LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Board of Supervisors will hold a special workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 17, to review the draft conceptual cannabis ordinance which has been the topic of recent Lake County Planning Commission meetings.
The workshop will be held beginning at 5 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers at 255 N. Forbes Street in Lakeport.
According to Jeff Smith, Lake County’s District 2 Supervisor and Board of Supervisors chair for 2017, the board looks forward to this opportunity for in-depth discussion of the draft ordinance with Community Development staff.
This workshop will not culminate in any decisions or action relative to the draft ordinance, and in fact, may be the first in a series of board workshops needed to fully digest and refine it.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week is expected to appoint three new planning commissioners, consider forming another municipal advisory committee and approve findings of fact in the denial of appeals filed against the Wild Diamond Vineyards project.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
At 9:10 a.m., the board will consider appointments to the Lake County Planning Commission. John Hess, Matt Levesque and Daniel Suenram have applied to represent districts 1, 4 and 5 on the commission, respectively.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a resolution establishing the Middle Region Town Hall for the Lucerne area.
If approved, the Middle Region Town Hall would be the fourth municipal advisory committee formed by the Board of Supervisors to serve various Lake County communities.
In another untimed item, the board will consider proposed findings of fact and decision in the appeals of Hidden Valley Lake Watershed of the Wild Diamond Vineyards project.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings held Dec. 20 and Jan. 3.
7.2: (a) Adopt proclamation commending Jim Comstock; and (b) adopt proclamation commending Anthony Farrington.
7.3: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, per Ordinance No. 3043, Purchasing Code 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the first amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Crestwood Behavioral Health for adult residential support and specialty mental health services for fiscal year 2016-17 for a contract increase of $200,000 for a new contract maximum of $550,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.
7.4: Approve the appointment of Crystal Martin as interim Victim-Witness program administrator.
7.5: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Ruzicka Associates for professional design services for the Lower Lake Parks Maintenance Building, in the amount of $99,022, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.6: Adopt resolution authorizing submission of a grant application from Lake County Health Services to the California Department of Public Health, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch Grant Program for fiscal years 2017-18 through 2019-20, in the amount of $201,914 and authorize the director of Health Services to sign said application and grant.
7.7: Adopt resolution approving and accepting Final Parcel Map Neve PM 15-02 and authorize the chair to sign.
7.8: Adopt of a resolution authorizing the director of Public Works director to Sign Local Agency-State Cooperative Agreement No. 01-0376 for the construction on the state highway of the Eastlake Elementary Safe Routes to School and Community Development Block Grant Sidewalk and Street Lighting Project.
7.9: Approve Supplemental Services Agreement No. 5 (Consulting Airport Engineer) for the Lampson Airport Capital Improvement Plan, in the amount of $5,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
7.10: Approve dedication and conveyance of water mainline extension to serve APNs 008-730-10 and -09, more specifically described as parcels 1 through 4 as shown on that certain map entitled "Parcel Map PM 08-03", and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:10 a.m.: Appoint/reappoint members of the Lake County Planning Commission.
8.3, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of a proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer.
8.4, 9:20 a.m.: Hearing, nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $19114.45, for 12577 Widgeon Way, Clearlake Oaks CA (APN 035-132-36 -The Iron Skillet Inc.).
8.5, 9:30 a.m.: Hearing, nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $10,453.74, for 12545 Lakeview Dr, Clearlake Oaks, CA (APN 035-152-65 -LJohn Danuck).
8.6, 10 a.m.: Consideration of action to disburse existing abandoned vehicle funding and to continue collection of the $1 abandoned vehicle abatement fee.
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Consideration of resolution establishing the Middle Region Town Hall for the Lucerne Area.
9.3: Second reading, consideration of an ordinance establishing Article XXVIII in Chapter 2 of the County Code providing the authority and procedures for adopting and administering a master fee schedule.
9.4: Consideration of auditor-controller/county clerk request to temporarily modify front counter hours of operation.
9.5: Consideration of proposed findings of fact and decision in the appeals of Hidden Valley Lake Watershed (Elizabeth Montgomery) - AB 16-04, AB 16-08.
9.6: Consideration to (a) waive the the normal Bidding Requirements Ordinance No. 2406, Section 38.2 for the Purchase and Reconditioning of two Used Kenworth T-800 Dump-Trucks for County Road Maintenance and (B) Authorize the Public Works Director/Assistant Purchasing Agent to issue to issue a purchase order not to exceed $149,591 to Opperman & Sons, Inc. for the two used chassis, and a purchase order not to exceed $65,650.96 to Dietz Equipment for the reconditioning of the dump beds.
CLOSED SESSION
10.2: Employee disciplinary appeal (EDA-16-04), Pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54957.
10.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Lake County Correctional Officers Association v. County of Lake, et al.
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 Economic Development Advisory Committee will get updates on major city projects and finalize a city strategic plan on economic development.
The Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee, or LEDAC, will meet from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The meeting is open to the public.
Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira and Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will give updates on the Lakefront Revitalization Plan, the Carnegie Library, hotel development feasibility study and other city projects.
LEDAC Chair Wilda Shock said the committee also will review and finalize the Economic Development Strategic Plan for its presentation to the Lakeport City Council.
LEDAC advocates for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and acts as a conduit between the city and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs.
The membership includes Shock, Vice Chair Christine Hutt, and members Denise Combs, Bill Eaton, George Feola, Melissa Fulton, Pam Harpster, George Linn, Terre Logsdon, Taira St. John and Panette Talia. Ingram and Silveira serve as ex-officio committee members.
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 Lakeport Police Department reports that all city streets in Lakeport are currently open however, residents and motorists should be aware that standing water continues to remain on several city streets. All creeks and drainage systems are close to capacity and with further rain expected, motorists are encouraged to limit travel due to increased flooding. The City of Lakeport Public Works Department is providing the following phone number for anyone wishing to report flooding (707) 263-3578.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors, which welcomed two new members this week, approved a plan for the training of those new board members and a new protocol for this year.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson proposed the new training and protocol plans to the board, which earlier in the meeting had seen new members Tina Scott and Moke Simon sworn in.
She explained that in November she attended the California State Association of Counties, or CSAC, annual conference and training for new supervisors.
At that time she learned that many counties provide additional in-house training to new supervisors “to assist in the smooth transition of new leadership.” She also learned that other counties adopt complementary documents on board procedures or protocols that establish “simple, additional ground rules” for meetings, agenda items, interaction with staff and more.
Huchingson said she was particularly moved at the training by District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele's account of beginning as a supervisor.
She said he talked about his first day on the job, “during which his training consisted of, 'Let us know if you have any questions.'”
She added, “That had a powerful impact on me, Supervisor Steele, and I'd like to see us do something entirely different for our new supervisors so that they are quickly made aware of all the resources available to them and really have the opportunity to get off on the best foot possible as new supervisors.”
Huchingson presented to the board a training plan for the new year consisting of a number of parts, beginning with training offered by her office on basics such as using county phones and the computer system, where their inboxes are and where they should park, the role of clerk of the board and how the County Administrative Office can support them.
In a week the new board members will be asked to come back for the second part of their training with the County Administrative Office, which Huchingson said would include an overview of the budget.
They also will receive training from County Counsel Anita Grant on the Brown Act, conflicts of interest, the Public Records Act and more, Huchingson said.
In the weeks to come, she said all 25 county department heads are poised to train the supervisors on what they do, the mandated services they offer and their goals, their budgets and challenges they're facing, Huchingson said.
Huchingson, who became county administrative officer in April, said she similarly met with department heads to learn about what they do and she found it very helpful.
Besides the in-house training, Huchingson said there are mandatory online trainings for supervisors on topics such as ethics and sexual harassment. She said she's also reached out to the sheriff to ask about trainings he would recommend regarding local disaster management.
She encouraged board members to take advantage of out-of-county trainings as well, such as those offered by CSAC.
Board Chair Jeff Smith called Huchingson's proposal “excellent,” and Steele also complimented her for her efforts.
Scott indicated she already has taken the online sexual harassment training, and said while serving on the Lakeport Unified School District Board she took every training she could. She added that trainings that offer the chance to meet with members of other boards also are very helpful.
Scott, who won her seat by a large margin, was able to attend CSAC's new board member training at its annual meeting in November. However, Simon, whose race was much closer, had to wait for the election's final certification and so couldn't attend.
Huchingson said she reproduced the training materials for Simon. CSAC will hold another, different training for new board members in February.
Huchingson also presented the new Board of Supervisors protocol for 2017, which she said included “some additional ground rules” besides those in the county ordinance that lays out meeting frequency and structure.
The protocol reminds supervisors that individual board members don't direct the work of staff but that the entire board sets policy, she said.
She said board members are asked to communicate with departments through department heads unless otherwise arranged, and when a supervisor received a communication from a community member about another board member's district, they're to refer those contacts to the supervisor of the district that's involved.
Huchingson also wanted to add a section on office hours and how the public can best communicate with board members.
Simon indicated that, due to the distance he has to travel from the south county, he would like to have office hours in his district. “It's a long way for my constituents to come.”
Fellow board members suggested options including the sheriff's substation, the senior center or even arranging meetings at local coffee shops. Huchingson suggested a space that she had used at the Gibson Museum while acting as the recovery coordinator after the Valley fire.
Huchingson said how board members want to manage office hours and interactions with the community will be up to each of them. Her office has a steady stream of people coming through asking when board members will be available.
She said of Scott and Simon, “Even before you got here, they were asking for you.”
Simon said that, before he was elected as a supervisor, he also had made such visits to the county offices to seek out board members.
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 all new Lakeport City Council met on Tuesday for the first time in the new year, greeting a new county supervisor, approving the placement of council members on a series of city boards and commissions, and approving another contract for improvements to the new Lakeport Police headquarters.
The council started off the brief, 19-minute meeting with a presentation of thanks to Tom Gayner, an outgoing city planning commissioner.
Community Development Director Kevin Ingram read a proclamation commending Gayner for his work on the commission. Gayner was on the commission for eight years, from June 2008 through the end of last month, serving as chair from 2010 to 2011 and 2014 to 2015.
The proclamation said Gayner was instrumental in updating, reviewing and implementing the city's housing element updates in 2009 and 2014, adoption of the Forbes Creek Neighborhood Study and the city's 2015 updated general plan and sphere of influence.
Gayner “provided a vast knowledge of construction development practices that provided invaluable insight and benefit to the decision making process of the planning commission,” the proclamation said.
When asked by Mayor Stacey Mattina if he wanted to come up and say anything, Gayner, a man of few words, replied, “No, I'm good.”
The council also formally welcomed new District 4 Supervisor Tina Scott, with Mattina offering her congratulations on her election.
Scott, who was sworn in during a Tuesday morning ceremony just up the hill at the Lake County Courthouse, apologized for arriving a few minutes late to the meeting.
She said she was delayed due to assisting with intake for the homeless warming center at a bus stop on North Main Street, with the person due to relieve her getting there late.
“It really humbles you, standing out there for an hour,” said Scott. “At this point I can't feel my feet.”
She thanked the council for the invitation to speak. “I really look forward to working with the city closely,” she said, acknowledging that there hasn't been “the back and forth” between the city and county.
However, she indicated a desire to change that. “I'm here, I have an open mind and I'm willing to do whatever we can do together,” noting they serve the same people.
Scott has so far taken a collaborative approach with the Lakeport City Council that sets her apart from her predecessor, Anthony Farrington, who left the board this week after 16 years.
Over the past several years, Farrington has publicly been at odds with the city because of its longterm plan to annex South Main Street, the most lucrative commercial corridor in the unincorporated county.
Mattina welcomed Scott, said she was thrilled she was there, expressed the hope she would join their meetings and added that she was looking forward to working with here. Other council members also thanked Scott for her appearance.
The mayor in her welcome also thanked Scott for attending the council meetings. Since her election in November, Scott has been at the council's twice-monthly meetings, which again sets her apart from Farrington, who was rarely in attendance at the meetings unless matters related to annexation or sphere of influence were discussed.
In other business on Tuesday, Mattina presented her suggested appointments of liaisons to city commissions, boards and committees, which the council approved unanimously.
Those appointments of council representatives are as follows:
– Lakeport Fire Protection District: Councilman Tim Barnes, Councilwoman Mireya Turner as alternate. – Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce: Turner, Mattina as alternate. – Lakeport Main Street Association: Councilman George Spurr. – League of California Cities, Redwood Empire Division, Division Business Meeting voting delegate: Turner, Mattina as alternate. – League of California Cities, Redwood Empire Division, Legislative Committee voting delegate: Turner, Mattina as alternate. – Lake County/City Area Planning Council: Mattina and Councilman Kenny Parlet, Spurr as alternate. – County of Lake Solid Waste Management Task Force: Spurr, Turner. – SB 621 Indian Gaming Funds Committee: Spurr, Barnes as alternate. – Local Agency Formation Commission: Mattina, alternate to be appointed in 2018. – Invasive Species Task Force Committee: Parlet. – Clean Water Program Committee: Parlet. – Lakeport Unified School District Committee: Mattina and Turner. – Oversight Board of the Former Lakeport Redevelopment Agency: Mattina, Parlet as alternate. – Lake County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority: Spurr.
The other main item of business on Tuesday was approval of a purchase order in the amount of $34,032.32 to be paid to Total Security Solutions of Fowlerville, Mich., for bulletproof safety glass for the new Lakeport Police Department headquarters at 2025 S. Main St.
Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said a couple of major security projects had not been included in the original bidding for upgrades to the facility, and the safety glass was one of them.
Rasmussen said he had tried to place the item in the original bidding, but had to put it aside while trying to find vendors.
Altogether, the city received bids from three vendors, with one of the bids being incomplete, Rasmussen said. Total Security Solutions offered the best price, with the next-highest bid coming in at $42,537.80.
He said he intended to use Board of State and Community Corrections funds for the window purchase, so the city's general fund will not be impacted.
Parlet moved to approve the purchase order, which the council accepted unanimously.
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.
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