The draft Konocti Regional Trails Master Plan is meant to create a network of nonmotorized trails for recreation and transportation.
The project has been in the works for several years, and before it went up for discussion by the board on Tuesday two of the people credited for giving the project life and energy received proclamations in honor of their work.
Supervisors Denise Rushing presented the proclamations to Clearlake Oaks couple Holly Harris and Chuck Lamb, who Rushing said had tried to have the matter pulled from the agenda, but staff persisted.
“This has been really a joint effort,” said Harris, crediting Rushing, County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox, county planner Alan Flora, Deputy Administrative Officer Debra Sommerfield, Public Services staffer Terre Logsdon, Public Services Director Kim Clymire and National Park Service Program Manager Barbara Rice for their involvement.
“The county can't do this alone,” said Harris, pointing out that volunteers are needed to continue carrying out the plan.
Logsdon presented Harris and Lamb with t-shirts, with Harris' saying “Eat, sleep, paddle,” and Lamb's reading “Eat, sleep, hike.”
Rice, who was unable to attend, also was honored with a proclamation for her efforts.
Clymire, who accepted the proclamation on Rice's behalf, also recognized former Public Services analyst Jackie Armstrong, who he said wrote the one-grant for the plan three years ago. He said the county has since received two extensions.
He said Rice “just fell in love with Lake County” and she has credited the community for supporting the plan.
Board Chair Jim Comstock noted the trail plan is a tremendous positive for the county. Rushing encouraged people to check out the brochures and maps already completed for the water trails; they can be found online at http://www.konoctitrails.com/.
In introducing the plan discussion, Clymire said many hours of work and public meetings have gone into creating it.
Flora reviewed the plan's highlights with the board, explaining that in recent years there has been a lot of impetus placed on developing trails in California, in large part due to the economic activity that develops around them.
The first workshop was held in June 2009, which was followed with an online survey in September 2009, which he said received a lot of public comment in a short amount of time.
The plan identified major recreation areas in the county and looked at connections to them, developing six study areas which were presented in a January 2010 workshop attended by more than 100 people. Last August, previous workshop participants were invited back to another discussion, Flora said.
Study areas were broken up into the Westshore, Northshore, Eastshore, Mt. Konocti and Kelseyville, the south county, and Coyote Valley and Middletown, according to Flora.
Clymire pointed out that the goal is to work with private landowners to get easements over private property; there is no intention to use eminent domain. There are a variety of different potential funding sources for the projects, staff added.
The Community Development Department – including Director Rick Coel – has been an important silent partner in the plan creation process, said Clymire. He also recognized Cox and the supervisors, with the board being “supportive of this project from the beginning.”
Cox thanked Clymire for his work on the plan, explaining that many years ago the board has started setting aside transient occupancy tax money – at the request of the former resort and restaurant association – for multipurpose pathways.
He said the money kept getting set aside with no plans for it. “I'm so glad that finally we have a plan,” he said, explaining that the county can now go after funding sources and identify where priorities are.
Kelseyville resident Carol Cole-Lewis was enthusiastic about the plan, explaining that for 14 years she lived in England, where residents have access to a wonderful trail system that's part of the English tradition.
“Having this trail system is key to the economic development of this county,” said Cole-Lewis.
Cheri Holden of the Sierra Club Lake Group expressed gratitude to community members for taking part in the plan's creation.
“I'm overwhelmed by the extraordinary body of work that this represents,” said Rushing, calling it a “labor of love.”
She said she was amazed at the many possible sources of funding, which she attributed to the numerous potential uses – from environmental education to transportation.
She moved to adopt a negative declaration, which the board accepted 5-0, and then moved to adopt the master plan, also approved 5-0.
“It's adopted,” Rushing said to applause from the audience.
“We can't thank you enough for all of the work that you've done,” Comstock said to community members and staff who were involved. He noted that opportunities to hike and enjoy the lake have been integral to his own life.
In other board news, the supervisors held a lengthy afternoon discussion on a citizen request to implement a ban on Pacific Gas & Electric's Smart Meters in Lake County. The board agreed to have staff draft a letter for later consideration regarding possible support for legislation offering alternatives to the controversial technology.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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