LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Planning Commission is due to consider proposed zoning changes that would prohibit marijuana cultivation in mobile home parks and apartments, and set marijuana processing limits at residences.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, in the board chambers at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

At 10:25 a.m. Community Development Director Rick Coel will take to the commission the proposed amendments to the Lake County Zoning Ordinance that would put in place the prohibitions on medical marijuana cultivation within mobile home parks and multifamily dwelling properties.

Coel told Lake County News that he also will ask the commission to consider a proposal to set limits on how much marijuana processing can be done in residential neighborhoods.

He said taking the proposals to the commission is the first step in a review process that will include additional public notices and, ultimately, approval by the Board of Supervisors.

In his report to the commission, Coel notes that the county’s interim medical marijuana cultivation ordinance, accepted last July and extended for another 22 months in August, sets limits on outdoor cultivation amounts on properties containing residences, prohibits cultivation on vacant properties and establishes a 600 foot setback from schools.

However, Coel pointed out that it does not address mobile home parks, apartment buildings or marijuana processing activities.

He told Lake County News that the county has received numerous complaints about marijuana grows from mobile home park residents.

He explained that the complaints tend to center around the common issue of odor in the confined space of the parks, with an added element of fear due to the potential that the marijuana will become the focus of crime, particular break-ins and robberies. The new prohibitions are meant to target those concerns.

The new regulations also would prevent grows in and around multifamily dwellings, from triplexes to apartment buildings, Coel said.

He said such controls are important in cases where tenants don’t have any land use control; he said it’s not fair when a tenant is growing in a bedroom or other part of an apartment and and causing health and safety issues for other residents.

The third issue Coel will ask the commission to consider is the matter or processing marijuana in neighborhoods.

“Around harvest season we had a rash of people bringing their medicine from these rural properties into the subdivisions to process,” Coel said.

In some cases, there were reports of garages where as many as 50 to 100 plants were being dried, which Coel said caused instantaneous odor issues for neighbors, who can smell the drying plants hundreds of feet away. Coel said at some of the homes trimmers were being brought in to work on processing the marijuana.

“It appears to be light manufacturing for several weeks,” he said.

There is concern about the potential for criminal activity at processing sites, more so than where the plants are grown, he said.

Coel said the proposal calls for processing to be limited to the amount of marijuana that can be cultivated on the premises in compliance with any existing county ordinance regulating marijuana cultivation and amounts.

In other commission business, at 9:25 a.m. members will hold a public hearing on a use permit extension for major use permit sought by The Geysers Power Co. The company is requesting a use permit time extension for existing geothermal steam field. The project is located at 20055 Foard Road, Middletown.

The following items also are on the Dec. 13 agenda:

9:01 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 Lake County Planning Commission and is already on the day’s agenda or scheduled for a future public hearing. Total time allotted for citizen’s input shall be 15 minutes. Speakers are requested to complete a simple form (giving name, address and subject) available in the Community Development Department office, prior to 9 a.m.

9:05 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of a General Plan Conformity Report (GPC 12-13). The project applicant is the Lake County Administrative Office proposing to sell surplus land, originally acquired in 2004 by the Lake County Redevelopment Agency to establish a town center around Hinman Park. The project is located at 3478 Boggs Ave., Nice; APN 032-111-33.

9:10 a.m.: Public hearing on reconsideration of a previously adopted mitigated negative declaration based on Initial Study (IS 96-08) and Major Use Permit UP 11-09. The project applicant is La Monica Signs requesting a five-year time extension for an existing billboard sign. The project is located at 255 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport; APN 008-019-64.

10:45 a.m.: Zoning ordinance update.

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.

121312 Lake County Planning Commission - Marijuana Zoning Ordinance Proposed Changes

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Fellow council members and city staffers offered their thanks to the Lakeport City Council’s three outgoing members at the Tuesday night council meeting.

It was the last meeting for Suzanne Lyons, Roy Parmentier and Bob Rumfelt. Parmentier had not sought reelection, and Lyons and Rumfelt lost their reelection bids Nov. 6.

New council members Kenny Parlet, Martin Scheel and Marc Spillman will be sworn in at the Dec. 18 meeting.

The last meeting for the three outgoing council members saw them honor Clear Lake High School’s undefeated junior varsity football team and the swearing in of Jason Ferguson, Lakeport Police’s new lieutenant.

At the start of the meeting, as the council was to approve the consent agenda – a slate of items usually accepted on one vote – Rumfelt asked to have the new contract for City Attorney Steve Brookes pulled because he had received a phone call outlining concerns about the contract.

The contract, which begins on page 30 of the agenda packet posted below this article, is good through Dec. 31, 2013. It calls for Brookes to be paid $50,796 annually.

Brookes was not present for the discussion.

Lloyd Wells, a retired Lakeport Police officers and one of several retirees in the audience, said the proposed contract disturbed him and some of the fellow retirees because Brookes, a half-time employee, would be getting full-time benefits.

Wells also raised issues with the annually city paying into a $2,400 deferred compensation plan for Brookes.

“I would urge you not to vote on the contract tonight,” Wells said, suggesting the council should continue discussion. “Look at it further. I don't think that it's what you want.”

Rumfelt and Lyons both supported holding the matter over to Dec. 18.

In response to Wells’ concerns, Councilman Tom Engstrom, the city’s retired police chief, said Brookes used to get all of his health benefits covered but now he has to cover the same percentage as everyone else in the new one-year contract. The contract says that amount Brookes must contribute is 24 percent.

Bob Barthel, another retired city employee, said when he joined the city in 1982, he signed a contract that said he would have full benefits in retirement. “That didn’t happen.”

Barthel added, “We were told the promises were written in the sand towards our employee benefits.”

Engstrom said there were concessions made in Brookes’ new contract. “This contract changes it so he doesn’t get any more than any other city employee or retiree.”

Barthel said he is now paying a third of his retirement toward health benefits. “When I retired none of it was supposed to go there.” It wasn’t fair, he added.

Engstrom said he agreed, and pointed out that he had appeared before the council over the course of five years to argue against changes to retiree benefits.

The council then voted 3-2 – with Rumfelt and Lyons voting no – to approve the contract.

A fond farewell

At the meeting’s end, Mayor Stacey Mattina recognized the three outgoing council members with plaques.

Lyons was elected in 2008. Parmentier has served 19 years; he was first on the council from 1988 to 2000. In April 2005 he won a special election to fill the seat of Councilman Dick Lamkin, who had died.

“I think we’re going to miss your fire, Roy,” said Mattina.

“Someone will step up,” said Parmentier.

Parmentier thanked the city. “It’s been my privilege to serve you. Thank you.”

Rumfelt has served 16 years, from 1996 to the present.

“It’s been an honor and privilege working with you on the council,” City Manager Margaret Silveira told the group.

She said that while Parmentier was cranky, he “has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen.”

Mattina said Rumfelt has been the council’s “old wise one.”

“‘Old’ may be OK, but ‘wise,’ I’m not so sure,” Rumfelt replied.

He said there has been a lot of collaboration amongst council members. “Hopefully, we’ll get a new group that does their homework and does the city good.”

Rumfelt said he was proud to have been part of seeing the city convert to a manager form of government, which he had supported since coming on the council. The city hired its first city manager in 2001.

He said the city has a great staff, whose members keeps the city at heart. In particular, he singled out Richard Knoll, the city’s retiring Community Development Department director, for his work, noting it will be hard for others to live up to what Knoll has done for the city.

Engstrom said it was an honor to work with Lyons, Rumfelt and Parmentier.

“I always have a soft spot in my heart for Roy because he’s the only one left around who hired me in 1994,” said Engstrom, recalling his hire as police chief. Engstrom said coming to Lakeport was the greatest thing to ever happen to his family. “God bless you.”

Rumfelt said he would like to see a public appreciation for every employee who leaves the city under honorable conditions. “They all do a whole lot of work that a lot of people wouldn’t do.”

Knoll thanked the outgoing council members. He said they deserved credit for their work.

“I don’t think the community really sees the amount of hard work that the council members put in, in terms of research and background and reading staff reports, and then sitting up here and making at times difficult decisions that are often criticized and belittled by the community,” Knoll said.

“This is quite an experience,” Lyons said of serving as a council member, suggesting more people ought to look into doing it.

She said that when she first joined the council, she didn’t think she would vote together on issues with Parmentier and Rumfelt.

“Twice,” said Parmentier.

Lyons said that she learned that council members ultimately “make decisions according to what they really believe.”

Lyons added, “It’s never been a grudge thing, it’s always been what we think is best.”

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. – Following a Tuesday closed session performance evaluation and discussion, the Board of Supervisors gave the county’s interim county administrative officer the job on a permanent basis.

Matt Perry, 51, has held the job since last June, when the board appointed him to succeed Kelly Cox, the county’s longtime administrative officer, as Lake County News has reported.

“I’m grateful and honored that they chose to appoint me permanently,” Perry told Lake County News Tuesday evening.

Board Chair Rob Brown said it was Perry who had asked the board to appoint him on an interim basis in order to make sure it was the right fit for him and the county.

Brown said the board thinks Perry has done an excellent job. “We’re very confident in his ability to continue as our county administrative officer for many years to come.”

Perry, who had worked for Cox for many years before succeeding him, presented the first budget he had done on his own this summer. Brown said Perry definitely proved himself in that process.

Brown also credited Perry for helping bring the campus lease negotiations with Marymount College for the Lucerne Hotel – known as “The Castle” – to a successful conclusion.

“Getting The Castle renovated is the next big step in that process,” Perry said. “That’s going to take a lot of our time and energy.”

Starting later this month and into January, there also is the midyear budget review, said Perry. “Budgeting is almost a year-round process.”

Among Perry’s other ongoing challenges are managing the redevelopment agency’s dissolution and preparing the county to meet the requirements of the new federal health care laws, he said.

He said staff has made the transition to the new leadership, and he feels he has the support of county department heads.

Perry said there haven’t been any big surprises since taking the job, although he’s had a full realization of the gravity, responsibility and complexity of the position.

As for getting to take the “interim” out from in front of his title, Perry said, “I’ve been telling everyone that I’m permanent until next Tuesday,” referring to the day the board meets.

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. – This week the Lakeport City Council will recognize its outgoing members, hold a swearing-in ceremony for Lakeport Police’s new lieutenant and honor a local high school football team’s winning season.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The council will recognize the years of service to the city of Councilmembers Suzanne Lyons, Robert Rumfelt and Roy Parmentier, with an informal reception to follow the meeting.

Succeeding Lyons, Rumfelt and Parmentier are Kenny Parlet, Martin Scheel and Marc Spillman, who won the seats in last month’s election.

Their swearing-in is set for the council’s next meeting, as the deadline for the Lake County Registrar of Voters to finalize the election results is at 5 p.m. Tuesday, just an hour before the council meeting was to start.

In other news, Deputy City Clerk Kelly Buendia will administer the oath of office to newly appointed Lakeport Police Lt. Jason Ferguson.

Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen tapped Ferguson – a longtime member of the agency – to be the department’s second in command.

Also on Tuesday, the council will recognize the Clear Lake High School junior varsity football team for its undefeated 2012 season.

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 Board of Supervisors this week will discuss updates to the Code Enforcement Division’s procedures.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the board chambers at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. It will be broadcast live on TV8.

In an untimed item, the board will hold the second reading of a proposed ordinance advanced from Nov. 27 to amend Chapter 13 of the Ordinance Code of the county of Lake pertaining to replacement of the courtesy Code Enforcement notification process, establishing a request for hearing procedures and adding additional provisions for cost recovery.

The board also will consider a second amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and Archeological Services Inc. for archaeological services for the Clearlake Oaks Safe Routes to School Sidewalk Project. That item also is untimed.

The full agenda is below.

TIMED ITEMS

9 a.m., A1-A4: 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).

1:30 p.m.: Assessment Appeal Hearing: Clifford and Patricia Bergen - 9745 Nancy Drive, Kelseyville, CA (APN 114-100-031-000).

NONTIMED ITEMS

A-6: Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.

A-7: Advanced from Nov. 27; consideration of proposed ordinance amending Chapter 13 of the Ordinance Code of the county of Lake pertaining to replacement of the courtesy notification process, establishing a request for hearing procedures and adding additional provisions for cost recovery. Second reading.

A-8: Consideration of request to extend “Fee Waiver and Deferral Policy for Economic Development Projects.”

A-9: (a) Consideration of request to waive travel policy section regarding time limit for submitting travel reimbursement claims; and (b) consideration of request to approve late travel claims.

A-10: Consideration of proposed second amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and Archeological Services, Inc. for archaeological services for the Clearlake Oaks Safe Routes to School Sidewalk Project.

CLOSED SESSION

A-11: 1.Conference with labor negotiator: (a) county negotiators: A. Grant, L. Guintivano, M. Perry, J. Hammond and A. Flora; and (b) Lake County Deputy District Attorney’s Association, Lake County Correctional Officer’s Association and Lake County Employees Association.

A-11: 2. Public employee performance evaluation: Interim County Administrative Officer Matt Perry.

A-11: 3. Public Employee Appointment: County administrative officer/clerk of the board.

CONSENT AGENDA

C-1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held on Nov. 27, 2012.

C-2: Adopt resolution expressing support for Lower Lake Parade and Barbeque (May 26, 2013).

C-3: Adopt resolution approving Public Health’s acceptance of awarded grant funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration Workforce for federal fiscal years 2012-13 through 2013-14 in support of Lake County’s dental health education and prevention services and authorizing the director of Health Services to sign said grant.

C-4: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Marta Fuller for FY 2012-13 dental health education and prevention services (funding provided by Lake County Office of Education), in the amount of $4,000, and authorize the chair to sign.

C-5: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Marta Fuller for dental health education and prevention services for federal fiscal years September 2012 through Aug. 31, 2014 (funded by Health Resources and Services Administration grant), in the amount of $53,140, and authorize the chair to sign.

C-6: Adopt resolution approving the application for grant funds from the state of California Parks and Recreation Recreational Trails Program for trails development for Rodman Slough County Park.

C-7: Approve Agreement between the County of Lake and Redbud Audobon Society for assistance with Audubon Clear Lake Grebe Conservation Study (county staff time to be reimbursed at $25/hour) and authorize the chair to sign.

LAKE COUNTY WATERSHED PROTECTION DISTRICT

C-8: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Heather Koschik and Jason Koschik for assistant caretaker services at Highland Springs Recreation area, and authorize the chair to sign.

C-9: Approve the 2013 California State Fair Counties Exhibit Entry Form 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. – State officials are looking at ways to make a south county intersection with a high collision and fatality rate safer, and one of the solutions that’s being considered is the installation of a new roundabout.

Caltrans District 1 Director Charlie Fielder met with county officials and a representative from Congressman Mike Thompson’s office on Thursday afternoon to discuss what he said was a very preliminary proposal for a new roundabout at Hartmann Road and Highway 29 outside of Hidden Valley Lake.

The informal meeting in the Board of Supervisors’ chambers at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport included Middletown area Supervisor Jim Comstock, Thompson representative Brad Onorato, Valley Oaks developer Ken Porter, county Deputy Public Works Director Lars Ewing and Public Works’ special projects engineer, Todd Mansell.

“We’ve had some concerns with the collision rates we’ve been seeing at Highway 29 and Hartmann Road,” Fielder said.

It was because of those collision rates that in July 2011 Caltrans announced its plans to install a three-way stop at the intersection, as Lake County News has reported. The stop sign installation was completed in October 2011.

Caltrans statistics showed that, between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2011, there were 27 collisions at the intersection, including two fatals, 13 injury crashes and 18 broadsides.

Those numbers put the fatality rate at 15 times the state average and injury collisions at six times the statewide average, while the overall crash rate is five times the state average.

When it announced the three-way stop, Caltrans wasn’t planning to install a stoplight due to concerns about the intersection’s orientation, which has a 1,000-foot radius horizontal curve with a 10-percent cross slope.

Caltrans continues to have that opinion, with Fielder saying Thursday that a traffic signal won’t work due to the way the intersection is oriented.

The stop signs, however, have worked well as an interim solution, Fielder said, with Comstock agreeing.

Fielder said Caltrans had planned to seek grant funding in order to support the county improving the intersection, but the grant didn’t come through.

Caltrans therefore decided to look at other options, with Fielder explaining that his engineers believe a roundabout can work there.

“Roundabouts get mixed reviews,” Fielder conceded, but said a new roundabout in Nice at the corner of Highway 20 and the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff appears to be working well. “People are adapting to it very quickly.”

There also is a new roundabout, completed at the end of 2011, at Highway 1 and Simpson Lane in Fort Bragg, Fielder said.

“This is the direction we're heading right now,” said Fielder. “It's not a done deal by any means.”

He said there needs to be more research and public outreach before a final decision is made. “Initial investigations are showing this is a viable option.”

One of the benefits of roundabouts is that there is essentially no maintenance cost, Fielder said.

Comstock, who admitted to not being a fan of roundabouts, questioned how a roundabout would handle the traffic volume at the busy intersection, one of the entry points into the Hidden Valley Lake subdivision. Fielder said it will work better than the stop signs do currently.

Fielder said Caltrans will continue its studies of the intersection before making a final decision.

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.