Council adopts temporary construction moratorium for Lakeshore Drive; delays marijuana ordinance topic

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council on Thursday night adopted an urgency ordinance putting in place a temporary moratorium on construction and major remodel projects on a portion of Lakeshore Drive.

The three-month moratorium – which could be extended for another three months if necessary – covers the area between Olympic Drive and Old Highway 53.

At the council’s June 27 meeting, City Manager Joan Phillipe presented idea of the moratorium and received direction to bring back a draft document, as Lake County News has reported.

Phillipe said at that time that the city had been challenged in reviewing projects and requiring design features compatible with the area because no design guidelines are in place for the city’s design districts.

Touching briefly on those points again on Thursday, Phillipe said that the Vision Task Force Report accepted in 2007 by the council had included such design guidelines, but the guidelines themselves were never implemented by the city.

She said the goal is to put in place guidelines that are as consistent as possible with the vision for the area that has emerged in the process to update the city’s general plan as well as the Lakeshore Drive Downtown Corridor Plan that’s still under way.

Council member Joyce Overton asked if color guidelines would be included, and Phillipe said yes.

Phillipe said that once all of the updated planning guidelines are in place, they may be sent back to the Clearlake Planning Commission for further review.

The only public comment came in the form of questions from city resident Estelle Creel, who asked how the temporary moratorium would affect the property at 14295 Lakeshore Drive that the city had purchased for a chamber visitor center. Phillipe said no renovation would be completed within that three-month period.

When Creel followed up to ask if the county – which had contributed $50,000 to the project – had put in place any timelines for using the money, Phillipe said no.

Overton moved to adopt the urgency ordinance, which was accepted 4-0. Councilman Joey Luiz was absent for the meeting.

The other main issue that had been up for consideration at the meeting – a discussion relating to the proposed marijuana cultivation ordinance that the council had failed to pass on its second reading last month – was continued to the next meeting at Phillipe’s request.

However, during public comment, the council heard from several community members who both supported allowing medical marijuana cultivation and those who didn’t.

Dr. Mark Cooper, who is a member of the Lake County Board of Education, raised concerns about the fact that the council previously had removed daycares from the school facilities that require a 600-foot distance from grows.

At the council’s last consideration of the matter in June, the majority of council members asked to add licensed daycares back to the school facilities list.

Cooper said he was responding to incorrect statements made by a council member that no education goes on at daycare centers, which he said isn’t true, adding that children from birth to age 5 are most vulnerable.

He said he and Lake County Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook had spoken about Clearlake’s proposed ordinance and how it would affect everyone in the entire county. Holbrook’s concerns also related to private schools that could be affected by the proximity to marijuana growing.

The city of Lakeport’s recently approved marijuana cultivation ordinance – which requires cultivation in outdoor accessory structures – is “180 degrees opposite of yours,” said Cooper, adding, “Their vision is not your vision.”

Lakeport came up with its own ordinance and didn’t copy the county’s, Cooper pointed out. “My request to you is, look at Lakeport, look what they did.”

He said he didn’t want an ordinance that would lead to a downturn in a community that already has problems.

Clearlake resident Richard Gilmore questioned why a person running a business out of their home would have more rights than he would – a reference to the daycare issue – and suggested private property rights should be limited as a result of the ordinance.

He said people should be allowed to grow the marijuana they need to meet their medical needs.

Another city resident, Dave Hughes, told the council, “We don’t need to allow it at all.”

He recounted a discussion he had with Overton, who said a neighbor’s marijuana grow had made it so that her grandson couldn’t sleep with the window open at night. “Why would you subject the rest of the community to that?” Hughes asked.

Hughes said even small grows can generate crime, referring to a homicide several years ago in which a man was shot to death when suspects came to his property to try to steal his marijuana.

There are many places to grow outside of the city, and Hughes also encouraged the council to look at Lakeport’s ordinance.

Lower Lake attorney Ron Green, speaking on behalf of the Emerald Unity Coalition, said there likely will be litigation against Lakeport over its ordinance, and that Clearlake shouldn’t model its ordinance on Lakeport.

He said Clearlake should remove the criminal penalties included in its ordinance and let code enforcement processes be used to handle complaints.

“You’re going to create new criminal offenses for violating a city ordinance,” he said, suggesting it was better to get rid of the plants.

He said daycare centers should not be included among protected school facilities.

Green went on to criticize City Attorney Malathy Subramanian – who was not present at the meeting – for comments attributed to her in Phillipe’s staff reports regarding interpretation of marijuana-related law.

He suggested that the law firm representing Clearlake – Best Best & Krieger – had assigned to the city a “rookie” attorney who had barely passed the bar.

“As as good attorney I recognize attorneys that are not good,” said Green.

Subramanian, who was admitted to the bar in 1999, has been the city’s attorney since January 2008, and is a Best Best & Krieger partner. She also serves as city attorney for Lafayette and Clayton.

In other news Thursday, the council heard a report on the Vet Connect program from Frank Parker of the United Veterans Council.

He explained that Vet Connect puts veterans in touch with important social and health services. Housing and transportation for vets in need are among the group’s biggest challenges, Parker said.

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.

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 12 July 2013

Local couple to feature handcrafted soaps, skin care products in new store

LUCERNE, Calif. – A Clearlake couple who earlier this year launched their own soap making business will celebrate the grand opening of their new storefront this weekend.

Tiffany and James Meek have opened “The Soap Shack Baby” at 6199 E. Highway 20, in the Lucerne Harbor Artists center at Lucerne Harbor Park.

The store will hold its grand opening this Saturday and Sunday.

The Meeks offer about 14 varieties of handcrafted, all natural soaps and skin care products, and have quickly developed an enthusiastic customer following.

Building from an olive oil base, their natural product line includes soap varieties made with lavender and peppermint, banana, vanilla, pear, coconut, and even wine and beer. Their soap also is wrapped in an organic, seeded paper that can actually be planted.

James Meek, who has had a variety of jobs over the years – from mining to, today, working in information technology – began making soap as a hobby about 10 years ago, as he was becoming interested in herbal remedies and natural healing.

“It’s almost like a meditation for me to make soap,” he said, explaining the creative process in putting together different blends of herbs and essential oils, and finding just the right balance in the various ingredients.

Tiffany said her mother had made soap, so she was familiar with the process.

However, the couple didn’t seriously consider going into the soap making business until late last year.

It was last Christmas, when Tiffany purchased some soap as gifts, that the conversation began in earnest.

When they got the soap, James checked it out and quickly concluded that he could make a better product.

They began making their first soap batches in January, using a 27-foot travel trailer next to their home for the soap manufacturing. They also joined the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, a nationwide trade organization.

In February, the Meeks opened their soap business, with each still holding a full-time job – he works for Twin Pine Casino in Middletown, she works for Lower Lake County Water Works.

They’ve marketed and sold their products at crafts fairs and events in Lake and neighboring counties, and also have a booth at the farmers’ market at Steele Wines in Kelseyville.

When they started earlier this year, they had about 4,000 bars of soap, and they estimate they’ve already sold about half of that supply.

They can make 56 bars a day, with James explaining that making the soap itself takes about a month.

The Meeks say their top seller is the “Cool Down Baby!” soap, made with peppermint and eucalyptus.

“This is just fun,” said James, looking over the products he and his wife have created.

In addition to soap, they also offer lip balms in flavors such as cherry, root beer, chocolate, coconut, peppermint, pomegranate, vanilla and cucumber melon.

They’re planning to expand into other products as well, with a lot of requests for liquid soap and lotion. James said their eventual goal is to offer a full body shop with an even larger line of products.

In June, they began moving into the Lucerne store at the artists center, which is owned by the county of Lake and opened in 2008 after extensive renovations.

Previously, the county primarily rented the spaces to local artists.

However, last year the county decided to make the storefronts available for rent not just for artists but also to tourist-related industries, said Mireya Turner, the assistant clerk to the Lake County Board of Supervisors.

Turner said The Soap Shack Baby is a good fit, as it draws customers to the area.

The new space will offer the Meeks room to grow at an affordable $200-per-month rate.

The soap manufacturing side of the business is now moving to the Lucerne shop. The Meeks said visitors will be able to stop in, purchase soap and even watch it be made on site.

They’re also getting a lot of requests for soap making classes. “That’s in the future,” said Tiffany.

Sales have been building steadily, both with their booth and online at their Web site, http://www.thesoapshackbaby.com/ . They also have an active Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/SoapShackBaby .

Hours for the weekend grand opening are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. All products will be 50 percent off.

Regular business hours going forward will be Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Weekend hours will vary, based on what shows and events they’re attending.

Watch their Facebook page for updates, or contact them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 707-972-0163.

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.

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 11 July 2013

County takes on summer lake weeds

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – If at some point over the past month you've witnessed some unusual vessels working on portions of Clear Lake, you're seeing part of this summer's effort to address the proliferation of lake weeds.

With summer in Lake County comes an increase in lake weeds and algae, and since 2011 the county government has allocated more money to the work of keeping weeds out of popular swimming and boating areas.

Scott De Leon, the county's Water Resources and Public Works director, said the Board of Supervisors set aside $350,000 for weed abatement this year.

“This is a continuation of the weed program that we've run the last three years,” said De Leon.

Altogether, about 220 acres of the lake will be targeted for special treatment this summer, he said.

De Leon said the weed control work was divided into zones, with the county hiring two contractors – Martinez-based Aquatic Environments and Pestmaster, based in Lake County and specializing in herbicide treatments – at a total contract cost of $274,340.

He said that leaves the county with some funds left over in case followup weed treatments are needed later in the summer, as once the weeds are pulled other types usually comes up to replace them.

Conditions are “absolutely” improving following treatments, De Leon said.

Five weed harvesters owned by Aquatic Environments worked off Library Park and along the Lakeport shoreline in June.

They began around the middle of June, said De Leon. “They were assigned about 135 acres of area to treat along the western edge of the upper arm here, all along the Lakeport shoreline.”

The weeds, once harvested, are taken Lake County Waste Solutions and put into the greenwaste, De Leon said.

De Leon said they are creating boat lanes leading to boat ramps, commercial areas and high density residential areas along the lakeshore. There also is a shoreline lane about 50 feet wide just on the outside edges of piers and docks, and the harvesters worked the entire area off Library Park from First through Fifth streets.

In addition, they were treating a recreational area along the Lakeport shoreline where Lakeshore Boulevard meets the lake, stretching down to Alterra. De Leon said the area has historically been very popular for water skiing because it's protected from the wind by trees and topography.

Aquatic Environments specializes in mechanical harvesting, but there are areas within that treatment zone where spraying is used instead due to the presence of hydrilla, according to De Leon.

De Leon said the state doesn't allow mechanical harvesting within a quarter mile of a hydrilla location.

The non-native hydrilla is described by the California Department of Food and Agriculture as a “pernicious aquatic plant which infests natural and man-made aquatic ecosystems.” It was first found in California in 1976 and has posed a problem on Clear Lake for the past few decades.

Lake is one of nine California counties where CDFA conducts eradication efforts; the agency said the largest eradication effort, beginning in 1994, was on Clear Lake's infestation.

CDFA's 2012 hydrilla report said plant numbers remained low last year, at 26 plants in five locations, but that was an increase over the six plants found in 2011.

Besides hydrilla, there are many different lake weeds of concern. Sago pondweed was the main weed pulled up by the mechanical harvesters over the past month, as it tends to be the first weed to sprout early in summer, De Leon explained.

As the summer progresses, other varieties sprout, including curly-leaf pondweed, De Leon said.

After the initial treatment, if other weeds come up, a followup treatment could occur, he said.

The lake's weeds came up earlier this year than last, he said.

“A lot of the areas that we're treated were topped out,” which De Leon explained meant that the weeds already had reached the water surface and were spreading out over it.

“We are seeing an abundance of weeds due to clear conditions,” said De Leon, noting that the weeds also are extending much further out into the lake than has been seen in the past.

The lake is shallow due to lack of rain, and those shallow conditions seem to be contributing to the weed profusion, as De Leon said sunlight is more easily able to reach the bottom of the lake, with that sunlight encouraging weed growth.

The recent hot conditions also kick-started algae, which started growing once the water temperatures climbed, he said.

“We have received quite a few phone calls about the algae,” he said. “But it is a natural phenomenon that we really can't control.”

He said wind and cooler temperatures help knock down and break up the algae.

For more about the county's aquatic weed management visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Water_Resources/Aquatic_Plant_Management.htm .

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.

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 10 July 2013

Clearlake City Council to discuss proposed Lakeshore Drive building moratorium, marijuana ordinance

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week will consider a proposed ordinance that would establish a temporary moratorium on building projects on a portion of Lakeshore Drive, and also will discuss what steps to take next on its draft marijuana cultivation ordinance.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

City Manager Joan Phillipe will take to the council a proposed urgency ordinance that would establish a temporary, three-month-long moratorium on building and major remodel projects on Lakeshore Drive between Olympic Drive and Old Highway 53.

Phillipe initially presented the conceptual proposal to the council at its June 27 meeting and received direction to bring back a draft document.

The proposed ordinance – which would become effective immediately if the council adopts it – is meant “to provide time to put in place design guidelines to be used for processing planning and building permit applications” that fall within the city’s “design district” overlay, according to Phillipe’s report to the council.

Phillipe said that during the moratorium, design guidelines proposed in the Vision Task Force Report in 2007 – which were not previously adopted by the city – will be sent to the Clearlake Planning Commission for review, with a view to having the commission make a recommendation on them to the council.

While proposed to be three months long, Phillipe said if that time isn’t sufficient staff would request of the council a three-month extension.

“There is agreement however from both staff and Council that time is of the essence in order to lift the moratorium as soon as possible,” Phillipe said in her report.

She said the moratorium won’t apply to projects already in the planning and review process, and staff will work with project proponents who want to move forward with beginning planning review.

Phillipe said the moratorium isn’t anticipated to create significant adverse impact to the city because of the time needed to process major project applications.

In other business, the council will discuss the proposed marijuana cultivation ordinance that failed to pass its second reading at the June 13 meeting.

The council is expected to discuss questions raised at that June meeting – among them, clarity of language regarding plant and parcel sizes, including daycares among listed school facilities and an increase in penalties.

Staff will seek direction on how to proceed on the document, a new version of which will have to be reintroduced at a future meeting, according to Phillipe.

Also on the agenda, the council will hear a presentation from Frank Parker of the United Veterans Council of Lake County regarding the VetConnect program, and will consider designating voting delegates and alternates for the League of California Cities’ annual conference in September.

On the city’s consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate with one vote – are minutes from the council’s May 23, June 6, June 13, June 20 and June 27 meetings, and consideration of a letter authorizing the county of Lake to submit a regional used oil payment program application on behalf of the city of Clearlake.

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.

071113 Clearlake City Council - Proposed Lakeshore Drive Building Moratorium

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 09 July 2013