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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The agenda is here.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The webinar ID is 834 4717 0315, the pass code is 986758.
Access the meeting via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,83447170315#,,,,*986758# or dial in at 669-900-6833.
The meeting also can be viewed on the county’s website or Facebook page.
In an untimed public hearing, the commission will consider staff’s recommendation to approve a major use permit and mitigated negative declaration for Higher Ground Farms, proposed by John Oliver, based in Las Vegas.
Oliver wants to cultivate 22,000 square feet of cannabis canopy inside eight greenhouses and is seeking a Type 13 cannabis distributor transport only, self-distributor license for the project, located at 3545 Finley East Road, Kelseyville, on property owned by Leo Cortina of Ukiah.
The project sits next to the Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse, which has been in its current location since 1882. The property it sits on is owned by the Kelseyville Unified School District.
Initially used as a school, it has also been used as a community center and event site. It’s currently being restored by the Lucerne Area Revitalization Association as part of a 50-year agreement with the school district.
The association, founded by Lake County News owners Elizabeth Larson and John Jensen, along with the school district and many community members have filed numerous objections with the county over the Higher Ground Farms project since it was first circulated last summer, citing its negative impact on the school site, which the association and school district intend to use for community and school events.
The full agenda follows.
AGENDA
Approve minutes from the Dec. 14, 2023, Planning Commission meeting.
6a: Public hearing: Presentation from county counsel regarding policies regarding gratuities.
6b: Public hearing: Consideration of proposed major use permit (UP 20-71), and mitigated negative declaration (IS 20-86), for cultivation of 130,680 square feet of outdoor cannabis canopy; 36,000-sf of greenhouse commercial cannabis canopy; and one distributor transport only, self-distribution license. Applicant: Cruz Family Farms LLC, located at 8300 Old Dirt Road, Kelseyville (APN: 007-023-05).
6c: Public hearing: Consideration of proposed major use permit (UP 20-40), and mitigated negative declaration (IS 20-50), for cultivation of 22,000 square feet of cannabis canopy inside eight greenhouses within a fenced 47,040 square foot enclosure; and one Type 13 cannabis distributor transport only, self-distributor license. Applicant: Higher Ground Farms/John Oliver, located at 3545 Finley East Road, Kelseyville (APN: 008-026-07).
7a: Election of chair and vice chair of the Lake County Planning Commission.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, in the Middletown Community Meeting Room/Library at 21256 Washington St., Middletown. The meeting is open to the public.
To join the meeting via Zoom click on this link; the meeting ID is 832 1989 2440. Call in at 669-900-6833.
A forum for the candidates in the District 1 supervisorial race will be held beginning at 7:02 p.m. Lake County News Editor and Publisher Elizabeth Larson will moderate.
Candidates are Bren Boyd, a chef and proprietor; John Hess, who serves on the Lake County Planning Commission; Sean Millerick, a small-business owner who serves as vice president of the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District Board; rancher and business owner Helen Owen; and small business owner and winemaker Bryan Pritchard.
At 8:30 p.m. MATH will hold its annual board election.
Candidates running for the 2024 to 2026 term for the MATH Board include incumbent Bill Waite, Nanette DeDonato, 2023 alternate Julia Bono and Lisa Kaplan.
Each candidate will have three minutes to speak. Voting will be by written ballot collected and counted by the MATH secretary. Alternates will be nominated and elected immediately following the election.
Once the board is elected, its members will nominate and elect the officer positions of president, vice president and secretary.
All elected candidates must complete the application for BOS appointment.
MATH’s next meeting will take place on Feb. 8.
The MATH Board includes Chair Monica Rosenthal, Vice Chair Todd Fiora, Secretary Ken Gonzalez, Rosemary Córdova and Bill Waite, and alternates Julia Bono and Tom Darms.
MATH — established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 — is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.
For more information email
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, 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 875 8314 6224, pass code 275445. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,87583146224#,,,,*275445#.
In an untimed item, the supervisors will discuss what measures to take to find new leadership for Water Resources and Public Works now that Scott De Leon has announced his plans to retire as of June 30.
A staff memo to the board from county administrative staff said that De Leon notified the board on Dec. 5 of his plans to retire.
“Some restructuring of County Departments may be necessary, as it has been challenging to recruit an individual with both Public Works and Water Resources leadership experience to fill a joint role,” the memo explained.
The memo said De Leon is recommending reclassifying the vacant deputy Water Resources Director position as Water Resources director, and separate this position from the Public Works Department.
As recently, Water Resources has been a freestanding department.
“Should your Board choose to separate these Departments, it seems intuitive the Water Resources Director would supervise technical and program staff (Water Resources subject matter experts, those heading groundwater, invasive species, stormwater and other programs),” the memo said.
Staff said De Leon recommended continuing shared fiscal/administrative positions to serve both Departments.
They are seeking direction from the board on what option to take.
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 low elevation snow and extreme cold.
5.3: Approve continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions.
5.4: Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to pervasive tree mortality.
5.5: Approve continuation of proclamation declaring a Clear Lake hitch emergency.
5.6: Adopt proclamation designating the month of January 2024 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Lake County.
5.7: Approve long distance travel for Supervisor E.J. Crandell from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, 2024, to Santa Fe, New Mexico for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Farm Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory Committee meeting as an appointed member of the committee.
5.8: Approve reissuance of property tax refund check from FY 14/15 in the amount of $363.42 issued to Catherine Orloff Trustee.
5.9: Adopt resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors deferring implementation of the changes made to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5008 by Senate Bill 43 (2023-2024 Reg Session).
5.10: Approve request to hire extra-help OAIII, Denise Danae Bowen, at Advanced Step 4.
5.11: Approve agreement between Human Resources and ExamWorks LLC to provide professional services to arrange and facilitate medical assessment services including independent medical examinations and peer review services with an amount not to exceed $25,000 per fiscal year for a five-year term, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.12: Adopt resolution of intention and set a time for public hearing on February 6, 2024, at 9:25 a.m. to name existing unnamed roadway in the county of Lake.
5.13: Adopt Resolution Amending Position Allocations for FY 23-24, Budget Unit 1908 - Engineering and Inspection, to fund the assistant engineer senior position.
5.14: Adopt resolution setting rate of pay for election officers for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election.
5.15: Approve late travel claims for the period July 30, 2023, to Aug. 2, 2023, and July 23, 2023 to July 28, 2023 for Correctional Deputy Sara Vierra.
5.16: Approve first amendment to contract between county of Lake and Lake Family Resource Center for differential response services, in the amount of $112,000 from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024 and $134,200 per fiscal year from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.17: Approve first amendment to contract between county of Lake and California Department of Social Services for quality assurance case review, in the amount of $130,434 per fiscal year from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.18: Sitting as the Board of Directors for the Lake County Watershed Protection District, a) approve the purchase and sale agreement with Christine Reck for property within the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project in the amount of $650,000.00 and b) authorize the chair of the board of directors to sign the purchase and sale agreement.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Election of chair of the Board of Supervisors and vice chair of the Board of Supervisors for 2024 (outgoing chair conducts election).
6.2, 9:02 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County Board of Equalization, election of chair and vice chair of the Lake County Local Board of Equalization for 2024.
6.3, 9:03 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County In-Home Supportive Services, election of chair and vice-chair of the Lake County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Board of Directors for 2024.
6.4, 9:06 a.m.: Public input.
6.5, 9:07 a.m.: Pet of the Week.
6.6, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of January 2024 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Lake County.
6.7, 9:45 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from Dec. 12, 2023, consideration of an ordinance amending the purchasing ordinance: Article X of Chapter Two of the Lake County Code to include increased purchasing limits, additional definitions, modify a requirement for exemptions from competitive bidding and additional procedures for informal and formal bidding.
6.8, 10 a.m.: Consideration of presentation on the California Tribal TANF Partnership.
6.9, 10:30 a.m.: Consideration of resolution requesting extension of Community Development Block Grant Microenterprise Program.
6.10, 10:45 a.m.: Public hearing, a) consideration of resolution making findings necessary to authorize an energy services contract for design, installation, and commissioning of energy conservation facilities serving the Lake County Courthouse Campus; and b) consideration of agreement with staten solar corporation for design, installation, and commissioning of energy conservation facilities serving the Lake County Courthouse Campus.
6.11, 11:15 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District, Board of Directors, a) consideration of presentation on proposed project with SCI Consulting Group; and b) consideration of contract agreement with SCI Consulting Group to conduct a water quality outreach study and assessment evaluation in an amount not to exceed $100,000 and authorize the Water Resources director to sign the agreement .
6.12, 1 p.m.: Presentation and consideration of the housing work plan and proposed Lake County Housing Trust Fund.
6.13, 1:30 p.m.: Consideration and discussion of quotation with High Level Enterprises Inc. for the design and build of a medical mobile vaccination clinic, for an amount not to exceed $407,200, and authorize department head to sign.
6.14, 2 p.m.: Consideration and discussion of an agreement with black dog DESIGNS and Camoin Associates for economic development design services, for an amount not to exceed $44,289.97, and authorize the chair to sign.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of letter of commitment to Cal Fire for a grant application to provide funding for the LiDAR derivatives from the recent North Coast LiDAR Acquisition project and authorize the chair to sign.
7.3: Consideration of appointment of county supervisor as non-voting member of Commercial Cannabis Ordinance Task Force.
7.4: Consideration of presentation and overview of the Cannabis Equity Program.
7.5: Consideration of a Letter of Support for AB 817 (Pacheco), which proposes changes to the Ralph M. Brown Act to enable indefinite use of two-way teleconferencing by members of non-decision-making advisory bodies.
7.6: Discussion of structural considerations surrounding the Water Resources and Public Works Departments, and consideration of direction to staff to initiate recruitment for relevant leadership roles.
7.7: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, reappoint Cameron Reeves to the LCAQMD Hearing Board pursuant to Health and Safety Code.
7.8: Consideration of 2024 committee assignments for members of the Board of Supervisors.
7.9: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Central Region Town Hall, Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee, Lake County Ag Advisory Committee, Lower Lake Cemetery, District Lower Lake Waterworks District One Board of Directors, Scotts Valley Community Advisory Board, Western Region Town Hall.
7.10: Consideration of request for appointment of members to the Building Board of Appeals in Compliance with 2022 California Building Code, Appendix B.
7.11: Consideration of board direction regarding size and member categories for the General Plan Advisory Committee.
7.12: Consideration to: (a) Waive the competitive bidding procedures pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-39.2 and Section 1.C.2 of the county's consultant selection policy; and (b) approve amendment one to retention agreement between Friedman & Springwater LLP and the county of Lake increasing the contract amount by $15,000, not to exceed $40,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
7.13: Consideration of letter of support for Public Health Officer Noemi Doohan, MD, PhD, MPH, as an applicant for the 2024 American Academy of Family Medicine’s (AAFP) Public Health Award.
7.14: Consideration of long distance travel for Chief Probation Officer Wendy Mondfrans to attend the American Probation and Parole Association Executive Summit in Seattle, Washington in February 2024.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to Litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1) – One potential case.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – FERC Project No. 77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9 (d)(1): Earthways Foundation, Inc. v. County of Lake, et al.
8.4: Conference with labor negotiator: (a) County negotiators: S. Parker, S Carter, P. Samac and Crystal Markytan; and (b) Employee Organization: LCEA and Management Employees.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. Masks are highly encouraged where 6-foot distancing cannot be maintained.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here; the meeting ID is 814 1135 4347, pass code is 847985.
To join by phone, dial 1-669-444-9171; for one tap mobile, 16694449171,,81411354347#,,,,*847985#.
Comments can be submitted by email to
The commission will start off the meeting with electing its officers for the new year.
The main item on the agenda is consideration of an application from Peter Schellinger and Waterstone Residential for an environmental review that would allow for the installation of an emergency vehicular access bridge spanning across Forbes Creek connecting Wrigley Street to Craig Avenue.
The project is located at 1297 Craig Ave.
Schellinger is proposing the Parkside Residential Project, which includes apartments and small homes on a portion of the 96-lot Schellinger Subdivision that was approved in three phases in 2005 next to Westside Community Park.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
