How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Supervisors to discuss groundwater management act
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss with staff how to move forward with meeting new state requirements regarding groundwater management.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, 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 with the video available online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Board_of_Supervisors/calendar.htm . Accompanying board documents and the agenda also are available at that link.
At 9:15 a.m. County Counsel Anita Grant will take to the board a discussion of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
The act is a three-bill legislative package signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last September which, according to the Governor's Office, creates “a framework for sustainable, local groundwater management for the first time in California history. The legislation allows local agencies to tailor sustainable groundwater plans to their regional economic and environmental needs.”
According to Grant's report, the legislation prioritizes groundwater basins that are currently overdrafted and sets a following timeline for implementation: 2017, local groundwater management agencies must be identified; 2020, overdrafted groundwater basins must have sustainability plans; 2022, other high and medium priority basins not currently in overdraft must have sustainability plans; and 2040, all high and medium priority groundwater basins must achieve sustainability.
The legislation authorizes local agencies to become a groundwater sustainability agency. A county within which an area unmanaged by a groundwater sustainability agency lies is presumed to be the groundwater sustainability agency for that area, Grant's report said.
The California Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board are allowed to intervene when local agencies have not moved forward to sustainably manage their groundwater resources, Grant said.
“Given that by January 1, 2017, local agencies with high and medium priority groundwater basins must identify their governance structure for those groundwater basins, the Board of Supervisors may wish to direct staff to begin formulating a timeline and a strategy for moving forward,” Grant wrote to the board.
Also on Tuesday, at 9:45 a.m. the board will get a presentation and update on the county's destination marketing efforts.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held Feb. 3, 2015.
7.2: Approve first amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and Breezy Bill Pay & Errands for Janitorial Services commencing 7/1/2014 and shall terminate upon the move of DCSS from 525 N. Main St., Lakeport, CA 95453, or Dec. 31, 2015, whichever occurs first, for an amount not to exceed $24,000.
7.3: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2014-112 establishing position allocations for fiscal year 2014-2015, Budget Unit No. 4012, Health Services Administration to be effective Feb. 11, 2015.
7.4: Adopt resolution establishing county-maintained mileage for 2014 and authorization for the chair to sign.
7.5: Sitting as Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, approve easement deed for sewer mainline extension, APN 004-002-23/10375 Elk Mountain Road, Upper Lake.
7.6: Waive 900-hour limit for Sheriff Marine Patrol staff members, Dane Hayward, Dennis Ostini, Lloyd Wells; Sheriff Court Security staff members James Everhart, Hart Gall, Mike Powers, Duayne Emis; and sheriff jail staff members Terry Norton and June Waller.
7.7: Approve late travel claim and waiver of county policy for Correctional Officer Anthony Bracisco in the amount of $1,187.31.
7.8: Approve purchase of a temporary construction easement and fee title on a portion of a certain parcel (APN 008-020-25) as part of bridge replacement projects on Ackley Road, in the amount of $3,100 and authorize the County Administrative Officer to execute the necessary documents.
7.9: Approve purchase of a temporary construction easement and fee title on a portion of a certain parcel (APN 008-020-05) as part of bridge replacement projects on Ackley Road, in the amount of $4,700 and authorize the county administrative officer to execute the necessary documents.
7.10: Approve purchase of a temporary construction easement and fee title on a portion of a certain parcel (APN 008-020-50) as part of bridge replacement projects on Ackley Road, in the amount of $4,300 and authorize the county administrative officer to execute the necessary documents.
7.11: Approve purchase of a temporary construction easement and fee title on a portion of a certain parcel (APN 007-006-24) as part of the bridge replacement project on Highland Springs Road, in the amount of $8,100 and authorize the county administrative officer to execute the necessary documents.
7.12: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District, adopt resolution declaring surplus certain real property (APN 007-006-24) valued at less than $25,000 and authorizing its sale to the county of Lake.
7.13: Adopt resolution approving an agreement for the purchase of right-of-way (APN 008-020-23) for the Manning Creek Bridge Project and authorizing the chair to execute the purchase agreement on behalf of the county of Lake.
7.14: Approve budget transfer in BU 2709 from account 38-00 to account 62-71, in the amount of $6,000 for the purchase of an HP LaserJet Enterprise M806 Printer.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of (a) request to waive the policy for review and selection of professional consultants and other contract service providers; and (b) approval an agreement with Oscar Larson & Associates for Department of Energy Grant Program consulting services and authorize chair to sign the agreement.
8.3, 9:15 a.m.: Discussion surrounding the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
8.4, 9:45 a.m.: Lake County destination marketing presentation and update.
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Consideration of agreement between the county of Lake and PulsePoint Inc. for content marketing services for the Lake County Marketing Program.
9.3: Consideration of agreement between the county of Lake and Steve Denero for project management and consulting services related to destination marketing.
9.4: Consideration of staff's recommendation to approve the authorization to order Calnet3 services under the statewide contract.
9.5: Consideration of request for bid approval for the purchase of five Utility Police Interceptors from Ukiah Ford and to waive the normal sealed bid process.
9.6: Consideration of request for bid approval for the purchase of six Sedan Police Interceptors from Ukiah Ford and to waive the normal sealed bid process.
9.7: Consideration of (a) request for bid approval for the purchase of seven Ford Taurus' from Ukiah Ford and to waive the normal sealed bid process; and (b) resolution to cancel reserves in BU 2216 and appropriate $27,000 for purchase of vehicles.
9.8: Consideration of resolution to amend position allocation for BU 2602 for the Code Enforcement Program and consideration of resolution to amend the FY 2014/15 adopted budget to appropriate additional money for code enforcement positions.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Lucerne town hall set for April 10
LUCERNE, Calif. – District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele will hold a town hall meeting in Lucerne on Friday, April 10.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, 3985 Country Club Drive.
Among the topics scheduled to be discussed at the town hall are Lucerne's continued water issues, along with goals, updates and solutions to the water situation.
There also will be updates on the Caltrans traffic circle at the junction of Highway 20 and 29, with a Caltrans representative at the meeting; the repaving timeline for a portion of Highway 20; illegal off-road vehicles; a trails project; trash in the creeks and Clear Lake; volunteer cleanup projects; and general district news.
Community members also may raise topics from the floor.
Steele can be reached at the Board of Supervisors office via telephone, 707-263-2368, or email,
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Meals on Wheels delivers nourishment to seniors in need year-round
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sometimes the simplest things can make the biggest difference in a person's life.
That's the case for many seniors around Lake County, who depend on the Meals on Wheels programs run by five of the county's senior centers not just for nutrition but for a critical human connection – as well as hope and independence.
The importance of this service gets special recognition in March, which in Lake County was designated “Meals on Wheels Month” in a proclamation offered to senior center directors by the Board of Supervisors on March 3.
In delivering the proclamation, District 1 Supervisor Jim Comstock said that more than 116,000 meals are delivered annually to homebound seniors in Lake County as part of the Meals on Wheels programs, giving those seniors the ability to live independently in their homes for as long as possible.
Lakeport Senior Activity Center Executive Director Jonathan Crooks told the board that the month of March is an opportunity for community members to go to their local senior centers and find out how they can support them.
“The last eight years have been very, very difficult. We haven't really seen much increase in funding but we've seen increase in need,” Crooks said.
On the road with Meals on Wheels
Corned-beef and cabbage: That’s the meal local Meals on Wheels volunteer Shannon Postal – accompanied by this reporter – delivered on St. Patrick’s Day.
Some residents were happy to greet Postal with their little bit of green.
Among them was Kathleen Torres, completely decorated in the holiday color with bold green slacks and a loose-fitted patterned shirt.
“I’m full Irish,” she said with a wide smile, welcoming the visitors into her home.
Every day several volunteer drivers take to the roads to deliver meals to Lake County’s elderly.
Each morning in the kitchen of the Lakeport Senior Activity Center a handful of volunteers prepare, cook and package meals – sometimes numbering into the hundreds – for delivery along the many routes driven by Meals on Wheels volunteers.
The meal includes an entrée, bread, salad, milk and dessert. On St. Patty’s Day, dessert was a cinnamon roll with marzipan.
“We serve meals here in the center by donation everyday but some people can’t make it because they’re disabled or they live too far away so we deliver it to them,” said Crooks. “We’ve been delivering since about 1987.”
Postal has driven for Meals on Wheels for more than a year. Armed with a few bags of doggie treats and a positive attitude, she delivers for Meals on Wheels three days a week.
On Tuesdays Postal delivers along Soda Bay Road, a route that takes her 40 miles through Lakeport and into the rural outskirts of Kelseyville.
“This route you don’t know what to expect. You might not make it back for lunch,” she said. “They’re always looking for someone to do this route since it’s the longest one.”
Postal said that many people can’t afford much more food so the meals that they provide is the only food many people receive during the week.
Meals on Wheels recipients fit a diverse profile but they are all required to be at least 60 years of age before they can begin to receive deliveries.
Most have a combination of low-income, limited mobility and isolated living circumstances – often due to the death of a spouse or because their children live too far away.
But not all of the recipients fit that profile.
Larry Smith, who lives in the outskirts of Kelseyville, has been receiving deliveries from Meals on Wheels for more than eight years.
He’s quite mobile and says he goes to the grocery store twice a week, but added with a giggle, “Sometimes you don’t feel like making something and it’s nice to have it and sometimes you can’t eat the junk they send, but it’s OK.”
Torres, on the other hand, looks forward to receiving her meals everyday.
“I go to town about two days a month,” she said. “I’d probably eat worse without these deliveries since this is the first time I’ve ever lived alone. And I save a lot on gas.”
Torres started receiving Meals on Wheels when her late husband fell ill a few years ago.
Among the many photographs Torres has on the walls include pictures of her from years ago with thick red hair and a man who could only be her husband, David, wearing thick glasses, slicked hair and a candid smile.
“He was such a chauvinist,” she said, laughing. “He wouldn’t ride passenger to a woman.”
She admitted that she doesn’t get too many visitors.
When asked if she receives a lot of visits from her children, Torres replied, “Well, my closest lives in Hollister, that’s five hours away.”
Meeting the need
The Lakeport Senior Activity Center organization is always in need of more volunteers and donations for its Meals on Wheels program.
Regarding funds, Board of Directors member Margaret Brooks said, “The government gives enough money for 20,000 meals [a year] but we make 50,000. If it wasn’t for the thrift store we’d probably have to close everything down.”
The Meals on Wheels Thrift Store, located at 120 N. Main St. in Lakeport, has supplemented the organization’s income for more than four years, but there are thrift stores bearing their name in towns all over Lake County, including Clearlake and Lucerne.
Meals on Wheels also pulls the funds it needs from donations offered during silent auctions and events like dances and game nights hosted at the senior center.
In addition to ongoing expenses, this year the Lakeport Senior Activity Center is undertaking a fundraising effort to bring in $66,000 to replace its central heating and air equipment and kitchen appliances, which Crooks said are all 30-plus years old and failing.
An online fundraiser has been set up at http://www.gofundme.com/lakeportseniors .
Another critical ongoing need, according to Brooks, is for more – and younger – volunteers. “Most of our volunteers are in their 70s and 80s,” she said.
Lake County residents can show their support for Meals on Wheels and their volunteers at the March for Meals 5k walk, which will take place Friday, March 27, on Main Street in Lakeport, on Saturday, March 28, in Middletown and at other participating Meals on Wheels establishments throughout Lake County.
Those interested should contact their local Meals on Wheels thrift store or senior center that provides Meals on Wheels for more details:
– Highlands Senior Services Center, 3245 Bowers Ave., Clearlake, telephone 707-994-3051.
– Lakeport Senior Activity Center, 527 Konocti Ave., telephone 707-263-4218, www.lcseniors.com , www.facebook.com/lakeportseniors .
– Live Oak Senior Center, 12502 Foothill Blvd., Clearlake Oaks, telephone 707-998-1950, https://www.facebook.com/LiveOakSeniorCenter .
– Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, 3985 Country Club Drive, telephone 707-274-8779,
– Middletown Senior Center, 21256 Washington St., telephone 707-987-3113,
Shari Shepard is a correspondent for Lake County News. Email her at
- Details
- Written by: SHARI SHEPARD
Supervisors approve plan to manage thousands of paper subdivision lots
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Following a public hearing on Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved the final draft of a plan to manage an estimated 10,000 paper subdivision lots around the county, particularly on the Northshore.
Community Development Director Rick Coel and planner Mireya Turner took the plan to the board on Tuesday morning.
Coel and his staff began developing the plan a few years ago in an effort to deal with the thousands of unbuildable lots created in the early 20th century by land speculators.
The lots have continued to create a variety of problems, including high ownership turnover, unpaid tax bills and use for illicit marijuana grows, and are a source of erosion due to factors such as ATV riding.
A key way the plan proposes to deal with the lots is for the county to seek out opportunities – including donations and purchases – to acquire the lots and put them into open space projects, including the county's growing trails system.
The plan also had gone before the board for discussion in November and February. On Nov. 18, the board had given staff the go ahead to bring back a final draft, with the Feb. 24 meeting leading to some additional fine-tuning and the setting of Tuesday's hearing.
Since that last hearing, Coel said there had been two changes, the first being to remove a reference to the Teeter Plan, a complicated funding mechanism for property acquisition.
He said staff also added a few sentences toward the end of the document making it clear there will be an internal review process involving county agencies before a request to accept any paper subdivision lots is brought to the Board of Supervisors.
“We need to have an internal system of checks and balances to look at the potential for any liability in assuming those properties, to make sure it’s consistent with the objectives that are stated at that time, whether it’s one of the pilot projects or another project,” Coel said.
Coel asked the supervisors to approve the plan and find it to be categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act, specifically relating to the class of actions taken by regulatory agencies for protection of the environment.
Supervisor Jim Steele asked if there is a plan to review the document after a period of time.
Coel suggested that the county could treat it like such documents as the county's housing element, which is reviewed every five years.
Another option Coel suggested was to have staff review it when bringing to the board lots to consider acquiring. He acknowledged that staff will need regular guidance from the board on the plan.
Board Chair Anthony Farrington said any board member can bring the plan up for review at any time.
Coel said the plan includes giving the board updates regarding the addition of lots to a trails project that's proposed for Lucerne.
There was no public comment on the plan during the brief public hearing.
Steele moved to approve the plan, with Supervisor Jim Comstock seconding and the board voting 5-0.
Coel thanked Clearlake Oaks residents Chuck Lamb and Holly Harris for their efforts to assist with the plan's development. Lamb and Harris had been part of previous presentations to the board.
“We’ve said this before but they’ve put an incredible amount of time into developing the pilot projects, and advising and researching things for us for this whole plan,” said Coel. “We really appreciate it.”
Steele agreed, noting that after 90 years of dealing with the lots, the county couldn't have developed the plan without the input from Lamb and Harris, which he said should be recognized.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson