LAKEPORT, Calif. – In its first meeting of the year, the Lakeport City Council will consider approving an assistant city manager classification and update the city’s master pay schedule accordingly.
The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
Administrative Services Director Kelly Buendia is asking the council to approve the assistant city manager classification – already included in the 2019-20 fiscal year budget – and update the master pay schedule as part of a city leadership succession plan the council authorized at its June 18 meeting.
“The purpose of the Assistant City Manager assignment was to provide training opportunities for executive staff that were interested in the City Manager position in the future,” Buendia wrote in her report to the council.
She said the successful applicant, or applicants, would be expected to attend trainings, meetings and receive assignments that are outside of their area of expertise.
Buendia said that during discussion of the 2019-20 budget, the city council was asked to approve funds for a full-time assistant city manager position, to be filled at mid-year.
“The funds for half of a year were approved in the budget and the position listed in the position allocation worksheet. At that time, staff indicated the item would be returned so that the classification could be approved,” Buendia wrote.
The proposed salary range is $8,466 to $10,290 per month and is comparable for the area, Buendia wrote. Her report noted that the total fiscal impact is $85,000.
If the city council approves the new classification, Buendia said staff is requesting that the council also adopt a resolution revising the city’s master pay schedule for all represented employee classifications and all unrepresented employees covered by a compensation plan. That is required so that the city is in compliance with the requirements of the California Code of Regulations section 570.5 and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System relating to publicly available pay schedules.
The meeting will include the presentation of the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Finance Director Nick Walker on behalf of the city of Lakeport.
Under council business, Buendia also will ask the council to receive and file a compliance and implementation plan for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the council will consider approving a resolution rescinding Resolution 2715 (2019) and revising the master pay schedule in conformance with California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 570.5.
In other business, Mayor George Spurr will appoint council members as liaisons to various boards, committees and commissions; the council will consider adopting a resolution appointing representatives to represent and vote on behalf of the City at the League of California Cities, Redwood Empire Division business meetings and represent the city and vote at Division Legislative Committee meetings.
Finance Director Nick Walker will present a resolution approving the revised administrative policy for utilities billing effective Feb. 1 and ask the council to adopt a resolution approving the revised service deposits for new water accounts effective Feb. 1.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on Dec. 17; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the Mendocino Complex fire; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the February 2019 storms; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the October 2019 public safety power shutoff; approve the Recognized Obligation Schedule for the period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, for presentation and adoption by the Lakeport Redevelopment Oversight Board; and authorization for out-of-state travel as requested by the city manager for Councilmember Mireya Turner to attend the National League of Cities’ Congressional City Conference to be held in Washington, DC, March 7 to 11.
A previous version of this story incorrectly attributed the authorship of the report on the assistant city manager job to City Manager Margaret Silveira, rather than Administrative Services Director Kelly Buendia.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Firefighters and paramedics from several counties, including Lake, responded to a semi wreck on Highway 20 in Colusa County on Sunday night.
The crash, involving a semi and another vehicle, occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on Highway 20 near the junction with Highway 16, according to radio reports.
Williams Fire led the incident command, with Lake County Fire and Northshore Fire sending ambulances and more units coming from the Capay Valley in Yolo County.
Radio reports indicated there was one person with moderate to major injuries in the overturned big rig and four other “walking wounded” from the second vehicle.
An air ambulance was requested to respond to the scene, with Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta acting as the ground contact at the landing zone, based on radio reports.
As firefighters were working at the scene, incident command reported over the air that the highway had been shut down.
The REACH 6 air ambulance responded to transport the one crash victim with major injuries to Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center, while most of the other patients denied medical care and one was transported.
Reports over the radio also stated that the crash resulted in a large amount of diesel being spilled.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care has a new group of cats of various ages ready for homes.
The following cats and kittens at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.
This female domestic short hair is in cat room kennel No. 4, ID No. 13387. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female domestic short hair
This female domestic short hair has a calico coat with gold eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 4, ID No. 13387.
“Isabella” is a female domestic short hair in cat room kennel No. 15a, ID No. 13413. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Isabella’
“Isabella” is a female domestic short hair cat with a chocolate point coat and blue eyes.
She has been spayed.
She is in cat room kennel No. 15a, ID No. 13413.
“Delilah” is a female brown tabby in cat room kennel No. 15b, ID No. 13414. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Delilah’
“Delilah” is a female brown tabby with a short coat and blue eyes.
She has been spayed.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 15b, ID No. 13414.
This male domestic short hair in cat room kennel No. V70, ID No. 13398. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male domestic short hair
This male domestic short hair has a brown tabby coat and gold eyes.
He is in cat room kennel No. V70, ID No. 13398.
“Ishta” is a female domestic medium hair in cat room kennel No. V105, ID No. 13411. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Ishta’
“Ishta” is a female domestic medium hair cat with a seal point coat and blue eyes.
She has been spayed.
She’s in cat room kennel No. V105, ID No. 13411.
This young male domestic short hair is in cat room kennel No. 117, ID No. 13405. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male domestic short hair
This young male domestic short hair has a gray tabby and white coat with gold eyes.
He is in cat room kennel No. 117, ID No. 13405.
“Oreo” is a female domestic short hair in cat room kennel No. 121, ID No. 13312. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Oreo’
“Oreo” is a female domestic short hair with an all-black coat and green eyes.
She has been spayed.
She is in cat room kennel No. 121, ID No. 13312.
“Mama” is a female domestic medium hair in cat room kennel No. 134, ID No. 13388. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Mama’
“Mama” is a female domestic medium hair with a dilute tortoiseshell coat and green eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 134, ID No. 13388.
This female domestic longhair is in cat room kennel No. 142, ID No. 13347. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female domestic longhair
This female domestic longhair cat has a tortie coat and gold eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 142, ID No. 13347.
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The Seifert family, new owners of the Saw Shop Public House: Left to right, front to back, Weston, Terra, Fletcher and Quinn. Photo credit: Sue Kahn.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On the last evening of 2019, a steady stream of loyal customers arrived at a cherished local eatery.
They came not only to share a holiday celebration but to give flowers, raise a bubbling glass and express heartfelt cheers to the original proprietor, Marie Beery, who opened the beloved establishment in 2001.
The Saw Shop Gallery Bistro closed at midnight 2019 and become the Saw Shop Public House restaurant at the entrance of 2020, with the new owner and county resident Weston Seifert at the helm of the Saw Shop legacy.
As the reservations were arriving and the staff was preparing for a very busy New Year’s Eve service, there weren’t many people in the building who were not aware of the significance of the moment.
That spoke to the loyalty Beery has inspired through creating and maintaining the quality of the Saw Shop as a fine dining restaurant, and through her steady philanthropy in so many areas of the Lake County community.
Beery was named Lake County Woman of the Year in 2019. Congressman Mike Thompson said, “Marie’s hard work and dedication has touched every part of the Lake County community; from business to agriculture to charitable work to mentorship, her work boosts the entire area. As a business leader, she has helped to put Lake County food and wine on the map. As a community leader, she’s helped support many important charitable causes.”
Beery’s staff is known to be as loyal as her customers. Brad Brin, one of the earliest servers and longest employed staff member of the Saw Shop, recalled that from day one Beery emphasized that the guests “should feel at home the moment they walk in the door.”
Brin also noted Beery’s steadfast generosity in supporting charitable causes, local schools and artists. Honing her business career in the wine industry during a time when women in the workplace were consistently undervalued, Beery is known by her refreshing and, at times, startling directness.
Marie Beery (second from right, standing) with her staff on her last night as owner of the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville, California, on Tuesday, December 31, 2019. Photo credit: Sue Kahn. At a time when the county continues to struggle with the impacts of cyclical fire disasters, Main Street in Kelseyville is revitalized through the efforts of the Kelseyville Business Association.
“Marie Beery and the Saw Shop have been an anchor of Main Street,” said incoming KBA President Sabrina Andrus, owner of the A&H General Store and Maker, a handmade specialty boutique.
Although Beery will remain active in the community, most notably through the annual Lake County Wine Auction – which has raised nearly $2 million for charitable causes since 1998 – her departure from the Saw Shop is big news for the town of Kelseyville and the entire Lake County community.
Melissa Chapman of Chapman Real Estate, who brokered the selling process, emphasized how important it was to find a good match for the Saw Shop. Weston Seifert is not only a local but a former employee and customer of the Saw Shop.
Originally from Minnesota, Seifert and his wife Terra have lived in Lake County since 2008. Their daughter Quinn and son Fletcher were born in Lake County.
The entire family will be involved with the enterprise of running the Saw Shop Public House. Weston Seifert’s extensive background in many facets of the restaurant industry is similarly aligned with a passion for community.
Marie Beery (standing) chats with guests including Tom Carter (seated center) who hand-carved the black walnut bar at the Shop Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville, California. Photo credit: Sue Kahn. He described his definition of success as being measured by customer satisfaction and “going the extra mile.”
“This is a very special place,” said Seifert recently, as he sat at the Saw Shop’s hand-carved black walnut bar, where he once tended.
His vision for the restaurant, which is now named the Saw Shop Public House, includes continued philanthropy and an emphasis on staff development and education.
The Saw Shop Public House will continue to operate during the transition process, with Executive Chef Sergio Ramos and Sous Chef Essie Negrete keeping the culinary standards intact.
Seifert said it’s important to him to keep staff employment continuous during the transition, which includes installing a new computer system. He asked for the public to be patient during this process.
There will be questions that only the new owner can answer and only in real-time, as he guides the restaurant forward with his vision.
But one thing is certain; the Saw Shop has been at the heart of the community with Marie Beery at its very center. That heart is acknowledged as the Saw Shop legacy continues, in good hands.
Casey Carney was the 2014-2016 Poet Laureate of Lake County and first started working at the Saw Shop Bistro in 2011.
Marie Beery with long-time customer and friend, Jeff Buege. Photo credit: Sue Kahn.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters spent several hours working on the scene of a structure fire in Upper Lake on Saturday evening.
Northshore Fire firefighters along with Cal Fire and Lakeport Fire were dispatched to the incident in the 1800 block of Clover Valley Road shortly before 7:30 p.m. Saturday, according to radio reports.
Firefighters responding to the scene reported that they could see the fire up on a ridge from as far away as Robinson Rancheria.
They also were unsure of how to access the fire initially until the homeowner called to give them the address on Clover Valley Road, which was accessed off of Bambi Lane, according to radio reports.
Units arriving on scene reported that a two-story wood structure was fully involved. Pacific Gas and Electric also was asked to respond to the property.
The firefighting effort continued late into the night, with the Northshore Fire Support Team requested to respond.
The support team returned to quarters shortly after 11:30 p.m. and fire units continued to clear the scene after 12 a.m. Sunday.
Additional information on the fire was not immediately available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has another varied selection of dogs needing homes this week.
Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of bluetick coonhound, bull terrier, pit bull, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Shiba Inu, shepherd, spaniel and treeing walker coonhound.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
This young male bull terrier-shepherd is in kennel No. 2, ID No. 13417. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Bull terrier-shepherd
This young male bull terrier-shepherd has a short black and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 2, ID No. 13417.
This female pit bull terrier is in kennel No. 4, ID No. 13406. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female pit bull terrier
This female pit bull terrier has a short black and white coat.
She has been spayed.
She is in kennel No. 4, ID No. 13406.
This female Shiba Inu is in kennel No. 12a, ID No. 13362. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female Shiba Inu
This female Shiba Inu has a medium-length black and tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 12a, ID No. 13362.
“Max” is a male bluetick coonhound-treeing walker coonhound in kennel No. 25, ID No. 13289. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Max’
“Max” is a male bluetick coonhound-treeing walker coonhound with a short tricolor coat.
He is in kennel No. 25, ID No. 13289.
“Daisey” is a female treeing walker coonhound/bluetick coonhound mix in kennel No. 29, ID No. 13291. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Daisey’
“Daisey” is a female treeing walker coonhound/bluetick coonhound mix with a short tricolor coat.
She is in kennel No. 29, ID No. 13291.
“Betty Boo” is a female spaniel in kennel No. 30, ID No. 13227. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Betty Boo’
“Betty Boo” is a female spaniel with a short black and white coat.
She has been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 30, ID No. 13227.
This male shepherd mix is in kennel No. 32, ID No. 13386. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male shepherd mix
This male shepherd mix has a short black and brown coat.
He is in kennel No. 32, ID No. 13386.
“Goofy” is a male Rhodesian Ridgeback in kennel No. 33, ID No. 13210. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Goofy’
“Goofy” is a young male Rhodesian Ridgeback with a short tan and black coat.
Shelter staff said this boy is great with other dogs, although he is high energy and would benefit from obedience training. He would love to go jogging every day, he is very food motivated and willing to learn new things.
Goofy has been at the shelter since Nov. 5. He was originally taken from someone in Upper Lake and found on the highway in Clearlake. If anyone has any information on his owner please contact the shelter.
He’s in kennel No. 33, ID No. 13210.
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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