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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council has directed city staff to create a process for considering whether to accept certain private streets into the city maintained road system.

The council held the discussion, at the request of staff, at its Nov. 14 meeting.

Consulting City Engineer David Swartz explained to the council that the bulk of road development in Clearlake occurred before the city incorporated in 1980; when the city formed, the county turned over a list of streets it maintained.

“We were tasked with looking at that list,” said Swartz, explaining that staff went through the subdivision maps to verify the list and create a reliable nexus, especially for Measure V impacts, and worked with the county surveyor.

Looking back to a 1947 map, Swartz said some streets were offered for dedication through the Subdivision Map Act, some were rejected, some were offered for public use but remain private.

City Manager Alan Flora said almost all of the streets within the city have been analyzed, and the staff wanted direction on how to move forward – whether council members wanted to consider taking streets into the city’s system and under what circumstances.

Former Councilman Chuck Leonard said that for the city to accept a street, the street should be brought up to already designated standards.

“That’s the way it's been done before,” he said, adding that it didn’t seem fair to not be consistent.

Judy Thein, another former council member and mayor, spoke to the council as a resident of the Lake Glenn Subdivision, specifically, the portion of the subdivision that includes 12 residences on Bartram Circle and Garner Lane.

When the subdivision was built in the early 1990s, Thein said there was a decision to have the homeowners keep up the roads. However, that wasn’t mentioned in the CC&Rs and no dues were collected. “So consequently none of that happened.”

Over the years Bartram Circle and Garner Lane have handled more traffic due the construction nearby of the city’s senior center and a county sewer pump station. Thein said that by 2010, the streets were falling apart and cracking.

She said the homeowners got together to patch the roads, which are continuing to have more car trips and also have become the site of additional parking when activities take place at the senior center.

Thein said the residents have had water trucks, dump trucks, cement trucks and other heavy equipment using their streets as a shortcut.

“Our subdivision isn't like any other subdivision,” she said. “We get every type of vehicle you can think of as we are open on both ends.”

Thein said that she learned during her time on the council that once the city does repair work on roads, it has to take them into the system.

She referred to a 2007 Lake County News story about the Lake Glenn Subdivision in which then-City Administrative Officer Dale Neiman said that, based on his research, in 1992 the council said it wouldn’t accept responsibility for the Lake Glenn subdivision’s streets. Later, however, the city began repairing the streets.

Thein said she met with Flora about the matter and he suggested beginning the process with the council.

Councilwoman Joyce Overton asked what Thein’s understanding was about street maintenance when she bought her home. Thein said her neighbors told her that it was the homeowners’ responsibility, but it wasn’t in the preliminary title report nor was it in the CC&Rs.

Vice Mayor Dirk Slooten said it should have been in title report, adding that Lake Glenn probably has the best-looking streets in the city.

Thein said the subdivision’s streets definitely need work now, which is why they are beginning the process with the city.

Slooten said if it’s a private street, residents could close it off to outside traffic. Thein said residents were told if they did that, they would not have any public services.

One of Thein’s neighbors came to offer support, explaining she bought her home two years ago and also wasn’t told it was up to her to pay for the streets.

Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said there are some streets in the city that are considered private yet have businesses located on them, and there also are roads in the Avenues that are public for a few blocks and then private.

He agreed with Leonard that the city should require streets be brought up to certain standards before accepting them into its system, as it would otherwise be a gift of public funds.

Sabatier said that each road would have to be looked at individually, adding he appreciated that the council was having the discussion.

Councilman Phil Harris said he felt the city should try to incorporate as many streets as makes sense. He said he was in favor of taking up accepting roads on a case-by-case basis.

Slooten agreed that they should only accept roads built to an appropriate standard, and said residents could improve their streets to that standard through assessment districts.

“Clearly we all want you to go ahead and come up with a process,” Mayor Russell Cremer told staff, adding that he also agreed with Leonard about street standards.

Flora asked if, in addition to reacting to requests from property owners and neighborhoods, the council wanted staff to be proactive in identifying streets that it could accept.

The council agreed with being proactive, with Harris adding that he wants attention paid to situations where economic development and growth are impacted.

Flora reported that Councilman Russ Perdock – who was absent for the meeting – said two issues were important to him, that roads should be brought up to city standards to be accepted and that if there are unique and complicated issues with the streets, it should be up to property owners to deal with them.

During the discussion, Overton said it wasn’t feasible to expect people to bring the roads up to city standards. Cremer said that, by standards, they didn’t mean installing sidewalks, curbs and gutters.

Overton asked that if it’s a dirt road, would they need to make sure it’s graded before the city accepted it.

Swartz said a lot of dirt road areas would have to account for drainage and clover crossings, so it would be more complex than just grading.

Harris said that he would love to see all the streets in the city paved immediately, but even with Measure V, it’s economically impossible for the city to do that.

He suggested putting together a package on assessment districts and the available resources to help residents.

Flora said the city has 110 miles of publicly maintained roads, some of which are paved, some unpaved. With Measure V, they anticipate bringing city street conditions from a rating of 40 to 85 within 10 years. However, that doesn't include any of the gravel roads or private streets.

The city has about $2 million a year to work with thanks to Measure V, but Flora pointed out that the more roads they have, the more it dilutes their resources.

The council reached consensus to have staff put together a process and a framework to allow property owners to come to the city, with roads to be considered on a case by case basis and brought up to a city standard. They also will be proactive in looking at commercial areas and potential economic development areas and will create a template of resources for assessment districts.

Slooten pointed out that creating assessment districts also raises property values tremendously.

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 – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson announced that he has filed to run for reelection in the Fifth Congressional District, which includes all of Napa County and parts of Lake, Sonoma, Solano and Contra Costa counties.

“I am proud to announce that I am a candidate for reelection to again represent our Congressional District in Congress. It is my highest honor to represent the place where I was born, grew up, raised my children, and still live today. I am humbled to have the support of supervisors, mayors, sheriffs, business leaders, working men and women, veterans, and community advocates. Continuing to forge these strong relationships with community members is an invaluable part of serving our community,” Thompson said.

“As a public servant, I have always been focused on improving the lives of people in our community and ensuring everyone has opportunities to get ahead. Together with our local leaders, we have been able to achieve many successes – bringing back millions of dollars in Federal funding to help our fire recovery process, passing bipartisan legislation to help prevent gun violence, and fighting to ensure everyone has access to quality, affordable health care. I am also working to bring good jobs with living wages to our district. Protecting Medicare and Social Security so our seniors can retire with dignity will always be a priority. My district offices have also helped hundreds of constituents navigate Federal agencies, including securing millions of dollars in payments and benefits they were owed from the government,” he said.

“Work still remains and I am honored to have another chance to run to represent our district and continue our fight to help our community get ahead. This means working to invest in our infrastructure so it reflects the needs of the 21st Century and fighting to pass comprehensive immigration reform and protect our Dreamers. It also means continuing to honor our promises to our nation’s veterans and their families. Finally, we must continue fighting to tackle climate change and ensure we have a planet to pass on to the generations that follow us,” Thompson continued.

“Together, we can tackle the challenges facing our nation and continue to find real solutions to help our community get ahead. We can continue making our district the best place to live, work, raise a family, start a business and retire with dignity. I humbly ask for your vote in the upcoming election,” he said.

A partial list of those endorsing Rep. Thompson’s reelection campaign is below.

California Senator Bill Dodd
California Senator Mike McGuire
California Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
California Assemblymember Jim Wood

Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston
Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin
Napa County Sheriff John Robertson,
Solano County Sheriff Thomas Ferrera
Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick

Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton
Lake County District Attorney Susan Krones
Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley
Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams
Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch

Contra Costa Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey
Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg
Napa County Superintendent of Schools Barbara Nemko
Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson
Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools Steve Herrington

Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia
Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover
Lake County Supervisor Rob Brown
Lake County Supervisor Moke Simon
Lake County Supervisor Tina Scott
Napa County Supervisor Diane Dillon
Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza
Napa County Supervisor Ryan Gregory
Napa County Supervisor Belia Ramos
Napa County Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht
Solano County Supervisor Erin Hannigan
Solano County Supervisor Jim Spering
Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore
Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin
Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins
Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt
Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane

Rob Schroder, mayor, city of Martinez
Lara Delaney, councilmember, city of Martinez
Mark Ross, councilmember, city of Martinez
Dan Romero, mayor, city of Hercules
Chris Kelley, councilmember, city of Hercules
Pete Murray, mayor, city of Pinole
Leon Garcia, mayor, city of American Canyon
Chris Canning, mayor, city of Calistoga
Jill Techel, mayor, city of Napa
John Dunbar, mayor, town of Yountville
Elizabeth Patterson, mayor, city of Benicia
Bob Sampayan, mayor, city of Vallejo
Hakeem Brown, councilmember, city of Vallejo
Pippin Dew, councilmember, city of Vallejo
Rozzana Verder-Aliga, councilmember, city of Vallejo
John Dell’Osso, mayor, city of Cotati
Gina Belforte, mayor, city of Rohnert Park
Tom Schwedhelm, mayor, city of Santa Rosa
Amy Harrington, mayor, city of Sonoma

Timothy Banuelos, former councilmember and mayor for the city of Pinole
Dean Columbo, Carquinez Fire District chief and teacher, Crockett
Myrna DeVera, former councilmember and mayor for the city of Hercules
Earl Flewellen, business owner, Crockett and Port Costa
Ridge Greene, chairman, Port Costa Conservation Society

Carol Hatch, retired district director for Congressman George Miller
Sherry McCoy, former city councilmember and mayor for the city of Hercules
Marie Beery, small business owner, Kelseyville
William Brunetti, business owner and grape grower, Lakeport
Kelly Cox, retired Lake County administrative officer
Becky Curry, community leader, Kelseyville
Donald Deuchar, retired, Lakeport
Madelene Lyon, former board member, Lake County Office of Education
Doug Pattern, retired, Lakeport
Brad Rasmussen, Chief of Police for the City of Lakeport, Lakeport
Margaret Silveira, city manager for the city of Lakeport, Lakeport
David Weiss, vineyard management firm owner, Kelseyville
Amelia Ceja, business owner and vintner, Napa
Elba Gonzales-Mares, Napa Valley Unified School District trustee
Jeri Hansen, Napa County planning commissioner and Napa Fair Board member
Johanna O’Kelley, president, Napa Democrats
Paul Bradford Onorato, community leader, Napa
Loraine Stewart, community leader, St. Helena
Janet Thompson, nurse, St. Helena
James Cooper, CEO and president, Vallejo Chamber of Commerce
Osby Davis, former mayor, Vallejo
Anthony Intintoli Jr., former mayor, Vallejo
Jon Riley, executive director, Napa and Solano Counties Central Labor Council, Vallejo
Eloise Scott, community leader, Vallejo
A.C. Ubalde, trustee, Vallejo City Unified School District
Anne Marie Young, trustee, Solano Community College Trustee
Richard "Gino" Zampa, ironworker, Vallejo
Steve Akre, fire chief for the Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority
Ligia Booker, founder, La Luz Center
Maureen Cottingham, Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance executive director, Sonoma
Maggie Fishman, Santa Rosa Junior College Board trustee
Pat Sabo, chair, Sonoma County Democratic Party

Benicia Progressive Democrats
California Democratic Party
California School Employees Association, AFL-CIO
Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council
Sierra Club

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As millions of motorists head out for the Thanksgiving holiday, the California Highway Patrol is prepared for one of the busiest travel weekends in America.

Unfortunately, in the past, Thanksgiving has also been one of the deadlier holidays on our roadways.

To help motorists arrive at their destinations safely, the CHP will implement a maximum enforcement period, or MEP, and deploy all available officers through the holiday weekend.

The MEP begins at 6:01 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1.

During the MEP, CHP officers will educate motorists and enforce traffic safety laws throughout the state to ensure everyone has a safe holiday.

Officers will be actively looking for unsafe driving practices, including impaired or distracted driving, unsafe speed, and vehicle occupants who fail to buckle up.

“Holiday travel can be stressful. By putting some simple safety measures in place, motorists can help keep themselves and others safe on the road this weekend,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley. “Most important, before you head out, ensure everyone inside the vehicle has their seat belt on, and if there are children along for the ride, check that they are secure in the back seat in the appropriate child safety seat.”

Not wearing a seat belt can be a fatal decision in a collision. According to the CHP’s MEP data, 59 people were killed in collisions in California during the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Among the 42 vehicle occupants killed in collisions within CHP jurisdiction, 43 percent of those, or 18 people, were not wearing a seat belt.

Research continues to show that wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest things people can do to stay safe when traveling in a vehicle.

Another way to help keep the roadways safe during the holidays is to designate a sober driver. During last Thanksgiving’s 102-hour MEP, CHP officers made 931 arrests for driving under the influence.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With a big storm headed toward Northern California, the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning and a wind advisory for Lake County and other parts of the North State.

The winter storm warning is in effect from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 4 p.m. Wednesday above 2,000 feet. The wind advisory is from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Forecasters said a strong upper low will reach the Northern California coast on Tuesday, with heavy snowfall in higher elevations likely by Tuesday evening and continuing through the overnight hours and into Wednesday.

The National Weather Service said the conditions will impact the region during peak
Thanksgiving holiday travel. Snow showers will continue in the Sierra through Thanksgiving Day.

Total snow accumulations in higher elevations are forecast to be between 5 and 10 inches, with localized amounts up to 2 feet.

The Lake County forecast predicts rain in the lower elevations but chances of snow in areas including Cobb and Lake County’s northern mountains from Tuesday through Thursday, and then again from Friday night through Sunday.

Winds of up to 50 miles per hour are expected Tuesday night, based on the forecast.

Daytime temperatures are forecast to be in the upper 40s, with nighttime temperatures expected to drop into the high 20s.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will continue its discussion of short- and long-term leadership in the Registrar of Voters Office and present a proclamation declaring Lucerne as the gateway to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, 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 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

In an untimed item, the board will continue its consideration of what to do in the wake of Registrar of Voters Catherine McMullen’s resignation after just over four months on the job.

Her last day initially was to be Nov. 22 but she has agreed to wait until Dec. 2 in order to certify the Northshore Fire Measure N fire tax.

Last week a board majority directed staff to begin a recruitment for the registrar position, but this week a discussion is to continue about the possible restructuring of the elections office – an option being pushed by County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson. The supervisors also will consider appointing an interim registrar.

Also on Tuesday, at 9:10 a.m. the board will present a proclamation recognizing Lucerne as gateway to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, created by President Barack Obama in 2015. Two-thirds of the monument is located within Lake County.

The Lucerne Town Hall took action to declare the gateway status in September, as Lake County News has reported.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1: Approve letter of support for a grant request to Cal Fire's California Climate Investments Fire Prevention Grant Program and authorize the chair to sign.

5.2: (a) Approve letter of support for a grant request to Cal FIre’s Forest Health Grant Program and authorize the chair to sign; and (b) approve letter of support for a grant request to Cal Fire's Fire Prevention Grant Program and authorize the chair to sign.

5.3: Adopt proclamation recognizing Lucerne, California as gateway to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.

5.4: Approve the addendum to the consulting agreement between the county of Lake and Ellis Planning Associates Inc. and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.5: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the atmospheric river event 2019.

5.6: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).

5.7: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire Incident.

5.8: Approve amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and the county of Tehama to house juvenile wards for the period from Sept. 22, 2017, through March 30, 2020, for an amount not to exceed $380,000 annually; and authorize the chair to sign.

5.9: (a) Approve the FY 2019 Emergency Management Performance Grant application in the amount of $138,133, (b) authorize Sheriff Brian Martin to sign the grant subaward face sheet, the authorized agent document and the subrecipient grants management assessment form; (c) authorize County Administrative Officer Carol J. Huchingson to act as the authorized agent on behalf of the county to sign the standard assurances and initial each page, the lobbying certification and the FFATA financial disclosure document and (d) authorize the chairperson of the Board of Supervisors to sign the certification of the governing body resolution.

5.10: (a) Approve the FY 2019 Homeland Security application in the amount of $141,960, (b) authorize Sheriff Brian Martin to sign the grant subaward face sheet, the authorized agent document and the subrecipient grants management assessment form; (c) authorize County Administrative Officer Carol J. Huchingson to act as the authorized agent on behalf of the county to sign the standard assurances and initial each page, the lobbying certification and the FFATA financial disclosure document and (d) authorize the chairperson of the Board of Supervisors to sign the certification of the governing body resolution.

5.11: ADDENDUM: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the kincaid fire incident and the PG&E public safety power shutoffs events.

TIMED ITEMS

6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transportation, and disposal of fire debris for the Mendocino Complex fire.

6.3, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation recognizing Lucerne, California as gateway to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.

6.4, 9:30 a.m.: (a) Consideration of a protest by Unity Adjustments of California Inc., to the consultant selection panel’s recommendation of top respondent to RFP No. 19-06, request for proposals for Sulphur, Pawnee and Mendocino Complex wildfires structural burn debris removal insurance cost recovery and invoicing; and (b) approve agreement with Tetra Tech Inc., for Sulphur, Pawnee and Mendocino Complex wildfire structural burn debris removal insurance cost recovery and invoicing, in the amount of $328,050.

UNTIMED ITEMS

7.2: Consideration of the addition of a special meeting to the board’s annual meeting calendar for 2019.

7.3: (a) Consideration of a side letter to the Lake County Deputy District Attorney Association Memorandum of Understanding; (b) side letter to the Lake County to the Lake County Deputy Sheriff Association MOU for May 7, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2019; (c) side letter to the Lake County Correctional Officers Association MOU for July 9, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2019; (d) side letter to the Lake County Employee Association Units #3, #4 and #5 MOU for July 23, 2019 through Dec. 31, 2019; (e) side letter to the Lake County Safety Employee Association MOU for July 23, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2019; (f) side letter to the Lake County Sheriff Management Association 2019 MOU; (g) resolution amending Resolution No. 2018-125 establishing salaries and benefits for management employees for the period from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019; (h) resolution amending Resolution No. 2018-126 establishing salaries and benefits for employees assigned to the Confidential Unit, Section A, for July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019; and (i) resolution amending Resolution No. 2018-127 establishing salaries and benefits for employees assigned to the Confidential Unit, Section B, for July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.

7.4: (a) Discussion/Consideration of recruitment for the registrar of voters position; and/or, (b) discussion/consideration of restructuring of the elections function; and/or, (c) consideration of appointment of interim registrar of voters.

7.5: Consideration of appointments of a director and alternate to the California State Association of Counties Board of Directors for 2020.

CLOSED SESSION

8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – Existing Litigation: Werner v. Knudsen, et al.

8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 45956.9 (d)(1) – Existing Litigation: Heart Consciousness Church v. County of Lake, et al.

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.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol will offer a free “Start Smart” traffic safety class for soon to-be-licensed, newly licensed, and teenage drivers and their parents or guardians on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

The class will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Clear Lake Area CHP office, located at 5700 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville.

The CHP said a teenager is killed in a traffic collision every four hours nationwide. That equates to more than 1,870 teenagers killed each year. Another 184,000 teenagers are injured in traffic collisions.

These deaths and injuries can be substantially reduced or prevented by eliminating high-risk driving behaviors through education, and the CHP said its “Start Smart” program can help prevent these tragedies.

The Start Smart program focuses on providing comprehensive traffic safety education classes for teenagers and their parents.

Start Smart employs innovative techniques to capture the attention of teenagers and parents, providing a lasting experience.

The curriculum includes information on collision statistics, teen driver and passenger behaviors, graduated driver’s license laws, cultural changes in today’s society and the need for stronger parental involvement in a teenager’s driving experience.

Space is limited for this class. For more information or reservations, call Officer Joel Skeen at the CHP office, 707-279-0103, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..