How to resolve AdBlock issue? City of Lakeport looks for best uses for Carnegie Library, seeks study proposals
LAKEPORT, Calif. – As it continues to explore future uses for the historic Carnegie Library, the city of Lakeport is inviting proposals from firms or individuals interested in conducting a feasibility study of the building.
City officials are requesting proposals from qualified consultants, building and site design professionals, architects, engineers, economic development and marketing consultants, or similar professionals interested in completing the feasibility study.
The library, owned by the city, opened in 1918 on the shore of Clear Lake, with Library Park later developed around it.
The Classical Revival style building was made possible by an $8,000 grant to the community given in 1914 by Scottish steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, according to the Carnegie Libraries of California Web site, http://www.carnegie-libraries.org/ .
Carnegie and his corporation built 144 libraries across California and more than 1,500 more across the United States between 1889 and 1923, the Web site said.
The library was placed on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 2008.
In more recent years the library has been used by the city of Lakeport for offices and storage, and isn't currently open for public use.
The Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee formed an ad hoc committee to consider uses for the building.
Earlier this year Carol Hays, then-executive director of the Lakeport Main Street Association, completed an application for a $5,000 Hart Family Fund for Small Towns grant through the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help fund a building study.
The city reported that it recently was notified that it received the grant which, along with $5,000 in matching city funds, will be used to hire a qualified professional firm to conduct the feasibility study to determine the current highest and best use of the building.
Anyone interested in submitting a proposal can download one from the city's Web site, http://www.cityoflakeport.com/hot-details.aspx?id=153 .
Additionally, questions and inquiries should be directed to City Manager Margaret Silveira, City of Lakeport, 225 Park St., Lakeport, CA 95453; telephone 707-263-5615, Extension 32; or email
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Judge rules plaintiff in marijuana lawsuit against county not entitled to legal fees
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Lake County judge has ruled that a man who sued the county last year over its temporary medical marijuana cultivation ordinance is not entitled to legal fees in the case.
Retired Lake County Superior Court Judge Arthur Mann filed the decision on Dec. 11, ruling that Don Merrill's request for attorney's fees and costs didn't meet the criteria.
Merrill's attorney, Joseph Elford, did not respond to messages left by Lake County News seeking comment.
County Counsel Anita Grant said Merrill originally requested $145,320. He later submitted a supplemental request to the court, which court documents showed sought another 19.9 hours of compensation at $500 per hour, increasing the total amount by nearly $10,000 more.
Merrill and three anonymous plaintiffs filed suit against the county in July 2012, days after the Board of Supervisors passed the temporary ordinance limiting plant numbers according to parcel size. They contended that that the ordinance's limits were not enough to satisfy their medical needs.
Merrill had been a member of a county-appointed advisory board working to create a permanent marijuana cultivation ordinance. Shortly after his suit was filed, the Board of Supervisors disbanded the group, citing the lawsuit as one of the reasons.
In August 2012, Judge David Herrick granted Merrill and his co-plaintiffs a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the ordinance, ruling that anyone with plants in the ground by the time the ordinance was passed – and who was growing in accordance with Proposition 215 – should be able to complete the growing season.
Herrick emphasized that the injunction was limited, and that its protections were up by Jan. 1 of this year.
The case did not get to the permanent injunction phase, with since-retired Senior County Counsel Bob Bridges filing a motion for summary judgment this spring.
The day Merrill's response to the summary judgment filing was due – June 13 – the case was dropped, according to court records. At that time, Merrill was the last plaintiff remaining in the case.
The case was dropped about a month after the California Supreme Court issued a decision in the City of Riverside v. Inland Empire Patients Health and Wellness Center Inc., which upheld the land use planning powers of local governments.
Later in the summer Merrill filed the request for attorney's fees, according to court records.
Bridges and the county argued that Herrick had based his preliminary injunction decision on a decision in a case that has since been rejected by the higher courts. As such, the county claimed that Merrill wasn't the prevailing party and so couldn't receive costs and fees because of a faulty judgment.
Mann's decision did not go into detail, only noting that Merrill's request did not meet required criteria for reimbursement requests.
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Supervisors to discuss skate park proposal, marijuana and sales tax ordinances, freeze event
LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Board of Supervisors will begin wrapping up business for the year with a number of big ticket items – including proposed medical marijuana cultivation and lake tax ordinances – on the agenda, plus consideration of redirecting funds to a proposed skate park in Kelseyville and an update on the recent hard freeze event.
The board meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. It will be broadcast live on TV8.
At 9:15 a.m. the board will consider a request from Supervisor Rob Brown to reallocate $377,475 that has been set aside for developing a park in the Clear Lake Riviera to the development of a skate park.
Brown's report noted that the original plan for a park in Clear Lake Riviera “has stalled and appears to have too many obstacles to be completed.”
As a result, he's worked with community members to reallocate the funds for another park. He said the community supports the concept of a skate park that would be developed near the BMX track in the county park on State Street in Kelseyville. He noted that it would be the only skate park in the north and west areas of the county.
With community members to provide volunteer labor, $250,000 would cover materials, skate park structures and some labor volunteers don't provide, he said. The balance of the funds could be placed in the county's building and infrastructure reserve so it's available for seed money for road benefits zones or other purposes.
At 10:45 a.m., the board will get an update on the recent hard freeze event and consider related fiscal actions. Last week, the board agreed to support Lake Family Resource Center in the opening of a warming center in Clearlake to protect the homeless against the freezing night temperatures.
At 11 a.m., the board will deliberate about whether to approve a proposed new marijuana cultivation ordinance that would – among other things – ban outdoor cultivation in community growth boundaries, limit indoor cultivation to 100 square feet and cap plant numbers on parcels larger than one acre outside of community growth boundaries to six mature or 12 immature plants.
Last Tuesday, the board held a three-and-a-half-hour-long evening meeting at the Lake County Fairgrounds to take public input on the proposal. The board closed public comment at the end of that meeting, with this week's agenda item to focus solely on the board's discussion.
At 9:30 a.m., the board will again discuss a draft ordinance that would place a half-percent sales tax measure on next June's ballot for the purpose of projects to benefit Clear Lake as well as other water quality projects in the county.
In other business on Tuesday, at 10:30 a.m. the board will receive a status report on the sheriff's substation in Clearlake Oaks and will consider placing a substation in Lower Lake, while in an untimed discussion supervisors will consider a request from the sheriff to amend county policy to allow daily take-home use of permanently assigned vehicles by deputies residing outside of Lake County.
In another untimed item, the board will consider several items regarding Marymount California University-Lakeside Campus.
The items include a proposed amendment to Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Transition Plan, a request to waive the formal bidding process and authorize staff to negotiate contract for elevator construction and installation, a proposed first amendment to lease agreement between the county of Lake and Marymount California University and proposed amendment to agreement with Kappe+Du for design services.
The full agenda follows.
TIMED ITEMS
9 a.m., A-1 to A-4: Approval of consent agenda, which includes items that are expected to be routine and noncontroversial, and will be acted upon by the board at one time without discussion; presentation of animals available for adoption at Lake County Animal Care and Control; consideration of items not appearing on the posted agenda, and contract change orders for current construction projects.
9:05 a.m.: Citizen's input. Any person may speak for three minutes about any subject of concern, provided that it is within the jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors and is not already on the agenda. Prior to this time, speakers must fill out a slip giving name, address and subject (available in the clerk of the board’s office, first floor, courthouse).
9:10 a.m., A-5: Presentation of proclamation commending Val Schweifler for her years of service to the county.
9:15 a.m., A-6: Consideration of reallocation of funds for proposed Clear Lake Riviera park to the proposed Kelseyville Skate Park, in the amount of $377,475.
9:30 a.m., A-7. Continued from Nov. 19 and Dec. 3: Consideration of draft ordinance adding Article II to Chapter 18 of the Lake County Code imposing a transaction and use tax for lake-related programs draft); and (b) consideration of establishing a special purpose authority to support said ordinance.
9:45 a.m., A-8: Presentation of 2013 Public Works Construction Summary and future Public Works Construction Plan.
10 a.m., A-9: Consideration of (a) replacement of current automated weather public works observing system (AWOS) at Lampson Field with upgraded system; (b) proposed resolution appropriating geothermal resource royalty funds in the amount of $27,437 toward the purchase of an AWOS III to
supplement the FAA grant; authorization of staff to solicit contributions from private business and/or individuals; (c) waive the formal bidding process, determining no economic benefit; and (d) authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to issue purchase order to Vaisala Inc., total amount $82,662, for an AWOS III system.
10:30 a.m., A-10: (a) Presentation of status report on sheriff substation in Clearlake Oaks; and (b) consideration of installation of sheriff substation in Lower Lake.
10:45 a.m., A-11: (a) Update on hard freeze event; and (b) consideration of related fiscal actions.
11 a.m., A-12: Continued from Dec. 10 – consideration of proposed ordinance amending Chapter 21 of the Ordinance Code of the county of Lake adding Article 72: Regulations for the Cultivation of Medical Marijuana (AM 13-01).
NONTIMED ITEMS
A-13: Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
A-14: Consideration of appointments to the Mental Health Board.
A-15: Consideration of proposed amendment to fee waiver and deferral policy for economic development projects.
A-16: Consideration of capacity expansion/system capacity fee payment plan for individuals.
A-17: Consideration of the following items regarding Marymount California University-Lakeside Campus: (a) Proposed amendment to Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Transition Plan; (b) request to waive formal bidding process and authorize staff to negotiate contract for elevator construction and installation; and (c) proposed first amendment to lease agreement between the county of Lake and Marymount California University; and (d) proposed amendment to agreement with Kappe+Du for design services.
A-18: (a) Consideration of request to approve advanced step hire of Road Superintendent Nathan Mayo, due to applicant’s extraordinary qualifications (fourth step salary range); and (b) consideration of request to authorize daily take-home use of a county vehicle for Road Superintendent Nathan Mayo.
A-19: Consideration of request to amend County Policy #16, Part D to allow daily take-home use of permanently assigned vehicles by deputies residing outside of Lake County.
CLOSED SESSION
A-20: 1. Conference with labor negotiator: (a) county negotiators: A. Grant, L. Guintivano, S. Harry, M. Perry, A. Flora and C. Shaver; and (b) employee organization: Deputy District Attorney's Association, Lake County Deputy Sheriff's Association, Lake County Correctional Officers Association, Lake County Employees Association and Lake County Safety Employees Association.
A-20: 2. Conference with real property negotiator, (a) property located at: 3980 Gard St., Kelseyville (APN 024-081-01); (b) negotiating parties for county: Supervisor Rob Brown, Child Support Services Director Gail Woodworth, County Administrative Officer Matt Perry and Deputy County Administrative Officer Alan Flora; for seller, Kelseyville Unified School District representatives; (c) under negotiation, lease terms.
A-20: 3. Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Beland v. County of Lake, et al.
A-20: 4. Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Morshed v. County of Lake, et al.
A-20: 5. Employee grievance hearing (Henderson).
CONSENT AGENDA
C-1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held on Dec. 10, 2013.
C-2: Adopt proclamation commending Val Schweifler for her years of service to the county.
C-3: (a) Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-96 establishing position allocations for Fiscal Year 2013-2014, Budget Unit No. 1781, Special Projects and Budget Unit No. 1014, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors (allocating the position of Assistant Clerk of the Board full-time through March 2014, and allocating the position of Deputy County Administrative Officer-Special Projects through March 2014); and (b) adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-95 to amend the FY 2013-14 Adopted Budget by adjusting appropriations in BU 1781-Special Projects.
C-4: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-96 establishing position allocations for Fiscal Year 2013-2014, Budget Unit No. 2110, District Attorney (adding an asterisk to the Deputy District Attorney I/II/III/Senior allocation reading “One (1) position funded by Department of Social Services (DSS) for welfare and IHSS fraud prosecution; continued allocation of said position is contingent upon continued funding from DSS”; and add double asterisk (**) next to Office Aide/Office Assistant I/II allocation reading “**One (1) additional position allocated while clerical staff is on long term leave”).
C-5: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-96 establishing position allocations for Fiscal Year 2013-2014, Budget Unit No. 2704, Emergency Services (adding one (1) Emergency Services Manager; and add an asterisk (*) to both positions to read “No more than one (1) allocation shall be filled simultaneously.”).
C-6: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-96 establishing position allocations for Fiscal Year 2013-2014, Budget Unit No. 4010, Environmental Health and Budget Unit No. 4012, Health Services Adminstration (adding an asterisk next to Environmental Health Technician I/II and adding the following footnote “Reduce to one (1) allocation effective 12/28/2013.”).
C-7: Adopt resolution authorizing the Health Services Department to submit a grant application for the California Tobacco Control Program for Fiscal Years 2014-17 and authorizing the Health Services director to sign said application and grant.
C-8: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Glass Architects for facility design services for the expansion of the Southshore Behavioral Health Facility, total amount $10,325, and authorize the
chair to sign.
C-9: Adopt resolution approving Right of Way Certification for Soda Bay Road/Cole Creek - Bridge Replacement Project, State Agreement No. BROS-5914(025).
C-10: (a) Waive formal bidding process, determining no economic benefit; (b) authorize the purchase of Guard 1 cell check system; and (c) authorize the sheriff/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order, total amount $25,251.83, to Time Keeping Systems Inc.
C-11: (a) Approve purchase of one (1) 2014 AWD Ford Utility Police Interceptor, utilizing the state vehicle purchase contract; and (b) authorize sheriff/assistant purchasing agent to issue purchase order, total amount $26,600.77, to Downtown Ford.
C-12: (a) Waive formal bidding process, determining no economic benefit to the county; (b) authorize the sheriff/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order to Baker Distributing Inc., for the purchase of seven heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) units, total amount $44,513.13.
C-13: Adopt resolution of intent to transfer county property not required for public use, pursuant to Government Code Section 25365 (police canine), and set public hearing for Jan. 7, 2014, at 9:10 a.m.
C-14: Adopt resolution approving the sale of surplus real property owned by the county (5960 Roland Drive, Lucerne - APN 034-295-870, Sale Price $8,000, plus escrow closing costs).
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City of Clearlake launches new Web site, Facebook page
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – After an absence of several years from the Internet, the city of Clearlake once again has a Web site as well as a newly created Facebook page in an effort to open new lines of communication with residents and visitors.
The new Web site, which went online late last month and was formally presented to the Clearlake City Council at its meeting last Thursday, is located at http://www.clearlake.ca.us/ .
“It's going to be a great tool for our community, and for our staff as well,” City Clerk Melissa Swanson, who was the city's Web site project manager, told Lake County News.
In March, the council awarded the contract for building the new site to CivicPlus, which also has created sites for a number of local governments across the state, including the cities of Cloverdale, Dublin and Richmond, and the county of Plumas.
The contract amount for building the site was $26,111, with an annual maintenance fee of $4,013, as Lake County News has reported. According to the contract's terms, CivicPlus will redesign the site at the end of four years for no additional fee.
Swanson said she believed it had been 2007 since the city had an active Web site.
She said it was “fantastic” working with CivicPlus. “I am not tech savvy by any means,” she said, noting the company worked with her and other members of the city's Web site committee to make it very easy to understand.
The new site includes information about the city government and departments, services, city ordinances, meeting agendas and minutes, and a calendar.
The site also features an area called “community voice,” where residents can weigh in on a number of topics in an effort to better the city, and a “Let Us Know” section that currently includes forums on council members, traffic complaints and lost and found pets, and which can be expanded.
“I am particularly excited about how much information we will be able to disseminate to the public via the Web site, like our agendas, staff and council contact information, and questions people frequently ask that now can be answered by going online,” Swanson said. “Important documents, like our city budget, will be available for review.”
In addition, the city created a Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/City-of-Clearlake-CA-Government/236486596510756 , on Nov. 22.
There, city staff are posting links to meeting agendas, press releases and job openings.
Swanson said she's excited about a photo gallery the city is developing for the Web site, which includes pictures going back to the 1950s and 1960s.
She said the city is looking for people to submit photos, both current and historical, that they are willing to let the city use on the Web site.
Photos can be emailed to Swanson at
For more information, email Swanson or call her at 707-994-8201, Extension 106.
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Lakeport City Council to select leadership for 2014, discuss signage rules
LAKEPORT, Calif. – In its final meeting of 2013 the Lakeport City Council will choose its leadership for the upcoming year and discuss temporary signage rules that recently went before the city's planning commission.
The council will meet in closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m. to discuss a case of anticipated litigation before convening in public session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
At the start of the meeting, the council will appoint its mayor and mayor pro tem for the coming year.
Another of the meeting's main items for discussion relates to time limits for temporary signs in the city.
Planning Services Manager Andrew Britton will ask for direction regarding the enforcement of the city's temporary sign regulations.
Britton had taken the matter to the Lakeport Planning Commission at its Nov. 13 meeting, as Lake County News has reported.
The commission at that time unanimously voted to send out a letter asking business owners to comply with city rules and to upgrade from temporary signs, such as banners, to permanent signs by May 1.
In his written report to the council, Britton asks if staff should begin enforcement as recommended by the planning commission, or consider several other options.
Those alternatives, based on Britton's report, include amending Lakeport Planning Commission Resolution No. 54 to increase the allowable time limit for temporary signs from 30 days to 60 or 90 days or longer; preparing individual letters to be sent to all businesses displaying temporary signage with specific information detailing the existing sign ordinance violations and requesting compliance; preparing letters to businesses who are displaying feather flags in excess of the 30-day limit and request compliance with the 30-day display limit beginning in 2014; or enforcing the temporary sign regulations only if the city receives a citizen complaint regarding the temporary sign’s appearance or length of display.
The meeting also will feature the presentation of the winners of the 2013 Holiday Decorating Contest, sponsored by the Lakeport Main Street Association, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and the city of Lakeport.
Under council business, council members will make appointments to the Lake County Vector Control District Board of Trustees, Lakeport Economic Development Committee and Lakeport Parks and Recreation Commission, with all appointments effective Jan. 1, 2014, and expiring at the end of 2015.
The council will consider awarding the contract for the USDA storage tank repair and recoating project to Farr Construction of Sparks, Nev., and will discuss purchase agreements for two utility trucks.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the council's Nov. 19 meeting; warrant registers dated Nov. 14 and 20, and Dec. 4; approval of Application 2014-001 for the NorCal Air Cooled Group’s 2014 Lakeport Camp and Shine VW Car Show to be held June 14, 2014; and receipt and filing of report from city clerk in conformance with the California Maddy Act.
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121713 Lakeport City Council agenda packet
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