How to resolve AdBlock issue? Clearlake City Council to consider police equipment policy, animal control contract and new staff positions
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council on Thursday will review the police department’s military equipment policy, consider a draft request for proposals for a new animal control contract following the August termination of the current provider’s contract and weigh creating two new management positions in the city.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The agenda can be found here.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom. The webinar ID is 819 8866 1218, the pass code is 899422. One tap mobile is available at +16694449171,,82771053751#, or join by phone at 669-444-9171 or 646-931-3860.
The council will hold a public hearing on the police department’s military equipment policy and hear its annual military equipment report, as required under Assembly Bill No. 481.
According to the staff report, the department currently owns a mobile command unit used as a field post for major incidents such as fires, public events and crime scenes, and plans to purchase a drone for search and rescue, tactical operations, crime scene documentation and hazard monitoring.
The department also is evaluating the possible acquisition of an armored rescue vehicle to enhance officer and community safety in high-risk situations and support rescues.
Under business, the council will discuss a request for proposals, or RFP, for animal care and control service.
On Aug 7, the council terminated the animal care contract with North Bay Animal Services, or NBAS.
The agenda item for that meeting was extremely vague and did not indicate what it is now clear was the council’s intention.
North Bay Animal Services also has told Lake County News they were not notified in advance of the potential for contract termination.
Flora sent a notice of termination to NBAS on Aug. 15, according to the staff report.
Staff was also asked to prepare an RFP draft with Mayor Russ Cremer and Councilmember Tara Downey, which is under review for approval this week.
The council will also consider changes to job classifications to create two new middle-management positions — building services manager and finance manager — with a salary range from $79,375 to $96, 481.
The staff report said costs would be offset by revenue from grants, fees and reduced consultant hours.
The building services manager would oversee the Building Department, including code enforcement, budget management, staff supervision, and the rental registration program.
The finance manager, reporting to the finance director, would supervise accounting staff, manage grants, prepare financial reports, and coordinate the annual audit.
On the meeting’s consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 279-2025 amending Section 9-4 of the Clearlake Municipal Code regarding residential rental registration and inspection; warrants; Lake County Vector Control Board minutes; council minutes; and award of contract to All-American Construction Inc. for the Moss/40th Ave Intersection Rehabilitation Project in the amount of $393,007.50, with authorization for the city manager to approve up to 10% for additional unforeseen contract amendments.
The council also will hold a closed session to discuss anticipated litigation, including one potential case pursuant to Paragraph 2 of subdivision (d) of Government Code § 54956.9.
Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at
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New bill ends legal loophole in state’s sex offender registration law
A bill to close a loophole in California’s sex offender registration law is now headed to the governor’s desk.
Senate Bill 680 (SB 680) ensures that adults who commit serious sexual offenses against minors can no longer avoid registration due to outdated legal technicalities.
The bill, authored by Sen. Susan Rubio (D–Baldwin Park), passed through the Legislature with strong bipartisan support.
“This bill is about one thing — protecting our girls,” said Rubio. “A predator like Jeffrey Epstein could have been sentenced to decades in prison. But when he got out, current California law might not have required him to register as a sex offender for some of his crimes. That’s appalling. If a grown man sexually abuses a young girl, we’re going to make sure he’s treated like every other sex offender. No loopholes. No excuses. SB 680 makes sure of that.”
Under current law, most sexual offenses involving minors carry mandatory sex offender registration as part of the sentence. But a loophole allows some predators to slip through the cracks.
Currently, the charge of “unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor” does not automatically trigger registration. That means when a grown man is more than 10 years older than a girl under 16, he could avoid registration entirely.
SB 680 closes that loophole by requiring registration in those cases, bringing the law in line with how California treats other serious sex offenses against minors.
Sen. Rubio introduced the bill in partnership with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, which identified real-world cases where adult men avoided sex offender registration even after abusing girls, simply because of how California law was written.
Rubio’s office said SB 680 doesn’t create new crimes or increase penalties — it fixes a blind spot that lets some of the most serious offenses against minors be treated as less serious under the law.
“I commend the California Legislature for passing Senate Bill 680, as this critically important bill will close a loophole in our sex offender registration requirement,” said Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto. “I am proud to have worked with Sen. Rubio to sponsor this bill. SB 680 eliminates the so-called Jeffrey Epstein exception for mandatory registration of offenders who are at least 10 years older than their victims.”
“It should not be controversial to say that adults who abuse children should be on the sex offender registry,” Rubio added. “SB 680 makes sure that’s true in every case. No one gets treated differently. If you hurt a young girl, the law will treat you like every other sex offender.”
SB 680 now heads to Gov. Newsom for his signature. If signed, it will finally bring California’s sex offender registry in line with the seriousness of the crimes it’s meant to address and ensure young girls are no longer left unprotected by a technicality, Rubio’s office said.
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Gov. Newsom launches new statewide service effort to support the well-being of young men
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced a new initiative that encourages and helps men step up and serve their communities through the California Service Corps and volunteer and service opportunities with partner organizations.
The action continues Newsom’s effort announced through a statewide executive order to address disconnection in young men and boys.
Prompted by the rising suicide rates, disconnection, and declining career options among young men and boys, these efforts aim to address this generation’s mental health crisis, while creating pathways for purpose, leadership and belonging.
“Too many young men and boys are suffering in silence — disconnected from community, opportunity and even their own families. This action is about turning that around. It’s about showing every young man that he matters, he has purpose, and he has a community,” said Newsom.
“Our boys are growing up in a time when too many feel disconnected and unseen. Women and men may face different challenges, but we share a responsibility to lift up the next generation, and that work will take all of us. The California Volunteers Men’s Service Challenge calls on 10,000 young men to step forward as mentors and coaches, offering the care and connection that can combat isolation and build belonging. In doing this work, we embody the very best of California, lifting up the next generation and reshaping our culture for the better,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
In partnership with Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement, or GO-Serve, Director Josh Fryday, the state is partnering with leaders already doing the work, including Improve Your Tomorrow, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mentor California, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, the Giants Community Fund and the American Institute for Boys and Men.
California Men's Service Challenge participants will engage young men directly, helping them build connections to education, careers and community.
The effort advances Gov. Newsom’s broader commitment to create more pathways for youth success. By combining service with mentorship and skill development, the initiative provides a sustainable model to ensure young men feel valued, supported and equipped to thrive.
“Young men across California are struggling with disconnection, loneliness and a lack of direction. Through service, we can give them a sense of purpose and the opportunity to build careers while making a difference in their communities,” said GO-Serve Director Josh Fryday. “We need 10,000 men to step up and lead in their communities. We’re also calling on organizations to join us as partners. This initiative is about investing in the next generation of men as leaders, teachers and mentors.”
The California Men’s Service Challenge builds on the California Service Corps, the largest service force in the nation, which empowers Californians to tackle the state’s toughest challenges while building skills for the future.
Together with local partners, schools and community organizations, this new effort will ensure more young men see themselves as leaders with the power to create lasting change.
The crisis of loneliness
Young men are more disconnected from school, work, and relationships than ever before, with nearly one in four men under 30 years old reporting that they have no close friends, a five-fold increase since 1990, with higher rates of disconnection for young Black men.
A lack of social connection is associated with increased risk of poor health, including mental health disorders, poverty, and even premature death.
This disconnection has pulled men out of the workplace. Labor force participation among men without a college degree is currently at historic lows, with about one in nine men aged 25-54 neither working nor looking for work.
The unemployment rate for men in California is also higher than the rate for women, and college enrollment and completion rates for men have dropped significantly over the past decade.
What others are saying
“Mentorship is how young men transform isolation into connection and purpose. At Improve Your Tomorrow we’ve seen that service and brotherhood are powerful antidotes to the loneliness so many boys face today. That’s why we strongly support the Governor’s California Men’s Service Challenge. When young men are given the chance to be seen, be supported and serve their communities, they not only change their own lives — they help shape the future of our society,” said Michael Lynch, CEO and co-founder, Improve Your Tomorrow.
“As bell hooks reminds us, ‘Love is an action, never simply a feeling.’ Our boys are in crisis — starved for belonging, aching for someone to see them and stand with them. True connection, that active love, can be their lifeline. MENTOR California is proud to join Gov. Newsom, GO-Serve and partners statewide in shining a spotlight on belonging, unlocking opportunity and igniting hope,” said Marcus L. Strother, executive director, MENTOR California.
“At a time when so many young men face disconnection, dwindling opportunity and unmet needs, Big Brothers Big Sisters is ready to answer the call — together with our community. We need more men to step forward as mentors, so every young man has the consistent support he deserves. As mentors, as role models and as a community, we can harness the power of mentoring and social connection to drive real, lasting change,” said Sloane Keane, CA Association Chair, Big Brothers Big Sisters, California Volunteers Commissioner.
“Now more than ever, there is a need for boys and young men to feel a sense of purpose and connection. As the Center for Community Well-Being across the LA region, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles knows the power of service in shaping healthier, more connected communities and has long been a source of great mentorship and volunteerism. The LA Y is proud to partner with the California Men's Service Challenge to call on our male Californians to join in, inspire service, and to foster roles that inspire leadership, resilience, and build brighter futures for all.” said Victor Dominguez, president and CEO, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles.
"In a healthy society, everybody knows that the community needs them. Too many men today do not feel that. As a result, they can become detached, even despairing. But we need men in our families and in our communities, bringing their energy and talents to the table. Right now, many organizations say they don't have enough men stepping forward to serve; meanwhile, many men say they are unsure of their purpose and role in our communities. This is a timely call to men: We need you,” said Richard Reeves, president, American Institute for Boys and Men.
“We’ve seen firsthand how young men, whether stepping onto a field as a coach or serving as a Junior Giants Ambassador, gain confidence and a stronger sense of purpose. These opportunities change not only the lives of the players but also the young men who choose to serve — and that’s why this work is so important,” said Cassandra Hofman, program director, Giants Community Fund.
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Man accused of August and September arsons ordered to stand trial
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Clearlake man has been ordered to stand trial for separate arson cases that happened about two weeks apart.
Patrick Blaine Squier, 66, was in Judge J. David Markham’s courtroom on Monday afternoon for his preliminary hearing in the two cases.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Nicholas Rotow said Squier has been ordered to stand trial in the cases. He’s set to return to court later this month.
Squier is facing arson charges for fires authorities said he set on Aug. 23 and Sept. 6, both in Clearlake.
The fire on Aug. 23 was reported at about 11 p.m. behind Foods Etc., located at 15290 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
A trash can was set on fire behind the store, against a building and near numerous propane tanks, between the store and the Adventist Health clinic, as Lake County News has reported.
Squier was arrested a short time after that fire and, after his arraignment on Aug. 26, was released on his own recognizance.
Then, at around 4 a.m. Sept. 6, a debris fire was reported behind the Grocery Outlet, located at 14806 Olympic Drive. Police again arrested Squier shortly after that fire.
He was arraigned on Sept. 9 for that second incident.
As for why Squier set the fires, “I have no information on motive,” Rotow told Lake County News on Monday afternoon, following the preliminary hearing.
Squier remains in custody in the Lake County Jail. At the Sept. 9 arraignment, the District Attorney’s Office argued for Squier to remain in custody without bail and the judge agreed.
Rotow said Squier could file a motion for reconsideration of bail but so far he has not done so.
“I think that would be an uphill battle, but legally he could make the request. We’ll strongly oppose it,” Rotow said.
Squier is scheduled to return to court for arraignment on Sept. 30. Rotow expects the case to be set for trial after that.
“We intend to put the cases together so they’re tried as one case,” he said.
Rotow added that he expects the case to go to trial because the District Attorney’s Office does not plan to offer a plea agreement.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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Authorities identify man who died in custody at park
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man who died in the custody of deputies at a Kelseyville park last week.
The agency said the man who died was Ryan Vandever, 50, of Colorado.
On Tuesday, Sept. 9, sheriff’s deputies responded to Kelseyville Community Park on the report of an individual acting erratically and harassing people in the park, as Lake County News has reported.
That individual, identified as Vandever, was lethargic and having difficulty answering questions, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies requested medics respond, but when they arrived and attempted to treat him, Vandever became combative. As a result, the deputies placed Vandever in handcuffs.
Vandever became nonresponsive, medics attempted CPR and he died at the hospital a short time later.
Because it considers Vandever’s death as having taken place in custody, the sheriff’s office activated the critical incident protocol. Under that protocol, the Lake County District Attorney’s Office is the lead investigating agency.
The sheriff’s office also is continuing to conduct an internal investigation to ensure all policies and procedures were followed.
The last in-custody death the county reported occurred in June of last year and involved a Lake County Jail inmate.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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