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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 continue wildfire, drought emergencies; department heads give fire recovery updates
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Tuesday the Board of Supervisors voted to continue emergency declarations related to the wildland fires earlier this year and the ongoing drought, and received a number of updates from county department heads about the progress on fire recovery activities.
County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait returned to the board to ask for another two-week extension of the local health emergency she declared in response to the Valley fire in September, a request the board granted.
Along with Tait, county Environmental Health Director Ray Ruminski reported on the cleanup efforts.
Of the 1,214 sites that have registered right of entry forms for cleanup with the county, 307 parcels have been cleared of debris, Ruminski said.
Of those 307 parcels, 139 have been sampled for heavy metal contamination in the soil. Ruminski said that of those 139 sampled, 55 have had the samples returned from the lab, reviewed and approved.
He said 50 teams are assigned to cleanup, plus a double team is working on the commercial structures cleanup this week.
Regarding the Rocky and Jerusalem fires cleanup, Ruminski said 56 sites have registered with rights of entry and 46 sites have had the debris removal process completed.
County Administrative Officer Matt Perry also asked the board to continue the drought emergency declaration – first passed in March 2014 – and the wildfire emergency declaration from this summer, as the conditions for both still exist. In separate votes, the board unanimously approved extending those declarations.
Ongoing issues with donations, campground
Social Services Director Carol Huchingson, who the board also appointed to be the county's recovery coordinator, gave updates on other aspects of fire recovery, including offering assistance to people who continue to camp at the Hidden Valley Lake Campground.
She said the county is working with the Hidden Valley Lake Association on plans to close the campground at noon on Monday, Dec. 7.
A letter was being prepared to present to the campers explaining the risk to the campground due to the close proximity to Gallagher Creek, she said. Officials have been concerned about conditions at the campground facility should predictions for a wet winter prove true.
Huchingson said county shelter and housing staff will host a resource fair from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Coyote Valley Elementary School for those still at the campground.
Separately, she said they are receiving reports that many of the people who are still staying at the campground are now making other arrangements, with some of the tent campers planning to move on this week.
On Mondays and Thursdays Huchingson is holding office hours in Middletown at the Gibson Museum and Cultural Center, 21267 Calistoga Road.
“The public is starting to come in and talk with me about disaster concerns and I would have to say that trees are the No. 1 issue at this point,” she said, explaining that includes not only felled trees people are left with in their yards and on building sites, but also dead trees.
She said the county's Valley Fire Recovery Task Force is working to address those tree-related concerns.
Deputy County Administrative Officer Jeff Rein updated the board on continuing efforts to deal with the donations that have inundated the county in the fire's aftermath.
He said the enormity of the situation overwhelmed the county's ability to respond, and created the potential for a health and safety risk.
In light of the urgency of dealing with the donations, and at the suggestion of the California Office of Emergency Services, Rein said he enlisted the services of the California Conservation Corps, which arrived in October to assist with sorting donations.
He said he believed – based on conversations in the Emergency Operations Center and a followup email with state officials – that Cal OES would cover the entire cost of having the corps' assistance.
However, now there is a concern that the state may only cover 75 percent of the bill, which has come to $262,000, Rein said.
“We were overwhelmed with donations. We still are,” said Huchingson, noting that efforts continue to sort, manage and distribute the donations.
She pointed out that donations aren't as free as one might think. Referring to the corps' bill, she said, “It costs that kind of money to manage them. It's very, very significant.”
Even with putting out the word several weeks ago that the county is no longer accepting donations, Huchingson said, “Nonetheless, they keep coming.”
Rein said the county is still finding out about donations in various locations. “There's frankly no end in sight right now.”
He said he has discontinued the California Conservation Corps and is now looking at enlisting the help of AmeriCorps, which is free.
The supervisors acknowledged that, in the recovery process, mistake are going to be made.
“We're learning this as we go along,” said Supervisor Rob Brown.
A countywide effort
In other news, Undersheriff Chris Macedo told the board that the sheriff's office is continuing enhanced patrols of the Valley fire area in an effort to catch any illegal activity. He said he had nothing significant to report on that point.
On the Office of Emergency Services side, Macedo said that on Tuesday morning Sheriff Brian Martin, Huchingson and Perry met. The sheriff's office is poised to take over Lake County OES again at the board's direction.
“The county as a whole – county OES, the county government – wasn't prepared for this type of disaster,” Macedo said of the Valley fire.
He said officials thought they were prepared after the Wye fire of 2012, “But not to this magnitude.”
Now, Macedo said, county officials are going back and looking at what they did right and what they did wrong, so they can improve response for the future.
For that process to succeed, he said the board will need to be engaged in determining what they want the Lake County OES to look like going forward.
“It's not just about one agency in the county responding to this. It's about every agency in the county responding to this,” Macedo said, explaining that everyone from new employees to more senior department heads have a role.
He foresees a lot of training for county staff in the future, with some people likely to be out of their comfort zones. All county employees are registered disaster service workers, he added.
Macedo said county officials will put together a comprehensive emergency plan to be more prepared for future incidents.
The board also received updates from Special Districts Administrator Mark Dellinger, who reported on the potential for a huge number of demands on the county's Middletown sewer treatment property.
Those potential demands include Calpine's need for a 15-acre temporary housing site – for between two and six months – for a crew to rebuild the geothermal steamfield cooling tower damaged in the fire, he said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the US Army Corps of Engineers also are looking for areas for temporary housing not in the floodplain, he said.
“Your board may have to set some priorities,” Dellinger said.
Community Development Director Rick Coel told the board he and his staff are working to get a permit center set up in the Pine Room at the Middletown Senior Center next week.
“Staffing that facility is going to be difficult,” he said, explaining that his department currently is operating under personnel shortages.
Even if he fills his currently vacant positions, Coel said he expects he will need more staffing next year.
He estimated that if 600 homes – half of those destroyed – are rebuilt over the coming two years, there will be $750,000 in building fees, or an average of $1,200 per stick-built home.
Perry also reported that Macedo is working on memorandums of understanding with the nearly 40 law enforcement agencies that helped respond to the Valley fire, with more than 30 agencies from across the state offering supports on the Office of Emergency Services side.
Of those agencies that offered assistance, Perry said some are charging for their help and others are not.
In other Valley fire-related news, the board approved sending a letter to Assemblyman Bill Dodd and state Sen. Mike McGuire asking for special legislation to backfill the loss of property tax to the county due to the fire and for a state waiver of the local cost for projects eligible for funding under the California Disaster Assistance Act.
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Supervisors to discuss recruiting new county administrative officer
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors is set to discuss beginning the recruitment process for a new county administrative officer when it meets this week.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, 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 finding a successor for County Administrative Officer Matt Perry is untimed.
In a memo to the board, Perry announced his plans to retire effective at the close of business on April 1, 2016, expressing his desire to spend more time with family and pursuing other interests.
He said he has planned on retiring sometime in the current fiscal year, and making the announcement this far in advance will provide sufficient time for the recruitment and selection of his successor.
A timeline Perry included in his memo proposes a schedule that opens recruitment on Nov. 20, closes it on Jan. 5, includes a panel interview on Jan. 25 and a board interview on Jan. 26, with a board decision and offer tentatively scheduled by Feb. 2.
"Working through the winter will enable me to work with staff to complete the FY 2015-16 mid-year budget review, begin the process for the FY 2016-17 budget, complete other projects, and continue working with the Board, other department heads, and staff to recover from the wildland fires," Perry wrote.
Perry said that, by the time he retires, he will have been with the county of Lake for 28 years.
"Serving Lake County for 28 years has been very rewarding for me both personally and professionally. Although this job has been very challenging at times, I am very pleased with the opportunity to have worked with Board members, other officials, and other staff over the years to complete many projects and fulfill other responsibilities in serving the residents and businesses of Lake County," he wrote.
Perry has been county administrative officer since June 2012, following the retirement of Kelly Cox. Initially, Perry took the appointment on an interim basis, with the supervisors appointing him to the job permanently in December 2012.
In other business on Tuesday, at 9:06 a.m. the board will host a swearing-in ceremony for newly promoted Deputy Sheriff Matthew Gibson; accept a $10,000 donation from Calpine for Search and Rescue operations at 9:10 a.m.; and consider continuing the proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer at 9:15 a.m.
At 9:30 a.m., the board will hold the second reading of a proposed ordinance relating to emergency organization and functions, which would transfer the Lake County Office of Emergency Services back to the sheriff's office. The first reading of the ordinance was passed at the board's Nov. 3 meeting.
In untimed items, the board will consider sending a letter to Assemblyman Bill Dodd and state Sen. Mike McGuire to request special legislation to address financial impacts of wildfires, and will discuss continuing emergency declarations for drought and wildfire conditions.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings held Sept. 18, 2015 (emergency board meeting); Sept. 2, 2014; Aug. 26, 2014; Aug. 19, 2014; Aug. 12, 2014; and July 15, 2014.
7.2: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2015-135 to correct a typo to make elected department heads eligible for longevity pay with at least two years served immediately prior to taking office.
7.3: Adopt resolution pertaining to tax revenue exchange between the county of Lake and Callayomi County Water District (Middletown Rancheria Annexation).
7.4: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Edgewood Center for Children and Families for FY 2015-16 Specialty Mental Health Services, in the amount of $50,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.5: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services for for FY 2015-16 Transitional Age Youth Peer Support Program, in the amount of $40,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.6: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Lake County Office of Education for for FY 2015-16 School-Based Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services, a contract maximum of $561,722, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.7: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Center Point DAAC for FY 2015-16 Detoxification and Residential Services, in the amount of $20,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.8: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Willow Glen Care Center for FY 2015-16 Adult Residential Support Services and Specialty Mental Health Services, contract maximum of $105,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.9: Adopt resolution approving county of Lake Health Services, Public Health Division's three year grant contract in the amount of $182,790 through First Five Lake County to improve services to children, perinatal to 5 years of age and their families and authorizing the director of Health Services to sign said contract and non-supplantation policy.
7.10: Adopt resolution approving the application and certification statement for the State Department of Health Services, CMS Branch's Child Health & Disability Program and Health Care Program for Children in Foster Care Program Grant for FY 2015-2016 and authorize the board chair to sign said certification statement.
7.11: Approve out-of-state travel to Washington, District of Columbia for Sherylin Taylor, PHN, Public Health nursing director, Public Health Division, Dec. 8, 2015.
7.12: Authorize the Public Works Director/ assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order through the statewide bid contract for the purchase of one 2015 Rosco Sweep Pro Broom, in the amount of $67,829.96.
7.13: (a) Waive normal bidding requirements due to the unique nature of the goods and services required to provide the cab and chassis and perform the necessary reconditioning work, and the fact that used vehicles are difficult to locate, per Ordinance No. 2406, Purchasing Code No. 38.2, competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county and it is in the public’s interest to waive the normal bidding requirements for the purchase of the equipment and services and (b) authorize the Public Works Director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $67,130.27 to Charter Sales Co. and a purchase order not to exceed $24,360.14 to Dietz Equipment for the Purchase of one Kenworth 3-axle Tractor and the reconditioning and reinstallation of equipment.
7.14: Authorize the county administrative officer to send letter of acceptance of donation of a 2001 Godfrey Pontoon boat from Tom Czosnowski for use by the Sheriff's Marine Patrol division, valued at $8,970.
7.15: Approve EMPG 15 grant assurances and authorize the county administrative officer to sign.
7.16: Adopt resolution approving the sale of surplus real property owned by the county located at 5960 Roland Drive, Lucerne.
7.17: Approve purchase of two pick-up trucks from Sacramento Dodge in the amount of $53,546.86 and authorize the Social Services director/ asst. purchasing agent to issue a purchase order for said amount.
7.18: Approve purchase of two minivans from Sacramento Dodge in the amount of $51,021.86 and authorize the Social Services director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order for said amount.
7.19: (a) Waive the competitive bidding process; and (b) authorize the Social Services director/asst. purchasing agent to issue a purchase order in the amount of $27,678/15 for the purchase of one Subaru Forester from Ken Fowler Subaru.
7.20: Adopt revision to Resolution 2015-124 - resolution to declare intent to sell real property owned by the county of Lake (6322 Seventh Ave., Lucerne, Calif.).
7.21: Adopt revision to Resolution 2015-125 - resolution to declare intent to sell real property owned by the county of Lake (6825 Floyd Way, Nice, Calif.).
7.22: Adopt revision to Resolution 2015-126 - resolution to declare intent to sell real property owned by the county of Lake (5795 Grove St., Lucerne, Calif).
7.23: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District, Board of Directors, approve joint funding agreement with the US Geological Survey, in the amount of $14,250 and authorize the chair to sign.
7.24: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District, Board of Directors, (a) waive normal bidding requirements per Ordinance No. 2406, Purchasing Code No.38.2; and (b) authorize the Water Resources director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order to Davis Machine Shop, not to exceed $144,200 for maintenance services for the RD 2070 Pump Station.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:06 a.m.: Swearing-in ceremony for newly promoted Deputy Sheriff Matthew Gibson.
8.3, 9:10 a.m.: Acceptance of $10,000 Donation from Calpine for Search and Rescue operations.
8.4, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of continuing the proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer.
8.5, 9:30 a.m.: Second reading, consideration of an ordinance amending Article I of Chapter 6 of the Lake County Code relating to emergency organization and functions.
8.6, 9:45 a.m.: Consideration of agreement between the city of Clearlake, city of Lakeport and county of Lake relative to operation of a local public, educational, governmental (PEG) cable television channel.
8.7, 10 a.m.: Request for board direction for the implementation of a policy concerning noticing deadline for completion of right of entry forms and consideration of the time frame within which subsequent county initiated abatement process for burned structure debris due to Valley fire should occur.
8.8, 10:45 a.m.: Presentation by Tevis Insurance Services regarding health insurance programs and physician care.
8.9, 10:55 a.m.: Consideration of assessment appeal application, sitting as the Lake County Local Board of Equalization, Linda Holm - 90-2013 - 15776 Little Peak Road, Hidden Valley Lake, CA (APN 142-392-040).
8.10, 11 a.m.: Assessment appeal hearing, sitting as the Lake County Local Board of Equalization, SPCA of Clear Lake – Application No. 35-2013 – 223 Shorebird Court, Lakeport, CA (APN 028-373-020) Timothy Toye – Application Nos. 44-2013, 47-2013 and 48-2013 – 15870 Shawnee Circle, Loch Lomond, CA (APN 052-261-050), 9480 Fox Drive, Cobb, CA (APN 051-231-120), 12535 Ridge Road, Loch Lomond, CA (APN 050-662-060) First Savings Bank Custodian c/o Timothy Toye – Application Nos. 45-2013 and 46-2013 – 10004 Fairway Drive, Kelseyville, CA (APN 043-572-270), 9992 Fairway Drive, Kelseyville, CA (APN 043-572-280).
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.3: Consideration of agreement for Valley fire hazard tree mitigation services.
9.4: Clarification of prior board action to increase department head signature authority for Valley fire contract work, and setting of a termination date for this authorization.
9.5: Consideration of letter to Assemblyman Dodd and Senator McGuire to request special legislation to address financial impacts of wildfires.
9.6: Consideration of agreement between the county of Lake and Tony Barthel to provide destination marketing program implementation and management services.
9.7: Consideration of a) continuing the proclamation of emergency declaration for drought conditions; and, b) continuing the proclamation of emergency declaration for wildfire conditions.
9.8: Retirement announcement and direction to staff to begin recruitment for a new county administrative officer.
9.9: Consideration of appointment to the Lower Lake Waterworks District One Board of Directors.
9.10: Consideration of an amendment to the agreement for specialized services of coverage counsel, Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard, & Smith, to address legal services rendered in excess of maximum compensation authorized in original agreement.
9.11: Consideration of Human Resources request to reduce open office hours.
9.12: Consideration of resolution amending Resolution No. 2015-120 establishing position allocations for fiscal year 2015-16, Budget Unit No. 2302, Probation Officer – Juvenile Court, and conceptual approval of reclassifying the current staff services analyst to senior staff services analyst.
9.13: Termination of the food services contract at the Lake County Jail, between the county of Lake and Aramark, to be effective March 31, 2016.
CLOSED SESSION
10.2: Public Employee Performance evaluations: Health Services Director Jim Brown, County Counsel Anita Grant.
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Lakeport City Council to receive Downtown Improvement Project update
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this will will get an update from city staff on the work to improve a portion of Lakeport's downtown business district.
The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will provide the council with the status update on the second phase of the city's Downtown Improvement Project and discuss next steps.
Ingram's written report to the council explains that the project consists of a three-block area on North Main Street between First and Fourth streets.
He said proposed improvements consist of the demolition of existing sidewalks and construction of new 12-foot-wide sidewalks, new handicap ramps at intersections, new street trees, new irrigation lines, new sidewalk tree grates and adjacent decorative sidewalk surfaces, relocation of existing decorative street lights and power supply, new storm drainage inlets and lines, limited new water and sewer infrastructure, and reconstruction and restriping of Main Street.
Ingram will review the proposed project design, construction phasing and scheduling, and will touch on the input from local business owners and community members gathered at an Oct. 7 city presentation and open house.
Also on Tuesday, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen will ask for the council's approval to upgrade the Nixle account at a cost of approximately $1700 for this fiscal year.
Nixle is used by the Lakeport Police Department to send emergency updates and news releases to the community.
In other business, the council will consider a contract change order on the USDA Water and Wastewater Improvement Project; authorize staff to issue a request for proposal for the replacement of the Library Park Fifth Street restroom with a precast concrete facility; make declarations and appointments to the new industrial development authority; and approve and authorize the creation of the Municipal Financing Agency of Lakeport, enter into a joint powers agreement to that effect and approve the associated resolutions.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular Lakeport City Council meeting on Nov. 3; the Nov. 10 warrant register; and Application No. 2016-01 with staff recommendations for the Clear Lake
Performing Arts Association Home Wine and Beer Makers Festival on June 18, 2016.
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Clearlake City Council, planning commission plan special Nov. 17 meeting
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council and the Clearlake Planning Commission will hold a special meeting next week to discuss two city plan documents.
The council and commission will meet beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Business items for the special meeting include a presentation and discussion on the city's active transportation plan and the draft Highlands Park Master Plan.
Email Elizabeth Larson at