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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....
Board of Supervisors appoints ad hoc committee to consider new state medical marijuana rules
LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Board of Supervisors voted to create an ad hoc committee to look at the potential impact of new state medical marijuana legislation on local rules.
Supervisor Anthony Farrington asked the board to be proactive and consider what changes may be needed with local regulations as a result of the governor's signing in October of the State Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act.
The act is a package of three pieces of legislation that was championed by Lake County's representative in the state Senate, Sen. Mike McGuire.
The new legislation sets up a framework to regulate the various aspects of the commercial medical marijuana industry, and creates a Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation under the Department of Consumer Affairs.
There also is the establishment of licensing and taxation, the requirement that medical marijuana businesses obtain local approval to continue operating and a provision that classifies marijuana as an agricultural product in California.
Farrington also asked for support for Assemblyman Jim Woods' urgency legislation that would extend a March 1 deadline for having regulation in place by local jurisdictions.
With the growing season soon to start and the history of local referendums against attempts to regulate marijuana, Farrington said time is of the essence.
“I think we stand to lose significant revenues by not getting a taxing program implemented sooner than later,” as well as a permitting process to help fund the Community Development Department, he said.
Farrington initially proposed the ad hoc committee include two board members; Farrington himself wanted to be on the committee in addition to his suggestion of Supervisor Rob Brown, who this year chairs the Board of Supervisors.
Additionally, Farrington suggested Sheriff Brian Martin, Undersheriff Chris Macedo or a sheriff's designee; Community Development Director Rick Coel; and District Attorney Don Anderson be included in the group.
During the course of the discussion, Farrington would suggest adding Agriculture Commissioner Steve Hajik and a Public Health representative, either Director Jim Brown or Dr. Karen Tait, the county's health officer.
Farrington said he has been contacted by many individuals about public participation on the committee. “I'm hesitant to recommend an at-large or public individual given the history of this issue and how polarizing it is,” said Farrington, noting the added difficulty of deciding who to choose.
He said he wants to have the committee meet and bring back recommendations to the board, at which point the public can participate in the process.
Martin told Farrington that the committee was a great idea and he was happy to serve on it, but he wanted to get a general idea of what the board wanted to accomplish.
“Marijuana has always been a law enforcement issue,” Martin said. “We're quickly coming to a period in time where it's not going to be a law enforcement issue so much anymore. It's going to take the public a long time to get used to that, and they're going to continue to still call the sheriff's department and want to know what's going to happen with that.”
Martin also questioned if the board wanted to create its own local licensing agency or rely on the state for that function, adding that the didn't think relying on the state in that particular was in Lake County's best interest.
He also wanted to know if there will be budgetary support available to implement any programs the board decides to create, adding he doesn't want to see deputies responding to calls to verify agricultural or transportation licenses.
Farrington agreed that “the greater the local control the better,” and that revenues the county might generate wouldn't just be for Community Development but also for the sheriff's office.
Martin said issues that would arise would go beyond permitting and licensing into the areas of ongoing monitoring and license checks.
“It's already almost the wild, wild west out here right now with marijuana cultivation,” said Martin, adding he is glad the state is giving some framework.
He said he also likes the idea of local officials being able to decide what is best for Lake County, which he said is probably a lot different than what works for other counties.
Coel, who said he also appreciates the opportunity to serve on the committee, said the county's current regulations – accepted by voters as Measure N in June 2014 – are contained in the county zoning code, so any proposed changes would need to go before the Lake County Planning Commission.
He thanked Farrington for bringing the matter forward. “There probably do need to be some revisions considered, and sooner rather than later.”
Hajik said he also was willing to serve, and noted he has concerns about his staff having to respond to marijuana-related complaints due to safety.
Anderson said he, too, would serve but encouraged the board to include a few members of the community. Additionally he suggested that they may want to consider including someone who has knowledge of implementing new taxation.
In separate actions, the board voted unanimously to support Woods' special legislation to extend the March 1 deadline and approved the ad hoc committee with the updated membership proposal including the additional department heads.
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Lakeport City Council approves Downtown Improvement Project contract amendment
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Tuesday the Lakeport City Council approved a staff recommendation to amend the contract for design work on the second phase of the Downtown Improvement Project.
The $2.5 million project, which will run along N. Main Street from First to Fourth streets, will include the reconstruction and paving of several blocks of the street, new and wider sidewalks, relocation of the memorial streetlights, new sewer and water infrastructure, and new street trees.
Community Development Director Kevin Ingram went to the council to request an amendment that would cover additional necessary elements in the scope of design – including Americans with Disabilities Access features, lighting at intersections, utilities, irrigation and design during construction – for an additional $67,899.
That brings the total revised agreement between the city and Crawford and Associates Inc. to $232,734, according to Ingram's report.
Ingram held meetings over the past year with community members regarding the design and other concerns.
Last week Ingram sent out an email to business owners, informing them of the update and inviting them to come and offer input.
Only two Lakeport business owners spoke to the council Tuesday about their concerns – Ron Campos of Campos Casuals on N. Main Street and Nancy Ruzicka, who owns the High Street Village shopping center.
Campos was concerned about the project's length – set to start this spring and continue through to the fall – and how it would impact businesses.
Ingram said the project will be carried out during nighttime hours and work will be suspended during the busy Memorial Day and July 4 weekends.
Altogether, holiday-related alterations have pushed back the project's estimated completion by five weeks, Ingram said.
The work will progress along one side of each block at a time. Ingram said the city's interim engineer, Paul Curren, has designed ramps to go over the construction area to allow customers to get to businesses.
“It's going to be evident that there's construction going on but there will be access to businesses,” said Ingram, adding that Curren also is designing pedestrian control systems to help access merchants.
When Campos said six months seemed like too long for the project, Council woman Stacey Mattina said it could be done more quickly if everything was shut down, rather than the approach the city was taking of trying to keep access to business.
Mayor Marc Spillman pledged to regularly check in on Campos during the project construction to find out how it is impacting him, adding that he also would work with other business owners. “I'm in the hot seat.”
Ruzicka challenged the true design cost – which the city has estimated at just over $232,000 – and estimated it was closer to $500,000.
She also wanted to know why the city didn't wait until after Labor Day to start the project. She said it will impact her business, explaining that she believes people meander through the city – particularly along Main Street – before making it to her shopping center.
Mattina moved to accept the amendment, which the council approved unanimously.
Ingram also noted during the meeting that the city will hold a Jan. 22 community meeting on the project to discuss the nighttime work schedule.
In other business on Tuesday, the council approved a $61,100 purchase order for a new concrete restroom facility at Fifth Street on the lakeshore.
The project is funded by a state California Housing and Community Development for Housing Related Parks grant which originally was to have been used for a water pipeline project at Westside Community Park. When that park project was not deemed feasible, staff took the matter to the council, which on Sept. 15 approved revising the grant to use it for the restroom.
Also on Tuesday, the council got an update on the Lake County Wellness Impact 2025 Overview by the Health Leadership Network, approved mayoral appointments to various committees and commissions, accepted minor revisions to the zoning ordinance, introduced a zoning change ordinance for the AutoZone project and set a second hearing, and also introduced ordinances to update the sections of the city municipal code regarding transferring some city clerk financial reporting duties to the finance manager and make the city clerk a position hired by the city manager.
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State of Jefferson: Sierra County supervisors decline to join, supporters rally in Sacramento
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – In the latest developments in the effort to form a 51st state, on Tuesday the Sierra County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt a resolution declining to join the State of Jefferson, while supporters went to Sacramento the following day to rally for leaving California.
The Sierra County Board vote was 3-2, which followed a lengthy discussion by board members, opponents and supporters.
That final action followed an initial vote in which the board voted down tabling the matter indefinitely.
While the board of the 3,000-resident “frontier” county acknowledged that Northern California counties like theirs face serious challenges that state legislators need to work harder to address, members nevertheless “also see the benefit of sharing a state government with our suburban and urban counterparts, a state that is the 8th largest economy in the world,” the resolution said.
The resolution faulted “unverifiable petition signatures” requesting adoption of a declaration for Sierra County to break away from California and a failure of State of Jefferson proponents “to prove financial viability or that forming a new state will solve the above problems and will likely never be approved by the California Legislature and the United States Congress.”
“While rural America faces many challenges, we all live here by choice, and often for the lifestyle,” said Sierra County Board of Supervisors Chair Lee Adams. “Both urban and rural areas give and gain from each other and both are dependent on each other. California prospers because of its entire landmass, and is extremely blessed by nature, and I will continue to work within the existing state structure for the benefit of all of Sierra County.”
“We thank the Sierra County Supervisors for prioritizing genuine solutions that will have a positive impact in the daily lives of rural county families,” said Cindy Ellsmore, spokeswoman for Keep It California PAC, a nonpartisan Northern California rural-county based advocacy and political action committee that forced to fight the secession effort.
“Rural Northern California is a vital part of the California economy, just as the state’s partnership is important to our health. We must do a better job of educating, pressuring, and engaging Sacramento legislators. Working together we are safer, stronger, and better able to meet the needs of our communities,” Ellsmore added.
Also on Tuesday, the Anderson City Council voted to table resolutions supporting the State of Jefferson and supporting Keep It California, the group which has formed to oppose the secession movement.
The action by Sierra County's board followed by about three weeks the decision by the Lake County Board of Supervisors to rescind a March 2015 ordinance to place an advisory measure before voters this November asking if the county should join the State of Jefferson, as Lake County News has reported.
Of the 21other Northern California counties – besides Sierra and Lake – that could be included in the new state's area, five boards of supervisors have voted to approve joining the State of Jefferson.
One county – Tehama – put the question to voters who approved leaving California in June 2014. Lassen and Plumas counties are due to hold elections on the question in June.
Voters rejected a measure to join Jefferson in Del Norte County, two other boards of supervisors rejected the proposal, Amador County is doing a financial evaluation with a possible ballot measure, and nine other counties have taken no action when presented with the question or a vote hasn't gone before their leadership.
State of Jefferson supporters are continuing their push, saying the 51st state would offer smaller government, less taxes and regulation, and give county governments more control that benefits and meets the needs of their citizens.
They rallied on the State Capitol's West Steps on Wednesday for a “Declaration Day” event, and reported that they filed declarations with the Secretary of State's Office, and Senate and Assembly leadership.
The movement reported that it intended to turn in 15 new county declarations, in addition to declarations for six counties previously filed with the state.
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Supervisors elect Brown as 2016 chair, get fire recovery updates
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors started out its first meeting of 2016 by selecting its new leadership for the year to come.
The board unanimously elected Rob Brown – who served as vice chair in 2015 – to be chair this year, with Jeff Smith to act as vice chair.
Brown was lauded on Tuesday by outgoing Board Chair Anthony Farrington for going above and beyond the call of duty in responding to the Valley fire.
Farrington nominated Brown and Smith to be chair and vice chair, respectively, a motion seconded by Supervisor Jim Comstock and approved 5-0.
Smith then nominated Comstock to be chair of the Lake County Board of Equalization and Supervisor Jim Steele to be vice chair, which the board accepted unanimously.
Regarding the Lake County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Board, Brown and Smith were elected to be chair and vice chair, respectively.
In other board business on Tuesday, Carol Huchingson, who is the county's Social Services director as well as the board-appointed fire recovery coordinator, gave the supervisors an update on fire recovery-related activities.
She said some aspects of the recovery – including the debris cleanup – took a break from Christmas Eve through to Monday. Some county staff also were off for the holidays, and so were in the process of regrouping.
Huchingson said county staff currently are gathering data on the use of trucks and heavy equipment for air quality management and future planning for road repairs.
They also are working on a phone survey that's set to start next week. It will ask property owners if they plan to rebuild and what barriers they are facing, and also ask renters about their plans, she said.
Regarding housing issues, she said 21 manufactured housing units from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are in place in the county now. Most are located at Lake Village Estates in Clearlake Oaks, with the rest on private land in the Hidden Valley Lake and Middletown areas.
About 20 renters are still on FEMA's list awaiting the manufactured housing units, Huchingson said, with the bulk of those expected to be placed at Clearlake Resort in Clearlake.
She said the resort owner is still doing utility upgrades that are expected to be done by mid-January, then FEMA has work to do to finalize the installations. It's hoped that renters can move into the units in early February.
Huchingson said that at one point officials were talking about placing up to 40 of the manufactured housing units at Clearlake Resort, but the need for those units is now reported to be a little more than half that amount.
“What this means is that people are finding other options,” Huchingson said, explaining that FEMA also is connecting people with housing rental stock available in the county.
Lake County Public Works is actively preparing for winter storms, monitoring county water levels and working to get sandbags out into the communities, she said.
Huchingson said that so far the debris has been removed from 800 properties and, prior to the holiday break, the teams were working to clear 20 sites a day.
As for rebuilding, the Community Development Department has approved 11 site-built home permits and four permits for manufactured homes, and has 20 plan reviews under way for other rebuilding projects, Huchingson said.
She said Community Development has issued six temporary mobile home or RV permits for private properties in the burn area and 16 new permits for FEMA manufactured housing units.
A mobile laundry facility is expected to be set up soon in Middletown near the Lions Club for fire survivors, she said.
Regarding donations, on March 26 the county's lease expires for the Work Right building in Lakeport, which has been a main distribution site for the outpouring of donations received for fire survivors. Huchingson said over the next few months there will be a push to complete the distribution of those donations.
She said the State Farm Foundation told the county on Christmas Eve that it would donate $10,000 to purchase weather radios for people in the fire area who don't have other means of communication.
A temporary Verizon-owned cell phone tower on wheels that was placed on Cobb Mountain following the fire – and which had been slated to be moved to the Bay Area for the Super Bowl – will remain in the burn area until spring, Huchingson said.
Farrington asked Environmental Health Director Ray Ruminski about conflicting lab results in the required soil testing that comes at the end of the site clearing process, before rebuilding can begin.
Different labs have been giving different results as to arsenic levels, the source of which is primarily pressure treated wood that burned in structures, Ruminski said.
Ruminski said the county and a consultant are working to determine the source of the different numbers, with results expected later this week. He said the testing results have had too large of a range to simply be a statistical anomaly.
Also on Tuesday, the board voted unanimously to continue a proclamation of a local health emergency relating to the Valley fire first passed in September. That proclamation must be revisited every two weeks.
The board followed up by unanimously voting to continue the proclamation of an emergency due to wildlife conditions.
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