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....
Lakeport City Council approves grant application to improve Forbes Creek trail
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council gave its unanimous support on Tuesday night to a staff proposal to seek a $600,000 state grant to make improvements to the Forbes Creek trail.
The trail improvement project would be made as part of phase two of the development plan for Westside Community Park, where the trail is located, according to Richard Knoll, the city's special projects coordinator.
Knoll took to the council a proposed resolution to approve the application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation's Recreational Trails Program.
If the city were to receive the grant, it would require a 12-percent match, or about $72,000, in city funds, Knoll said.
In July, the state announced the availability of the grant funding, which Knoll told the council totals a “fairly substantial amount” for trail projects.
The report Knoll submitted to the council for the Tuesday meeting explained that up to $4 million may be requested per application. To be eligible, trails must be separated from a road and not within a road right-of-way.
Knoll said the city previously received a grant of more than $100,000 from the state's Recreational Trails Program for the first phase of the Forbes Creek trail.
He said a fast track application is under way for the new grant funding.
His written report stated that the funding considers eligible developments to include construction of new trails, development of trailhead facilities including parking lots and staging areas, benches, interpretive signage and drinking fountains, with landscaping generally not considered unless needed to prevent erosion and trail degradation.
Knoll said the proposal is for a total of 1,700 linear feet of trail, which would be continued from the current trail near the proposed beach volleyball court along the west side of the parking area.
He said it would be 12 feet wide, and most likely would be asphalt paving. Another spur of the trail would be 8 feet wide.
“Another big component of the project is the trailhead parking facilities,” said Knoll.
Improvements to that area – where parking already exists on a surface of asphalt grindings – would include 134 parking spots, he said.
The project would solve environmental concerns, including dust issues, and would include surface water drainage improvements, Knoll said.
Knoll said the city would use the grant funds to install at least two water fountains, 10 benches and four double fixture trailhead parking lot lights. “There isn't any lighting out there now.”
Councilwoman Stacey Mattina asked about bike racks. Knoll said the plan didn't include any but he said they would add them.
Other improvements Knoll anticipated the funds being used for included striping, signage and bollards.
In response to a question from Councilman Marc Spillman about how soon the money would be available if it was awarded, Knoll estimated at least 18 months out.
“This is a big opportunity for Lakeport that we ought to pursue,” said Knoll. Even though there may be many other projects with which Lakeport has to compete, Knoll added, “I think you have to take a run at these kinds of things.”
Mattina asked if the improvements would result in additional expenses under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA.
Knoll said the original CEQA document on the park was done about 10 years ago. “It's an old document and the city really out to update that,” he said, adding he thinks city staff can do it in-house.
Wilda Shock, whose family has donated funds for improving the park, told the council that community members are willing to fund items like bike racks, drinking fountains and benches. “I think those are very easy to leverage.”
She said the grant would facilitate the next step in development of a great recreational facility. “It's a great amenity for our community and our visitors.”
Mayor Martin Scheel said he was comfortable with having the city come up with the $72,000 match, noting it's a small price for what the grant ultimately would bring to the city.
“For me it's a win-win,” he said.
Spillman moved to approve the resolution supporting the grant application, with Mattina seconding and the council approving 5-0.
Also on Tuesday, the council adopted program guidelines for the Community Development Block Grant Business Assistance Loan Program; awarded a $724,491 contract to Synagro for the City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District's oxidation ponds sludge removal project, which is being paid for by funding through US Department of Agriculture Rural Development; and approved a plan for restructuring the city's unfunded accrued actuarial liability under the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Waste collection services offered to fire-impacted property owners
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As a service to property owners impacted by the recent Rocky and Jerusalem fires, Lake County has requested the California Department of Toxic Substances Control begin the first phase of the household hazardous wastes removal process.
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday adopted a two-phase debris management and removal plan that includes a partnership with the Department of Toxic Substances Control, as Lake County News has reported.
County officials said the Department of Toxic Substances Control will work with any property owners who opt to allow this work on their land.
To initiate the effort, property owners are requested to contact the county immediately to express their interest and sign an access agreement allowing the state agency to remove household hazardous wastes from fire-damaged properties.
The work will be scheduled only when at least 15 residents have expressed interest, the county of Lake reported.
The soonest possible start date for the Department of Toxic Substances Control to begin removal is Monday, Aug. 24.
As such, property owners are asked to immediately contact Lake County Environmental Health Director Ray Ruminski at 707-263-1164 or by email at
State workers will remove household hazardous wastes from burned homes in the impacted areas of Morgan Valley Road, Double Eagle Ranch and Jerusalem Valley. This service is only for those affected by the fires.
This effort is being conducted free of charge to protect the health of residents, clean-up crews and the environment.
Household hazardous waste must be handled separately from other burn debris and may not be brought to local landfills.
Residents are strongly urged to leave all household hazardous waste in place and are encouraged to not remove any of the materials or damaged containers from their properties.
Household hazardous waste includes unused or leftover portions of products used in your home that contain toxic chemicals.
Products labeled caution, warning, danger, poison, toxic, flammable or corrosive are considered hazardous.
Examples of household hazardous wastes to be removed are:
• Aerosols;
• Antifreeze;
• Solvents;
• Auto batteries;
• Auto fluids;
• Used oil and oil filters;
• Household cleaners;
• Fertilizer;
• Pesticides;
• Latex / oil-based paint;
• Pool chemicals;
• Propane tanks (less than 30 gallons).
Further questions regarding assistance and cleanup efforts can be directed to the Lake County Residents Help Line at 1-800-325-9604.
City of Clearlake to form committee to explore road improvement funding sources
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council on Thursday discussed the formation of an ad hoc committee to explore possible sources of revenue for road improvements.
The council reached consensus to move forward with the proposal, with each of the five council members will provide City Manager Greg Folsom with the names of three citizens for possible appointment to the committee.
The discussion was brought to the table at the request of Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson, who said she gained the idea through her attendance at a recent League of California Cities conference in Monterey.
The idea is to form a standing committee of citizens, which would meet on a regular basis and be ready for appointment to serve the city in different capacities.
Fortino Dickson said there are many citizens ready and primed to get on board and help the city.
Also, she said, those citizens are entrenched in their community and their neighborhoods and may be able to gain ideas from the public that the council may not otherwise hear.
She said the committee should be large enough to be diverse, yet the size also should be manageable.
“We need to get that input front-loaded from the community and then bring that back to council,” Fortino Dickson said.
Councilwoman Joyce Overton said, ideally, the council would like to seek volunteers with experience in grant writing and research who could assist other volunteers in those areas. “You have to have a leader,” she said.
Councilman Russ Perdock said public education and dispelling misinformation and negativity will be essential in gaining support of any initiative brought forth, which he said should be focused on the 2016 election.
He said that in a recent meeting of the Lake County/City Area Planning Council, he heard from a Caltrans representative who spoke of the success of such efforts.
“They've seen a very successful program implemented in our neighboring county, Mendocino County, where this very thing was taken to the voters and passed in four to five cities in Mendocino County,” Perdock said. “They've already started to see the road index improve in those four cities and Ukiah is looking forward to having (an initiative) on the 2016 ballot through a tax measure.”
Perdock said those who spearheaded the effort in Mendocino County are willing to share those resources that gained them success.
Any citizen with grant writing expertise is encouraged to contact any member of the council or call Folsom at 707-994-8201, Extension 120.
Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at
Board of Supervisors approves Rocky fire debris management plan
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a two-phase debris management and removal plan as part of the county's approach to the Rocky fire recovery effort.
Lake County Office of Emergency Services Manager Marisa Chilafoe and Environmental Health Director Ray Ruminski presented the plan to the board.
At a special meeting last week county staff had indicated that up to $5 million in funding from the state could be available to completely pay for the comprehensive cleanup, with no cost to landowners.
Chilafoe said they have been working to prepare a process for debris management to meet health and safety and environmental standards. “It's a pretty complex process.”
Ruminski said the cleanup would apply to structures that had been destroyed by the fire.
He said the first step in the process would include a general sweep of fire-damaged areas, including an evaluation and survey, which would involve the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, a branch of the California Environmental Protection Agency.
The Department of Toxic Substance Control's role in the first step will be to bring in a contractor. Ruminski said they will visit each property, look for household chemicals, propane tanks or other hazardous items, and conduct a survey for asbestos.
He said that evaluation process of burned structures is expected to take a little more than a week.
The second step is a very detailed and comprehensive program, Ruminski said, in which California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, or CalRecycle – another branch of the California Environmental Protection Agency – will be the state partner.
That agency will take information from the first evaluation sweep, and do lab testing to analyze for asbestos and other items, he said.
“The principal hazard here is airborne,” said Ruminski.
CalRecycle will look at what materials can be recycled and worked into the local waste stream, and what needs to be separated out for specialized disposal.
With both steps, Ruminski said the goal will be to obtain written permission from property owners, who also can be present during the cleanup as long as they aren't in the way and don't cause safety hazards.
Board Chair Anthony Farrington asked if local contractors with the proper expertise can be used in the cleanup process.
“We can evaluate that,” Ruminski said, explaining they were working up a role for local businesses. He said the state has prequalified contractors it works with on such projects.
Public Services Director Caroline Chavez is working with local waste haulers on participating in the cleanup and there also will be a role for local water trucks, as dust control will be needed, Ruminski said. “We're going to consider everything.”
Supervisor Jim Comstock asked if homeowners' insurance can cover part of the costs. Chilafoe said yes, although sometimes such cleanup usually is more than insurance will cover.
Social Services Director Carol Huchingson, who is the county's representative on the Napa-Lake Workforce Investment Board, said she was notified that the Workforce Investment Board can access national emergency funds to create a special crew to help with cleanup.
However, board members raised issues with safety and the level of training needed, and Ruminski said the cleanup areas would be considered hazardous waste sites.
The vote to approve the debris removal plan was 4-0, with Supervisor Jeff Smith absent from the meeting.
Another item that had been on the board's agenda, a resolution designating the county departments that will act as the agents for the California Disaster Assistance Act funding needed for the Rocky fire cleanup, was rescheduled to 9:45 a.m. Aug. 25.
County Administrative Officer Matt Perry asked for the delay because his office still hadn't received the final word from the California Office of Emergency Services that the county has been awarded the funding.
“We're still hearing some positive news but no confirmation,” he said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at