How to resolve AdBlock issue? LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week will consider authorizing Special Districts to pursue a geothermal project proposal and selecting neighborhoods to advocate for federal Opportunity Zone tax incentives.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, 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 consider authorizing the Special Districts to develop a geothermal facility proposal involving EGX Energy, brought forward by the County Administrative Office and Special Districts.
The proposed geothermal power plant and wells would be located on the Southeast Treatment Plant property which is owned by the county. The property is near the area impacted by the recent massive sewage spill caused by the rupture of a 16-inch focus main at Robin Lane. The force main is owned and operated by the Lake County Sanitation District, overseen by Special Districts.
According to the staff memo, there have been “preliminary discussions” between EGX Energy and county agencies. The company has indicated it is open to a possible development agreement that could include infrastructure improvements for Special Districts and a ground lease in lieu of property taxes for the county.
At 10 a.m., the board will consider which neighborhoods to recommend to the governor for designation as Opportunity Zones.
Opportunity Zones were made a “permanent fixture of the federal tax code” with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025. The law also requires governors to submit zone recommendations to the federal government by July 1 of this year, according to the staff memo.
The memo said the new legislation introduced several changes to the program. At least 25% of new Opportunity Zones must now be located in rural areas. In addition, the income threshold for eligibility was lowered: neighborhoods must have a median family income of 70% or less of the area median, down from the previous 80%.
Developments within Opportunity Zones are eligible for federal tax benefits. Projects in rural zones qualify for a 30% tax discount, compared to 10% in nonrural areas, and are required to invest only 50% of a property’s value in renovations — rather than 100% — to receive the benefit.
At 10:30 a.m., the board will hold a second reading of an ordinance establishing a low-value property tax exemption for properties assessed at less than $5,000. The staff memo said the cost of collecting taxes on such properties “outweighs the benefit.”
During closed session, the board will conduct a public employee performance evaluation of Special Districts Administrator Robin Borre and hold labor negotiations regarding salary and benefits for county employees and department heads.
The board also will confer with legal counsel regarding the Potter Valley hydroelectric project and five potential cases of “significant exposure to litigation.”
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1, Approve out-of-state travel for District 5 Supervisor Jessica Pyska to attend the NACo Western Interstate Region Conference in Maui County, Hawaii, May 4–8, 2026.
5.2, (a) Approve update to the 2026 Board of Supervisors meeting calendar changing the mid-year budget date to March 3, 2026; and (b) affirm the addition of the Jan. 21, 2026 special meeting, retroactively.
5.3, Approve side letter to Lake County Correctional Officer Association Unit 6, July 1, 2025–June 30, 2029, MOU.
5.4, Approve amendment No. 1 to the agreement with Windsor Care Center of Sacramento MHRC for adult residential support and specialty mental health services for FY 2025–26, with no change to compensation, and authorize the Chair to sign.
5.5, Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes of Dec. 16, 2025, Jan. 21, 2026, and Jan. 27, 2026.
5.6, (a) Waive competitive bidding requirements; (b) approve agreement with the California State Franchise Tax Board to collect court-ordered fines; and authorize the Treasurer-Tax Collector to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:02 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:03 a.m.: Pet of the week.
6.3, 9:04 a.m.: New and noteworthy at the library.
6.4, 9:10 a.m.: (Sitting as the Lake County Housing Commission) Consideration of letter to Colusa County Board of Supervisors and authorization for the Chair to sign.
6.5, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of authorizing Special Districts to develop a proposal with EGX Energy to locate geothermal facilities on the Southeast Treatment Plant property.
6.6, 10:00 a.m.: Consideration of census tracts to advocate for Opportunity Zones selection.
6.7, 10:30 a.m.: Second reading—Consideration of ordinance amending Chapter 18 of the Lake County Code to implement a low-value property tax exemption.
NON-TIMED ITEMS
7.1, Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
7.2, Erratum—Consideration of advisory board appointments: Central Region Town Hall, Middletown Area Town Hall, Scotts Valley Community Advisory Council, and Law Library Board of Trustees.
7.3, Second reading—Consideration of ordinance amending Chapter 21 of the Lake County Zoning Code to implement sixth-cycle Housing Element policies.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1, Public employee evaluation: Special Districts Administrator.
8.2, Conference with labor negotiator: Deputy County Counsel Association.
8.3, Conference with representatives regarding salary and benefits for unrepresented management employees.
8.4, Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation—FERC Proceeding No. P-77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
8.5, Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation—five potential cases.
8.6, Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation—one potential case.
Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at
