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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 host public hearings for Dollar General appeal, Valley Oaks project approval
LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Board of Supervisors will hold public hearings to consider an appeal of the Lake County Planning Commission's denial of a permit for a Kelseyville Dollar General store and discuss general plan amendments and other approvals needed to move the Valley Oaks project forward.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, 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 hear the appeal of Texas-based Cross Development LLC of the planning commission's unanimous denial in May of the major use permit and mitigated negative declaration for the construction of a 9,100-square-foot Dollar General store at 4315 Douglas St. and 5505 Main St. in Kelseyville.
Cross Development builds and leases stores to Dollar General, a small box retailer based in Goodlettsville, Tenn., which has more than 12,000 stores nationwide and in the last few years has begun opening stores in California and on other parts of the West Coast.
At 1:30 p.m., the board will hold a public hearing to consider a general plan amendment, rezone and general plan of development for Kimco Corp.'s Valley Oaks development.
The planning commission approved Valley Oaks' final environmental impact report in June, as Lake County News has reported.
Kimco Development is proposing to build Valley Oaks – a development of 380 single-story homes for seniors, ages 55 and above – in six phases on 150 acres at 18196 and 18426 South State Highway 29, Middletown.
Other planned amenities in the project will include a 31-acre commercial area fronting Highway 29, a senior housing/assisted living facility, 29 acres of public open space, trails and park facilities and a realignment of Coyote Creek.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Adopt resolution authorizing the grant project - Lake County Victim-Witness Assistance Program.
7.2: Approve grant agreement between county of Lake and Redbud Health Care District to accept grant funds of $1,796.99, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.3: Adopt resolution urging the state to provide new sustainable funding for state and local transportation infrastructure.
7.4: Approve advance step hire for Extra Help Social Worker IV- Child Protective Services, Toni Jones at step five due to her extraordinary qualifications.
7.5: Approve bid for Seigler Creek Pipeline Replacement and Hitch Improvement Project in Lake County, Calif., Bid #15-07 to Pacific Underground Services and authorize the Special Districts administrator / assistant purchasing agent to issue a notice of award and execute the contract in the amount of $122,480.
7.6: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Ruzicka Associates for engineering design and inspection services for CSA 2 - Spring Valley Water Distribution System Upgrades, in the amount of $148,900 and authorize the chair to sign.
7.7: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2015-84 establishing a new classification and position allocation to conform with the recommended budget for fiscal year 2015-16 Budget Unit 2201, Sheriff/Coroner.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:15 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of appeal of an administrative citation for William O. Showalter III for violating the Quagga Mussel Prevention Program.
8.3, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of general plan amendment (GPAP 14-02) of a portion of one parcel from Low Density Residential and Rural Residential to Low Density Residential; and a rezone (14-01) from "RR-SOS" Rural Residential-Substandard Older Subdivision to "R1" Single-family Residential; project applicant is the county of Lake; located at 3895 Sunset Terrace, Lucerne (APN 034-592-10 - Grant Murray); and consideration of adoption of a negative declaration based on Initial Study IS 14-24.
8.4, 9:45 a.m.: Carried over from Aug. 18, consideration of resolution designating applicant’s agent for California Disaster Assistance Act Funding for Wildland Fires in Lake County.
8.5, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from July 21, 2015 and Aug. 18, consideration of an appeal to the Board of Supervisors (AB 15-02) of the Planning Commission's decision to deny the major use permit (UP 15-01, IS 15-03) and mitigated negative declaration to allow construction of a 9,100 sq. ft. Dollar General Store, Kelseyville; appellants are Cross Development, LLC; site is located at 4315 Douglas Street and 5505 Main Street, Kelseyville (APNs 008-710-50 and 51).
8.6, 10:30 a.m.: Continued from Aug. 18, consideration of agreement between the county of Lake and Andrew B. Brown of Ellison, Schneider & Harris L.L.P for legal services, amount not to exceed $30,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
8.7, 1:30 p.m.: Public hearing, consideration of general plan amendment (GPAP 06-02), rezone (04-23) and general plan of development (GPD 06-01) proposing the following: (1) general plan amendment from Agricultural and Resource Conservation to Community Commercial, High Density Residential, Low Density Residential and Resource Conservation; (2) Rezone from "A" Agriculture to "PDC-DR" Planned Development Commercial-Design Review Combining District, "PDR-RD" Planned Development Residential-Residential Design Combining District and "O" Open Space; (3) General Plan of Development to create a mixed use development consisting of 380 single family residential lots, a 3.54 acre medium density residential lot, a 2.53 acre senior housing/assisted living facility, public open space, trails and park facilities and planned development commercial area of approximately 31 acres fronting South State Highway 29; project applicant is Kimco Development Corporation; located at 18196 and 18426 South State Highway 29, Middletown (APNs 014-260-36 and 51).
NONTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Consideration of agreement between the county of Lake and O.C. Jones & Sons for the installation of pipeline in Highway 20 for the County Service Area No.16 Waterline Extension, Clearlake Oaks to Paradise Cove, in the amount of $1,047,900.50 and authorize the chair to sign.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
City of Lakeport reschedules third annual 'National Night Out'
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport has set a new date for its third annual “National Night Out” event.
The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at the new Lakeport Police Department headquarters, 2025 S. Main.
The city previously had planned to hold the event on Aug. 4, but postponed it due to the Rocky fire, which at that point was burning east of Lower Lake. The fire was contained Aug. 14.
Special features of this year's National Night Out will include a youth game area and a raffle for bikes with helmets. In order to eligible for the bike raffle, children will need to check in at the Lakeport Police Drug Education Booth.
This will be a great opportunity for the community to meet and greet city council members, city staff, Lakeport Police Department personnel, and local public agencies such as the Lakeport Fire Protection District, California Highway Patrol and Lake County Social Services, to name a few.
Other visitors will include McGruff the Crime Dog and Chipper from the CHP.
Major sponsors for this event include Grocery Outlet, Lake County News, Kmart, Main Street Bikes, Pak ‘N Mail, KXBX and KPFZ.
Hot dogs will be grilled by the Lakeport Kiwanis and will be available to the first 200 people to attend the event.
Learn about starting a Neighborhood Watch group for your street and check out exhibits demonstrating how your local tax dollars are used.
The Lakeport Fire Protection District will be on hand to show off their fire trucks for the children.
In 1984, the National Association of Town Watch, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development and promotion of various crime prevention programs, introduced National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime.”
This began an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie, and to send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
The traditional “lights on” campaign and symbolic front porch vigils turned into a celebration across America with various events and activities including, but not limited to, block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from emergency personnel, rallies and marches, exhibits, youth events, safety demonstrations and seminars, in effort to heighten awareness and enhance community relations.
The city also is encouraging neighborhoods to get involved in putting on their own National Night Out event that evening by holding a block party.
For updates follow the city of Lakeport's Web site at www.cityoflakeport.com or the Lakeport Police Department's Facebook page.
City of Clearlake honors retiring police sergeant
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department and the Clearlake City Council honored Detective Sgt. Nick Bennett and wished him well in his retirement after 51 years in law enforcement.
The recognition for Bennett's decades of service took place during last week's council meeting.
“Sgt. Bennett has devoted his career to improving public safety and served dutifully and with distinction for 51 years,” Mayor Denise Loustalot said. “(He) has provided invaluable guidance and support to his department and administration over his remarkable tenure as a peace officer.”
Bennett began his career in law enforcement in 1964 when he joined the South San Francisco Police Department.
He was promoted to sergeant with that agency in 1970.
In 1978 he joined the Broadmoor Police Department and, in 1980, he went on to serve the State University Police followed by East Alto Police Department in 1985.
Bennett joined the ranks of the Clearlake Police Department in 1996.
He and his wife, Teresa, live in Clearlake.
Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at
Clearlake Planning Commission forwards wireless communication rules recommendation to city council
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission finalized its recommendation for an amendment to the city's zoning ordinance concerning the regulation of wireless communications when it convened on Tuesday evening.
The Clearlake City Council will consider the proposed amendment at its next regular meeting on Aug. 27 at Clearlake City Hall.
The proposed amendment would add a new chapter to the city's zoning ordinance for the purpose of authorizing – to the extent allowed by federal and state law – the regulation of telecommunication services and systems within the city.
The goal is that the amendment would help the city to uphold the public trust by balancing the significant benefits to the community of such services and systems with protections for public health, safety and welfare.
Gary Price, the city's contracted planner, said several applications recently have been received for the development of wireless facilities, consisting mostly of proposals to install large cellular transmission towers.
The city currently does not have any regulations that specifically address these types of applications, which he said are subject to use permits approved by the planning commission.
According to Price, certain state and federal laws limit the regulations which a city may exercise over a wireless communications provider.
“Public utilities licensed by the state Public Utilities Commission, such as power companies and telecommunications companies, have the right to locate their facilities within a local agency's public right-of-way, subject to reasonable time, place and manner restrictions,” he said. “Court decisions hold that a city can regulate these types of antenna on aesthetic grounds as long as the regulations and the city's application of the regulations do not bar a telecommunications company's ability to provide wireless service.”
Price said the applicant must provide information demonstrating that the placement of the antenna is necessary to cover gaps in their wireless service.
If such evidence is not provided, he said the city can deny the permit.
“If the applicant produces such evidence, then the city, if it wishes to prevent the placement of the antenna, must produce evidence that there is a viable and feasible alternative antenna site, with less aesthetic impact, which will cover the gaps in service,” he said.
Staff developed the proposed ordinance adding a chapter to the city's zoning code using the county's wireless ordinance as a model.
It is expanded to not only include review of new wireless facilities on private land, but also addresses facilities proposed for location on within public rights-of-way.
The proposed ordinance contains provisions addressing the following specifics:
– Provides regulations for all wireless communications facilities citywide.
– Encourages latest technology, including “stealth” facilities, to reduce visual impact.
– Requires periodic reporting regarding compliance with federal, state and local laws.
– Requires providers to consolidate, co-locate their facilities.
– Requires information regarding location need and alternative sites analysis.
Additionally, Price said the proposed ordinance address concerns previously expressed by the planning commission related to road conditions and the potential impact construction and maintenance vehicles could have on city streets, particularly dirt street that have limited improvements and poor drainage.
According to Price, staff conducted considerable public outreach throughout the past month including normal public noticing and correspondence with local representatives of the wireless industry.
He said no public comments on the proposed regulations were received.
The public will have further opportunity to comment when the city council entertains a public hearing on the matter at its Aug. 27 meeting.
The proposed document is also available for review at city hall and on the city's Web site, www.clearlake.ca.us , or can be seen below.
Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at