LAKE COUNTY, Calif — As two major departments grapple with budget shortfalls and reimbursement delays, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will revisit the Community Development Department’s $390,000 loan repayment plan, review Behavioral Health’s “fiscal recovery plan,” and consider expanding staff authority over bidding exemptions in the county’s purchasing ordinance.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, 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, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 865 3354 4962, pass code 726865. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,86533544962#,,,,*726865#. The meeting can also be accessed via phone at 669 900 6833.
Returning to the board is a discussion on the Community Development Department, or CDD’s budget deficit and plan to repay a $390,000 county loan approved in November, along with the financial oversight measures imposed on the department.
This appears to be an untimed item.
On Nov. 18 — less than two months after the board adopted a “balanced” final budget for the new fiscal year — the CDD reported a budget deficit in its Building Division and requested a $390,000 loan from the county to pay employee salaries for the next three months.
Supervisors approved the loan, although they said they did not believe the department would be able to repay it by the end of the fiscal year as promised.
According to figures presented in the November meeting, the division had generated $571,565 in permitting revenue — 65% of its projected year-to-date revenue — leaving it short of covering $658,425 in expenses, most of which are salaries.
“Although the original 2025–26 budget projected moderate increases, the division has generated only 28% of expected revenue to date,” staff wrote for Tuesday’s meeting — a percentage that appears inconsistent with the November figures and is unclearly worded in the memo.
The memo called the decline “particularly impactful,” noting that staffing accounts for 64% of the division’s budget, “greatly limiting the division’s ability to reduce expenditure without affecting service delivery.”
In June, the board approved more than $5 million in raises for nine county employee groups.
The department is currently implementing a spending and hiring freeze. Proposed oversight measures require all of its purchasing documents to be routed through the County Administrative Office for review and approval, according to the memo.
At 10:30 a.m., the board will consider an update on Behavioral Health Services’ “fiscal recovery plan” that the department has implemented over the past months on managing expenses.
The staff memo said that the department has taken steps to stabilize its finances following the “cash flow challenges” created by delayed state reimbursements and front-loaded cost structure of the Medi-Cal intergovernmental transfer process.
On Jun. 17, the board approved authorizing a $2 million loan to Behavioral Health requiring repayment within 90 days — a deadline the department ultimately missed. On Sep. 16, the board approved a 180-day extension for their repayment.
At 11:35 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing on the County Administrative Officer’s request to amend the county’s “purchasing ordinance” which governs bidding and purchasing process for public projects.
Key changes proposed include allowing staff to approve bidding exemptions for contracts up to $100,000 and removing the Board of Supervisors from decisions to exempt projects from competitive bidding when it is deemed not in the public interest.
The staff memo said these changes will improve “efficiency and clarify purchasing for further transparency.”
At 1:30 p.m., the board will hear an appeal challenging the Planning Commission’s May approval of a major use permit for a commercial cannabis cultivation project at 10535 High Valley Road.
The appellant raised concerns specific to legal violations, procedural eros and public safety concerts, according to the staff memo.
Staff determined that they did not identify inconsistencies between the project and the county code and recommended the board to deny the appeal and uphold the Planning Commission's decision.
In untimed items, the board will consider executing program funding for the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program Round 1 grant, which includes a county match of $1,212,019.80 in Opioid Settlement Funds.
The grant will fund predevelopment and startup of the Lake Behavioral Health Center, including a Mental Health Rehabilitation Center and an outpatient behavioral health and substance use clinic.
The board will also consider authorizing Behavioral Health Director Elise Jones to serve as the county’s legal authorized representative and signer for the program.
In the untimed item, the board will also consider increasing the approved purchase amount for 11 generators for Special Districts, after grant-related delays caused costs to rise from $560,000 to $625,000.
The project is funded through a federal hazard mitigation grant program award covering 75% of costs, with a 25% local match.
The full agenda follows
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1, Approve travel exceeding 1,500 miles to Washington DC and associated costs for Katherine VanDerWall to attend the California Agricultural Commissioner and Sealers Association’s DC Delegation Trip from March 23–27, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $5,300.
5.2, Approve Amendment No.1 to the Agreement Between the County of Lake and Kno’Qoti Native Wellness, Inc. for Fiscal Years 2025-2030, authorizing a one-time advance payment of up to $65,000 for the purchase of an approved program vehicle, and authorize the Board Chair to sign.
5.3, Approve the First Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Lake County Department of Social Services and Lake County Behavioral Health Services for the shared provision of Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Conservatorship Services.
5.4, Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes June 24, 2025, June 25, 2025, October 28, 2025, November 4, 2025, and November 18, 2025.
5.5, (Second reading) Adopt ordinance amending Chapter 21, Articles 11 and 12 of the Lake County Zoning Code to implement General Plan Sixth Cycle Housing Element Policy HE-58 pertaining to affordable housing.
5.6, Approve request to close the Community Development Department to the public on Thursday, December 18, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. for all-staff training.
5.7, Adopt resolution approving County of Lake Health Services to apply for funding in the amount of $465,591 through the California Department of Public Health for fiscal years 2025–2026 and authorize the director of Health Services to sign said application.
5.8, Adopt resolution amending Resolution 2025-119 establishing position allocations for FY 2025-2026 to conform to the adopted budget and approve a salary grade adjustment based on inappropriate relationship between supervisory and classification level staff.
5.9, Approve a multi-year agreement with Peterson Tractor Company for the servicing and repairs of County-owned heavy equipment at the Eastlake Landfill for an annual amount not to exceed $300,000, and authorize the Chair to sign.
5.10, Approve award of bid for Kelseyville Sidewalks Project, Bid No. 251335, Federal Aid Project No. HIPL-5914(133), with Zara Construction Inc., of Sacramento, CA, in the amount of $757,163.00.
5.11, (a) Adopt “Resolution Accepting Official Canvass of the Statewide Special Election held on November 4, 2025”; and (b) Accept the certification of the official canvass results prepared by the Registrar of Voters.
5.12, Accept the Easement Modification Agreement for the overhead utilities from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company and authorize the Clerk of the Board to record a certificate of acceptance.
5.13, Approve request to close the Lake County Special District Department on December 19, 2025, for an all-staff training.
5.14, (Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors) Adopt resolution approving the acceptance of general fund grants for the evaluation of aquifer conditions in Scotts Valley.
5.15, (Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors) Adopt resolutions approving the acceptance of general fund grant funds for: Lake County Storm Water Infrastructure and Program Improvement Project; Clear Lake Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring, Prediction, and Control System; Clear Lake Management Plan Development; Limnological Sampling of Clear Lake; Enhancing Implementation of a Natural Shoreline Stewards Program; and Dredging Boating Ways and Stream Mouths of Clear Lake.
5.16, (Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors) Adopt resolution approving the acceptance of general fund grant funds for improving restoration efforts at Clear Lake with in-lake management of phosphorus.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:02 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:03 a.m.: Pet of the week.
6.3, 9:04 a.m.: New and noteworthy at the library.
6.4, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of presentation of the 2024 Crop and Livestock Report.
6.5, 9:15 a.m.: Public hearing—Consideration of an ordinance amending Section 56.3 of Chapter 14 (Personnel) of the Lake County Code to establish a County Counsel Attorneys Unit and add attorney positions to the District Attorney Unit to reflect changes in membership.
6.6, 9:45 a.m.: (Second reading) Consideration of ordinance amending Article VI of Chapter 18 of the Lake County Code to include enforcement measures and associated due process requirements for cannabis cultivation-related taxes.
6.7, 10:30 a.m.: Consideration of Lake County Behavioral Health Services Fiscal Recovery Plan: status update and board endorsement of ongoing implementation.
6.8, 11:30 a.m.: Public hearing—Consideration of a resolution amending the Master Fee Schedule for departmental services rendered by the County.
6.9, 11:35 a.m.: Public hearing—Consideration of an ordinance amending the Purchasing Ordinance: Article X of Chapter Two of the Lake County Code to clarify powers and duties, additional exemptions from competitive bidding, and include increased purchasing limits for public projects.
6.10, 1:30 p.m.: Public hearing—(Continued from October 21, 2025) Consideration of Appeal (PL-25-198) of Planning Commission’s approval of Major Use Permit (PL-25-68) for (UP 23-09), Poverty Flats Ranch / Kurt and Robert Barthel; location: 10535 High Valley Road, Clearlake Oaks (APN: 006-004-22); Appellant: Maria Kann and Associates.
NON-TIMED ITEMS
7.1, Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
7.2, Consideration of three-year repayment plan for agencies impacted by tax-defaulted land sales.
7.3, Consideration to adopt resolution authorizing execution of program funding agreement and participation in the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 1—Launch Ready Program.
7.4, Consideration of the following advisory board appointment: Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health Board.
7.5, Consideration of Community Development Department repayment plan and proposed oversight strategies.
7.6, Consideration of direction to staff on the water connection standby status.
7.7, Consideration of (a) authorization for Special Districts Administrator/Assistant Purchasing Agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $625,000 to Energy Systems (Generac Industrial Power) and (b) Special Districts staff effectively applied federal procurement standards for the purchase of 11 standalone appropriately sized generators ranging from 30Kw to 150Kw capacity.
7.8, Consideration of resolution authorizing the Chair of the Board to approve and direct the Tax Collector to sell, at public auction via internet, tax-defaulted property which is subject to the power to sell in accordance with Chapter 7 of Part 6 of Division 1 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code and approving sales below minimum price in specified cases.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1, Public employee discipline/dismissal/release.
8.2, Conference with legal counsel: significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1)—one potential case.
8.3, Sitting as Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors: Conference with legal counsel: decision whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(4)—one potential case.
8.4, Conference with legal counsel: decision whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(4)—one potential case.
Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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