How to resolve AdBlock issue? LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will hear an appeal of a proposed state-funded bioenergy project near Upper Lake, consider a proposed increase in waste processing fees, and review contracts for behavioral health and child care services.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 865 3354 4962, pass code 726865. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,86533544962#,,,,*726865#. The meeting can also be accessed via phone at 669 900 6833.
At 9:15 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing on an appeal challenging the approval of a major use permit for a state-funded forest wood processing bioenergy project by Scotts Valley Energy Corp., located at 755 East State Highway 20, Upper Lake.
The project proposes to develop a facility that would process forest wood removed from local forests to reduce wildfire risk and convert it into bioenergy, according to the staff memo.
The Planning Commission approved the permit in December. Appellant Larry Kahn immediately filed an appeal, alleging that certain findings were either not submitted or not considered, including claims of code violations or noncompliance, mostly related to air quality and prime agricultural land protections.
The staff memo included responses to the allegations and reiterates that in December the Planning Commission found that “the project would not have significant impact on the environment and adopted a mitigated negative declaration.”
The appeal has been continued several times this year, as staff requested additional time to confer with state agencies regarding terms of the lease and respond to the appellant's request for public records.
“If staff does not gain clarification from the state by the date of this agenda posting, staff intends to request an additional continuance,” the staff memo said.
At 10 a.m., the board will hear a report from the Lake County Fish & Wildlife Advisory Committee regarding the “fish die off” that occurred in Clear Lake in September, the staff memo said.
In the untimed items, the board will also consider several Behavioral Health service agreements — one for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services, three for adult support — totaling $1.8 million.
The board will also consider requests from Lake County Waste Solutions and South Lake Refuse & Recycling to amend their franchise agreements to add a one-time 4.8% rate adjustment for organic waste processing.
The increase — about $1.40 to $1.78 more per month for a 32-gallon residential cart — offsets new costs from processing mixed organics that now include food scraps as well as yard waste.
Though Lake County remains exempt from mandatory organic collection under SB 1383, both haulers expanded their green waste programs voluntarily to support long-term environmental goals and prepare for future compliance, resulting in higher processing and disposal expenses.
The board will also consider approving a contract with North Coast Opportunities to continue administering Stage One Child Care services for CalWORKS participants.
The program offers low or no-cost childcare and facility referrals to eligible families, helping parents maintain employment or training. The contract provides $250,000 for May and June 2025, and $1.5 million for fiscal year 2025-26, covering administrative costs while childcare payments of about $1.05 million annually are funded separately by the state.
During closed session, the board will discuss appointing an interim chief public defender. Earlier this month, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to hire Ray Buenaventura, who has served as Lake County’s chief public defender since October 2023, for that job in their county.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1, Adopt proclamation recognizing October 2025 as Filipino American History Month in Lake County.
5.2, Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for September 30, 2025, and October 21, 2025.
5.3, Approve equitable sharing agreement and certification between the County of Lake Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Department of Justice, and authorize the sheriff and chair to sign.
5.4, Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, approve two joint funding agreements with the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior, for stream monitoring in Kelsey and Clover Creek, for a total amount not to exceed $75,490, and authorize the Water Resources director to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:02 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:03 a.m.: Pet of the week.
6.3, 9:05 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation recognizing October 2025 as Filipino American History Month in Lake County.
6.4, 9:15 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of appeal (PL-25-22; AB 24-06) of the Planning Commission’s approval of major use permit (UP 23-05) and initial study (IS 23-10) for the AG Forest Wood Processing Bioenergy Project, located at 755 East State Highway 20, Upper Lake (APN 004-010-04); appellant: Larry Kahn (continued from May 20, June 17, and August 26, 2025).
6.5, 9:45 a.m.: Consideration of presentation on the UC Cooperative Extension Forestry Program.
6.6, 10:00 a.m.: Presentation from Lake County Fish & Wildlife Advisory Committee.
NON-TIMED ITEMS
7.1, Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
7.2, Consideration of update to the 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting calendar.
7.3, Consideration of agreement between the County of Lake and Sacramento Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, LLC, for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations for fiscal year 2025-26.
7.4, Consideration of agreement between the County of Lake and Vista Pacifica Enterprises, Inc., for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services in the amount of $750,000 for fiscal year 2025-26.
7.5, Consideration to adopt resolution authorizing the Behavioral Health director to sign the standard agreement 24-40117 with the California Department of Health Care Services for Bond BHCIP Round 1: Launch Ready Program funding.
7.6, Consideration of agreement between the County of Lake and Manzanita House for adult residential support services in the amount of $300,000 for fiscal year 2025-26.
7.7, Consideration of agreement between the County of Lake and Windsor Care Center of Sacramento (a mental health rehabilitation center) for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services for fiscal year 2025-26 in the amount of $500,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.8, a) Consideration of amendment three to agreement between the County of Lake and Lake County Waste Solutions, Inc., for solid waste handling and recycling services; and
b) Consideration of amendment three to agreement between the County of Lake and South Lake Refuse Company, LLC, for solid waste handling and recycling services.
7.9, a) Consideration to waive the formal bidding process pursuant to County Ordinance 3137 Section 28.2 due to 38.2(2) not in the public interest; and
b) Approve a contract between the County of Lake and North Coast Opportunities, Inc., for Stage One Child Care Services in the amount of $1,750,000 from May 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and authorize the chair to sign.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1, Public employee discipline/dismissal/release.
8.2, Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code section 54957(b)(1): appointment of interim chief public defender.
8.3, Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code section 54957(b)(1): interviews for Animal Care and Control director; appointment of Animal Care and Control director.
8.4, Conference with legal counsel, existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1): FERC Proceeding No. P-77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
8.5, Conference with legal counsel, significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1): two potential cases.
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