News

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will consider taking the next steps involved in putting a sales tax measure before voters this June, and get updates on the project to build a new courthouse and new funding for the Middle Creek Restoration Project.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, 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 consider an ordinance and tax measure allowing for a 1.5 percent sales tax in the unincorporated county to be placed on the June 5 ballot.

Earlier this month the board gave the go ahead to pursue the sales tax measure in light of the county government’s growing financial challenges, as Lake County News has reported: http://bit.ly/2ERA7j7.

At 9:10 a.m., the board will consider a staff report on the status of the Lake County Courthouse Construction Project. In order to move the project forward, the board will discuss the sale of two county-owned parcels at 934 and 946 Bevins Court in Lakeport as part of a larger land swap deal that involves the city of Lakeport and Lake County Tribal Health.

In an item timed for 10:15 a.m., the board – sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors 00 will consider a report on Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry’s recent securing of $15 million for the Middle Creek Restoration Project.

The full agenda follows.

CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS

6.1: Consideration of Contract Change Order #2 Between the county of Lake and Bridgeway Civil Constructors Inc. for the Harbin Springs Road at Harbin Creek Bridge Replacement Project, Federal Project No. BRLO-5914(106); Bid No. 17-04 for a Decrease of $6,276.32 and a Revised Contract Amount of $1,272,480.84; and authorize the chair to sign.

CONSENT AGENDA

7.1: (a) Approve bylaws for the Western Regional Town Hall; (b) adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2017-80 and 2017-109 establishing the Western Regional Town Hall Known as “WRTH” for the Upper Lake, Blue Lakes and Lake Pillsbury areas.

7.2: Authorize county administrative officer to approve step advancement for non-management, confidential unit deputy county administrative officer I/II/III – hourly employee, retroactive to Jan. 23, 2018.

7.3: Approve to waive the 90-day termination requirements in the Jan. 4, 2011, fire dispatch agreement allowing the fire districts to terminate effective March 1, 2018.

7.4: (a) Approve facility space license agreement by and between the county of Lake (licensor) and Kelseyville Fire Protection District (licensee) to lease tower and vault space on specified county communication sites for an annual fee of $18,600, and a one-time payment in the amount of $2,500 to reimburse the administrative office for expenses, and authorize the chair to sign; and (b) approve spectrum manager lease agreement between the county of Lake (lessor) and the Kelseyville Fire District (lessee) allowing the "Red Net" frequencies to be shared with the fire districts for a one-time payment of $5,000 to reimburse the administrative office for expenses, and authorize the chair to sign.

7.5: Approve amendment no. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and North Valley Behavioral Health LLC. for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services for fiscal year 2017-18 for a decrease of $100,000 for a new contract maximum of $100,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.

7.6: Approve the commercial lease agreement between the county of Lake and Big Oak Center LLC for the lease of property located at 13340 E. Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423 in the amount of $1462.50 per month.

7.7: Approve amendment no. 1 to the agreement between the county of lake and Gary Ernst for professional fiscal consulting services FY 2017-18 for an increase of $15,000 and a new contract maximum of $30,000, and authorize the board chair to sign.

7.8: Adopt resolution authorizing the 2018-19 Grant Project - Lake County Child Advocacy Center Program and authorize the chair to sign the certification and assurance of compliance.

7.9: Sitting as Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, approve right of way contract and grant deed for Caltrans' acquisition of a portion of the Middletown Wastewater Treatment Plant along State Highway 175 and authorize the chair to sign the right of way contract and the grant deed as well as provide direction to the clerk to notarize and record the grant deed.

7.10: Approve amendment no. 1 to agreement between the county of Lake and Far Western Anthropological Research Group Inc. in the amount of $19,695.64 for the Eastlake Elementary Safe Routes to School & Community Development Block Grant Project in Clearlake Oaks; and authorize the chair to sign.

7.11: Approve advanced step hiring of Celia Hoberg, at third step retroactive to Oct. 17, 2017, for right-of-way agent/airport operations coordinator.

7.12: Approve letter of agreement between the Lake County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in the amount of $210,000 for the period Oct. 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2018; and authorize sheriff to sign the agreement and chair to sign workplace certifications and grant assurances.

7.13: Approve acceptance of easement deeds on multiple parcels in Anderson Springs for the Anderson Springs Septic to Sewer Project and authorize clerk to sign.

TIMED ITEMS

8.2, 9:06 a.m.: (a) Consideration of waiving required standards of Chapter 12, Section 8, Part III (c) 3 of County Policies for "Commemorative Names Honoring Former County Officials and Employees"; and (b) consideration of resolution of intent to supersede Resolution No. 90-306 naming, renaming, and extending the length of existing roads within the area of the county jail facility in the county of Lake.

8.3, 9:10 a.m.: (a) Consideration of staff report on the status of the Lake County Courthouse Construction Project; and (b) consideration of appointment of the county administrative officer or her designee and the Public Works director to serve as the negotiating team for the possible sale of the two county-owned parcels at 934 and 946 Bevins Court in Lakeport.

8.4, 9:20 a.m.: Hearing, nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $17,327.72, for 12545 Lakeview Drive, Clearlake Oaks (APN 035-152-65 - John J. Danuck) .

8.5, 9:25 a.m.: Hearing, nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $13,069.00, for 7271 Sierra Street, Nice (APN 031-142-05 - Dominique L. McGowen).

8.6, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of appeal (AB 17-06) of the Planning Commission's denial of Use Permit (UP 17-06) and Design Review (DR 17-07) for an off-site billboard sign, property located at 2325 East Highway 20, Nice (APN 004-055-37); appellant is Stott Outdoor Advertising, on behalf of property owners Larry and Francis Montgomery.

8.7, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of appeal (AB 17-05) of Planning Commission's Denial of Major Use Permit (UP 17-10) and Design Review (DR 17-05) to allow a new off-site billboard sign; project located at 13550 East Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks (APN 006-510-31); appellant is Richard Kuehn .

8.8, 10:15 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, consideration of report on the new funding for the Middle Creek Restoration Project.

UNTIMED ITEMS

9.2: Consideration of the following appointments: Kelseyville Cemetery District Western Region Town Hall.

9.3: (a) Consideration of resolution adopting memorandum of understanding by and between the Lake County Employees Association, Unit 3, and the County of Lake for Jan. 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2018; and (b) Consideration of resolution adopting memorandum of understanding by and between the Lake County Employees Association, Unit 5, and the County of Lake for Jan. 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2018.

9.4: Consideration of option and lease agreement with verizon wireless to develop a communications site.

9.5: (a) Consideration of an Ordinance Adding Article VII to Chapter 18 of the Lake County Code imposing a general transactions and use tax establishing a general tax of one and one-half percent in the unincorporated area of the county of Lake; (b) consideration of a tax measure, a transactions and use local revenue measure, for the June 5, 2018 General Election; and (c) consideration of a resolution placing the tax ordinance and the ballot measure statement on the June 5, 2018 Election.

9.6: Consideration of agreement for oak mitigation services for the Cole Creek at Soda Bay Road Bridge Replacement (14C-0127) and the Highland Creek at Highland Springs Road Bridge Replacement (14C-0125) projects with Hanford ARC in the amount not to exceed $342,446.97; and authorize the Chair to sign.

CLOSED SESSION

10.1: Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(4): County of Lake v. Martin Scheel, et al.

10.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation Pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Shikman v. County of Lake, et al.

10.3: Public employee evaluations: Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley, Agricultural Commissioner Steve Hajik.

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. – Clearlake Animal Control has several big dogs that continue to wait for their forever homes.

The available dogs are Buttercup, Hutch, Jessie, Magnolia, Oliver, Robbie and Raider.

To meet the animals, call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8201 and speak to Marcia at Extension 103 or call Extension 118, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or leave a message at any other time.

Below are this week's available pets.

‘Buttercup’

“Buttercup” is a female Chihuahua-terrier mix who is estimated to be between 6 and 8 months old.

Shelter staff said she weighs about 20 pounds, is good with other dogs and with children.

She is shy but warms up quickly, and has young pup manners.

‘Hutch’

Hutch is a calm shepherd mix estimated to be between 1 and 2 years old, with a short brown coat and weighing 55 pounds.

Shelter staff said he appears to be good with other dogs, and is attentive.

He walks great on leash but also likes to just chill on his bed.

‘Jessie’

“Jessie” is a small female shepherd mix, weighing about 20 pounds and estimated to be 4 months old.

She has a short tan coat with black and white markings.

Shelter staff said she is good with other dogs and with children.

Jessie is very spunky and on the go, and loves to play chase and zoom around. Staff said she is quickly learning to walk nicely on leash.

‘Magnolia’

“Magnolia” has a short brown and white coat.

Shelter staff said she loves walks and commands you rub her belly. She wiggles over then flops over for the rubs.

She came in as a stray and is already spayed. Staff estimated she is around 2 years old and weighs about 60 pounds.

Magnolia is very social and friendly. She is fine with other dogs, and walks well on leash.

‘Oliver’

Oliver is a very handsome 9-month-old male mixed breed who weighs about 90 pounds and has a short black and white coat.

Shelter staff said he is good with children, treat motivated and eager to please. He’s also a quick learner.

‘Robbie’

“Robbie” is a young and happy-go-lucky mix – possibly Labrador Retriever and Rottweiler.

Shelter staff said is he around a year and a half old and weighs 50 pounds.

He walks well on a leash, makes friends with other dogs, and is playful but not super active.

Robbie is vaccinated and will be neutered prior to adoption.

‘Raider’

“Raider” is a male fun-sized terrier mix who loves to cuddle.

He is about a year old, weighs 12 pounds, has been neutered and has a short brindle coat.

Shelter staff said he’s good with other dogs, is timid at first but warms up quickly.

He was picked up from a red-tagged home and is ready for a new life with a family of his own.

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. – As part of its continuing mission of fire relief and community safety, the Lake Area Rotary Club Association has made another substantial donation to the Lake County Fire Chief’s Association for a communications project.

On Tuesday Dirk Slooten and Russ Cremer, representing the association – also known as LARCA – presented a check for $14,350 to Lake County Fire Protection District Chief Willie Sapeta.

Sapeta said the funds are to be used for an additional repeater rebuild for the communications site on Siegler Mountain.

The project, he said, is part of the local fire agencies’ dispatch transition from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Central Dispatch to Cal Fire, which is expected to take place March 1.

The donation for the Siegler site is the latest in a series of contributions LARCA has made to the chiefs association.

After the Valley fire, LARCA gave $17,600 for additional fire line EMT-paramedic supplies, which are 40-pound packs used to minister to firefighters injured on incidents. Sapeta said the packs include heart monitors, medications and fluids.

Then, after the Clayton fire, LARCA provided nearly $16,000 to purchase two Polar Breeze Firefighter/Responder Rehabilitation Units, Sapeta said.

One unit is in service in the Northshore Fire Support Unit and the other is in the Southlake County Fire Support Unit, Sapeta said.

The bright red little machines on wheels help quickly rehabilitate firefighters who may be suffering from heat-related injury.

They pump cool air through a hood or into the firefighters’ turnouts. When using the hood, the cool air is breathed in and quickly cools down the bloodstream and the rest of the body to prevent thermal stress illness, according to the company’s Web site.

Sapeta said the Polar Breeze units have been deployed several times since they were first placed in service.

LARCA’s latest donation for the Siegler Mountain project brings its total contributions to Lake County’s emergency responder agencies to approximately $62,359.73, according to Cremer and Slooten.

In addition to the fireline paramedic supplies and the Polar Breeze units, the contributions include $1,181 for a GIS mapping project; $5,500 for an additional repeater tone radio on Seigler Mountain; and $8,000 for a three-year subscription to the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.

“They have been very good to us,” Sapeta said.

LARCA has so far raised nearly $1 million for fire relief in Lake County, and Cremer said they have gained the respect of donors for the fact that they have no overhead – all dollars donated go to important local causes.

Slooten added that they’ve received donations from Rotary Clubs across the United States and even some from other counties, including Japan.

Cremer said LARCA had planned to shut down its fire relief efforts in September, then the Sulphur fire hit the following month.

He said they’ve since decided to keep the effort active, and after the check presentation to Sapeta were on the way to pick up another donation.

LARCA is part of the Rotary 5130 Fire Relief Fund, which covers four counties – Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma, Cremer said.

Cremer said those four counties have together raised $1,650,000 and are now responding to the much larger needs emerging in the wake of the October wildland fires that devastated the North Bay.

Donations can be made through the LARCA Web site at https://www.larca5130.org/ or mailed to Rotary District 5130 Fire Relief Fund, P.O. Box 2921, Clearlake, CA 95422. 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 Associated Students of Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College are proud to present this year’s Black History Month event.

The event, which is free to the entire community, will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 27, starting at 11:30 a.m. in room 209.

The campus is located at 15880 Dam Road Extension in Clearlake.

This year’s event will feature four powerful speakers, an art contest, music and Southern-style food.

The speakers will present from noon to 1 p.m.

The first two speakers are student alumni of Lake County Campus Randall Cole and Jermaine Gregoire.

Cole is now working as a counselor for Lake County Behavioral Health and Gregoire is transferring to a four-year university to continue his education in accounting.

Two community members will also be speaking. Aqeela El-Amin was president of the NAACP Chapter of Lake County and is still active in the community and can be heard often times on KPFZ’s Women’s Voices.

Clovice Lewis is an experienced and distinguished speaker as well as a musician in the Lake County Symphony and a successful businessman.

If you bring an appetite, you’ll have the chance to purchase Aromas Café’s Southern Soul Food meal for $8 between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. This is their favorite event to cater and they are excited to be a part of it once again.

Between 11:30 a.m. and noon Clovice Lewis will be playing his favorite classical music pieces.

Uplifting speeches and authentic southern food mixed with beautiful music all at your local Lake County Campus. Enjoy the atmosphere while surrounded by the theme of My Black History.

For more information, call 707-995-7900.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Forecasters are predicting that storms approaching Northern California this week could bring more rain and low-elevation snow.

The National Weather Service’s Sacramento office said it is tracking two winter storms expected to impact Northern California in the coming days.

The agency said the first will bring low-elevation snow on Monday, similar to the storm system that brought snow to lower elevations last week.

A second storm system could bring multiple feet of snow to higher elevations including the Sierra Nevada – where most of the state’s snowpack is located – later in the week, based on the forecast.

While parts of Lake County saw some snow this past week, snow is only in the forecast for the higher elevations north of Upper Lake on Sunday night and Monday, and from Thursday night through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

In Lake County’s lower elevations, rain is predicted on Sunday night, with slight chances of showers on Monday and again from mid-week into the weekend, the forecast said.

Over the coming week, daytime highs are expected to top out in the low 50s, while nighttime temperatures are forecast to drop into the low 30s.

Winds with gusts into the 20s also are forecast for Sunday night, with more winds in the mid-teens are expected on Monday night, the agency reported.

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 five dogs that are prepared to meet their new families this week.

The dogs offered adoption this week include mixes of golden retriever and pit bull.

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”).

‘Rocky’

“Rocky” is a male pit bull with a short gray and white coat.

He’s in kennel No. 18, ID No. 9470.

Male golden retriever

This adult male golden retriever has a medium-length golden coat.

He already has been neutered.

He’s in quarantine kennel No. 19, ID No. 9302.

‘Baby’

“Baby” is a female pit bull terrier with a short fawn coat.

She already has been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. 23, ID No. 9501.

Female pit bull

This young female pit bull has a short blue and fawn coat.

She is in kennel No. 26, ID No. 9465.

Male pit bull

This male pit bull has a short blue and white coat.

Shelter staff said he is super sweet and bubbly.

He’s in kennel No. 27, ID No. 9480.

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.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm.

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.