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Supervisors to consider less frequent meetings, discuss continuing drought and storm emergency declarations
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss the possibility of scaling back the frequency of board meetings, and also consider extending emergency declarations made last year for drought conditions and a damaging December storm.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, 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.
In an untimed item, County Administrative Officer Matt Perry will go to the board – at the request of Board Chair Anthony Farrington – to ask for consideration of options to reduce the number of regular board meetings held each month.
Perry's report to the board explains that the last few meetings have been canceled due to lack of enough items on the agenda.
“This prompted staff to re-evaluate the need for the Board to meet on a weekly basis. Most northern California rural counties the size of Lake County regularly meet less than 4 times per month. In those counties, the regular meeting schedule is 2 or 3 times each month with an occasional special meeting as may be needed,” according to Perry's report to the board.
He said reducing the number of regularly scheduled meetings per month would help relieve staff of the time spent preparing the agenda and minutes, and attending board meetings, which is important due to staff reductions.
He's suggesting a three-month trial period of one of two proposed schedules: meetings on the first, third and fourth Tuesdays, or the first, third and fifth Tuesdays.
In other board business, the supervisors will consider changing county code and policy to eliminate mileage reimbursement for board members.
Also on Tuesday, County Office of Emergency Services Manager Marisa Chilafoe will go to the board to ask for the continuation of an emergency proclamation declared last March due to the county's ongoing drought conditions.
She also will ask the board to continue its emergency declaration from Dec. 11 in response to a heavy winter storm that dumped several inches of rain on the county, resulting in damage to local roads and closures.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings held Jan. 6, 2015, and Jan. 13, 2015.
7.2: Approve amendment no.1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Edgewood Center FY 2014-15 for Children and Families for Specialty Mental Health Services, a decrease of $45,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
NONTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Consideration of state and federal legislative priorities 2015, adoption of resolutions advocating for federal funding sources, and consideration of legislation request.
9.3: Consideration of changing county code and policy to eliminate mileage reimbursement for members of the Board of Supervisors.
9.4: Consideration of options to reduce number of regular meetings of the Board of Supervisors.
9.5: Consideration of the following appointments: Law Library Board of Trustees, Lower Lake Waterworks District One Board of Directors, Middletown Cemetery District Board, Spring Valley CSA No. 2 Advisory Board .
9.6: Continuing the proclamation of emergency declaration for a) drought conditions; and b) 2014 statewide December winter storms.
9.7: Consideration of equitable sharing agreement and certification for the Lake County Sheriff's Office's participation in the equitable sharing program with the US Department of Justice for asset forfeitures.
CLOSED SESSION
10.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Rivero v. Lake County Board of Supervisors, et al.
10.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Fowler & Ford v. County of Lake.
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Brown won't seek reelection to Board of Supervisors in 2016
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – While he's still got two years to serve on the Lake County Board of Supervisors, Rob Brown said this week that when 2016 rolls around he won't have his name on the ballot again.
Brown, 54, is now in his fourth term on the board, which he joined in January 2001. He represents District 5, which primarily includes the Kelseyville and Cobb area.
His four terms make him the longest serving supervisor for District 5.
The decision not to run again has been some time in coming, with Brown explaining that he's put a lot of thought into it.
“I didn't intend to stay this long,” he said, adding, “I honestly believe it’s time for new energy and younger ideas and fresh perspective on things.”
Prior to joining the board, Brown was elected to two terms on the Kelseyville Unified Board of Trustees.
Public service, he said, has been a lot like raising children, noting there's “nothing more frustrating but nothing more rewarding.”
He said it has been an honor to serve the district, and he ticks off a number of his proudest accomplishments – among them, the 2011 purchase of 1,520 acres on top of Mt. Konocti, land which is now a county park.
The county's $3.6 million purchase, which had broad public support, opened up the land to the public and saved it from the potential for private development. Brown called it a “public legacy for our future generations.”
In the 14 years he's served so far, Brown also has helped secure funding for the Kelseyville Senior Center and money to support improving Cobb School.
He said he's also delivered more road repaving and repairs for District 5 than all other Lake County districts combined.
One of his priorities has been supporting programs for youth.
Brown said he's especially pleased to have brought youth facilities like the Kelseyville High School Wrestling Room, the District Attorney's Office's youth interview center and BMX track to District 5 at no cost to taxpayers.
By the time he walks out the door in January of 2017, Brown hopes to have finished up some other projects, including completing a new skate park in Kelseyville.
On the economic front, “I really would like to see somebody legitimate take over Konocti (Harbor) and get that reopened,” he said, noting he will do what he can to help whoever might want to purchase the resort. “I think that’s crucial to the county.”
He said he's received word that the resort, which closed in 2009, is about to be listed once again and actively marketed. A serious prospective buyer dropped out of the running last May after not being able to raise the capital needed to renovate the resort, as Lake County News has reported.
“There's a lot of people that think that the county should step in and take over,” Brown said, but he's against that route.
However, he does believe that the federal government – which successfully sued Konocti Harbor's pipefitters union owners for using employee pension money to bolster the resort – should force the union to sell it so a new owner can have a shot at getting it reopened.
Other plans for his remaining time in office include working collaboratively with District Attorney Don Anderson, Chief Probation Officer Rob Howe and new Sheriff Brian Martin to provide citizens “with the highest level of public safety protection possible,” Brown said.
One of Brown's biggest frustrations has been the county's inability – due to economic circumstances – to give raises to county employees over the last several years.
He noted that in his first eight years in office, the county government gave pay increases totaling 40 percent to its law enforcement officers. Since then, he said, there has been hardly anything, not even a cost of living increase.
Even so, he said he continues to support that common sense management approach that has enabled Lake County to maintain essential community services “while balancing our county budget without fiscal gimmicks.”
Brown said he's told his board colleagues and county staff of his decision. “We're like a family,” he said, noting some staffers became emotional with his impending announcement. “It's not a work thing.”
While he's had some folks urging him not to rule out another term, he said he feels it's important not to outstay his welcome.
“Anybody can be replaced,” he said.
He said he's been getting calls from people who are interested in running for the board seat, and he said he's looking to support a successor who will bring the same level of commitment and integrity to the board.
Brown is optimistic about seeing someone new on the horizon for the district. “It won’t be very long before they’ll be saying, 'Rob who?'”
He also voiced his gratitude to the people of District 5 for their encouragement and confidence.
Although he's planning to leave the board in 2017, Brown won't be retiring.
For one, he'll continue to run his bail bonds business and get “back on the ranch.”
He'll also continue to coach wrestling at the Kelseyville schools, which he's done for 21 years. He's been coaching other sports since 1979, when he was 19.
Brown said he's looking forward to the next two years, and that he intends to finish strong.
It's like he tells his wrestlers – finish the last round like you finished the first.
There also are plans to get out of Lake County for some traveling that he's been unable to do because of his commitments.
A devoted father and grandfather, he's looking forward to enjoying more time with his children and four grandchildren – three boys and a girl, ranging in age from 1 to 6.
“My family has made a lot of sacrifices,” he said. “They deserve for things to quiet down, too.”
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Lakeport Planning Commission approves sphere of influence, general plan recommendations
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Following a brief public hearing Wednesday night, the Lakeport Planning Commission approved making a number of recommendations to the Lakeport City Council regarding the addendum to the 2014 general plan's environmental impact report and general plan amendments.
The vote on the proposals was 4-0, with Commissioner Suzanne Russell absent from the meeting.
Special Projects Coordinator Richard Knoll took the general plan environmental documents and updates to the commission Wednesday evening.
“This is really the culmination of a long general plan process that was initiated roughly a year ago by the Lakeport City Council in a resolution directing the planning commission to look at a number of focused issues association with the general plan and the sphere of influence and related issues,” Knoll said.
The 2014 General Plan environmental impact report addendum addresses proposed changes and amendments, Knoll said.
One of the main changes related to the reduction of the city's sphere of influence, which 719 acres being removed from it.
Specifically, the document removes from the city's sphere of influence the 600-acre City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District, or CLMSD, property, most of which is located outside the city's southern boundary.
The CLMSD land currently is used for disposing of treated wastewater through irrigation and cattle grazing, according to Knoll.
In 2006, the Lakeport City Council had wanted to pursue a large housing and golf development on the city-owned property.
At that time, the council contracted with Boeger Land Development, which also was proposing the Cristallago housing and golf development in the north Lakeport area, to work on the project, which was placed in city documents as a “specific area plan.”
At a meeting last February, the planning commission agreed by consensus to remove the specific plan area language relating to the CLMSD development project and to redesignate the land for public and civic use after Knoll informed commissioners that the project was no longer consistent with city policy and wasn't going forward, as Lake County News has reported.
The modifications the commission approved Wednesday will reduce nonresidential growth by 130 hotel rooms and 193 RV spaces on other parcels, as well as an 18-hole golf course and restaurant located on 150 acres of the CLMSD land in the special planning area.
Residential growth projections – specifically, on the CLMSD property – would be reduced by between 1,200 and 2,400 units, according to the environmental impact report addendum.
As part of adjusting the sphere of influence, the city also removed prime agricultural land and land under Williamson Act protection.
Other proposed changes involve modifying some general plan policies relating to conservation, infrastructure, utilities and growth, Knoll said.
The proposed modifications won't create a significant impact, which Knoll said meant creating a subsequent or supplemental environmental impact report under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, wasn't necessary.
Knoll said that on Dec. 8 the city sent out a memo and notice on the general plan environmental impact report addendum, receiving one comment from John Benoit, executive officer of the Lake Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO.
Benoit suggested in an email to the city that an additional mitigation measure and general plan policy be added to deal with the loss of agricultural lands.
However, with the city having removed prime agricultural and Williamson Act land from its sphere of influence, and as the Lake County agricultural commissioner has determined that no prime agricultural lands are within the city limits, Knoll said staff wasn't suggesting the additional farmland mitigation measures suggested by Benoit be added to the environmental impact report addendum.
“We're eliminating land that might otherwise be converted to urban use. We're eliminating that land from the city's sphere of influence,” Knoll said.
He did suggest that consideration of such a general plan policy on agricultural land should be considered at the time when the city next undertakes a comprehensive general plan update process.
There was no public comment on Knoll's report during the public hearing. The commissioners also didn't offer any input, noting they had discussed the matters at length in previous meetings.
Commissioner Harold Taylor moved to have the commission recommend the approval of the general plan environmental impact report addendum to the Lakeport City Council.
The motion included the finding that there was evidence to support the determination that the proposed modifications to the general plan and pre-zoning don't require preparing a subsequent or supplemental environmental impact report under CEQA.
The commission approved the motion 4-0.
In other business, the commission approved a proposal by Lake County Tribal Health for a 1,500 square foot kitchen and break room addition to its existing medical clinic on Bevins Court.
The commission also approved a zone change and general plan amendment, along with an environmental review for Lake County Vector Control's properties at 408 and 410 Esplanade St. and 35 C St., over the objections and concerns voiced by neighbors.
Lake County News will focus on Lake County Vector Control and the issues raised by neighbors before the commission in an upcoming article.
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Paredes takes over leadership of CHP’s Clear Lake Area office
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – His new job is a definite change of scene, but the California Highway Patrol’s new Clear Lake Area commander said he’s looking forward to working with the community and enjoying the county’s rural lifestyle.
Lt. Hector Paredes, 54, reported for duty Sept. 1, coming from the commander post in the Border Division’s communications center, which dispatched for four CHP metro areas.
He succeeded Greg Baarts, who was the CHP Clear Lake Area commander since mid-2011.
Baarts was promoted to a captain’s position over the Santa Rosa Area office, effective July 1. In his new job, Baarts manages an office that has nearly 100 personnel total, including 80 officers, nine sergeants, two lieutenants and several nonsworn staff.
“I’m having fun. It’s a great office,” Baarts said this week, adding that his new job is a “unique challenge.”
“It was a promotion for me to leave Lake County, otherwise I would have stayed,” Baarts said, noting he misses the people of Lake County and the tight knit group with which he worked.
In his time in Lake County, Paredes has spent time getting out and meeting community members and local officials, a process he said he’s enjoyed.
On Tuesday he went before the Board of Supervisors. He said he's previously met with two of the supervisors, Rob Brown and Jim Comstock.
“I look forward to working with each of you” and serving the community,” Paredes told the board.
Board Chair Anthony Farrington told Paredes, “You've inherited a good group of men and women in the Clear Lake office.”
Paredes this month is marking his 32nd year in the CHP.
A native Californian, Paredes’ parents came from El Salvador. As such, he’s fluent in Spanish, an ability that he says has been useful during his time in the CHP.
He most recently came from San Diego – which also is his hometown – and has spent most of his career in Southern California, also serving stints in the Bay Area.
However, Paredes said he’s always thought of Northern California as a beautiful area of the state, so he was glad to have the opportunity to come north.
Paredes enjoys the outdoors, is a motorcycling enthusiast and football fan, and has a 25-year-old daughter who lives in San Diego.
In 2012 he took on a spiritual and physical challenge in the form of the Camino Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage.
Also known as the “Way of St. James,” the route, which stretches 500 miles – from the French side of the Pyrenees mountains to northwestern Spain – ends at the shrine of the apostle, St. James the Great, in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where the saint’s remains are said to be entombed.
It took Paredes five weeks to walk the pilgrimage route. Along the way he dealt with sore knees from climbing the mountains, stayed nights in pilgrimage hostels – medieval buildings, some of which were complete with arrow slits – and braved bedbugs.
Addressing community safety
Among the challenges for Paredes – like other CHP commanders – is addressing community safety issues.
Key areas of focus include issues for young drivers. He said traffic collisions are the No. 1 cause of death for young people under age 21, nationwide.
“That’s a big concern,” he said.
The CHP’s “Start Smart” program is one way to prepare young people to be safe on the roadways, and Paredes said he intends to focus on that program in the coming year.
Paredes wants to expand the program and improve its effectiveness, possibly involving local high schools and exploring ways of making it a court diversion program for infractions.
One of the CHP’s continuing efforts will be addressing the issue of impaired drivers, Paredes said.
The majority of Lake County’s 2014 fatals involved impaired drivers, he said.
Distracted driving also is a cause of crashes that is on the rise. Paredes considers it as serious a matter as impaired driving.
Paredes said convincing drivers to not text and to use hands-free devices is important as well as challenging, considering how many people have cell phones.
As such, he said the CHP needs to continue its public education efforts.
An office in transition
At the Clear Lake CHP office, located on Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville, Paredes oversees a staff of 22 officers and three sergeants.
He said the office is going through a transition in personnel, with two veterans – Sgt. Bill Holcomb and Officer Mike Humble – having just retired after decades of service. Officer Josh Dye is serving as an acting sergeant.
Paredes said part of his challenge will be getting new officers to fill those vacancies.
Recruitment for the agency is a challenge. “Unfortunately, my peers are in the same boat,” he said. “Everybody in the state is really fighting for new officers.”
The CHP is pushing a new recruitment effort to get more qualified candidates into its academy. “We’re struggling with why we’re not getting more people applying,” Paredes said.
He’s not sure of whether it’s the economy – with people having more options as economic conditions improve – or the CHP’s stringent standards, with only a fraction of those going through the testing making it into the academy.
Paredes said the Clear Lake Area office lucky to have a CHP Explorer Post, which takes high school students interested in law enforcement and puts them through law enforcement training, with the goal of having those young people eventually become CHP officers.
Of Kelseyville’s 10 Explorers, two to three are in the testing process, and two passed the entrance exam. Paredes noted it’s becoming a very successful program.
In Paredes’ view, there are special aspects to working in a rural area. “Because we all have limited resources, we really have to partner to serve the community in an optimal way and bring public safety in a unified way.”
In metro areas, there usually is more red tape involved in getting commitments for resources. But in Lake County, “everybody just works together,” he said.
He added, “Ultimately, the winner here is the public.”
Paredes has worked mostly in metro areas, with some previous rural assignments. Across those areas, though, the goals remain the same.
“Our service and our mission doesn’t change. The mission of every patrol man and woman is to save lives and find ways to do that,” whether through education, working with Caltrans or traditional law enforcement activities, Paredes said.
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