Assemblyman Dodd announces plans to run for State Senate seat

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Seven months into his first term, Lake County's representative in the State Assembly said he plans to run for the Third District seat in the California Senate.

Assemblyman Bill Dodd made the announcement in Davis on Monday.

“I’m running for everyone who is concerned about the California that we are passing on to future generations, and for young people confronting a future with greater uncertainty,“ said Dodd. “I will push for policies that renew the promise of the American Dream and expand the middle class – access to high quality K-12 and college educations, support for small business creation and expansion, and improved roads and highways that help the economy grow rather than drag it down.”

Dodd, a Democrat, served four terms on the Napa County Board of Supervisors before he was elected last fall to represent the Fourth Assembly District, which includes Lake County. Dodd took office in December.

The Third Senate District covers all of Napa and Solano counties, as well as portions of Contra Costa, Sacramento, Sonoma and Yolo counties.

It includes the cities of Petaluma, Cotati, Rohnert Park, Sonoma, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, American Canyon, Calistoga, Napa, St. Helena, Yountville, Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville, Vallejo, Davis, Winters, Woodland and Isleton.

Early indications are that the field for the Senate seat Dodd is seeking also will include Greg Coppes, a Republican and veteran from Dixon.

Republican Charlie Schaupp, a retired Marine who now farms in Esparto, said he plans to run for the Fourth District Assembly seat Dodd now holds. Schaupp also ran for the seat last year.

Dodd also announced on Monday that Congressman Mike Thompson, current District 3 State Sen. Lois Wolk and Solano County Supervisor Jim Spering have endorsed his candidacy for the State Senate.

“Bill and I have worked together on many issues,” said Congressman Thompson. “Most recently, Bill was instrumental in having 330,000 acres of Berryessa Snow Mountain declared a national monument, which preserves an environmental and recreational treasure. Bill has my support because he will be effective in the State Senate on issues that matter for real people.”

Dodd worked to get $1 million included in the 2015-16 state budget for restoring Clear Lake, which the governor vetoed at the last minute.

He's co-authored legislation implementing a state Earned Income Tax Credit, which directly puts money back in the pockets of working families, and worked to include $400 million in the state budget for Career Technical Education.

Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS

City of Lakeport plans third annual 'National Night Out' Aug. 4

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport will host its third annual National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

The Lakeport City Council will cancel its regular meeting in order to take part in the event, which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the new Lakeport Police Station – the former Social Security office – at 2025 S. Main St.

Special events 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.

Written by: Lake County News reports

Supervisors to consider negotiating agreement with veterans housing organization

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week is set to discuss entering into an agreement with an organization for a veterans housing development.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, 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 untimed item, the board will consider a proposed exclusive negotiating rights agreement between the county and Veterans Housing Development Corp. to provide supportive housing for veterans and their families.

The agreement will establish a one-year negotiating period to discuss transferring two county-owned parcels located on 18th and Phillips in the city of Clearlake to the corporation for the purposes of developing an affordable, permanent supportive housing development for very low income veterans and their families, according to the report to the board from Deputy County Administrative Officer Jennifer DeHaan.

DeHaan said that it's expected that within that year Veterans Housing Development Corp. will evaluate the demand for supportive veteran housing, meet with representatives of the county and the city of Clearlake to begin the planning process, confirm zoning and use requirements, identify funding sources, and conduct any other necessary steps to continue moving forward with the development of the veterans housing facility.

She said that, at the same time, the county will work to negotiate an agreement with Veterans Housing Development Corp. for the transfer of the properties. However, she noted, “there is no obligation on behalf of the County to transfer these properties.”
 
In other business, in an untimed item, the board also will consider continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to drought conditions first passed in March 2014.

An appeal of the Lake County Planning Commission's denial of a major use permit for a Dollar General store in Kelseyville that had been scheduled for the Tuesday meeting has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18.

The full agenda follows.

CHANGE ORDERS

6.1: Approval of Change Order No. Three for Soda Bay Road at Cole Creek Bridge Replacement Project, Federal Project No. BRLS-5914(025), Bid No. 13-31, and authorization for chair to sign.

CONSENT AGENDA

7.1: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and the Highlands Senior Service Center Inc. to provide funding to purchase kitchen equipment for the Highlands Senior Service Center in the amount of $11,900 and authorize the chair to sign.      

7.2: Adopt proclamation designating the week of July 20 to 26, 2015, as Invasive Weed Awareness Week in Lake County.

7.3: Approve amendment number three to the memorandum of understanding by and between the county of Lake and the Lake County Employees’ Association, Units 3, 4 and 5 for the period from July 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2016, and authorize the chair to sign.   

7.4: Adopt resolution to ratify the execution of a grant agreement by the district attorney for the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program.   

7.5: (a) Approve waiver of consultant selection process due to lack of economic benefit to the county; and (b) approve construction inspection services agreement between the county of Lake and RGH Consultants for CSA 16 Paradise Valley Water Intertie Pipeline with Clearlake Oaks County Water District, in the amount of $36, 280, and authorize the chair to sign.   

TIMED ITEMS

8.2, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the week of July 20 to 26, 2015, as Invasive Weed Awareness Week in Lake County.

8.3, 9:15 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of appeal(s) of an administrative citation for violating quagga mussel prevention program:(a) Richard Jones; (b) Jose Zapeda; and (c) Jason Buckley.

8.4, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, sitting concurrently as the Board of Supervisors, Kelseyville County Water District No. 3 Board of Directors and Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, consideration of resolutions for collection of delinquent water, sewer and annual lighting fees.      

8.5, 9:45 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, consideration of the LCAQMD FY 15/16 Draft Budget, BU's 8799 & 8798 and policy recommendations.

8.6, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, to be continued to Aug. 18 at 10 a.m., consideration of an appeal to the Board of Supervisors (AB 15-02) of the Lake County 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 St. and 5505 Main St., Kelseyville (APNs 008-710-50 and 51).

8.7, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration/discussion of renaming an existing road in the Kelseyville Area – Forrest’s Road.

8.8, 10:15 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration/discussion to name an existing unnamed road in Upper Lake – Patty Lane.

8.9, 10:30 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of resolution amending Resolution No. 2015-78 relating to fire mitigation fees to correct a typographical error which indicates an increase from $0.80 to $1.00 in Exhibit A thereto as to the fire mitigation fee to be imposed by Northshore Fire Protection District.

UNTIMED ITEMS

9.2: Consideration of the following appointments: Emergency Medical Care Committee and Library Advisory Board.

9.3: Consideration of proposed exclusive negotiating rights agreement (APN Nos. 010-043-01 and 010-043-52) between the county of Lake and Veterans Housing Development Corp. to provide supportive housing for veterans and their families.

9.4: Consideration of findings and recommendations of the Classification and Compensation Committee for FY 2015-16 and authorize Human Resources director to conduct meet and confer with the applicable employee associations.

9.5: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, approve purchase agreement for property located at 755 and 737 E. State Hwy 20, Upper Lake (APN 004-010-04 and 004-013-18), in the amount of $1,510,000 which is fully funded by CDWR grant funds for the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project, and authorize the chair to sign, and authorize the clerk of the board to certify the grant deed for recordation.   

9.6: Consideration of continuing the proclamation of a local emergency due to drought conditions.

CLOSED SESSION

10.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Lakeside Heights HOA v. County of Lake.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Lakeport City Council to discuss minor changes to park plan and solid waste fees resolution

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council is set to consider changes to the Westside Community Park plan, and discuss setting a hearing for changes in solid waste rates and hosting a community chalkboard on the side of city hall when it meets this week.

The council will meet in closed session at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, to discuss an ongoing lawsuit against the county of Lake regarding access to law enforcement records before convening in open session beginning at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

On Tuesday, the council will be introduced to new employees Reanna Hoaglen, Gary Lowblad, Tom Sheffer, John Banuelos, Steven Edwards and Dan Chance.

The city also will honor employees and volunteers of the year – including Carl Touros, Rebekah Dolby, Martha Huerta and Jim Kennedy – and present city Finance Director Dan Buffalo with a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting given by the Government Finance Officers Association for the city’s comprehensive annual financial report.

Under council business, the Public Works Department will take to the council a proposal to consider changing a portion of the planned use of Westside Community Park's phase two from a BMX track and skate park to sand courts and BMX pump track.

Buffalo also will present a resolution declaring the city council’s intention to adopt increased solid waste collection charges, setting a public hearing for Sept. 15 and directing staff to provide a notice pursuant to Proposition 218.

At the same time, the council will consider a resolution adopting guidelines for the submission and tabulation of protests in connection with the rate hearings under Proposition 218.

City Manager Margaret Silveira will ask the council to consider using the north side of Lakeport City Hall – facing the city parking lot at Third and Park streets – for a temporary community chalkboard as part of the Regional Economic Development Committee's second annual Leadership Summit, which will be held at Marymount College on Friday, October 9.

Last year, as part of the inaugural summit, a temporary chalkboard was painted on the south side of the building at 120 North Main St.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes from the regular city council meeting of July 7; and rejection of a claim by Irene Lopez over a water leak.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

072115 Lakeport City Council agenda packet

Written by: Elizabeth Larson

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