News

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week is set to take up final consideration of its 2018-19 fiscal year budget.

The council will meet in closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 14, to discuss a potential case of litigation before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

One of the meeting’s main items of business will include consideration of the 2018-19 fiscal year budget, which can be seen below.

The budget summary shows that revenues for the new budget year are $18,351,814, up $1,738,857 from the current fiscal year.

On the appropriations side, the city is budgeting $22,488,401 across all funds, an increase of $921,663 compared to fiscal year 2017-18.

In related budget business, the council will hold a public hearing to adopt the appropriations limit – or Gann limit – for fiscal year 2018-19 and designate the formula to be used to calculate it. The Gann limit comes from a 1979 constitutional amendment passed by the state’s voters to place limits on a government’s growth expenditures.

Also on Thursday, the council will consider executing a master equity lease agreement, maintenance agreement and take necessary actions with Enterprise Fleet Management Inc. for the replacement of city vehicles; hold a public hearing to consider adopting the 2018-19 fee schedule; consider approval of a resolution for the designation of the subrecipient’s agent resolution for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program; and select voting delegates and alternates for the League of California Cities’ annual conference in September.

The meeting also will include a presentation of a proclamation declaring June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month and a presentation of a joint fire prevention video by PEG TV, Lake County Fire Protection District, Clearlake Police Department and Code Enforcement, and produced by the Administrative Services Department.

Items on the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the May 10, 17 and 24 regular meetings; consideration of continuing the declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action on Oct. 12, 2017; the annual Clearlake Waste Solutions rate adjustment; and consideration of reviewing the conflict-of-interest code.

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.

FY 2018-19 Clearlake Proposed Budget - FINAL by LakeCoNews on Scribd

061418 Clearlake City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Area Town Hall this week will look at its own rules of operation.

MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 14, 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.

On the agenda is a discussion of the organization’s bylaws.

There also will be committee reports.

The MATH Board includes Chair Joseph Sullivan, Vice Chair Courtney Van Leuven, Secretary Marlene Elder, and members-at member Lisa Kaplan, and alternates Mike Tabacchi and Joe Sullivan.

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake, working with a local nonprofit group, is continuing its cleanup of illegal dumpsites.

On June 6, the Clearlake Code Enforcement Division and Citizens Caring 4 Clearlake, or CC4C, completed the abatement of 16 illegal dumpsites located throughout the Clearlake Park neighborhood, according to Code Enforcement Supervisor Lee Lambert.

The dump sites, all located between Fifth and 14th streets, consisted of household trash, junk, electronics, wood and metal debris and tires, Lambert said.

In total, Lambert said 17,780 pound of trash was disposed of and approximately 7,200 pounds of metal and e-waste along with 233 tires were recycled.

The abatement project began on May 2. Lambert said CC4C volunteers cleared each property, bringing the illegally dumped items to the edge of the roadway.

After a property was cleared and the illegally dumped items were next to the roadway, code enforcement officers came in and removed all of the items.

“Since its inception three years ago, CC4C has been assisting the city of Clearlake with these types of projects,” said Lambert. “To date, this is the largest project we have completed together and it went very well. We look forward to completing more of these types of projects together in the future.”

Code Enforcement asks that all community members be vigilant in reporting illegal dumping to the Clearlake Police Department, as well as trespassing and occupying “red tagged” properties.

If you see someone dumping illegally, Lambert asid it is as simple as writing down a license plate number and description of the vehicle and subject doing the dumping. You should then contact dispatch immediately at 707-994-8251 and provide them the information and location.

Those wishing to remain anonymous may do so by advising the dispatcher at the time of call, Lambert asid.

Citizens Caring 4 Clearlake is a privately operated nonprofit organization which relies solely on volunteers and donations.

For more information on CC4C or to become a volunteer, please contact Barbara Christwitz at 707-995-0940.

NORTH COAST, Calif – A Clearlake man was arrested over the weekend after Mendocino County authorities said he injured his girlfriend during an argument.

Roger Dale Peters, 35, was arrested for the incident, which occurred on Saturday, according to a report from Sgt. Quincy Cromer of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

At 7:10 p.m. Saturday Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Round Valley Tribal Police Office in Covelo to contact a female subject who was a possible victim of domestic violence, Cromer said.

When responding to the call, the deputies were notified that the female subject had left the tribal police office, and Cromer said tribal police officers directed the deputies to the female's residence where they contacted her regarding this incident.

Cromer said the deputies learned the female was involved in a dating relationship with Peters and earlier that day they were staying together at the Eel River Campground on Etsel Ridge Road in Covelo.

During an argument at the campground, Peters reportedly grabbed the female by the hair and punched her in the head multiple times, Cromer said.

He said the woman told deputies that Peters also grabbed her by the throat during the argument. The female had injuries to her head and throat consistent with her statements.

The deputies responded to the Eel River Campground where they located and contacted Peters regarding this incident. Peters was ultimately advised and placed under arrest for felony domestic violence battery without incident Cromer said.

Peters was transported to the Mendocino County Jail where he was booked on the above charge to be held in lieu of $25,000 bail. Jail records showed he remained in custody on Tuesday.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the suspicious death of an Upper Lake woman and is also attempting to locate her husband.

Cindi Henry, 51, was found dead in her residence by family members on Monday, according to a sheriff’s office report.

The agency said its deputies responded to an address in the 9700 block of Elliot Street in Upper Lake, the location where Henry was found, for a report of a suspicious death on Monday.

Major Crimes detectives responded to investigate, the sheriff’s office said.

At this time the death remains suspicious and the cause of death is pending an autopsy that is scheduled for June 13, according to Lt. Corey Paulich.

Cindi Henry’s husband, 64-year-old Bill Morton Henry, was not at the residence, authorities said.

Bill Henry was last seen at the home by family between Saturday evening and early Sunday morning, according to the sheriff’s office.

Authorities said Bill Henry's location was unknown on Tuesday, but he is believed to be in a dark gray Ford Focus sedan, California license plate 6ZSU874.

Paulich said Major Crimes detectives are actively looking for Bill Henry and hadn’t yet located him by early Tuesday afternoon.

There had been no history of domestic violence involving the couple, Paulich said.

If Bill Henry or the vehicle is located or you have information related to this investigation please contact Lake County Sheriff's Central Dispatch at 707-263-2690.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Monday, crews from Chernoh Excavating Inc. began the demolition of the dilapidated building formerly known as Mario’s Lodge and Silks Bar and Grill.

The building is located at 14825 Lakeshore Drive in downtown Clearlake.

The demolition and cleanup should be completed within two days, according to City Manager Greg Folsom.

The building has been vacant and red-tagged for several years due to health and safety issues with the building, Folsom said.

Folsom said the city had been working with the property owner to try to address those concerns, but no progress was made.

In an effort to force compliance, Folsom said the city pursued a court ordered receivership to take custodial responsibility for the property in order to abate the red tag on the building.

He said the process lasted many months but finally the court-appointed receiver was authorized to demolish the building to abate the health and safety conditions leading to the red tag.

Pursuant to state law, the costs of the receivership will be borne by the property owner.

This is the latest building to be torn down in the Lakeshore Drive corridor over the last few years in an effort to clean up key areas of the city.

Previously, the city has torn down the former chamber building on Golf Avenue; two other abandoned buildings located next to Howard’s Grotto that had been taken over by homeless persons and drug users; and the abandoned building across from City Hall on Lakeshore.

“Abating this property has been a goal of the city for a long time,” Folsom said. “We are pleased that the court ordered receiver was finally able to work through the legal process and remove this eyesore. This site has great potential for future development.”