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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 health emergency, water system study, warming shelter proposal
LAKEPORT, Calif. – In its next-to-last meeting of the year, the Board of Supervisors will consider extending a local health emergency due to the wildland fires, discuss a study of water systems on Cobb and hear a proposal for a winter warming shelter for the homeless.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, 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.
In an item timed for 9:15 a.m., Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait will ask the board to continue her proclamation – first issued in September – of a local health emergency due to conditions resulting from the Valley fire.
At 9:20 a.m., the board will consider staff's request for appropriation of AB 1905 funds for the Cobb Water System Consolidation Feasibility Study.
At 9:35 a.m., a consortium of Christian ministers will present to the board a plan to launch a warming shelter in Lake County for the homeless.
At 9:45 a.m., the board will consider options for design and construction of the proposed Kelseyville Community Skatepark.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Adopt resolution amending the FY 2015-16 Adopted Budget to adjust appropriations in Budget Unit 1121 and to amend the position allocation for Budget Units 1121, 2301, and 4012.
7.2: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings held Feb. 24, March 17, Nov. 17 and Nov. 20 (special meeting).
7.3: Approve 2016 Board of Supervisors regular meeting calendar.
7.4: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Trina Maia for physical therapy services in support of the California Children's Services Program and the Medical Therapy Program, in the amount of $25,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
7.5: Approve amendment one to agreement between the county of Lake and Crisis Support Services of Alameda County for FY 15/16 Crisis Support Services, adding the additional holiday of Dec. 23 to the current holiday schedule in order to schedule necessary coverage.
7.6: Adopt resolution authorizing cancellation LACOSAN-SE O&M Reserve designation in the amount of $57,000 for vehicle purchase for Utility Area I and authorize Special Districts administrator to issue purchase order to Downtown Ford Sales in the amount of $57,000 under the state of California contract.
7.7: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District, Board of Directors, adopt resolution authorizing the administrator, LACOSAN, to sign a notice of completion for work performed under agreement dated Sept. 29, 2015 (Middletown Sewer Emergency Lateral Cap Project; Bid No. SD15-07, Project No. 8353-Valley2015).
7.8: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District, Board of Directors, adopt resolution authorizing the administrator, LACOSAN, to sign a notice of completion for work performed under agreement dated Aug. 25, 2015 (Seigler Creek Pipeline Replacement and Hitch Improvement Project; Bid No. 15-07, Project No. 8354-14-002).
7.9: Adopt resolution amending Resolution 2015-159 - Resolution to declare intent to sell real property owned by the county of Lake (6322 Seventh Ave., Lucerne, CA), changing the time of the bid opening from 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m.
7.10: Adopt resolution amending Resolution 2015-160 - Resolution to declare intent to sell real property owned by the county of Lake (6825 Floyd Way, Nice, CA), changing the time of the bid opening from 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m.
7.11: Adopt resolution amending Resolution 2015-161 - Resolution to declare intent to sell real property owned by the county of Lake (5795 Grove St., Lucerne, CA), changing the time of the bid opening from 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of continuing the proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County Health officer.
8.3, 9:20 a.m.: Consideration of staff's request for appropriation of AB 1905 funds for Cobb Water System Consolidation Feasibility Study.
8.4, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of resolution making findings necessary to authorize an energy services contract for replacement and upgrade of the utility service that support the Buckingham Peak Communication Facility.
8.5, 9:35 a.m.: Presentation of a plan by a consortium of Christian ministers to launch a warming shelter in Lake County.
8.6, 9:45 a.m.: Consideration of options for design and construction of the proposed Kelseyville Community Skatepark.
8.7, 10:30 a.m.: Consideration of entering into memorandum of agreement with local American Indian tribes to establish a formal process for government to government consultations and project review procedures pursuant to SB 18 and AB 52.
8.8, 11 a.m.: Assessment appeal hearing, sitting as the Lake County Local Board of Equalization, Davita, Inc. - Application No. 43-2013 - 14400 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA (APN 039-570-230) California Newspapers Partnership - Application No. 50-2013 - 2150 S. Main Street, Lakeport, CA (APN 005-050-010).
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.3: Ratification of Valley fire related contracts entered into between Sept. 12, 2015, and Dec. 1, 2015, over $10,000 for services and over $25,000 for materials, supplies and equipment.
9.4: Consideration of CXT Montrose Bathroom Facility at Hammond Park.
9.5: Consideration of establishing a community revitalization authority as authorized by Assembly Bill 2.
CLOSED SESSION
10.2: Conference with Legal Counsel: Existing Litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54956.9(d)(1): Lakeside Heights HOA, et al. v. County of Lake.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Council set to hold second reading of ordinance to deal with shopping cart issue
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council entertained a first reading of an ordinance addressing abandoned and stolen shopping carts in the city at a meeting earlier this month, and is set to consider final adoption of the new rules in early December.
The purpose of the ordinance is to ensure that measures are taken by cart owners to prevent the removal of shopping carts from store premises and parking lots.
It is also meant to facilitate the retrieval of abandoned carts as permitted by state law.
The ordinance applies to all businesses that provide five or more shopping carts for customer use at any one business location.
It requires those business owners to place identification on shopping carts and develop a prevention plan for unlawful removal as well as establish retrieval measures.
At the council's Nov. 12 meeting City Manager Greg Folsom said the ordinance is based in part on a section of the California Business and Professions Code, which requires all shopping and laundry carts be signed with the owner identification, makes it unlawful to remove a cart from the business location and unlawful to be in possession of the cart off the business premises.
The ordinance will apply to seven area businesses including Safeway, Dollar Tree, Grocery Outlet, Rite-Aid, Foods Etc., Walmart and Ray's Food Place.
Businesses to which the ordinance applies will be required to place identification on shopping carts including the name of the store or owner and a telephone number for return.
The impacted businesses also will be required to provide notice to the public that the unauthorized removal or possession of a shopping cart is a violation of state laws and city ordinance.
"It's illegal. It's a misdemeanor," which Folsom said is punishable by imprisonment in county jail not exceeding six months and/or a fine not exceeding $1,000.
Affected businesses will be required to provide a loss prevention plan, subject to city approval. The plan must include a description of the measures to prevent the removal of shopping carts from the premises.
These measures may include, but are not limited to, devices on shopping carts that automatically disable them if they are removed from the premises, employment of personnel to advise and deter customers from removing shopping carts, installation of obstacles to prevent cart removal, the collection of security deposits for use of all carts, or the rental or sale of utility carts that can be temporarily or permanently used to transport purchases.
The plan also must include retrieval measures to retrieve shopping carts that are removed from the owner's premises on a weekly basis and within 72 hours of notice from the city.
Such measures may include hiring personnel or contractors to retrieve shopping carts. The city may require retrieval on a more frequent time schedule upon 30-day notice to the business owner, according to the ordinance.
In addition to unlawful removal of carts, the ordinance prohibits a person from leaving or abandoning a shopping cart in a location other than the premises or parking area of the business, with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the owner of possession of the cart.
It also makes it illegal to alter, convert or tamper with a shopping cart, or to remove any part or portion thereof or to remove, obliterate or alter serial numbers on the cart.
The ordinance provides for penalties for failing submit and/or implement a prevention plan. Those failing to comply could incur a $1,000 civil penalty plus an additional penalty of $50 for each day of noncompliance.
Under the section, the city is authorized to impound abandoned carts and immediately dispose of those that do not have the proper identification affixed.
According to the ordinance, when city staff sees an abandoned cart, staff will first call the designated person listed on the theft prevention plan and notify them that they have 24 hours to retrieve the cart. If the cart is not retrieved after 24 hours, the city will have the right to impound the cart.
The owner will be notified of the impoundment within 24 hours and be given three business days to retrieve the cart from the city.
Pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 22435.7, any owner who fails to retrieve an abandoned cart within three business days, will have to pay the city's administrative costs for retrieving the cart and for providing notification to the owner.
Any owner who fails to retrieve abandoned carts in excess of three times in a six-month period will be subject to a $50 fine for each occurrence.
“It puts a lot of the burden, definitely, on the retailers,” said District 2 County Supervisor Jeff Smith, who asked what would be done to educate the people on the street who have the carts. He said it's not the retailers' fault that the carts are being taken.
He suggested a civil penalty ordinance be put in place to discourage people taking the carts. “I think we need to put a little burden on the folks that are taking them, because that's really the problem.”
Melissa Wills-Markgraf, the assistant manager of the Clearlake Dollar Tree store, spoke against the ordinance, and said it's not a good deterrent.
She said there already exists in state law a misdemeanor for possession of stolen property. “We cannot stop people from stealing, and this is the same as shoplifting.”
Instead of impounding the carts and storing them, she suggested bringing the carts back to retailers and charging them a delivery fee. That could be done through setting up an agreement with a subcontractor who would be paid by retailers to retrieve them.
Wills-Markgraf said the city needs businesses. “I wasn't here 40 years ago, but I know what you have now, and you don't have much to support. So you don't want to hinder us, you want to help us.”
Police Chief Craig Clausen explained during the discussion that the ordinance gives authorities a better process to get the carts back than is found in the state Business and Professions Code. That code makes it difficult to pursue criminal action for theft of carts because the theft has to be witnessed. In the case of the city ordinance, action can be taken against the person who is found in possession of the cart.
Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson asked if the ordinance included administrative penalties for the cart thefts. Clausen said no, but that the city currently is working on adding administrative penalties for the entire municipal code, and it's his intention to work it into the shopping cart rules.
Councilman Russ Perdock said doing nothing hasn't worked, and leaving it up to retailers to round up the carts hasn't worked. “So here we are.”
Wills-Markgraf, returning to the podium to respond, said there was a three-prong approach: dealing with the theft, educating the public about taking the carts and collection. She said the carts are taken faster than they can pick them up.
“There has to be a way that we can get this done with minimal cost, instead of creating another business,” she said.
Following additional discussion, the council approved the first reading in a 3-0 vote, with council members Joyce Overton and Denise Loustalot absent.
The Clearlake City Council is set to hold a second and final reading of the ordinance and consider its final adoption at its meeting on Thursday, Dec. 10.
Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at
Clearlake City Council, planning commission consider Highlands Park master plan
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The preliminary master plan for Highlands Park was the topic of a special joint meeting of the Clearlake City Council and Clearlake Planning Commission on Tuesday.
The presentation by Foothill Associates included a cost estimate nearing $2.5 million.
The final master plan is expected to be completed by mid-December. Jared Barnes, Foothill Associates landscape planner, said the plan will be used as a tool to seek funding and upgrade the park.
The development of the preliminary master plan incorporates details identified in the Lakeshore Drive Corridor Plan and Clearlake Vision Task Force report.
The process has included a number of opportunities for public input as well.
Barnes said public comments obtained at an open house, which was attended by 25 people in October, and those collected from 84 survey respondents were incorporated into the development of the preliminary master plan.
As a result of the responses, Barnes said, “The vision of Highlands Park is to be a safe and welcoming park that provides family-friendly recreational activities and calm, beautiful spaces.”
According to Barnes, high priority features identified by the public included those such as establishment of a chamber of commerce/visitor center, oak woodland areas, community activity and special events zones; pedestrian pathways, boardwalk and beach access, and fishing and viewing areas.
In addition, the preliminary master plan includes areas for horseshoe pits and a bocce ball court, a stage, bus stop shelters, picnic areas and other amenities. Lighting, safety and vehicle access are also addressed in the plan as are permanent restroom facilities.
Barnes said an under usage of the park was identified in the development of the plan. The top three reasons people visit the park, according to survey response, are walking, attending the farmers' market and viewing of the lake, wildlife and sunsets.
"Events and entertainment are the best ways to increase (park) usage," Barnes said. "Having different types of space will encourage more diverse use."
Barnes said some areas recommended to encourage use include public art events and celebration of the area's American Indian history and culture.
The cost estimate for the project identifies expenses in 11 categories: construction preliminaries ($85,000); demolition and earthworks ($60,000); Lakeshore Drive improvements ($199,673); hard surfaces ($248,406); structures ($210,000); utilities ($230,000); courts ($50,000); furniture and fixtures ($134,500); walls, decks and fences ($448,480); landscaping ($106,160); other ($150,000). The estimate also includes professional fees and permits ($192,222) and a 20-percent contingency ($384,444).
"It is a realistic but conservative cost estimate," Barnes said, adding priorities can be identified in the design process. "It's a plan that (can be implemented) over time as funding becomes available."
Public Works Director Doug Herren said he anticipates several aspects of the project to be accomplished through in-kind donations and contributions from the community, significantly lowering the city's cost.
Barnes said input received at the special joint meeting will be used to revise the preliminary plan and cost estimate.
Additionally, potential funding strategies that may be used to implement the proposed master plan improvements will be developed.
Barnes told Lake County News that the key items raised at the joint meeting that will be incorporated into the final draft include reconsideration of restroom location to better serve park guests and those of the chamber/visitor center; the addition of a pathway through the oak woodland area leading to the chamber/visitor center; the reuse of existing boat docks, currently in storage, in lieu of a new floating dock; widening of sidewalk on Lakeshore Drive; potential vehicle access through the park; the relocation of stage; addition of a second bocce ball court; and additional parking near the chamber/visitor center.
The preliminary master plan, cost estimate and joint meeting presentation are available for download on the project website, https://highlandsparkmasterplan.wordpress.com/ or visit www.clearlake.ca.us for more information.
Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at
Supervisors to hold special Friday meeting to discuss Valley fire tree agreement
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting on Friday morning to discuss an agreement for dealing with hazard trees in the valley fire area.
The board will meet beginning at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
Public Works Director Scott Le Leon is asking the board to award a contract in the amount of $17,385,000 for Valley Fire hazard tree mitigation services to AshBritt Inc. of Deerfield Beach, Fla.
De Leon's written report to the board explains that on Nov. 6 the Department of Public Works solicited a request for proposals for services to mitigate trees damaged by the Valley fire that present a hazard to the general public. The mitigation work is to include county-maintained roads and parks.
He said five proposals were received in response to the request for proposals, and an evaluation committee concluded AshBritt is the most qualified of the five proposers.
The project will be funded from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance program, the Federal highway Administration Emergency Relief program, the California Disaster Assistance Act and local funding, De Leon reported.
“The specific source of funding and proportionate share of the various agencies is dependent upon the functional classification of the road where the trees are being mitigated, as well as the specific type of work being performed,” he said in his written report.
Email Elizabeth Larson at