Local Government

CLEARLAKE – The city's goal of developing the Austin Resort site may take a step forward tonight, when the Clearlake City Council discusses an environmental study of the parcel.


Under Redevelopment Agency business, the council will consider approving a contract with the firm Jones and Stokes to conduct the study, which the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires.


The environmental study will be a key to developing the site, Interim City Administrator Dale Neiman said earlier this month.


At its meeting Feb. 8, the council extended an exclusive negotiating agreement with Income Property Specialists (IPS), a company interested in building a mixed-use development on the site that includes a hotel, retail space and town homes.


Neiman said before that meeting that the council would like to add some elements to IPS's proposal. The council, at Neiman's recommendation, extended talks with IPS 30 days to finish the agreement.


Before a plan to develop the lakeside property can be approved, Neiman said the city has to conduct an environmental study on the site.


That study, Neiman said, could impact the final design on any project proposed for the Austin Resort site; it will tell the city and developer what can and can't be done with the land.


Once the study is completed, and the city and IPS reach an agreement on the site's development, Neiman said the city would sell the land to IPS.


An appraisal would be required before a sale, but Neiman said an appraisal would come at at a later state of the process.


The Clearlake City Council meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


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LAKEPORT – The Lakeport Fire Protection District moved a step closer to having a new fire station Tuesday night.


The Lakeport City Council voted to approve an updated agreement with the fire district for the purchase of a new fire station site.


The agreement essentially lays out a land swap between the city and the fire district.


Last September, the council had approved executing a land swap agreement with the fire district. After then-Mayor Ted Mandrones signed the agreement, it was forwarded to the fire district.


The district asked for some minor changes to that original agreement, which city staff added updated before returning it to the council for a vote Tuesday.


Acting City Manager Richard Knoll said at Tuesday's meeting that the property to be exchanged would be a 2.5-acre parcel on the east end of Bevins Court, owned by the fire district, and a city parcel located on Larrecou.


Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells said he and Knoll met earlier in the day to go over the agreement again before asking the council's final approval.


Part of the agreement stipulates that the fire district will advance the city $65,000, loaned without interest for the first two years – after which it will accrue at the prime rate. That money will fund demolition and removal of abandoned water and sewer facilities on the parcel, which is part of the city's corporation yard.


"The whole gist of this agreement is the advancement of the $65,000," said Wells.


There are some other details to work out before the purchase is complete, said Knoll. A parcel map needs to be recorded and deeds need to be prepared to conclude the trade, he explained.


Councilman Ron Bertsch asked about toxic cleanup on the site, which is mentioned in the document.


Knoll explained that the agreement calls for the city to clean up any toxic materials found there, but that he doesn't anticipate any will be found.


Wells said testing of the parcel is already under way; a civil engineer has already said the site is buildable.

Next they'll dig test wells to check for possible contamination at the site, he said. Like Knoll, Wells said he doesn't think there are any toxic materials on the land.


There is asbestos on the land in the form of serpentine soil, Knoll said.


A sewer storage pond had been located on the Larrecou parcel, said Knoll, but the city's sewer system doesn't produce the kinds of heavy metals that can lead to contamination. Nor has there been any activity there that the city is aware of that would result in toxic materials being left behind, Knoll said.


Knoll said there has been some discussion about the city's Redevelopment Agency helping provide financial assistance for the fire station project.


Another point in the agreement: If the fire district finalizes the parcel purchase but isn't in a position to build the new station, it agrees to lease the parcel to the city on a year-to-year basis for $1 per year. The city would use the land for storage of "clean construction debris free from hazards waste."


If, during a one-year lease period, the district needs to begin the building process, the city agrees to move the stored debris within 30 days of a written notice from the district.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


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LAKEPORT — Organizers of KPFZ community radio left Tuesday's Lake County Board of Supervisors meeting with the support of a community and a commitment.

The community support came from the numerous individuals in the room -- some board members among them -- who voiced their alliance with the organizers. The group has an April deadline to boost the signal for KPFZ so that it covers all of Lake County.

The commitment came via a unanimous vote to find ways to provide the $30,000 the KPFZ proponents sought. The county funding was being sought as part of the matching funds needed to secure a $96,000 federal grant.

Overall, the nonprofit station needs $160,000 to go on the air and has raised about $130,000 of that, including the federal grant, according to a document brought to the Supervisor session.

It was not quite a slam-dunk for Andy Weiss, who heads the effort to build the broadcast range of the station. Rob Brown originally expressed opposition to the idea that KPFZ is a voice for democracy.

"I don't feel that democracy is at risk," said the District 5 Supervisor. "Democracy was here a long time before radio."

Brown said he couldn't justify providing $30,000 for the concept when there so many other programs that need funding.

For a while this was an obstacle for the board, which was partially cleared up only when Weiss, responding to a question, said the funds wouldn't actually be needed until July.

The deliberations preceding the ultimate commitment were accompanied by some intriguing rhetoric from those who came to the podium.

Dallas Woll said he, personally, would provide the final $1,000 to get KPFZ on air from his Roto-Rooter business if the Board committed the funds.

Carol Bettencourt, a Red Cross volunteer from Lucerne, took a fatalistic approach to justifying the need for community radio station.

"We need to be ready for the next disaster and to evacuate," said Bettencourt. "We've got to prepare for the national disaster that you know will be here. We can't wait for FEMA—we've got to do it ourselves."

Another speaker, John Roddy, all but harangued the board, exhorting, "Don't say that you don't have the money; you have the money!

"I want that public radio. I really do," he added.

". . .. And I want you to have your own show on that public radio," a grinning Brown shot back.

An impressive segment of community radio support came from Thomas Leon Brown, who said he represented 22 Pomo Indian tribes who want to see the station developed.

Before throwing his vote to the station, Anthony Farrington questioned its sustainability, questioning whether following generations would have the same passion for community radio as present-day proponents.

His question received a response from Susan Krones, a deputy District Attorney and one of the station's proponents.

"Our vision is to train the young people to carry on," she said. "We need to have a training program and we plan to have a training program in-house. We will associate with the schools and have an internship in running a radio station."

Ed Robey, who eventually delivered the motion supported by his colleagues, said that the board needed to make a firm commitment, "and do it in a positive way, not a begrudging way.

"I would support the Board of Supervisors making a commitment that we will come up with the funds."

What followed was a decision to make a written commitment now and deliver the funds after a source for them is identified.

Weiss called the decision "fantastic."

"It was important for the board to make a 5-0 decision," he said "It shows that the county government is interested in promoting united communications around the lake. We haven't had that, but we're going to now."

Weiss added that Mt. Konocti ownership issues that needed to be settled before KPFZ could install its signal there have been resolved.

"We're ready to go now," he said.
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