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LAKE COUNTY, Calif — The Board of Supervisors will discuss federal delays on food benefits that impact a quarter of Lake County population, consider updates on cannabis regulations and a $50,000 funding request for local nonprofit One Team One Dream.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, 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 1:15 p.m., the board will hear a presentation updating the county’s cannabis regulations.
According to the staff report, key proposed changes include: increasing the distance cannabis grows must be from homes to 500 feet, limiting commercial grows to 20 acres, and clarifying setbacks from scenic areas, water, and hemp farms. The rules also tighten the application process by rejecting incomplete or abandoned applications, requiring background checks, and checking for active warrants.
Other changes set limits on construction, operating, and delivery hours, clarify when businesses can pause or stop operations, remove the 10-year permit limit, require a $5,000 restoration bond, recommend safer greenhouse foundations, and make sure tracking tags are properly destroyed. Certain public lands are also off-limits for cultivation.
Staff also recommends a programmatic environmental impact report be conducted to establish thresholds of odor and water impacts from cannabis cultivation and processing.
At 2:15 p.m., the board will recognize Lake County veterans for the upcoming Veterans Day. It will also consider joining Operation Green Light and lighting the county courthouse from Nov. 4 to 11.
At 2:30 p.m., the board will hold a proclamation designating November as National Native American Heritage Month in Lake County.
In the untimed items, the board will discuss the status of SNAP/CalFresh benefit delay amid ongoing federal shutdown. The staff memo indicates that such benefits delay impacts about 24%, or 16,320 individuals of Lake County residents.
As the federal government continues to be shut down into the second month, essential SNAP benefits to supplement low-income families with food remain unavailable by the time of publication of this article, although federal judges ruled on Friday that those benefits must be released.
Social Services Director Rachael Dillman Parsons will provide an update and potential options to mitigate the impact on Lake County’s most vulnerable populations.
The board also will discuss whether the county can legally provide $50,000 in funding to One Team One Dream — a Lake County nonprofit supporting small businesses and local economic development — without violating state law prohibiting gifts of public funds.
Earlier in the June budget hearings, the board pulled this budget item to review whether the amount would qualify as a gift or a legitimate public purpose expenditure. The staff report indicated that the board may consider approving the funding request as long as the terms of the expenditure “expressly outlines the public purpose.”
In closed session, at 9:03 a.m., the board will interview and potentially appoint an interim chief public defender, as the former chief, Raymond Buenaventura, was hired by Monterey County on Oct. 14, and resigned from his Lake County job on Oct. 28.
At 3 p.m., the board will interview and potentially appoint the Animal Care and Control director. Former director Gregory Wilkins, hired in October 2024, turned in his resignation in February of this year and left late May.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1, Approve continuation of proclamation declaring a Clear Lake Hitch emergency.
5.2, Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to pervasive tree mortality.
5.3, Approve continuation of emergency proclamation declaring a shelter crisis in the County of Lake.
5.4, Adopt proclamation recognizing our veterans on Veterans Day.
5.5, Adopt proclamation designating November 2025 as National Native American Heritage Month in Lake County.
5.6, Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, authorize the APCO to sign the County of Lake South Main Street purchase agreement for a portion of district property at 2617 South Main Street, Lakeport, CA 95453.
5.7, Affirm authority of County Administrative Officer Susan Parker to manage the fiscal and budget responsibilities of the Public Defender’s Office.
5.8, a) Approve Agreement No. BSCC 1527-25 by and between the Board of State and Community Corrections and the County of Lake in the amount of $52,326 for law enforcement equipment and training;
b) Adopt the governing body resolution;
c) Adopt the resolution amending the adopted budget for FY 2025-26 by adjusting revenues and appropriations in Budget Unit 2201–Sheriff/Coroner;
d) Approve Appendix C, Certification of Compliance; and
e) Authorize the Sheriff/Coroner as the authorized payee to sign any additional documents.
5.9, a) Adopt resolution adopting the Lake County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan; and
b) Accept and adopt the Lake County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP).
5.10, Sitting in concurrence with the Kelseyville County Water Works Board of Directors and Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, approve agreement between the County of Lake, Kelseyville County Water Works, and Lake County Sanitation District on behalf of CSA #1 Lighting Districts, CSA #2 Spring Valley, CSA #6 Finley, CSA #13 Kono Tayee, CSA #20 Soda Bay, CSA #21 North Lakeport, Kelseyville County Water Works District #3, and Lake County Sanitation District, with Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants for rate and fee study services, award the identified task orders, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:02 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 1:00 p.m.: Hearing—consideration of transient occupancy tax appeal, 21469 Yankee Valley Rd, Hidden Valley Lake, CA 95467, APN 144-131-040-000.
6.3, 1:15 p.m.: Consideration of presentation on cannabis policy update process.
6.4, 1:45 p.m.: Consideration of 2026 cannabis cultivation and business tax rates.
6.5, 2:15 p.m.: a) Presentation of proclamation recognizing our veterans on Veterans Day; and b) Consideration of joining Operation Green Light and lighting the County Courthouse with green lights from Nov. 4 to 11, 2025.
6.6, 2:30 p.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating November 2025 as National Native American Heritage Month in Lake County.
NON-TIMED ITEMS
7.1, Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
7.2, Consideration of update and discussion on status of SNAP/CalFresh benefit delay.
7.3, Consideration of funding request for $50,000 under BU 1892 pursuant to board direction on September 23, 2025.
7.4, Consideration of proposed 2026 Board of Supervisors regular meeting calendar.
7.5, Consideration of the following advisory board appointments:
East Region Town Hall (ERTH)
Spring Valley County Service Area (CSA) #2 Advisory Board
7.6, Consideration of approval to accept $100,000 in funding from Partnership HealthPlan of California to be utilized over three years to support implementation of the Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan process.
7.7, Consideration of resolution amending Resolution No. 2025-119 establishing position allocations for fiscal year 2025-26, Budget Unit 2301, Sheriff–Jail Facilities.
ASSESSMENT APPEAL HEARINGS (BOARD OF EQUALIZATION)
8.1, 10:00 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of assessment appeal applications No. 02-2024 through 09-2024, Donica LLC.
CLOSED SESSION
9.1, 9:03 a.m.: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code section 54957(b)(1): interviews for interim Chief Public Defender; appointment of interim Chief Public Defender.
9.2, 3:00 p.m.: 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.
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.
Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at
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- Written by: Lingzi Chen
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday will consider a new solid waste franchise agreement with Lakeport Disposal Inc, along with a $214,500 construction contract for a new well development project.
The council will meet Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda can be found here.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to
Under council business, the council will consider a new solid waste franchise agreement with Lakeport Disposal Inc., which handles solid waste collection within the city.
The new agreement, once approved, will replace the current contract that expires at the end of 2026 and extend service through June 2029, with options to renew through 2039. It will also continue to maintain the company’s exclusive right to collect and process all types of solid waste within Lakeport.
The new contract largely maintains what’s already in place under the 2015 agreement — the same exclusive franchise with Lakeport Disposal, continued curbside collection for trash, recycling and green waste, and continued no-cost service for city facilities and special events.
Key changes include formalizing the guarantee of one free annual bulky time pickup per household and adding language to prepare for future organics collection compliance.
The council will also consider plans and specifications for the Green Ranch Well Development Project and award a $214,500 construction contract to Weeks Drilling & Pump Co.
The Green Ranch is an important source of the city’s water supply.
The staff report said the project involves drilling three test borings, converting one into a temporary test well for discharge testing, then removing materials and destroying the borings after testing. The goal is to collect data for designing a new replacement well on the Green Ranch to ensure a reliable year-round water supply as existing wells — some over 60 years old — reach the end of their service life.
Construction is estimated to start early December and be completed by mid-February 2026, according to the staff report.
The council will also consider initiating recruitment for an administrative analyst to fill the GIS/asset management technician position. The staff report did not specify a salary range.
On the consent agenda — items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; waive reading except by title of any ordinances under consideration at this meeting for either introduction or passage per Government Code Section 36934; approval of the minutes of the City Council regular meeting of Oct. 21, 2025; adopt a resolution approving an amendment to the employment agreement with the city manager; approval of application 2026-001, with staff recommendations, for the 38th Bass Team Fishing Tournament; and approval of application 2025-048, with staff recommendations, for Christmas trees on Main Street.
Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at
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- Written by: Lingzi Chen
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