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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week is set to consider rejecting bids for a proposed chip seal project and a request for two position allocations in the police department’s budget.
The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
At the start of the meeting the council will present a proclamation declaring September as Senior Center Month and receive a presentation on Clearlake’s retail market and opportunities for expansion.
Under council business, staff is asking the council to reject the bids for a double chip seal project in the Southwest Avenues.
Engineering Tech Adeline Brown’s report to the council explained that the city advertised a notice inviting bids and opened the bids on Aug. 29 from Northwest Paving and VSS International.
Northwest Paving gave a base bid of $148,200 and VSS International’s base bid was $213,000.
Brown said those base bids were “considerably higher than the engineer’s estimate, which was $70,000.00.”
She added, “Given the nature of the industry at this time of year, demand for contractors is higher which in turn drives up the costs. Also, the additive alternate unit costs were also high. Staff recommends that the Council reject all bids and alternates and re-bid in the Spring.”
The project was to have been funded by funds from the city’s Measure V road tax.
In other business, Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White is asking the council to consider adding an office assistant II and a limited-term code enforcement officer I/II to the position allocations for the new fiscal year due to an increase in activity related to Code Enforcement, Animal Control and citation issuance.
“The traffic is anticipated to increase with the implementation of new ordinances such as the vacant commercial property ordinance, abandoned vehicle ordinance and planned updates to the rental property ordinance,” White said.
Also on Thursday, the council will consider a memorandum of understanding between the city of Clearlake and the Middle Management Association for the period of July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2021; and discuss the 2019 League of California Cities annual conference resolutions.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the Aug. 14 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting; minutes of the August council meetings; consideration of the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 233-2019, amending Section 5-22, Smoking Prohibited in Parks and Certain Public Places, of the Clearlake Municipal Code in its entirety and approving a related CEQA exemption for the municipal code amendments; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017; and holding of the second reading of Ordinance No. 233-2019, to keep the declaration of emergency active and set next review for the next council meeting.
The council also will hold a closed session to discuss labor negotiations with the Clearlake Management/Confidential Employees, Clearlake Police Officer Association, Clearlake Municipal Employees Association and Clearlake Middle Management Association.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis 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 council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
At the start of the meeting the council will present a proclamation declaring September as Senior Center Month and receive a presentation on Clearlake’s retail market and opportunities for expansion.
Under council business, staff is asking the council to reject the bids for a double chip seal project in the Southwest Avenues.
Engineering Tech Adeline Brown’s report to the council explained that the city advertised a notice inviting bids and opened the bids on Aug. 29 from Northwest Paving and VSS International.
Northwest Paving gave a base bid of $148,200 and VSS International’s base bid was $213,000.
Brown said those base bids were “considerably higher than the engineer’s estimate, which was $70,000.00.”
She added, “Given the nature of the industry at this time of year, demand for contractors is higher which in turn drives up the costs. Also, the additive alternate unit costs were also high. Staff recommends that the Council reject all bids and alternates and re-bid in the Spring.”
The project was to have been funded by funds from the city’s Measure V road tax.
In other business, Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White is asking the council to consider adding an office assistant II and a limited-term code enforcement officer I/II to the position allocations for the new fiscal year due to an increase in activity related to Code Enforcement, Animal Control and citation issuance.
“The traffic is anticipated to increase with the implementation of new ordinances such as the vacant commercial property ordinance, abandoned vehicle ordinance and planned updates to the rental property ordinance,” White said.
Also on Thursday, the council will consider a memorandum of understanding between the city of Clearlake and the Middle Management Association for the period of July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2021; and discuss the 2019 League of California Cities annual conference resolutions.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the Aug. 14 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting; minutes of the August council meetings; consideration of the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 233-2019, amending Section 5-22, Smoking Prohibited in Parks and Certain Public Places, of the Clearlake Municipal Code in its entirety and approving a related CEQA exemption for the municipal code amendments; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017; and holding of the second reading of Ordinance No. 233-2019, to keep the declaration of emergency active and set next review for the next council meeting.
The council also will hold a closed session to discuss labor negotiations with the Clearlake Management/Confidential Employees, Clearlake Police Officer Association, Clearlake Municipal Employees Association and Clearlake Middle Management Association.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
091219 Clearlake City Council Agenda Packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The governor has appointed a member of the Lake County Board of Supervisors to a state board.
On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his selection of District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon of Middletown to the State Board of Fire Services.
The State Board of Fire Services is a 17-member advisory board to the California State Fire Marshal, according to its Web site.
The California State Fire Marshal chairs the board, which includes representatives from local governments, the fire service and firefighter associations, the insurance industry and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, among others.
Its duties, according to its Web site, range from providing a forum for addressing fire protection and prevention issues of statewide concern, to developing technical and performance standards for training of fire service personnel, accrediting curriculum, establishing policy for the certification system for the California Fire Service, advising the State Fire Marshal on dissemination of regulations, and acting as an appeals board on the application of California State Fire Marshal regulations.
Based on the board’s roster, Simon will fill a vacant position representing county government.
Simon, 47, has served as the Board of Supervisors’ District 1 member since January of 2017, and has been tribal chairman of the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California since 1997.
Simon’s district has been hit hard by wildland fires, and he now chairs the newly formed Lake County Community Risk Reduction Authority.
The Governor’s Office said the State Board of Fire Services position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Simon is a Democrat.
The board next meets on Thursday afternoon at the Office of the State Fire Marshal in Sacramento.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Area Town Hall this week is set to hear from the county supervisor and discuss homeless issues in the park.
MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Middletown Community Center, 21256 Washington St.
Meetings are open to the community, and offer the opportunity for additional public input on items not included on the agenda.
Items on the agenda include an update from District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon at 7:30 p.m.
At 7:45 p.m., the group will discuss flower grates on Main Street and the homeless community park.
At 8 p.m., there will be an update on area developments and projects.
The MATH Board includes Chair Sally Peterson, Vice Chair Claude Brown, Secretary Paul Baker, and at-large members Tom Darms and Marlene Elder.
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.
Meetings are subject to videotaping.
For more information emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Middletown Community Center, 21256 Washington St.
Meetings are open to the community, and offer the opportunity for additional public input on items not included on the agenda.
Items on the agenda include an update from District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon at 7:30 p.m.
At 7:45 p.m., the group will discuss flower grates on Main Street and the homeless community park.
At 8 p.m., there will be an update on area developments and projects.
The MATH Board includes Chair Sally Peterson, Vice Chair Claude Brown, Secretary Paul Baker, and at-large members Tom Darms and Marlene Elder.
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.
Meetings are subject to videotaping.
For more information email
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – State, federal and local fire crews across California are hard at work bringing many wildland fire incidents closer to full containment.
The Mendocino National Forest reported that the Henthorne fire in the forest’s Yolla Bolly wilderness remained at 244 acres, with firefighters improving firelines and raising containment to 15 percent.
Crews are working in steep, rugged terrain on the fire 15 miles northeast of Covelo in Trinity County.
Officials said the fire has stopped spreading and is mostly creeping and smoldering.
There are 304 federal, state, local and private resources assigned to the incident including 17 engines, eight crews, one helicopter, two dozers and seven water tenders, the US Forest Service reported.
The fire has been under the unified command of the Mendocino National Forest and Cal Fire.
“We thank all of the resources that are assisting with the management of this incident. The interagency cooperation has been outstanding,” said Incident Commander Tony Arendt said.
As containment of the fire increases and the remaining work decreases, officials said crews are being released to return home to prepare for their next assignment.
The National Weather Service is reporting that warmer conditions are expected to return later this week. In the forest, temperatures are expected to be in the high 60s, with light wind.
State fires roundup
Cal Fire and the United States Forest Service gave the following updates on fires around California.
– Broder fire: 370 acres, 40-percent contained. The Broder fire began Sept. 6 northeast of Broder Meadow in the Sequoia National Forest in Tulare County. Cause: Lightning.
– Cow fire: 1,975 acres, 30-percent contained. The Cow fire began Sept. 6 in the Golden Trout Wilderness in the Inyo National Forest in Inyo County. Cause: Lightning.
– Duzel fire: 15 acres, 100-percent contained. The Duzel fire began Sept. 7 near the Duzel Rock Lookout northeast of Etna in Siskiyou County. Cause: Under investigation.
– Forbestown fire: 58 acres, 90-percent contained. The Forbestown fire began Sept. 6 east of Oroville in Butte County. There are 105 personnel assigned. Cause: Under investigation.
– Henthorne fire: 244 acres, 35-percent contained. The Henthorne fire began Thursday in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness in the Mendocino National Forest; it is located 15 miles northeast of Covelo in Trinity County. The fire is being managed under unified command by the Mendocino National Forest and Cal Fire. Cause: Under investigation.
– Kidder 2 fire: 151 acres, 15-percent contained. The Kidder 2 fire began Sept. 7 in the Marble Mountain Wilderness and Kidder Creek, northwest of Etna, in the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou County. Cause: Lightning.
– Lime fire: 1,620 acres, 0-percent contained. The Lime fire began Sept. 7 southwest of Hornbrook in the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou County. Cause: Lightning.
– Lone fire: 5,737 acres, 87-percent contained. The Lone fire began Sept. 6 at Pinnacle Lake on the Doublehead Ranger District in the Modoc National Forest in Modoc County. Cause: Lightning.
– McMurray fire: 200 acres, 40-percent contained. The McMurray fire began Sept. 9 north of Buellton in Santa Barbara County. Structures are threatened and evacuations are in effect. Cause: Under investigation.
– R-6 fire: 260 acres, 80-percent contained. The R-6 fire began Sept. 6 north of Fredonyer Peak and southwest of Termo in Lassen County on the Bureau of Land Management’s Northern California District. Cause: Lightning.
– Rams Horn fire: 238 acres, 30-percent contained. The Rams Horn fire began Sept. 7 northeast of Coffee Creek in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Trinity County. It is expected to be fully contained on Sept. 21. Cause: Lightning.
– Red Bank fire: 8,838 acres, 75-percent contained, two structures destroyed. The Red Bank fire began Sept. 5 west of Red Bluff in Tehama County. There are 2,193 firefighters assigned. Cause: Lightning.
– South fire: 2,746 acres, 5-percent contained. The South fire began on Sept. 5 on the southeast aspect of Tomhead Mountain, south of Platina, in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Tehama County. Cause: Lightning.
– Springs fire: 4,840 acres, 98-percent contained. The Springs fire began Sept. 6 southeast of Lee Vining in the Inyo National Forest in Mono County. Cause: Lightning.
– Swedes fire: 400 acres, 65-percent contained, two structures destroyed. The Swedes fire began Sept. 7 east of Oroville in Butte County. There are 224 personnel assigned. Cause: Under investigation.
– Taboose fire: 9,335 acres, 36-percent contained. The Taboose fire began Sept. 6 northwest of Aberdeen in Inyo County. There are 803 personnel assigned. Cause: Under investigation.
– Tenaja fire: 1,926 acres, 96-percent contained. The Tenaja fire began Sept. 4 in La Cresta in Riverside County. There are 108 personnel assigned. Cause: Under investigation.
– Walker fire: 47,340 acres, 20-percent contained. The Walker fire began Sept. 4 east of Genesee in Plumas County in the Plumas National Forest. There are 1,284 personnel assigned. Cause: Under investigation.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis 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 Mendocino National Forest reported that the Henthorne fire in the forest’s Yolla Bolly wilderness remained at 244 acres, with firefighters improving firelines and raising containment to 15 percent.
Crews are working in steep, rugged terrain on the fire 15 miles northeast of Covelo in Trinity County.
Officials said the fire has stopped spreading and is mostly creeping and smoldering.
There are 304 federal, state, local and private resources assigned to the incident including 17 engines, eight crews, one helicopter, two dozers and seven water tenders, the US Forest Service reported.
The fire has been under the unified command of the Mendocino National Forest and Cal Fire.
“We thank all of the resources that are assisting with the management of this incident. The interagency cooperation has been outstanding,” said Incident Commander Tony Arendt said.
As containment of the fire increases and the remaining work decreases, officials said crews are being released to return home to prepare for their next assignment.
The National Weather Service is reporting that warmer conditions are expected to return later this week. In the forest, temperatures are expected to be in the high 60s, with light wind.
State fires roundup
Cal Fire and the United States Forest Service gave the following updates on fires around California.
– Broder fire: 370 acres, 40-percent contained. The Broder fire began Sept. 6 northeast of Broder Meadow in the Sequoia National Forest in Tulare County. Cause: Lightning.
– Cow fire: 1,975 acres, 30-percent contained. The Cow fire began Sept. 6 in the Golden Trout Wilderness in the Inyo National Forest in Inyo County. Cause: Lightning.
– Duzel fire: 15 acres, 100-percent contained. The Duzel fire began Sept. 7 near the Duzel Rock Lookout northeast of Etna in Siskiyou County. Cause: Under investigation.
– Forbestown fire: 58 acres, 90-percent contained. The Forbestown fire began Sept. 6 east of Oroville in Butte County. There are 105 personnel assigned. Cause: Under investigation.
– Henthorne fire: 244 acres, 35-percent contained. The Henthorne fire began Thursday in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness in the Mendocino National Forest; it is located 15 miles northeast of Covelo in Trinity County. The fire is being managed under unified command by the Mendocino National Forest and Cal Fire. Cause: Under investigation.
– Kidder 2 fire: 151 acres, 15-percent contained. The Kidder 2 fire began Sept. 7 in the Marble Mountain Wilderness and Kidder Creek, northwest of Etna, in the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou County. Cause: Lightning.
– Lime fire: 1,620 acres, 0-percent contained. The Lime fire began Sept. 7 southwest of Hornbrook in the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou County. Cause: Lightning.
– Lone fire: 5,737 acres, 87-percent contained. The Lone fire began Sept. 6 at Pinnacle Lake on the Doublehead Ranger District in the Modoc National Forest in Modoc County. Cause: Lightning.
– McMurray fire: 200 acres, 40-percent contained. The McMurray fire began Sept. 9 north of Buellton in Santa Barbara County. Structures are threatened and evacuations are in effect. Cause: Under investigation.
– R-6 fire: 260 acres, 80-percent contained. The R-6 fire began Sept. 6 north of Fredonyer Peak and southwest of Termo in Lassen County on the Bureau of Land Management’s Northern California District. Cause: Lightning.
– Rams Horn fire: 238 acres, 30-percent contained. The Rams Horn fire began Sept. 7 northeast of Coffee Creek in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Trinity County. It is expected to be fully contained on Sept. 21. Cause: Lightning.
– Red Bank fire: 8,838 acres, 75-percent contained, two structures destroyed. The Red Bank fire began Sept. 5 west of Red Bluff in Tehama County. There are 2,193 firefighters assigned. Cause: Lightning.
– South fire: 2,746 acres, 5-percent contained. The South fire began on Sept. 5 on the southeast aspect of Tomhead Mountain, south of Platina, in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Tehama County. Cause: Lightning.
– Springs fire: 4,840 acres, 98-percent contained. The Springs fire began Sept. 6 southeast of Lee Vining in the Inyo National Forest in Mono County. Cause: Lightning.
– Swedes fire: 400 acres, 65-percent contained, two structures destroyed. The Swedes fire began Sept. 7 east of Oroville in Butte County. There are 224 personnel assigned. Cause: Under investigation.
– Taboose fire: 9,335 acres, 36-percent contained. The Taboose fire began Sept. 6 northwest of Aberdeen in Inyo County. There are 803 personnel assigned. Cause: Under investigation.
– Tenaja fire: 1,926 acres, 96-percent contained. The Tenaja fire began Sept. 4 in La Cresta in Riverside County. There are 108 personnel assigned. Cause: Under investigation.
– Walker fire: 47,340 acres, 20-percent contained. The Walker fire began Sept. 4 east of Genesee in Plumas County in the Plumas National Forest. There are 1,284 personnel assigned. Cause: Under investigation.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LUCERNE, Calif. – Authorities have identified the Lucerne man who died early Tuesday after another man intentionally hit him with a vehicle.
Joseph Symond Jackson, 40, was struck and fatally injured by a van driven by 62-year-old Thomas Andrew Magee of Clearlake at around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, as Lake County News has reported.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Jackson was in the area of Highway 20 and Seventh Avenue in Lucerne when Magee hit him with his van.
Magee fled the scene but was stopped and taken into custody by a California Highway Patrol officer on Highway 53 near Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks about 20 minutes after the incident occurred, the sheriff’s office said.
Jackson was to have been flown to an out-of-county trauma center but was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital where he died of his injuries early Tuesday morning, authorities said.
Witnesses told investigators that Magee and Jackson had a dispute over property, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
On Tuesday, friends of Jackson’s set up a small shrine of candles and flowers on the sidewalk in front of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office substation at Highway 20 and Seventh Avenue, near where Jackson was hit.
Paulich told Lake County News that, based on the investigation so far, the two men had been acquaintances for a short time.
The sheriff’s office has had several contacts with Jackson over the past 20 years, “some as victim and some as suspect,” Paulich said.
He said sheriff’s office records didn’t show contacts with Magee. However, “Magee does have extensive criminal history for drug, weapons and theft convictions,” mostly in the in the Bay Area, Paulich said.
Magee is charged with murder and is being held in the Lake County Jail on $1 million bail. He is due to appear for arraignment in Lake County Superior Court on Thursday, according to booking records.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LUCERNE, Calif. – Authorities have arrested a Clearlake man who they said intentionally hit and killed a pedestrian with his vehicle.
Thomas Andrew Magee, 62, was taken into custody shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday, less than an hour after the incident took place, according to Lt. Corey Paulich.
At 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers were dispatched to the area of Highway 20 and Seventh Avenue in Lucerne, where it was reported that there was a vehicle accident with a pedestrian that had been struck, as Lake County News has reported.
Paulich said that when law enforcement arrived it was determined, based on the scene and witness statements, that Magee, the driver of the vehicle, had intentionally struck the victim and fled the scene. Witnesses also told deputies that Magee and the victim had a dispute over property.
The victim was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries, Paulich said.
A “be on the lookout” was put out for the white van that hit the pedestrian. Paulich said that at approximately 1:50 a.m., a CHP officer located and stopped Magee on Highway 53 near Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks.
The Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit responded to handle the investigation with the assistance of officers from CHP, Paulich said.
Paulich said Magee was later booked into the Lake County Jail for murder with bail set at $1 million.
According to his booking sheet, Magee – whose occupation is listed as painter – is due to be arraigned on Thursday in Lake County Superior Court.
The identification of the victim is pending notification of next of kin. An autopsy will be scheduled for later this week, Paulich said.
Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is asked to contact Detective Jerry Pfann at 707-262-4236 or