How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Lakeport Police logs: Saturday, Jan. 10
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026
00:00 EXTRA PATROL 2601100001
Occurred at Lake County Law Library on 3D....
Clearlake City Council approves first readings of ordinances to strengthen park and dog ownership rules
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – At its last meeting of 2015, the Clearlake City Council voted to tighten rules in city parks and relating to dog owners, but agreed that it didn't want to move forward with banning dogs from all city parks.
Among the items the council considered – and approved – at its Dec. 10 meeting was an ordinance giving police additional tools to crack down on violations of city park ordinances.
Particularly, under the new ordinance, breaking of city park codes could lead to offenders being prohibited from city parks for periods ranging from 24 hours to a year.
“We're not proposing that this is the thing that's going to fix all of our problems in the park,” but it's another tool in the tool belt, said Lt. Tim Celli of the Clearlake Police Department.
Celli said that in 2015 the Clearlake Police Department had 872 incidents in the city's three parks – Highlands, Redbud and Austin.
Over the last three years, police have responded to 2,256 incidents in the three parks, and citations year-to-date through Dec. 7 totaled 107. Just in Redbud Park there have been 127 arrests. “That is a significant number,” Celli said.
He said District Attorney Don Anderson has agreed to look at the incidents on a case-by-case basis for possible prosecution if the city council approved the new ordinance.
The city of Santa Cruz implemented a similar ordinance that has been very successful and has resulted in a lot of voluntary compliance, said Celli.
No public comment was offered on the item during the meeting.
“Thank you for taking this seriously” and bringing the ordinance forward, Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson told Celli, adding it's one piece on the puzzle of creating high quality, usable parks.
Fortino Dickson moved to approve the ordinance's first reading, which the council approved 5-0.
City Manager Greg Folsom also got support from the council for an ordinance on responsible dog ownership that specifically requires dog owners to clean up their pets' waste and to keep dogs on leashes, provisions not stated implicitly in current city rules.
Those who don't follow the rules could face fines, with exemptions for those over age 65, Folsom said.
The council, however, wouldn't support a proposed ordinance to prohibit dogs in city parks, which would have overturned an ordinance the council adopted to allow dogs in parks in June 2012.
Folsom said the ordinance has caused issues, from abundant dog waste not picked up by pet owners, to disposal bags being shoved down park bathroom toilets, and gang members and the homeless with their aggressive dogs making parks not very family friendly.
The proposal would have banned dogs in parks but still allowed them to get in and out of boats.
Supervisor Jeff Smith, a Clearlake resident, reminded the council that a few years ago Clearlake had been written up as the most unfriendly city to dogs in California, which hurt its attempt to attract tourism.
He said the ordinances the council passed earlier in the meeting should help address some of the problems staff was raising.
“I think it's a real step backwards if we have no dogs in the park again,” he said.
City resident and dog owner Jim Honegger agreed with Smith that the other newly adopted city rules should help deal with the city's concerns.
Honegger said he's part of a group of five seniors – including veterans – who meet twice daily in the city's parks.
“Our dogs are very close to us,” he said, explaining that some of them live alone and their time together with their dogs gives them a chance to exercise and socialize. “This is what parks are for.”
He estimated his group has about 200 years' worth of paying taxes in the city of Clearlake, and added that the vagrants causing issues in the parks aren't property owners or taxpayers. “Responsible people are responsible dog owners.”
Chuck Leonard, a former city councilman, said he was on the council when the ordinance to allow dogs in parks was passed, and he hadn't thought it would work then. He remained concerned about it.
Councilwoman Joyce Overton opposed banning dogs from parks. “We're trying to make irresponsible people responsible.”
She said the city should work with the new ordinances it was adopting to solve the issue. Until the city finds a place for a devoted dog park – possibly next year – she didn't favor changes to park access.
Councilman Bruno Sabatier said he felt there are major dog-related issues in Redbud Park, which is a major tourist spot due to the boat docks.
He said he also hopes to see a new dog park – possibly as soon as the middle of next year – as local nonprofits are offering to support in the building of it.
Mayor Denise Loustalot, herself a dog owner, said the issue was a struggle for her. She said she always keeps her dogs leashed, but she's concerned about children at parks getting hurt by dogs.
Folsom said the current city rules prohibit dogs from being on beaches or playground areas.
Overton said current city park rules aren't being enforced, and maintained she was not comfortable banning dogs altogether in parks.
Sabatier asked Celli about the number of animal-related calls in city parks.
Celli said that, in 2010, before the ordinance passed, there were no documented animal-related calls, with six calls in 2011.
Since the ordinance passed in 2012, there have been 47 animals calls over a three-year period for issues including violations of the leash law and licensing rules, aggressive dogs and bite cases, dogs chasing animals such as ducks in Redbud Park and a child who was attacked by a dog. The problems have “grown exponentially,” Celli said.
Councilman Russ Perdock said he supported not closing the parks to dogs until the city had another option to offer in the form of a dog park.
Initially he said he was in support of the ordinance, but he said that he had reservations as a result of the discussion, and didn't think the council was ready to move forward with the ordinance.
The council reached consensus to not take action on prohibiting dogs in parks, but to revisit the matter in the future.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Clearlake Planning Commission recommends new marijuana cultivation rules to city council
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission this week voted unanimously to recommend that the city council adopt a set of more stringent rules to govern medical marijuana cultivation in the city limits.
City Manager Greg Folsom presented the proposed amendments to the city's marijuana cultivation ordinance to the commission at its meeting Tuesday evening.
A council-appointed ad hoc committee crafted the amendments, holding several meetings beginning at the start of October.
The ad hoc committee included two council members – Russ Perdock and Bruno Sabatier – along with Realtor Dave Hughes, dispensary owner Liz Byrd, business owners Dan Griffin and Vince Metzger, and Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta.
In less than an hour the commission went through the proposed changes, took public input and approved the document.
Commissioners credited the ad hoc committee for presenting a carefully considered and well written set of rules meant to be easier for city officials to enforce.
The amendments add a fee of $150 to register for city-approved grow permits that would be in effect from May 1 to April 30. Those fees are expected to generate about $75,000 annually that would be used to help offset enforcement costs. Growers who failed to register or to abate plants would face fines and growing suspensions.
In seeking the permits, applicants would have to submit a medical recommendation that city staff said would be protected from disclosure under provisions of the California Public Records Act.
Cultivators would have to give the city permission to inspect grow sites initially and up to twice more each year. They must also have the property owner's permission and a permanent water source at the property, as some grows have trucked in water, city staff noted.
The updated rules would limit all parcels – regardless of size – to a maximum six plants. The current ordinance allows for six plants on parcels of half an acre or under, 12 plants on half an acre to an acre, 18 plants on an acre to five acres, 36 plants on parcels of between five and 40 acres, and 48 plants on parcels 40 acres or larger.
Other key new provisions include prohibiting commercial grows, no grows within 600 feet of public parks or 100 feet from specific drainages and water bodies, and no cultivation within commercial or scenic corridors or beautification zones, a limitation of the cultivation area to 100 square feet with all grows secured by locks at all times.
As with current rules, the amendments prevent residents from growing within 600 feet of a public or private school or child care center, on properties where multifamily dwellings are located or on vacant parcels.
During the meeting the commission made minor changes to the document, including leaving issuance of the permits up to the city rather than making it the responsibility of the police chief specifically.
Commissioner Bill Perkins asked how the city would pay for implementation. “Strictly through the ordinance?”
Folsom explained that the city received a Community Development Block Grant that allowed for the hiring of several new code enforcement officers. That money will be supplemented by the permitting fees.
During public comment, ad hoc committee member Dave Hughes said his problem isn't with medical marijuana but where it's grown. He said the ordinance the city council implemented has allowed growing to be out of control.
While he favors no growing at all, he felt the six-plant minimum would help get the city's situation back under control. “I think we struck a good balance.”
Another ad hoc committee member, Vince Metzger, suggested that special permitting for commercial grows be added to the amendments, a suggestion the commission ultimately rejected.
In response to Metzger's suggestion, Hughes returned to the podium and asked the commission not to add commercial grows to the rules. “We can revisit things and refine this ordinance as we go along,” and that can include adding commercial grows if the city wants to go there, he said.
Joan Mingori, a former city planning commissioner, also was against commercial grows, noting that the smell of the plants is overwhelming in the city during the grow season, a situation that would be made worse by larger for-profit grows. That also would make it hard to attract tourists.
“Please, please do not consider commercial grows in the city of Clearlake,” Mingori said.
Commissioner Dirk Slooten said he thought the ad hoc committee did a good job of representing the different interests in the marijuana cultivation issue.
Chair Carl Webb noted that many proposals regarding cultivation have come before the council and commission.
“To me this seems like the most logical and best prepared ordinance that we've had presented to us,” he said
Webb added that he thought the prohibition against commercial grows was key to developing Clearlake into the pristine city it has the potential to be.
Slooten moved to recommend the council consider the amendments to its city marijuana cultivation ordinance at its next meeting, with Commissioner Cheryl Hutchinson seconding and the commission voting 5-0.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Supervisors rescind resolution supporting State of Jefferson advisory vote
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors chose on Tuesday to rescind an ordinance passed in March that would have placed an advisory measure before voters asking if the county should join a new state formation movement.
At the behest of Board Chair Anthony Farrington, the board agreed to reconsider its vote to ask residents if the county should adopt a declaration of support for separating from California in order to join the State of Jefferson.
After about an hour's worth of hearing from community members and holding its own discussion, the board voted 5-0 to rescind Resolution No. 2015-22, which would have placed that advisory vote on the November 2016 ballot.
The State of Jefferson proponents propose to break off several Northern California and Southern Oregon counties to form a 51st state.
However, Farrington faulted the movement's financial analysis, explaining that it fails to take into account the many sources of funding for the county that come from the state, and that it also discounts the support the county has received, especially during the recent wildland fires.
During the meeting he would also point to the strength of California's branding for agricultural products and its educational system as additional pluses for Lake County residents.
He said State of Jefferson proponents can still pursue their plan by circulating petitions and gathering signatures.
Lake County Jefferson Declaration Committee member Randy Sutton of Upper Lake said they are OK with the board not moving forward with the advisory measure.
“This will proceed, with or without county government,” he said, noting signature gathering has taken place in several other counties in the State of Jefferson area.
He said they approached the county government because they felt the local government might want to have a place at the table as the effort proceeds.
Lower Lake resident Victoria Brandon, who has been a vocal opponent of the Jefferson plan, urged the board to rescind the resolution.
“What seems to me the center here is that we have been told over and over again that the issue is lack of representation. I think we have seen in time, and especially during the events of this past summer, that lack of representation in Lake County is not a problem,” she said.
She added that Assemblyman Bill Dodd and state Sen. Mike McGuire “have stepped forward dramatically in our time of need” and made sure state agencies responded to help the county during the fires, and that county residents need to concentrate on recovery rather than fighting about a political notion that isn't going to happen anyway.
Supervisor Rob Brown said those who brought forward the State of Jefferson proposal are good people with good intentions, and their criticisms of the state as a whole aren't any different than those that board members have had.
He said if the state had 39 other senators like McGuire, they wouldn't be having the discussion.
Brown said he's setting aside his own personal interests and feelings about Jefferson, as he's now in the position of getting millions of dollars from the state to help local citizens, and as such he planned to be respectful to the state and its leaders.
Farrington passed the gavel to Brown so he could make the motion to rescind the ordinance, which the board voted 5-0 to approve.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Lakeport City Council elects new leadership, fills committee and commission slots
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday elected its new mayor and mayor pro tem for 2016 and filled several city commission and committee seats when it met for the last meeting of 2015.
All council members were present for the hour-and-a-half-long meeting on Tuesday evening, which had followed a half-hour closed session to discuss a matter in relation to the council's Dec. 1 decision to grant an appeal of a Verizon Wireless cell phone tower at 1875 N. High St.
Mayor Martin Scheel announced out of the closed session that the council had approved a six-month agreement with Verizon that will lengthen the window in which the company could file suit over the appeal.
Verizon counsel Paul Albritton has maintained that the federal Telecommunications Act entitles the company to move forward with the project because it is necessary to address a coverage gap and is the least intrusive location.
City Attorney David Ruderman told Lake County News after the meeting that federal law only gives Verizon a 30-day window from the date the appeal was granted to file suit. However, rather than file suit during that time, the company wanted to explore additional options for a tower, which the agreement will allow.
Acting City Clerk Kelly Buendia then introduced the council reorganization process, which is conducted annually at the last meeting in December.
Scheel nominated Councilman Marc Spillman to be mayor in 2016.
“I'm honored, I accept,” said Spillman, who received unanimous support for the mayor's job.
Spillman then asked Mayor Pro Tem Stacey Mattina if she would be willing to continue in the job, and she agreed. He subsequently nominated her to be mayor pro tem in 2016, which the council also approved unanimously.
Spillman and Scheel then switched seats so Spillman could take over his new mayoral duties.
Scheel thanked the citizens of Lakeport and the council, noting it was an honor to serve as mayor.
“It's been a great experience and I know Marc will do a good job and I look forward to another great year in the city of Lakeport,” Scheel said.
Mattina congratulated Scheel on his term as mayor. She said he had done a great job and was an excellent role model.
Spillman thanked the community, and noted that he won't be seeking reelection when his term runs out at the end of 2016 because he'll be devoting increased time to family and business responsibilities.
He was elected to the council in 2012 after having previously served as a city planning commissioner.
Also on Tuesday, Lake Ministerial Association representatives Taylor Johnson and Pastor Shannon Kimbell-Auth gave a brief presentation on plans to open a homeless warming center from Jan. 4 through April 1 at the Lakeport Seventh-day Adventist Church, which is located outside of city limits on Park Way.
Johnson said that in January a point in time count tallied Lake County's homeless population at 170 people. While that doesn't sound like a lot, Johnson said that's because the number of homeless may be undercounted.
Since that time, the Valley fire has left the county with serious housing issues and likely has resulted in more displaced people, Johnson said, adding there are no safety nets like public housing or homeless shelters, and there is a waiting list for Section 8 housing.
The county ordinance only allows for 24 people per night, said Johnson. The goal is to connect anyone who uses the center to long-term social services.
“The challenges that we have right now are, of course, volunteers,” she said, adding that another major concern is getting security.
Kimbell-Auth said when Lake Family Resource Center had opened a warming center winter before last in Clearlake, county staff were allowed to volunteer to work at the center and were paid for it.
“We would love to see the city do that,” Kimbell-Auth said.
Specifically, they want volunteers from the Lakeport Police Department one day a week for the 13 weeks the center is to be opened, she said.
While the 12 churches and several community service agencies involved should be able to supply enough volunteers, Kimbell-Auth said the real problem that previous warming centers have faced is the inability to control their security.
She said they were looking for off-duty officers, who don't have to be armed, to work at the church, and have made the same request to the sheriff's office.
Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said he is willing to discuss it, but noted that he would want an agreement with the Lake County Sheriff's Office in order to work outside of his jurisdiction.
Mattina said the churches also made a presentation to the Lake Transit Authority Board about providing bus services to and from the center, and she wanted Rasmussen's input on that.
Scheel said he supported the idea. “I definitely think that we can find some way to help, because, I mean, really, we're helping ourselves at the same point in time.”
Rasmussen said his staff has experience dealing with the homeless who have appeared in Lakeport, and he also wants to help people, with Spillman adding his willingness to be involved in the discussions.
Rasmussen told Kimbell-Auth she could contact him on Wednesday to begin setting up a time to consider the matter.
In other business, the council voted to fill several seats on city commissions and committees.
For the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee, the council appointed Pam Harpster, Christine Hutt, George Linn, Taira St. John and Panette Talia.
Staff also will recruit for the position held by Rick Hamilton, who was removed from LEDAC by action the council took as part of its consent agenda. Hamilton was arrested in October for attempted rape and sexual battery, as Lake County News has reported.
The council also voted to appoint Adam Newell, Ann Blue, Suzanne Russell and Cindy Ustrud to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
The Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, which the city is reestablishing after a hiatus, had several seats to fill. The council voted to appoint Blue, Russell and Vicki Cole to the committee, with staff to continue recruiting for three additional seats.
George Spurr, who has been representing the city on the Lake County Vector Control District Board, was reappointed to that position.
The council on Tuesday also hosted a presentation of the winners of the city's holiday decorating contest and approved an application for the Lakeside Car and Boat Show, to be held Aug. 12 and 13 in Library Park.
Email Elizabeth Larson at