How to resolve AdBlock issue? Supervisors approve negotiations for potential new Mt. Konocti Park road
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave approval to staff to begin negotiations with the goal of acquiring property for a new road through Mt. Konocti Park.
Public Services Director Caroline Chavez went to the board to get approval to negotiate with a neighboring property owner of the 1,520-acre mountaintop park.
Late last month Mike Fowler and Emily Ford, who sold the county the property for $3.6 million, filed suit against the county and Lake Transit over an easement road through their property being used for occasional bus trips for those who couldn’t otherwise visit the park, as Lake County News has reported.
Chavez said county staff had found an old road that comes off the upper parking lot and skirts around the Fowlers’ property, which could be used for a new road. Most of that road is on county-owned property, but about 20 to 25 percent of it is on an adjacent property.
“I’m looking for some direction and possible appointment of negotiators,” Chavez said.
Board Chair Rob Brown said he fully supported negotiating for the property for the new road. “It’s unfortunate that it got to this point with the Fowlers.”
Brown said he couldn’t believe that the Fowlers didn’t know that there was going to be some use other than hiking on the mountain at some point.
He said the mountain was an important investment, generates about $100,000 annually in income from the communications towers and also helps local businesses that are benefiting from visitors to Mt. Konocti.
“This is about protecting our investment,” said Brown, adding, “I think we did real well by the taxpayers on this.”
Supervisor Jim Comstock said he totally supported giving citizens access to the top of the mountain, and was dismayed by the Fowlers’ actions.
Chavez said the bus program has allowed many older people and those with physical challenges to see the park.
Having a new access route may help the county continue the bus program without having more problems, she suggested.
Tom Nixon, a retired State Parks ranger who helped develop the bus tours program, told the board that the new road would offer an important alternative.
The current alternative trail that hikers take to the top of the mountain “is really not a very good trail,” and the most difficult climb of whole mountain, he said.
It consists of steep stairs, and Nixon said erosion will be a problem. He said it is not a longterm solution to getting people to the mountaintop.
Nixon said he’s been inspired by the mountain, and said it’s a hugely important thing for the county.
Comstock agreed. “We need this to go forward.”
The board unanimously approved appointing Brown, Chavez, interim County Administrative Officer Matt Perry, County Counsel Anita Grant and Public Works staffer Kurt Ackermann – who is a right-of-way expert – to be on the negotiating team for the new road property.
The county previously had agreed to sell some parcels on Mt. Konocti to the Bureau of Land Management, which also owns a large amount of property on the mountain.
Chavez said during the Tuesday discussion that income from that sale would help fund the purchase of the additional road property.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Lakeport announces LEDAC, Vector Control, Parks and Recreation Commission vacancies
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport is seeking community members interested in representing the city on several boards and commissions.
Deputy City Clerk Kelly Buendia reported that the city has eight positions on the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee (LEDAC), a city appointee position on the Lake County Vector Control District Board of Trustees and two positions on the Lakeport Parks and Recreation Commission.
LEDAC’s role is to develop ideas and strategies for the promotion of economic development through business retention, recruitment, attraction and creation.
The eight voluntary positions on LEDAC are two-year terms that will begin in January 2013. LEDAC currently meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 a.m.
One city seat is open on the board of trustees for the Lake County Vector Control District.
The mission of the Lake County Vector Control District is to provide the citizens of Lake County with the highest practical level of protection from vectors and vector-borne diseases.
The Lake County Vector Control District is governed by a board of trustees that establishes policies for the operation of the district.
The board consists of five trustees: one appointed by the city of Clearlake, one appointed by the city Lakeport and three appointed by the county of Lake. Each trustee is appointed to serve a two-year or four-year term at the discretion of the appointing authority.
The Lake County Vector Control District Board of Trustees currently meets at 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at 410 Esplanade, Lakeport.
Two positions, each for two-year terms, are available on the Lakeport Parks and Recreation Commission. The terms begin in January 2013.
The Parks and Recreation Commission acts in an advisory capacity to the Lakeport City Council in matters pertaining to the city parks and recreation.
It cooperates with the Lakeport Planning Commission and civic organizations to advance the sound planning of new recreation areas and facilities.
From time to time, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommends policies on city recreation facilities to the Lakeport City Council for consideration and approval.
The Parks and Recreation Commission currently meets on the second Thursday of each month at 4:15 p.m.
Community members interested in applying for any of these appointments should contact Buendia at 707-263-5615, Extension 30, for an application. Applications also are available on the city’s Web site, www.cityoflakeport.com .
Buendia said applications must be returned to her by 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10.
Appointments will be scheduled for the Lakeport City Council meeting of Tuesday, Dec. 18, Buendia said.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Lakeport man arrested for series of city burglaries; allegedly found driving stolen vehicle
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police have arrested a Lakeport man who they believe is responsible for a series of city burglaries, including one that targeted the city's corporation yard last week.
Walker Robert Maxwell, 18, was arrested on Monday, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
Maxwell was booked into the Lake County Jail on Monday afternoon on felony charges of first-degree burglary, taking a vehicle without the owner's consent and possessing metal knuckles, according to jail records.
Rasmussen said Maxwell is believed to have been responsible for five burglaries to businesses and to the city's corporation yard on Martin Street between Oct. 29 and Nov. 5.
The corporation yard burglary, discovered on the morning of Monday, Nov. 5, was “significant,” Rasmussen said.
He previously had estimated to Lake County News that the city sustained $7,500 in loss and damages from the corporation yard break in.
Rasmussen said his investigators had identified Maxwell as the suspect, and on Monday – after a week of continuous investigation – located and arrested Maxwell, with assistance from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
When police found him, Maxwell was driving a vehicle reported stolen out of the city of Healdsburg, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen commended his staff for the investigation that led to Maxwell's arrest.
Jail records indicated that Maxwell, whose occupation is listed as being a student, remained in custody on Tuesday, with bail set at $15,000.
Maxwell's booking sheet said he is due to appear in Lake County Superior Court for arraignment on Wednesday.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Supervisors to consider buying land for Mt. Konocti Park road; weapons purchases also on agenda
LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Board of Supervisors will look at an option to purchase property to provide for an alternate road through Mt. Konocti Park.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. The meeting will be broadcast live on TV8.
At 11 a.m., the board will discuss the proposed acquisition from a property owner adjacent to the park.
Mike Fowler and Emily Ford, who sold the county the park property on top of the mountain, recently filed suit against the county and Lake Transit over bus tours to the mountaintop park that used an easement road through their property, as Lake County News has reported.
Public Services Director Caroline Chavez’s report to the board explains that staff has been preparing to grade 4,000 feet for an alternate road that would wrap around the Fowler property, “and take the road completely off their residential property and eliminate their concerns for the easement use by our staff and contractors’ vehicles and by specially permitted vehicles.”
She said County Roads Superintendent Steve Stangland found an old road adjacent to the Fowler property that could be upgraded and used for a new road. Chavez said most of that road is on county-owned property, with 20 to 25 percent of the road on an adjacent 130-acre property that is privately owned.
On Oct. 25 the Lake County Planning Commission found the proposed alternative road to be in conformity with the Lake County General Plan. Chavez said next steps include an initial California Environmental Quality Act study, a determination of how much additional property is required and beginning negotiations with the adjacent property owner.
Chavez is seeking the board’s approval to begin negotiations for a construction easement, which “will allow us to ascertain how much property is required for the road and for eventual purchase of that portion of property.”
She said the “most likely source” of funding is from the proceeds of surplus land on Mt. Konocti’s eastern side that the Bureau of Land Management is set to purchase based on the memorandum of understanding between BLM and the county, developed at the time the county bought the Mt. Konocti property.
In other business, in a matter held over from Nov. 6, the board will consider a request from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to approve the purchase of 10 Glock 17 duty weapons, 12 Glock 34 SWAT weapons, 10 Glock 17 magazines, 1 Model 40-XS .308W tactical weapon, 1 Mark 4, Leupold scope and 12 TREK 5.56mm suppressors.
At the same time the board will consider a request to award the bids for the weapons to All State Police Equipment Co. in the amount of $6,565.10, LC Action Police Supply in the amount of $8,461.61, ProForce Law Enforcement in the amount of $2,643.11 and GemTech in the amount of $5624.55.
In an item timed for 11:15 a.m., the board will consider giving conceptual approval to enter into negotiations with Aramark for the provision of food services at the Lake County Jail and Juvenile Hall facilities.
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: (a) Presentation of proclamation designating the month of November 2012 as National Hospice Month.
9:15 a.m., A-6: (a) Presentation of Clear Lake Advisory Committee Quarterly Report; (b) consideration of board direction regarding Clear Lake Advisory Committee; and (c) consideration of appointment to the Clear Lake Advisory Committee.
10 a.m., A-7: Presentation of Domestic Violence Services FY 2011-2012 Final Center Report.
10:15 a.m., A-8: Public hearing, consideration of proposed ordinance amending Chapter Three of the Lake County Code concerning the Commercial Weighing and Measuring Device Program and the annual registration fees for inspection and testing of weighing and measuring devices.
10:30 a.m., A-9: Consideration of proposed Lake County Weed Management Plan Resources/Public Works (covering both aquatic and terrestrial invasive weeds).
10:45 a.m., A-10: (a) Consideration of request for waiver of construction traffic road fees for Robert Cramer; and (b) consideration of request for waiver of Construction Traffic Road Fees for Melvin and Lynn Goos.
11 a.m., A-11: Consideration of proposed property acquisition for alternate road on Mt. Konocti.
11:15 a.m., A-12: Consideration of request for conceptual approval to enter into negotiations with Aramark for the provision of food services at the Lake County Jail and Juvenile Hall facilities.
NONTIMED ITEMS
A-13: Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
A-14: Consideration of request to send letter to state legislators requesting the repeal or amendment of AB 109 Public Safety Realignment.
A-15: Consideration of proposed Agreement between the County of Lake and BHC Sierra Vista Hospital for FY 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 psychiatric inpatient hospital services.
A-16: Public Works Presentation of the Completed Work Summary of road maintenance projects funded by the General Fund.
A-17: Carried over from Nov. 6, (a) consideration of request to approve purchase of fixed assets: 10 Glock 17 duty weapons, 12 Glock 34 SWAT weapons, 10 Glock 17 magazines, 1 Model 40-XS .308W tactical weapon, 1 Mark 4, Leupold scope and 12 TREK 5.56mm suppressors; and (b) consideration of request to award bids to All State Police Equipment Co. in the amount of $6,565.10, LC Action Police Supply in the amount of $8,461.61, ProForce Law Enforcement in the amount of $2,643.11, and GemTech in the amount of $5624.55.
A-18: Consideration of policy regarding media releases and release of public information.
CLOSED SESSION
A-19: 1.Conference with labor negotiator: (a) county negotiators: A. Grant, L. Guintivano, M. Perry, J. Hammond and A. Flora; and (b) employee organization: Lake County Deputy District Attorney’s Association, Lake County Correctional Officer’s Association and Lake County Employees Association.
A-19: 2. Conference with legal counsel: Consideration of whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Government Code Sec. 54956.9 (c), by intervening In the Matter of the Application of California Water Service Company (U-60-w) before CPUC, Application 12-07-007.
A-19: 3. Conference with legal counsel: Consideration of Whether to Initiate Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Sec. 54956.9(c), by joining in the Qui Tam Lawsuit Filed Under Seal - Plaintiff Under Seal v. Defendant Under Seal.
A-19: 4. Conference with legal counsel: Consideration of whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Government Code Sec. 54956.9(c) against Roy Fields.
A-19: 5. Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Government Code Sec. 54956.9(a) - Beland v. County of Lake.
A-19: 6. Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation Pursuant to Government Code Sec. 54956.9c – Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association et al. v. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, et al.
CONSENT AGENDA
C-1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings held on Nov. 6, 2012.
C-2: Adopt proclamation designating the month of November 2012 as National Hospice Month.
C-3: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Anthony Wong DVM, for FY 2012-2013 veterinary services, total amount not to exceed $80,200, (superseding previous agreement and adding veterinary services for the Community Cat Spay/Neuter Project for the Kelseyville area), and authorize the chair to sign.
C-4: Approve first amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and Modesto Residential Living Center for FY 2012-13 adult residential services (reduction of total maximum compensation to $35,000, and removal of modification clause allowing for increase to the agreement of 25 percent by mutual written consent of contractor and county), and authorize the chair to sign.
C-5: Adopt resolution supporting a CalRecycle Grant Application and authorization for the director of Public Works to be designated as applicant’s official representative.
C-6: Adopt resolution authorizing the chairman of the board to approve and direct the tax collector to sell, at public auction via Internet, tax defaulted property which is subject to the power to sell in accordance with Chapter 7 of Part 6 of Division 1 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code and approving sales below minimum price on specified cases.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Lakeport City Council reschedules meeting to deal with grant-related projects
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council will meet this Tuesday, a week earlier than normal, in order to handle grant-related projects by the required deadlines.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The council agreed last week to move the meeting up due to a planned employee furlough later in the month and the need to complete approvals for a US Department of Agriculture application for water and sewer improvement projects.
City Engineer Scott Harter will present to the council a proposed agreement between the city and PACE Engineering Inc. for engineering services associated with the design and construction of the city of Lakeport Water System Improvements Project, to be funded by the USDA’s Rural Utilities Division.
Public Works Director Mark Brannigan also will give the council an update on the application for USDA funds for the projects.
City Attorney Steve Brooks also will present the council with a proposed utility expansion fees deferral agreement with Lakeport Pacific Associates, which is proposing to build a senior affordable housing project on Martin Street.
Finance Director Dan Buffalo will take to the council a proposed resolution and introduce an ordinance to adopt the State of California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Policy.
The council also will hold a closed session for a performance evaluation of Brookes and for labor negotiations.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
