Lane pump station meter, Adams said.
Mayor Marc Spillman asked where Lakeport is in the curve when compared to other municipalities pursuing solar projects.
Adams said many cities have completed solar installations. “It's a large investment. It's not a small investment, so for a smaller city it's a bigger deal.”
He said it took a few years for Mendocino College to carry out its own solar project.
Adams noted, “The good thing is, you've got land. A lot of them don't,” he said, explaining that many cities have to place the utilities up on roofs, an option he doesn't like because roofs need maintenance.
Buffalo said city staff was proposing a hybrid approach of a prepaid power purchase agreement with a solar company that allows the city to do a buyout, which would allow the investor to capitalize on depreciation and tax breaks. He said he believed that option was the most beneficial to the city and its residents.
He said the city's sewer, water and general fund would all need to participate in the purchase because of how the city's energy costs are accounted for in the budget.
Council members agreed with the proposal.
Councilman Martin Scheel said the project offered the council a way to save substantial money for taxpayers.
“This is the kind of thing that the public likes to see,” said Councilman Kenny Parlet. “This is the kind of thing that we need to do to be environmentally sound, to be proactive and try and do the right thing for the long term.”
Scheel moved to approve the proposal, which was seconded by Councilwoman Stacey Mattina and approved unanimously by the council.
Mattina said she was excited to plan for something that will help the city so far into the future.
In other business, the council gave conditional approval to Mendocino College's request to use Library Park for its inaugural Northern California Shakespeare Festival production of “Midsummer Night’s Dream” on July 30 and 31.
“I'm excited,” said John Tomlinson, a drama instructor at Mendocino College's Lake Center in Lakeport.
“It's been awhile since we've been able to do a play here through the college,” said Tomlinson.
He said there has been good reception for the idea of the “Shakespeare at the Lake” production, which he will direct. Richard Smith, who was on hand with a mock up of the stage design, will be the producer.
Tomlinson said the production will be centered south of the Library Park gazebo, with the audience facing the lake.
“You guys are going to have a beautiful backdrop there,” said Spillman.
Parlet asked if they have addressed sound issues in the open air location, and Councilwoman Mireya Turner asked about possible conflicts with nighttime construction that's due to be under way at that point on the Downtown Improvement Project's second phase. Community Development Director Kevin Ingram said he would look into the latter issue.
“Jackhammers and Shakespeare just don't go together,” said Spillman.
Mattina moved to conditionally approve the application, which Turner seconded and the council approved 5-0.
Also at the March 15 meeting, the council met new police officer trainees Andrew Welter and Dale Hoskins, heard a presentation on the Lake County Economic Profile Report, presented the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award to Buffalo, adopted resolutions to reaffirm the necessity of AB 1600 development impact fees and establishing regular meeting dates of the Municipal Financing Agency of Lakeport, and adopted a resolution authorizing the city manager to submit payment requests of the administration of the Beverage Container Recycling Payment Program.
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Holiday Harbor bids, Hoberg's update, transportation measure poll on supervisors' agenda
LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Board of Supervisors will consider bids for the Holiday Harbor marina property in Nice, get an update on the debris cleanup at Hoberg's Resort and hear the results of a poll on a proposed transportation funding measure.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 22, 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.
At 10 a.m., the board will hold a public bid opening for the purchase of Holiday Harbor.
In January the board approved a resolution declaring its intent to sell the property and gave administrative staff approval to move forward with advertising the property for sale.
The recommended opening bid for the property was set at $1.2 million. It was purchased by the former redevelopment agency in 2008 for about $2 million, according to county staff.
At 11 a.m., staff will update the board on the cleanup efforts at Hoberg's Resort.
Last week the county served the resort with a 48-hour summary abatement due to stormwater runoff that was supercharging its fire-damaged septic system and running into a nearby creek, as Lake County News has reported.
On Friday and Saturday, Cobb contractor Ken Gifford was hired by the county to finish the work after the deadline came and went on Thursday evening without significant progress.
Board Chair Rob Brown told Lake County News that Gifford finished the tasks required under the order, including removing parts of the damaged septic system, grading the excavated area and installing erosion control by the end of the day Saturday.
In other business on Tuesday, in untimed items the board will consider forming a committee to negotiate with the city of Clearlake regarding the use of sale proceeds subsequent to the proposed sale of former Pearce Field Airport property.
The Public Works Department also will present to the board the polling results for a proposed transportation funding measure. That item also is untimed.
Also on the agenda, untimed items of note include an update on the request for proposals for community choice aggregation; the second reading of a proposed ordinance to return the board to meeting the first four Tuesdays of the month, instead of taking a break on the second Tuesdays; and a staff request to waive the requirement to solicit formal sealed bids for the purchase and installation of the new Permits Plus software from Accela Inc.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings held March 15, 2016; Nov. 3, 2015; Oct. 20, 2015; Oct. 13, 2015; Oct. 6, 2015; Sept. 22, 2015; Sept. 15, 2015; Sept. 1, 2015; Aug. 25, 2015; and Aug. 11, 2015.
7.2: Authorize extending the appointment of Jeff Rein as interim chief deputy county administrative officer and Kati Galvani as Interim deputy Public Services director both for an indefinite period of time.
7.3: Approve Amendment No. 1 to agreement between the county of Lake and City of Lakeport for participation in the county marketing program, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.4: Approve Amendment No. 1 to Agreement between the county of Lake and city of Clearlake for participation in the county marketing program, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.5: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and City of Lakeport, for county financial contribution toward required improvements at Westshore Pool, in the amount of $15,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
7.6: (a) Approve first amendment to the commercial lease agreement between the county of Lake and Bruno and Associates, for period of Jan. 1, 2014 through Dec. 31, 2018 ($814/month through Dec. 31, 2016, and $1,136.80/month through Dec. 31, 2018), and authorize the chair to sign; and (b) approve subordination, non-disclosure and attornment agreement and estopel certificate, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.7: Authorize County Assessor-Recorder Richard Ford to appoint Debra Olson to assistant assessor–recorder ii, step 5.
7.8: Authorize destruction of documents in the Auditor-Controller/County Clerk office, pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 26202 and 26205.
7.9: (a) Waive the normal sealed bid process as allowed under Ordinance #2406, Section 38.2; and (b) authorize the district attorney to issue a purchase order to Corning Ford for one Ford Explorer in the amount of $28,768.55.
7.10: Adopt proclamation designating the week of March 20-26, 2016, as National Surveyors' Week in Lake County.
7.11: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and University of California, Davis, for training services in the amount of $67,150 for the period ending June 30, 2016, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.12: Authorize the Social Services director to issue a purchase order to CDW-G for the purchase of 150 workstations in the amount of $65,306.25.
7.13: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2015-119 to amend the FY 2015-16 Adopted Budget to authorize cancellation of Capital Improvement Reserve Funds in Fund 281 - CSA #21- North Lakeport Water, in the amount of $141,982.00 to cover loan payment due by CSA #21 - North Lakeport.
7.14: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, approve easement deed for the Habematolel Pomo Sewer Project, APN 004-003-16 and authorize the chair to sign the right of way agreement, in the amount of $772.
7.15: Adopt proclamation in recognition of Vietnam Veterans Day, March 30, 2016.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of (a) proclamation designating the week of March 20 to 26, 2016 as National Surveyors Week in Lake County; and (b) proclamation in recognition of Vietnam Veterans Day, March 30, 2016.
8.3, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of continuing the proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer.
8.4, 9:20 a.m.: Presentation of Employee Service Awards.
8.5, 10 a.m.: Public bid opening,consideration of bids to purchase Holiday Harbor in Nice.
8.6, 10:15 a.m.: Hearing, consideration of notice of nuisance and order to abate for property located at 10715 Gifford Springs Road, Cobb (APN 013-037-07 - Benjamin Hittle and Vanessa Hittle).
8.7, 10:45 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of increasing and establishing certain fees in the (a) Assessor-Recorder office; (b) Clerk of the Board office; (c) Community Development Department; and (d) Library Department.
8.8, 11 a.m.: Staff report regarding Hoberg's Resort debris cleanup .
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Consideration of continuing the proclamation of emergency declaration for wildfire conditions.
9.3: Consideration of last and final recognized obligation schedule to be submitted to Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency Oversight Board.
9.4: (a) Presentation and consideration of operational budget for PEG; and (b) consideration of first amendment to agreement between the city of Clearlake, city of Lakeport and the county of Lake relative to operation of a local public, educational, governmental (PEG) cable television channel.
9.5: Consideration of formation of committee to negotiate with the city of Clearlake regarding the use of sale proceeds subsequent to the sale of former Pearce Field Airport property.
9.6: Update on community choice aggregation request for proposals.
9.7: Consideration of the following appointments: Fish and Wildlife Advisory Board, Glenbrook Cemetery District Board of Trustees.
9.8: Consideration of out-of-state travel to Colorado for District Attorney Don Anderson to meet with Colorado district attorneys regarding prosecution under their similar marijuana laws.
9.9: Presentation of polling results for transportation funding measure.
9.10: Consideration of amendment one to agreement between the county of Lake and Tetra Tech Inc., for Valley fire arboricultural and hazardous tree removal monitoring services.
9.11: Consideration of agreement between the county of Lake and Questa Engineering Corp. for completion of health and safety inspections for on-site wastewater systems impacted by the Valley fire in the amount of $145,200.
9.12: Second Reading, consideration of proposed ordinance amending specified sections of Article I of Chapter 2 of the Lake County Code relating to meetings of the Board of Supervisors.
9.13: Continued from March 15, March 1, Feb. 23, Feb. 16, Feb. 2, Jan. 19 and Dec. 1): Consideration of (a) pole attachment agreement between the county of Lake and Pacific Bell Telephone Co.; and (b) amendment to tower and ground space license agreement between U.S. Cellular Corp., New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, and the county of Lake .
9.14: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors: Consideration of resolution authorizing and designating Special Districts administrator or his designee to sign and submit a funding agreement and any amendments thereto for funding under the State Water Resources Control Board for planning and design of the Middletown Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements.
9.15: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors: Consideration of resolution authorizing and designating Special Districts administrator or his designee to sign and submit funding agreement application (in the amount of $500,000) and any amendments thereto for funding under the State Water Resources Control Board for planning and design of a public water sewer system for the Anderson Springs community.
9.16: Consideration of temporary waiver of construction traffic impact fees for homes damaged or destroyed by 2015 wildland fires.
9.17: Consideration of (a) authorization to waive requirement to solicit formal sealed bids for the purchase of permit software system as the public's interest would not be served due to the unique nature of such goods and services pursuant to County Code Section 2-38.2; and (b) services agreement between the Lake County Community Development Department and Accela Inc. for development and installation of a new permit system to replace the antiquated Permits Plus software.
CLOSED SESSION
10.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Sevilla v. County of Lake, et al.
10.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Allen, et al. v. County of Lake, et al.
10.4: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54956.9 (d)(2), (e)(3): Claim of Stimmel.
10.5: Public employee evaluations title: Animal Care and Control director, Information Technology director, interim Community Development director.
10.6, 11 a.m.: Carried over from March 15, employee disciplinary appeal (EDA-16-01) pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54957.
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