CLEARLAKE, Calif. – This week the Clearlake City Council will discuss the adoption of a policy regarding the use of the council chambers for candidate forums.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 8, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

On the agenda is the discussion and possible adoption of a use policy for the council chambers and TV8 for candidate forums.

City Clerk Melissa Swanson's report to the council explains that there will be an election this November for two council seats, as well as the city clerk and treasurer positions.

TV8, the county's cable access television station, is housed at City Hall and ultimately the city can be held responsible for the materials that are broadcast, and “can be held liable for fines and possible litigation if election information is not presented in a fair and unbiased manner and if each candidate is not given equal time on TV8,” Swanson reported.

The firm that currently provides the city with legal counsel, Best Best & Krieger, drafted a policy meant to prevent ambiguity and confusion over the city's responsibilities, according to the report.

The one-page policy, which can be seen below, requires that all forums be held in a “fair and unbiased” manner, which consists of inviting all candidates and giving all of them who choose to participate an equal opportunity to answer questions and explain their positions.

At Thursday's meeting, City Manager Joan Phillipe originally had planned to ask the council to discuss an effort by a group called “Evolve, A Community Organization” to close a tax loophole in Proposition 13 relating to commercial properties.

However, an updated report from Phillipe to the council released Wednesday explained that the League of California Cities is urging cities to not take a position on the matter as changes to the proposal are being made.

Items on the consent agenda – considered to be noncontroversial and accepted as a slate with one vote – include warrant registers; a response to the April 24 public comment question regarding the Pacific Gas and Electric Bill for the light district; and a receipt of notice from Clearlake Waste Solutions of the annual rate modification.

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.

050814 Clearlake City Council - Public Forum Policy

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Tuesday the Lakeport City Council held a public hearing for the city's housing element report, agreed to surplus several vehicles and approved a new policy to quickly respond to proposed legislation.

At the start of the meeting, Mayor Kenny Parlet honored one of his predecessors, Arlin Pischke, who served two terms on the council from 1982 to 1990, serving twice as mayor. Pischke died following a brief illness on April 27.

As Pischke's widow, Rose, his daughter Karyn Rasmussen and granddaughter Savannah Rasmussen looked on from the audience, Parlet read an excerpt from Pischke's obituary.

Parlet then asked for a moment of silence in memory of Pischke, who up until recently had continued to make occasional appearances at council meetings, whether to support grandchildren receiving awards or to weigh in on important city issues.

Moving into the meeting's business, the council agreed to add an application for an upcoming bass tournament to the agenda as an urgency item due to the immediate need to consider it. Council members unanimously approved the application.

During public comment, Christina Basor, wife of Lakeport Police Officer Gary Basor, asked the council to give special attention to the city's police force, with officers working long shifts due to staffing issues.

Parlet acknowledged the council is aware of the issues but that they could not respond to matters raised during public comment, which are not agendized for council discussion.

Lake County Department of Public Works and Water Resources Director Scott De Leon gave the council an update on Measure L, a half-cent sales tax for projects to improve the health of Clear Lake that will be on the June 3 ballot.

The council also held a brief public hearing to approve the 2013 Housing Element Progress Report, and directed staff to submit the report to the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Public Works Director Mark Brannigan's proposed resolution to declare seven surplus vehicles – including three trucks, a tractor, a scooter, a trailer and a backhoe – was approved. He said his department is working to complete a big cleanup this spring.

City Clerk Janel Chapman took to the council a resolution for a legislative policy that would clearly outline the city's position “on priority issues and matters that impact the City’s ability to operate effectively, while allowing the consideration of additional legislative and budget issues that arise during the legislative session,” according to her written report.

Chapman explained to the council that the city often gets requests from the League of California Cities to support or oppose legislation. “These come in and they need to be acted on quickly,” Chapman said, explaining that in some cases city staff doesn't have the time to bring the issues to the entire council.

The new policy, she said, would set down guidelines and allow city staff to write letters to support or oppose legislation for the mayor's signature. According to the policy, if the mayor is not available, the position letters could be signed by the mayor pro tem or the city manager.

City Manager Margaret Silveira added that the policy would be based on the League of California Cities platform.

Councilman Marc Spillman said he opposed the idea, wanting such letters to be considered by the full council. Mayor Pro Tem Martin Scheel said that Chapman can't email the documents out to the council without violating the Brown Act.

Parlet called the legislative policy “a brilliant tool” that allows the city to move quickly on proposed legislation. He said he wanted more generic language around funding mechanisms in bills.

Silveira said the policy language has been vetted by the League of California Cities and emphasizes local control. The policy can be seen in the council packet below, pages 45 to 51.

Chapman said the entire council would get copies of the letters that go out.

Spillman said he felt they were giving up their rights to vote on these issues and governing “by fire not light.” Councilwoman Stacey Mattina responded that the council frequently doesn't meet in time to respond to requests for times to send out letters.

Spillman insisted that it was better to take the time to look at things, and doesn't want his name behind something he hasn't reviewed. “I really have an issue with that.”

Parlet asked what line item in the policy concerned Spillman, who replied that he didn't like a blanket agreement, adding that he felt some of it could be very arbitrary.

“I like the policy,” said Councilman Tom Engstrom.

Scheel said he liked it too, and had a lot of faith in the League of California Cities. He said he serves on the league's legislative committee, which is constantly working to stay on top of legislative issues. Scheel recounted getting a call from a league staffer late one evening asking for support for a bill.

“I'm comfortable with the league and how they operate,” said Scheel, who added that he understood Spillman's concerns.

Mattina suggested Spillman attend League of California Cities meetings to see what is going on, explaining that the group is very supporting of Lakeport. “I don't know what we would do without that group.”

Parlet also lauded the league, and said he liked the policy platform and that it would be good to be able to refer to it.

Silveira  said the league approves its platform annually, and she can send it out to the council so they know of the changes.

Of the legislative policy document presented to the council, Parlet said, “I could not have been more impressed with it.”

Scheel moved to adopt the policy, with Engstrom seconding. The council voted 4-1, with Spillman voting no.

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.

050614 Lakeport City Council Agenda Packet

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – More forums are coming up over the next two weeks to showcase the candidates and a lake sales tax appearing on the June 3 primary ballot.

A rundown of the campaign events follows.

Monday, May 5, 6 p.m.

District 3 supervisors candidates will be featured in a forum presented by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Lake County News.

The forum will take place in the Board of Supervisors chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.

Submit questions by responding to a blog posted on the Lake County Chamber Web site at www.lakecochamber.com . Questions also may be faxed to 707-263-5104 or bring them to the chamber office at 875 Lakeport Blvd., Vista Point in Lakeport.

Thursday, May 8, 6 p.m.

Assessor-recorder candidates will be featured in a forum presented by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Lake County News.

The forum will take place in the Board of Supervisors chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.

Submit questions by responding to a blog posted on the Lake County Chamber Web site at www.lakecochamber.com . Questions also may be faxed to 707-263-5104 or bring them to the chamber office at 875 Lakeport Blvd., Vista Point in Lakeport.

Thursday, May 8, 7 p.m.

The Middletown Area Town Hall, or MATH, invites the community to a forum for the candidates in the district attorney race on Thursday, May 8.

The forum will be held during the MATH regular meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Middletown Community Center, 21256 Washington St.

Tuesday, May 13, 6 p.m.

Sheriff candidates will be featured in a forum presented by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Lake County News.

The forum will take place in the Board of Supervisors chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.

Submit questions by responding to a blog posted on the Lake County Chamber Web site at www.lakecochamber.com . Questions also may be faxed to 707-263-5104 or bring them to the chamber office at 875 Lakeport Blvd., Vista Point in Lakeport.

Wednesday, May 14, 6 p.m.

The Committee to Save the Lake 2014 will present a public town hall meeting to provide information about Measure L – a countywide half-cent sales tax to preserve and restore Lake County waterways, especially Clear Lake – in the Board of Supervisors chamber in the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.

The meeting will provide information and encourage discussion on Measure L’s goals, action plans and processes for citizen oversight.

Scott De Leon, head of the Lake County Department of Water Resources, will describe the measure’s objectives, the specific programs it will fund, and its built-in guarantees to ensure that the money will be spent as intended.

The presentation will be followed by a open forum where all questions can be addressed.

All members of the public are invited to attend and to participate in the discussion.

For more information call the Lake County Chamber of Commerce at 707-263-5092 or visit www.savethelake.info .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Board of Supervisors will consider a request from the county's probation chief to end the contract with the firm for running a day reporting center made necessary by correctional realignment and instead have his agency oversee the center.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 6, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. TV8 will broadcast the meeting live.

At 9:30 a.m. the board will consider the request from Chief Probation Officer Rob Howe to terminate services provided by BI Incorporated by not renewing the firm's contract, which expires on June 30.

Howe said the day reporting center provides evidence based practices such as substance abuse programming, mental health counseling, alcohol and drug abuse monitoring, and intense supervision and tracking of offenders in the program.

The current cost of the services – including minimum staffing of five full-time employees – is $636,000 annually, Howe reported.

“Although these services are necessary, the concern has always been that it is a huge sum of money being paid to a company not based in Lake County,” Howe said in his report to the board.

He has monitored the firm's functions “with the goal of eventually providing these, or better, services with local resources.”

Howe is asking the board not to renew BI's contract. “Not only do I believe we can provide better services locally, but my proposal would also improve Probation Department staffing levels and reduce the probation officer to probationer ratio. Ideally, a high risk caseload would be 30-35 probationers to 1 probation officer. Our current ratio is approximately 100 to 1.”

Correctional realignment has significantly increased caseloads, increased responsibility to provide evidence based treatment and increased the seriousness, or risk level, of offenders the Probation Department supervises, Howe said. And as probation duties have increased, staffing levels have declined from 17 to 15 officers this fiscal year.

Howe said a day reporting center managed by the Probation Department would include a partnership with local service providers, including Behavioral Health and Alcohol and Other Drug Services. He's also in the preliminary stages of negotiations with organizations such as the Lake County Office of Education and Workforce Lake to provide education and support services.

He's put his proposal for local management before the Community Corrections Partnership Executive Committee, which unanimously voted on March 28 to terminate BI Inc.'s services and allocate the $636,000 to the Probation Department to operate the day reporting center and increase its staffing levels.

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 May 2014 as CalFresh Awareness Month; (b) presentation of proclamation designating May 2014 as Mental Health Month; (c) presentation of proclamation designating May 4-10, 2014 as Correctional Officers week; and (d) presentation of proclamation designating May 2014 as National Military Appreciation Month.

9:15 a.m., A-6: Public hearing, presentation of recommended amendments to the Section 8 Administrative Plan.

9:30 a.m., A-7: Consideration of departmental request to terminate services provided by BI Incorporated by not renewing their contract which expires on June 30, 2014.

NONTIMED ITEMS

A-8: Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.

A-9: Consideration of request for letter of support for Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR 108 supporting Geothermal Awareness Day in California and May as Geothermal Awareness Month.

A-10: Advanced from April 22, consideration of proposed ordinance amending Article II of Chapter
18 of the Lake County Code relating to Transient Occupancy Tax.

A-11: Advanced from April 22, consideration of ordinance amending Article VI of Chapter 15 of the
Lake County Code restricting the operation of bicycles, skateboards, scooters, roller skates, in-line skates, and/or roller blades (second reading).

A-12: Consideration of request to cancel reserves for CSA No. 2 Spring Valley Reservoir valve repair.

CLOSED SESSION

A-13: 1. Conference with Labor Negotiator: (a) county negotiators: A. Grant, L. Guintivano, S. Harry, M. Perry, A. Flora and C. Shaver; and (b) employee organizations, Deputy District Attorney's Association, Lake County Deputy Sheriff's Association, Lake County Correctional Officers Association and Lake County Safety Employees Association.

A-13: 2. Conference with Legal Counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Fowler and Ford v. County of Lake.

A-13: 3. Public Employee Evaluations: Social Services Director Carol Huchingson and Community Development Director Rick Coel.

CONSENT AGENDA

C-1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held on April 22, 2014.

C-2: (a) Adopt proclamation designating the month of May 2014 as CalFresh Awareness Month; (b) adopt proclamation designating May 2014 as Mental Health Month; (c) adopt proclamation designating May 4-10, 2014 as Correctional Officers week; and (d) adopt proclamation designating May 2014 as National Military Appreciation Month.

C-3: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-95 to amend the adopted budget for FY 2013-14 by adjusting revenues and appropriations in Budget Unit 1778 - Capital Projects, and authorize the chair to sign.

C-4: Waive 900-hour limit for extra help Economic Development Manager Jack Long.

C-5: Sitting as Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, adopt resolution authorizing participation in “Year 16" Carl Moyer program, and authorize the Air Pollution Control Officer to submit grant application and sign program documents.

C-6: Approve second amendment to agreement between county of Lake and Davis Guest Home for FY2013-14 specialty mental health services, an increase of $9,700, and authorize the chair to sign.

C-7: Approve first amendment to agreement between county of Lake and San Sousee for FY2013-14 adult residential support, an increase of $14,100, and authorize the chair to sign.

C-8: Approve first amendment to agreement between county of Lake and Manzanita House for FY2013-14 adult residential services, an increase of $8,000, and authorize the Chair to sign.

C-9: Approve first amendment to agreement between county of Lake and St. Helena Hospital for FY2013-14 for acute mental health services, an increase of $75,000, and authorize the chair to sign.

C-10: Waive 900-hour limit for extra help Client Support Assistants Andre Howell, Cynthia Ahern, Glade Marshall and Wanda Quitiquit.

C-11: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Dixon Backhoe Service and General Engineering for abatement of nuisance conditions at 9840 Rocky Creek Road, Lower Lake, total amount $18,500, and authorize chair to sign.

C-12: Adopt resolution setting rate of pay for elections officers for the June 3, 2014 statewide direct primary election.

C-13: Waive 900-hour limit for extra help Buildings and Grounds Janitor Neil Raffanellie.

C-14: Approve Agreement #EW-2014-14 between county of Lake and the Regents of the University of California at Davis for FY2014-15 training services, total amount $83,320, and authorize the chair to sign.

C-15: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, approve second amendment to agreement between Lake County Watershed District and Paragon Partners Ltd. for appraisal and relocation assistance services for the Middle Creek flood damage reduction and ecosystem restoration project, at no additional cost, and authorize the chair to sign.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – An update on a countywide sales tax, a public hearing on the housing element report and city legislative policy will be on the Lakeport City Council's agenda this week.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

At the beginning of the meeting, the council will observe a moment of silence for former council member and Mayor Arlin Pischke, who died at age 75 on April 27: http://bit.ly/S55iuP .

During public presentations, Lake County Public Works and Water Resources Director Scott De Leon will give the council an update on Measure L, the half-cent sales tax for lake and water quality projects that is to appear on the June 3 ballot, http://www.savethelake.info .

One of the council's main orders of business for Tuesday is a public hearing to approve the 2013 Housing Element Progress Report, and direct staff to submit the report to the Department of Housing and Community Development.

The council also will adopt resolutions declaring certain property surplus and approving its sale, and approving the city of Lakeport Legislative Policy.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances, minutes of the regular April 15 and April 29 meetings, the April 18 warrant register, and approval of Application No. 2014-008 for Community Care to hold the Lake County Aids Walk on Sept. 13 utilizing city sidewalks for the walk and Library Park and the gazebo area for presentations and booths.

After the public portion of the meeting, the council will hold a closed session for employee labor negotiations.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The two men seeking the office of district attorney had their first meeting in a candidates' forum on Thursday.

Incumbent Don Anderson and challenger Andre Ross answered questions from the community – and each other – during the forum, held in the Board of Supervisors chambers at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport.

Anderson is seeking a second term in office while Ross is looking to unseat him in the race. The primary is June 3.

The forum, which ran just over an hour, can be seen in its entirety in the video above, produced by McKenzie Paine of Velocity Video in partnership with the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and Lake County News, the forum's sponsors.

Anderson and Ross are next set to appear in a public forum at the Middletown Area Town Hall meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at the Middletown Community Center, 21256 Washington St.