How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
City of Clearlake seeks applicants for planning commission seats
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – With two terms set to expire on the Clearlake Planning Commission, the Clearlake City Council is opening up the application process to community members interested in serving.
Planning commissioners hear and act upon land use matters, and advise the Clearlake City Council on zoning regulations, the general plan and other land use issues.
Commissioners serve at the will of the city council and are designated filers under the Fair Political Practices Commission. As such, they must file periodic statements of economic interest disclosing financial interests within the jurisdiction of the city.
Applications are available at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive; on the city Web site at www.clearlake.ca.us ; or via email to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at
Deadline for applications is March 3.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Lake County Tourism Ambassador Program conducts first focus groups; county, Marymount collaborate
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Dec. 9, the Lake County Board of Supervisors, upon the recommendation of the Lake County Marketing Program, purchased the Certified Tourism Ambassador Program to promote tourism in Lake County.
The new Lake County Tourism Ambassador Program is a formal certification program focused on increasing tourism.
The program serves to inspire local business owners, hospitality and service employees, and volunteers about Lake County’s viability as a travel destination and ensure that every visitor encounter is a positive experience.
Travelers who enjoy their time in Lake County may make a return trip and will be more likely to share their great experiences with friends and family. Everyone benefits – visitors, business owners and the regional economy.
“CTA participants will become more familiar with what Lake County has to offer and how to create a positive impression on our visitors,” said County Administrative Officer Matt Perry. “We expect that this will not just be a hospitality training program, but will go a long way in creating community pride.”
More than 10,000 individuals have earned their CTA designation to date, and the program has been featured in USA Today, the L.A. Times and Business Week Online.
Designed by Mickey Schaefer & Associates, the Certified Tourism Ambassador Program is being adopted by Destination Marketing Organizations all over the United States.
Successful candidates who enroll in the program and complete the training will receive the designation Certified Tourism Ambassador (e.g. Joe Smith, CTA).
The first phase of the Lake County Tourism Ambassador Program began with several focus groups at Marymount California University’s Lakeside campus on Jan. 15.
Marymount's campus Executive Director Michelle Scully, praised the county’s foresight.
“Marymount’s Lakeside campus is a great example of the way that Lake County collaborates and makes economic development a priority,” Scully said. “The Certified Tourism Ambassador Program is an excellent way to showcase our county’s assets and promote growth. We look forward to this summer when our classrooms will be available to host the CTA Program.”
The Lake County Board of Supervisors purchased the Certified Tourism Ambassador Program as well as 200 membership enrollments for county employees and 200 membership enrollments for the private sector.
The cost to enroll will be $49 and participants will be expected to commit to four hours of classroom time and devote several hours of personal time to extracurricular activities.
Kickoff of this countywide program will begin in July.
For questions about the CTA Program, please contact Rebecca Southwick at
The Certified Tourism Ambassador Program is part of the Lake County Marketing Program.
The Lake County Marketing Program, in partnership with the Lake County Winegrape Commission and the Lake County Winery Association, is currently focusing on the upcoming April 2015 San Francisco Chronicle Lake County Destination section.
The Lake County Marketing Program is also creating a new, mobile-responsive visitor Web site to improve awareness of Lake County as a vacation destination.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Board of Supervisors makes adjustments to meeting schedule
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors is starting out this year with some changes to its meeting schedule.
Last week, the board agreed to a trial schedule that reduces monthly meetings from four – on the first four Tuesdays of the month – to three, specifically, the first, third and fourth Tuesdays, for February through April.
The reason for that proposed change, according to Board Chair Anthony Farrington, was the difficulty in recent months of filling up the agenda for all four monthly meetings. He said he brought the matter forward after discussions with staff.
Regardless of the size of the agenda, the amount of work for staff to prepare the agenda and associated materials for such meetings remains time intensive, and with reduced staff in the County Administrative Office, one less meeting a month would help staff, he said.
As part of the discussion, Farrington said he wanted to address the public perception that board members only work on Tuesdays. “I am very cognizant of the perception that most people think we only work on Tuesdays, but it’s not reality.”
An informal survey of county department heads showed that most of them were supportive about the reduced meeting schedule so long as there is consistency about the dates of when the meetings will be, Farrington said.
If there is an urgency for any item, the board could still set a meeting for the week when a meeting isn’t scheduled, he said.
Farrington also surveyed other counties and found that while most met four times monthly, some met three times and the more rural counties like Lake County meet twice a month.
The changes will be on a trial basis, Farrington said, so the board wouldn’t have to change the county ordinance setting their meeting days and the frequency.
Supervisor Jim Comstock pointed out that the board could remain flexible and still add meetings if needed. He said the board has occasionally added meetings on the fifth Tuesdays.
Supervisor Rob Brown said the primary reason for taking the action should be to benefit the public.
“We need to be consistent,” he said.
At the end of 90 days, Farrington said the board can make adjustments.
Brown said he would like to eliminate board meetings preceding holidays. For staff purposes, he said he thought that would be helpful.
Farrington said the board could discuss looking at the calendar and whether to hold meetings on Tuesdays when there is a Monday holiday, or to reschedule to a Wednesday.
Ultimately, the board gave Farrington consensus to move forward with the trial changes to the board meeting schedule.
He also said he would bring back plans for meetings in different areas of the county, at different times, such as in the evening.
“I appreciate the board’s support on this,” Farrington said. “I think it’s good for the community.”
This week, as a continuation of the action taken last week, the board voted unanimously to cancel three regular meetings in February, March and April – on the second Tuesdays of each of the months – as part of the trial three-meetings-a-month schedule.
Taking formal action to cancel the meetings was necessary, as county code states that the board shall meet on the first four Tuesdays of each month, according to County Administrative Officer Matt Perry’s written report to the board.
“While permanently changing the schedule would require amending the Code by ordinance, the Board could agree to temporarily waive the meeting schedule requirement for a trial period to determine whether the County's business may be more efficiently conducted by reducing the number of meetings per month,” Perry wrote.
The board on Tuesday also discussed holding meetings in other parts of the county, besides the courthouse in Lakeport, as well as scheduling some evening meetings.
Brown said he appreciated the intent, but had concern with logistics and additional cost.
He said he didn’t have a problem with meeting in different locations, so long as the change of venue was issue-driven.
In his 14 years on the board, Brown said he’s not heard an uproar from citizens about having meetings in other locations. “I just don’t see it as a need that the public’s asking for.”
He added, “I think while it’s well-intended, I don’t think it’s necessary,” and that it may not be as productive as the board had hoped.
Supervisor Jim Comstock said that in his tenure on the board, the board has held one meeting in Middletown, to discuss the Middletown Area Plan. Like Brown, he emphasized the need for such meetings in other parts of the county to be driven by a district’s specific issues.
Both Brown and Comstock also were unavailable for a proposed evening meeting in Middletown on Feb. 24.
Supervisor Jeff Smith said quite a few people regularly tell him that they would like meetings to occasionally be held in Clearlake. He suggested having at least one meeting a year in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, where meetings already are televised.
Supervisor Jim Steele agreed with changes in the meeting location being issue-driven. In his district, such meetings likely would be held in Lucerne, and he said the meetings could be scheduled far enough in advance to make the necessary adjustments.
Farrington said he would leave it up to his fellow board members to suggest if and when they wanted a meeting held in another location.
He said his vision was not to have multiple meetings in different locations throughout the county, but perhaps just once a year. He said Smith’s suggestion about meeting at Clearlake City Hall would be cost effective.
County Counsel Anita Grant told the board that the law requires them to hold regularly scheduled meetings in the county seat, which is Lakeport.
Because of that, she said they have to adjourn the meeting from the county seat to another location.
“It cannot be a routine,” she said of meeting in other parts of the county.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Lake County leaders urge Congress to immediately reauthorize and fund Secure Rural Schools Act
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Board of Supervisors has adopted a resolution urging Congress to reauthorize and fund the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.
Secure Rural Schools funding mitigates the impact to county governments from the reduction of allowable timber harvesting production on federal forest lands.
California’s rural counties have come to rely on Secure Rural Schools funding – more than $33 million statewide – to support public schools and critical county road programs.
“Secure Rural Schools funding is critical to Lake County’s ability to provide for our residents, and its immediate reauthorization should be of the utmost priority for Congress,” said Anthony Farrington, Lake County Board of Supervisors chairman and Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) delegate.
“In addition, it is time to look at a long-term, stable funding source for forested counties and schools to maintain vital programs and avoid an interruption in services and operations,” Farrington said.
The Secure Rural Schools Act expired on Sept. 30, 2013, resulting in a loss of funding in 2014 and future years to support critical programs in schools and counties across the United States.
California’s forested counties and schools located within those counties are dependent upon federal revenue-sharing programs such as Secure Rural Schools for maintaining local roads, and for providing vital local services and programs.
Lake County is joining RCRC in a statewide effort to raise awareness on the importance of Secure Rural Schools funding for California’s rural counties, and highlight how the lack of authorization impacts their ability to adequately and appropriately fund classroom instruction and improve local roads.
Lake County’s share of Secure Rural Schools revenue averages approximately $250,000 per year.
These funds are deposited into the Lake County Public Works general road fund and are used for daily operation and maintenance.
“The Secure Rural Schools funds equal about what we typically spend on road maintenance materials in a one-year period. The maintenance of our roads could take a huge hit without that funding,” said Lake County Department of Public Works Director Scott De Leon.
RCRC is a 34-member county strong service organization that champions policies on behalf of California’s rural counties.
The organization is dedicated to representing the collective unique interests of its membership, providing legislative and regulatory representation at the state and federal levels, and providing responsible services for its members to enhance and protect the quality of life in rural California counties. To learn more about RCRC, visit www.rcrcnet.org and follow @RuralCounties on Twitter.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports