How to resolve AdBlock issue? Sheriff's office, Community Development Department take part in marijuana raid, abatements
NICE, Calif. – An area that residents say has become a hotbed of illegal marijuana cultivation was raided on Wednesday, with plants pulled and county officials issuing abatements to stop camping activities that are giving rise to health and safety issues.
The Lake County Sheriff's Marijuana Suppression Unit and the Community Development Department participated in the operation, which took place on Harding Drive, located off Pyle Road in Nice, according to Community Development Director Rick Coel.
Sgt. Steve Brooks said there were four to five grow sites involved, with about 400 marijuana plants pulled and several arrests.
Brooks said the sheriff's office will be releasing more information on the operation's specifics.
Lake County News has received reports from residents of the area describing illegal growing activity that has taken over the hills, making it too dangerous to walk, hike or ride ATVs.
The reports from residents mention motor homes, tents and newly installed water tanks showing up in large numbers, as well as people who indiscriminately drive across property in order to stake out grow areas, strangers carrying guns and hundreds of plants.
Coel, who was on the scene Wednesday, called the Harding Drive situation “the typical outdoor marijuana cultivation operation on undeveloped land.”
While the Marijuana Suppression Unit led the operation, Community Development Department staff was there to address the RV occupancy and camping, as well as the environmental issues, Coel said.
He said they found an occupied pickup truck with a camper shell on one side of the main grow site, and someone camping under a tarp on the other side of the site.
Community Development staff also took part in order to determine what will be needed to clean up the property and what process to use, Coel said.
There was raw sewage in a tributary stream and garbage left around the property. Coel said the growers had no sanitation facilities or onsite water supply.
He said there were other problems, but the sewage and garbage were among the most immediate problems that necessitate a 48 hour Community Development summary abatement process.
Coel said Supervisor Denise Rushing granted him permission to initiate the summary abatement for the immediate health and safety violations.
He told Lake County News that his department had abated the same Harding Drive site last year due to garbage left behind from a previous cultivation operation.
Also on Wednesday, a sheriff's deputy provided security for a Community Development staffer who visited several other growers in the area and posted 48 hour summary abatement notices on their trailers and motor homes, Coel said.
He said the county was going to start impounding RVs that are being occupied on undeveloped properties where marijuana cultivation is taking place throughout the county.
“There are huge health and safety risks from raw sewage and open campfires, and this simply cannot be tolerated,” Coel said. “The cumulative environmental impacts of all of these grows is significant.”
Coel said his staff is committed to assist the sheriff's office “in any way we can,” adding, “we greatly appreciate the work that they are doing.”
On Tuesday the Board of Supervisors directed Coel to bring back a draft interim urgency ordinance later this month in order to deal with marijuana cultivation-related issues, including grow sites on undeveloped properties like those encountered in the Harding Drive operation.
Coel said an interim ordinance banning cultivation on undeveloped properties is being recommended for approval by the Board of Supervisors at its meeting Tuesday, June 26.
“If approved it will be a tremendous help to law enforcement efforts, and likely streamline the enforcement process,” Coel said.
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Longtime Lakeport Police 'evidence guru' dies
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A longtime Lakeport Police Department member has died.
William V. “Bill” Mooney of Lucerne died on Wednesday, June 13.
Mooney had spent 16 years working the Lakeport Police Department as its property and evidence officer.
His knowledge, organizational skills and dedication would eventually earn him respect around the county and beyond, and see him take up additional assignments.
Mooney was one of the finest property and evidence officers in California “and truly the best we ever worked with in our agency,” Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said.
“Bill's reputation with the California Association for Property & Evidence (CAPE) was unparalleled and he had the highest degree of respect from other property and evidence officers throughout California,” said Rasmussen. “He was often asked to and did assist other law enforcement agencies with property and evidence issues. Bill provided a great service to law enforcement and the community and will be missed by many.”
Mooney came to the Lakeport Police Department on Jan. 4, 1995, as a volunteer through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the agency reported.
He was assigned to the department's property and evidence function, as it had been neglected for many years, was in disarray and had not procedures in place for organization, according to a department statement on Mooney's accomplishments compiled by his Lakeport Police colleagues.
His organizational skills, perseverance and commitment transformed the property and evidence function into a first-class facility, according to the agency's report. As a result, Mooney quickly earned the respect of the entire law enforcement community because of his knowledge and dedication to this task he had been given.
Mooney continually sought out training classes and conferences, and had membership in several professional organizations for networking within the field. His knowledge of his field, and his professionalism, made him a valued member of the Lakeport Police Department.
His reputation quickly spread throughout the law enforcement community. In April of 1997 Mooney was asked by the Lake County Narcotics Task Force to be their evidence custodian/technician.
He specialized in the complex legal mandates governing the narcotics field. Mooney's property room was consistently rated as an outstanding example of how property and evidence should be handled when audited by the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement.
His position with the task force came to an end in March 2009, when they were forced to disband due to lack of state funding, the department reported.
In September 1999, then-Lakeport Police Chief Tom Engstrom proposed to the Lakeport City Council
that Mooney be granted a paid position with the department.
At that time Chief Engstrom reported that Bill had donated 5,570 hours of his time to the department, and that was the time that had actually been documented.
The position was granted. However, the agency reported that Mooney continued to volunteer many hours of his personal time, doing whatever necessary to complete the task at hand.
In December 2011, Mooney was named “Officer of the Year” and recognized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2015-Lakeport, as Lake County News has reported.
“Bill’s position was vital to our agency, and his knowledge and expertise prevented any liability issues,” his police colleagues said in a Thursday statement. “Bill had utmost integrity and professionalism. His work ethic and dedication to the mission of this agency were unparalleled. Bill served as a rare example of true and selfless community service.”
Mooney is survived by his wife, Eva, as well as children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family.
Services will be private, but the community is invited to sign the guest book for Mooney's family at http://www.jonesmortuary.com/ .
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Lakeport Police, Alcoholic Beverage Control conduct 'shoulder tap' operation
LAKEPORT, Calif. – An operation the Lakeport Police Department and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control conducted last week found that a minor was unable to convince adults to purchase alcohol for them at several locations around the city.
The “shoulder tap” operation using a minor decoy took place on the evening of Friday, June 8, according to a Lakeport Police report.
The Shoulder Tap Program is an enforcement program that ABC and local law enforcement agencies use to detect and deter shoulder tap activity.
During this program, a minor decoy – under the direct supervision of law enforcement officers – solicits adults outside ABC licensed stores to buy the minor decoy alcohol.
The Minor Decoy Program uses individuals, who are under the age of 20, to attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages at ABC licensed premises.
The minor – or minors, as police did not specify how many they used – contacted seven adult individuals at three different locations and solicited those adults to purchase them alcohol, according to Lakeport Police. No adults contacted purchased the alcohol.
Police said there also was an attempt by a minor decoy to purchase alcohol in six locations within the city of Lakeport and all locations refused service.
The Lakeport Police Department thanked the seven citizens who were contacted and refused to purchase the minor decoy alcohol. The agency also thanked the businesses for following proper procedures and not selling minors alcohol.
This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Minor decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant Project, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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Lake County Superior Court plans calendar changes; all criminal cases to move to Lakeport
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The state judicial branch’s fiscal situation has resulted in the Lake County Superior Court making significant changes to its calendar, including moving all criminal matters to Lakeport, with traffic and small claims going to Clearlake.
Presiding Lake County Superior Court Judge David Herrick said the court calendar needed to be restructured in order to cope with continuing budget cuts.
The changes will go into effect Aug. 6, Herrick said.
Herrick told Lake County News that the local court has been planning changes for some time.
“The May revise has just made things more definite and gave us a specific number to work with,” he said.
Last month, the Judicial Council of California held an emergency session in the wake of Gov. Jerry Brown’s new budget proposal, which called for a $544 million reduction to the judicial branch in fiscal year 2012-13, as Lake County News has reported.
This most recent reduction follows four consecutive years of cuts totaling $653 million, according to the Judicial Council.
For context, the Lake County Superior Court budget for the current fiscal year totals just over $3.6 million, excluding grants and reimbursements, according to court officials.
“We have felt the cuts mightily here,” said Herrick. “It’s been very difficult to absorb.”
The new cuts on the horizon are going to be even worse, Herrick said.
The state judicial branch has dealt with the cuts that have occurred to date with a series of one-time fixes, but Herrick said there is an ongoing debate about how effective those fixes have been, and what the ultimate impact has been on the courts and the justice system.
So far, the Lake County Superior Court hasn’t been given a precise number for the budget reduction it can expect in the coming fiscal year, said Herrick.
However, he added, “It’s going to be a pretty huge number,” and to prepare the court is looking at different scenarios to address that bottom line number.
As part of the changes going into effect in August, Judge Stephen Hedstrom – who presides over Department 4 at the Clearlake courthouse at 7000 A South Center Drive – will move, along with the criminal calendar he oversees, to the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport, said Herrick. The courts take up the fourth floor of that building.
“That’s the main logistical component to the change,” Herrick said.
By moving Hedstrom and his caseload to Lakeport, Herrick said the court anticipates certain operational efficiencies will result, including no longer having to transfer inmates or criminal files to the south county court.
“The downside, of course, will be the terrible overcrowding we experience on the fourth floor will be enhanced,” Herrick said.
Herrick said Hedstrom will hear cases in of one of the four courtrooms in Lakeport, and may take over Herrick’s chambers at year’s end, after Herrick retires. Once Herrick has retired, Hedstrom will be the most senior judge in terms of years on the bench.
None of the other Lake County Superior Court judges – including Herrick in Department 1, Judge Richard Martin in Department 2 or Judge Andrew Blum in Department 3 – will be affected by the court calendar changes, Herrick said.
While Hedstrom moves to Lakeport and brings the remainder of criminal cases with him, all small claims, unlawful detainers and traffic matters – for the entire county – will be transferred to the Clearlake division, Herrick explained.
The new Clearlake court calendar will include child support cases on Mondays and traffic and unlawful detainers on Tuesdays. On the remaining three business days of the week, Herrick said the Clearlake court facility will be used on an as-needed basis.
Herrick said there are no layoffs planned among court employees. However, he said eight vacant positions won’t be backfilled.
The Judicial Council’s report last month on the state budget situation said the cuts it is facing in the coming fiscal year would force the courts to pull $300 million from trial court reserves and delay some court construction projects to realize another $240 million.
Lakeport’s new courthouse project – which the State Public Works Board approved on Friday – is among the projects being delayed.
Construction originally was to have begun in early 2014, with completion anticipated in fall 2015. However, Court Executive Officer Mary Smith said the Lakeport Courthouse project is being pushed back a year.
The project – currently estimated to cost nearly $56 million – also must reduce hard construction costs by at least 3 percent, based on the latest state requirements for the project.
Smith told Lake County News in a recent interview that the court already is working on making those reductions.
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New Lakeport Courthouse preliminary plans approved
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The State Public Works Board on Friday approved preliminary plans for the new Lakeport Courthouse for the Lake County Superior Court.
The new 50,000-square-foot courthouse is planned for a site at 675 Lakeport Blvd.
Designed by Mark Cavagnero and Associates, the new courthouse will replace the court’s current location on the fourth floor of the Lake County Courthouse, which is located on N. Forbes Street in Lakeport.
Friday's SPWB approval marks completion of the preliminary plans phase, which typically authorizes the project to proceed into working drawings, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts.
However, because of significant cuts to the California judicial branch budget proposed by the governor and currently under consideration by the Legislature for fiscal year 2012-13, the working drawings phase of this project may be delayed at least a year.
Court Executive Officer Mary Smith also told Lake County News in a recent interview that the superior court is working to make a 3 percent cut in hard construction costs ordered by the state. The project's current price tag is just under $56 million.
The new two-story, four-courtroom Lakeport Courthouse will feature the exterior use of stone veneer and architecturally exposed concrete, and will be built into the hillside so as not to obstruct the scenic view of the lake from the nearby visitors’ center.
Sustainability features will include natural day-lighting in courtrooms and public areas, on-site stormwater management, and an energy-efficient heating and cooling system.
The design of the new courthouse will reduce energy consumption by at least 15 percent and water use by at least 30 percent and will qualify the project for a LEED Silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Construction was originally scheduled to begin in early 2014 and be completed in fall 2015, but that timeline is now subject to change depending on the outcome of the coming year’s state budget.
When construction proceeds, the project is expected to generate hundreds of construction jobs and thousands of dollars in indirect benefit to the local economy.
Before the project goes to bid, the construction manager at risk, Gilbane Building Co., will perform outreach to ensure that local subcontractors and suppliers have the opportunity to participate in prequalification and bidding. All qualified subcontractors, lower-tier subcontractors and suppliers will be considered.
Construction will be conducted with mitigation measures in place for air quality, noise, erosion and stormwater control, and other environmental considerations, as specified in the project’s environmental report under the California Environmental Quality Act.
The new courthouse will replace the current Lake County Courthouse, constructed in 1968. This overcrowded, shared-use building has substantial structural problems and significant security issues.
The new courthouse will provide safe and efficient services for visitors and staff, a jury deliberation room, a secure sallyport for the transport of in-custody defendants between the jail and the courthouse, and adequate space for court administration.
The project was ranked as an “immediate need” in the judicial branch’s capital-outlay plan, making it among the branch’s highest-priority infrastructure projects.
It is funded by Senate Bill 1407, enacted in 2008 to provide up to $5 billion in funding for new and renovated courthouses using court fees, penalties, and assessments rather than taxpayer revenues from the state’s General Fund.
As previously noted, the timing of the next phase of this project is unknown until the state Legislature resolves the budget for the coming fiscal year.
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