How to resolve AdBlock issue? LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week will consider declaring a local disaster due to food insecurity, approving $60,000 over three weeks to address the crisis, and granting a $390,000 loan to the Community Development Department’s Building Division, which is operating at a deficit.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, 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 11 a.m., the board will hear a presentation on the county’s water quality outreach study, funded by a 2022 grant by the Blue-Ribbon Committee for the rehabilitation of Clear Lake.
“This presentation is intended to inform future funding and outreach strategies and support continued community engagement in Clear Lake water quality efforts,” the staff memo said.
At 11:15 a.m., the board will consider a request to use previously approved stormwater matching funds to cover costs associated with managing the Big Valley Groundwater Basin.
In 2019, the Big Valley Groundwater sustainability agency was formed to develop a sustainability plan for Big Valley, in order to comply with state law. An initial $1.3 million was granted to the agency by the state in 2021, used in initial reporting, consulting, meetings and other expenses in developing the plan.
However, the county’s application for additional funds was denied, according to the staff memo from the Water Resources Department.
“This left the department without resources needed to execute the mandated requirements set within the law,” the staff memo said, adding that noncompliance will result in “the loss of control over our groundwater resources to the state, a development that must be avoided.”
To close that gap, the department is requesting approval to use previously allocated stormwater matching funds, of which only about $50,000 of the original $500,000 has been spent.
At 4 p.m., the board will consider an update from the ad hoc committee formed two weeks ago to address local food insecurity in the face of federal food benefits delays.
The update will include the status of CalFresh and demands on local food banks and feeding partners. It will also discuss potential impact of H.R. 1 and loss of Affordable Care Act subsidy.
In the staff memo, Social Services Director Rachael Dillman Parsons is recommending the board declare a local disaster due to food insecurity and is requesting additional administrative funding for hunger relief of $20,000 per week for the next three weeks.
“While November 2025 CalFresh benefits have been restored for most households, the future of food stability remains unclear,” Dillman Parsons said, emphasizing the continuing food insecurity in Lake County due to uncertainties in federal policies.
In the untimed items, the board will consider a request for a short-term loan of $390,000 to the Community Development Department Building Division.
The staff memo indicated that the division is “currently operating under a budget deficit driven by a significant decline in permitting revenue resulting from broader market conditions.”
As of Friday — about 42% into the fiscal year — the division had spent $283,662 on salaries, or 78% of the $364,925 they expected to have used by this point, according to the staff memo.
The staff memo attributed the deficits to a large decline in permitting and service fees generated year-to-date.
The division had been projected to generate $868,280 by this time. However, the actual revenue was only $556,525, falling short by $311,755.
Despite measures to freeze all discretionary spending, “the division requires temporary loan support to meet payroll obligations and maintain the staffing levels necessary to fulfill statutory responsibilities, ensure public safety, and avoid service disruptions that would further impact revenue,” the staff memo said.
Right before the June budget hearings, the board approved a series of raises for county employees for the next four years. Salary increases in the first year alone is $5,206,119.25,
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve continuation of emergency proclamation declaring a shelter crisis in the County of Lake.
5.2: Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to pervasive tree mortality.
5.3: Approve continuation of proclamation declaring a Clear Lake Hitch emergency.
5.4: Adopt proclamation recognizing November 17 through November 21, 2025 as California Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Week.
5.5: Adopt the resolution of application requesting the dissolution of the Scotts Valley Water Conservation District pursuant to the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000.
5.6: Approve Amendment No. 3 to agreement to services contract between the County of Lake and William Conwell for indigent defense services and authorize the Board Chair to sign.
5.7: Adopt resolution approving an MOU with the Lake County Resource Conservation District for management of Goat's Rue in Lake County for July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, in the amount of $119,998.80.
5.8: Approve the first amendment to the memorandum of understanding between the Lake County Department of Social Services and Lake County Behavioral Health Services for the shared provision of Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) conservatorship services.
5.9: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes October 28, 2025.
5.10: Approve request to close County Library, Lakeport Branch to the public for the month of December 2025 for construction.
5.11: Approve request to close the Probation Department on Thursday, December 11, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for all-staff training.
5.12: Adopt resolution expressing support for the Lower Lake HoliDAZE Street Fair, and temporarily authorizing a road closure, prohibiting parking, authorizing removal of vehicles, and ordering the posting of signs.
5.13: Approve contract between the County of Lake and Bennet Omalu Pathology for a three-year cost plan and fee schedule for pathology services at an estimated cost of $765,000 per year and authorize the Chair to sign.
5.14: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, approve Amendment No. 4 to the Joint Operating Agreement Southeast Geysers Effluent Pipeline Project and the Clear Lake Water Supply Agreement and authorize the Chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:06 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:03 a.m.: Pet of the Week.
6.3, 9:05 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation recognizing November 17 through November 21, 2025 as California Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Week.
6.4, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of the June 30, 2025 report of Lake County pooled investments and the September 30, 2025 report of Lake County pooled investments.
6.5, 10:30 a.m.: PUBLIC HEARING—Consideration of ordinance to amend Chapter 21, Article 27 of the Lake County Code for commercial cannabis uses (staff requests continuance to a future meeting).
6.6, 11:00 a.m.: Sitting as the Board of Directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District, accept staff presentation on water quality in Clear Lake outreach perspectives project updates.
6.7, 11:15 a.m.: Consideration of expanded use of previously approved stormwater matching funds to support groundwater management activities under SGMA and accept staff presentation on the Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Plan Advisory Committee update.
6.8, 11:30 a.m.: PUBLIC HEARING—Consideration of draft ordinance amending Chapter 21, Articles 11 and 12 of the Lake County Zoning Code to implement General Plan Housing Element Policy HE-58 pertaining to affordable housing.
6.9, 1:00 p.m.: Consideration of workshop on a potential Community Facilities District for the Guenoc Mixed-Use Project.
6.10, 1:30 p.m.: Consideration of presentation from Nielsen Merksamer on the 2025 legislative session and potential areas of emphasis for 2026.
6.11, 2:00 p.m.: PUBLIC HEARING—Consideration of adoption of addendum to the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the South Main Street and Soda Bay Road widening and bike lanes project.
6.12, 2:15 p.m.: Consideration of ordinance amending Article VI of Chapter 18 Lake County Code to include enforcement measures and associated due process requirements for cannabis cultivation-related taxes.
6.13, 2:30 p.m.: Consideration of ordinance amending Article VIII of Chapter 18 of the Lake County Code to implement a low value property tax exemption.
6.14, 4:00 p.m.: Consideration of update from the Food Insecurity Ad Hoc Workgroup, approval of a local disaster declaration due to food insecurity, approval of additional funding for hunger relief, and direction to staff.
NON-TIMED ITEMS
7.1: Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
7.2: Consideration of appointments of a director and alternate to the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Board of Directors for 2026.
7.3: Consideration of board appointments of the 2026 Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA), Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA), and RCRC Environmental Services Joint Powers Authority (ESJPA) delegates and alternates.
7.4: Consideration of amendment between County of Lake and CliftonLarsonAllen LLP for accounting and advisory services; an increase of $200,000 total compensation not to exceed $350,000.
7.5: Consideration of resolution amending Resolution No. 2001-73 establishing an Underground Utilities District for South Main Street and Soda Bay Road.
7.6: Consideration of resolution authorizing a short-term loan in the amount of $390,000 to the Community Development Department Building Division.
ASSESSMENT APPEAL HEARINGS (BOARD OF EQUALIZATION)
8.1, 10:00 a.m.: Consideration of stipulation of assessment appeal applications No. 32-2024 and 33-2024, Lots of Realty.
8.2, Consideration of withdrawal of assessment appeal applications: a) No. 26-2024 Jeffery Anderson; and b) 28-2024, 16-2021, 24-2022, and 14-2023 Tesla.
8.3, Consideration of continuation of assessment appeal application No. 22-2024, Matthew Barbato & Kristin Barbato Trust.
8.4, Consideration of denial of assessment appeal applications: a) No. 34-2024 Waste Connections of California Inc.; b) 35-2024 Quakenbush Mountain Resource Recovery & Compost Facility, LLC; c) 36-2024 South Lake Refuse Company; and d) Mendocino Leasing Company Inc. due to lack of response from the applicant.
8.5, Consideration of assessment appeal applications No. 39-2024 through 46-2024, Gavin McIntyre.
CLOSED SESSION
9.1, 3:00 p.m.: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code section 54957(b)(1): interviews for Chief Public Defender; appointment of Chief Public Defender.
9.2, Sitting as the Board of Directors of the Lake County IHSS Public Authority, conference with negotiators regarding SEIU Local 2015.
9.3, Conference with legal counsel: existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1)—FERC Proceeding No. P-77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
9.4, Conference with legal counsel: decision whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(4)—one potential case.
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