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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to approve a request from the state to donate protective equipment to help the people of Ukraine.
Sheriff Brian Martin took the request from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and Homeland Security’s request to the board as an extra item on Tuesday morning.
Martin’s report to the board included a letter to all California sheriffs, police chiefs and law enforcement executives from Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci and Donald O’Keefe, chief of the Cal OES law enforcement branch.
In the letter, Ghilarducci and O’Keefe explained that the state has been closely monitoring the ongoing situation in Ukraine and has been in constant contact with the Ukrainian Consulate in San Francisco.
The state also is working closely with the philanthropic community and nongovernmental organizations “on organizing and providing humanitarian assistance and commodities for individuals and families remaining in Ukraine and for refugees fleeing Ukraine into surrounding countries,” they reported.
The letter said the Ukrainian Consulate has specifically requested from the state the donation of ballistic helmets and vests, and other tactical safety equipment such as goggles and gloves.
“The intent of the Ukrainian Government is to provide this equipment to individuals simply as an additional layer of safety,” said Ghilarducci and O’Keefe.
They said this effort and other humanitarian assistance from California is being coordinated and facilitated by Cal OES and the California National Guard.
Supervisor Tina Scott said people are dying and so moved to add it to the agenda.
Supervisor Bruno Sabatier, who had concerns that the item didn’t meet the requirements of an extra item, voted no, and with Supervisor Moke Simon absent, the motion initially failed, as four votes were needed to add the extra item.
County Counsel Anita Grant asked Martin about the urgency of the item and whether Cal OES was asking for buy-in in order to arrange a shipment of the items, and he said yes. Martin also stated there were more than 400 dead and more than 1.5 million people evacuated.
“The nature of it speaks to the urgency of it,” said Martin.
The board went on to reconsider adding the request to the agenda, which passed unanimously, and then approved adding the item to the agenda, with Sabatier changing his vote to pass the motion.
Scott then moved to approve the surplus of the equipment as requested by Cal OES, which the board approved 4-0.
It was not reported on Tuesday how much surplus equipment from Lake County will be donated to help the people of Ukraine.
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.
Sheriff Brian Martin took the request from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and Homeland Security’s request to the board as an extra item on Tuesday morning.
Martin’s report to the board included a letter to all California sheriffs, police chiefs and law enforcement executives from Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci and Donald O’Keefe, chief of the Cal OES law enforcement branch.
In the letter, Ghilarducci and O’Keefe explained that the state has been closely monitoring the ongoing situation in Ukraine and has been in constant contact with the Ukrainian Consulate in San Francisco.
The state also is working closely with the philanthropic community and nongovernmental organizations “on organizing and providing humanitarian assistance and commodities for individuals and families remaining in Ukraine and for refugees fleeing Ukraine into surrounding countries,” they reported.
The letter said the Ukrainian Consulate has specifically requested from the state the donation of ballistic helmets and vests, and other tactical safety equipment such as goggles and gloves.
“The intent of the Ukrainian Government is to provide this equipment to individuals simply as an additional layer of safety,” said Ghilarducci and O’Keefe.
They said this effort and other humanitarian assistance from California is being coordinated and facilitated by Cal OES and the California National Guard.
Supervisor Tina Scott said people are dying and so moved to add it to the agenda.
Supervisor Bruno Sabatier, who had concerns that the item didn’t meet the requirements of an extra item, voted no, and with Supervisor Moke Simon absent, the motion initially failed, as four votes were needed to add the extra item.
County Counsel Anita Grant asked Martin about the urgency of the item and whether Cal OES was asking for buy-in in order to arrange a shipment of the items, and he said yes. Martin also stated there were more than 400 dead and more than 1.5 million people evacuated.
“The nature of it speaks to the urgency of it,” said Martin.
The board went on to reconsider adding the request to the agenda, which passed unanimously, and then approved adding the item to the agenda, with Sabatier changing his vote to pass the motion.
Scott then moved to approve the surplus of the equipment as requested by Cal OES, which the board approved 4-0.
It was not reported on Tuesday how much surplus equipment from Lake County will be donated to help the people of Ukraine.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Lake County resident said he is joining the race for the State Senate seat in District 2.
Former internet executive Gene Yoon has officially filed his candidacy for State Senate District 2, known as the North Coast district, which Yoon calls “the most American district in the United States.”
He will challenge Sen. Mike McGuire, who was elected in 2014 and named Senate majority leader in January.
“We have everything in this district," Yoon said. “We have a population of over a million people, and an area larger than the state of Maryland. We have more land than nine different states, and more people than six states. We have rural and suburban, agricultural and tech, rich and poor, families from the Mayflower, tribes with a thousand years on this land, and people who just immigrated here yesterday. We have serious issues with water, wildfire and our power grid. We have crime and homelessness and inflation and failing schools. And all of this is on some of the most beautiful landscape in all of the world. No other state district in America includes so much of our country's promise and problems.”
After growing up in New Jersey and working in high finance in New York, Yoon said he became disillusioned with Wall Street games. He moved to California in 1999 to help build the future.
Over a 20 year career in internet technology and business, he said he helped bring WiFi to millions of offices at Airespace, created the business model for the metaverse Second Life, and protected billions of users as the product head of ads integrity at Google.
At the same time, he raised three children, all born in California. With one in middle school, one in college, and one just graduating from college this year, Yoon said he knows firsthand the full cycle of challenges for parents in this state.
"Gene has seen it all," says Second Life founder Philip Rosedale, who also lives in the district. "He can tackle any problem, and he does it with real integrity, ferocious resolve, and a great sense of style that is just plain fun to work with. I would trust him with the hardest job in any company, and would be thrilled to see him represent my family in our state legislature.”
Yoon lives in Lake County, the center of a district that also includes Marin, Sonoma, Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity, and Del Norte. Besides running for office, his other professional effort is in community interest law, where he puts his skills to use on behalf of the community.
"Cobb Mountain reminds me of the small town where I grew up, even though it's across the country and might look different to some people. Because of the recent wildfires, people here understand that we're all in it together. Whatever differences we have, they're unimportant compared to the fact that we all want to see our community succeed,” Yoon said.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Planning Commission will meet this week to hold public hearings on four projects.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 10, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The agenda is here.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The webinar ID is 932 8581 7317, the pass code is 473355.
Access the meeting via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,93285817317#,,,,*473355# or dial in at 669-900-6833.
The meeting also can be viewed on the county’s website or Facebook page.
On the agenda at 9 a.m. is a public hearing for a major use permit and addendum for a mitigated negative declaration sought by Mike Mitzel and Jed Morris for a property at 9475 Bottle Rock Road, Kelseyville.
They are asking to expand the existing use to legitimize an 8100 square foot building that was built without land use approval or building permits by a prior property owner, according to the county staff report. The building, which was meant to be used for cannabis drying, was red-tagged by the county in May 2020.
The staff report explains that the Planning Commission continued this item from Jan. 27 to this week’s meeting to allow time to explore if the building could be allowed under current codes.
The commission will need to decide whether to allow the building, which doesn’t comply with height and size requirements,
Staff is recommending the commission not adopt the mitigated negative declaration and deny the requested modification.
The commission also will hold hearings on cannabis projects proposed by Walnut Ranch/Omar Malfavon at 12182 White Rock Canyon Road and 12206 Elk Mountain Road in Upper Lake; Red Hills, RHRP1/Crystal Keesey located at 8210, 8300 and 8500 State Highway 175, Kelseyville; and High Valley Oaks, LLC/Kim Gardner and Cody William Leck, located at 9850 High Valley Road, Clear Lake Oaks; and further described as APN: 006-004-19.
The full agenda follows.
AGENDA
9 a.m.: Continued from Jan. 27, public hearing on consideration of amendment (MMU 20-11) to Major Use Permit (UP 18-25) and an addendum to Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS 18-110), to grant the expansion of the existing use to legitimize an 8100 square foot building that was built without land use approval or building permits, and is associated with the previously approved Major Use Permit (UP 18-25). The applicant is KLS-RBS LLC/ Mike Mitzel and Jed Morris and the project is located at 9475 Bottle Rock Road, Kelseyville; and further described as APN 011-004-60.
9:05 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of a Major Use Permit (UP 20-24) and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS 20-27). The project applicant: Walnut Ranch/Omar Malfavon is proposing one A-Type 3B Medium Mixed-light Commercial Cannabis License, three A-Type 1C Specialty Cottage Licenses, and a "Type 13 Self Distribution" License that would allow legal transportation of cannabis to and from the site.
9:10 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of Major Use Permit (UP 20-81) and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS 20-97). The applicant: Red Hills, RHRP1/ Crystal Keesey, is proposing 25 A-Type 3 Medium Outdoor Commercial Cannabis Cultivation Licenses consisting of 35 acres of cultivation area and 25 acres of canopy area, and one A-Type 13 ‘Self Distribution’ license. Also proposed are two 120 square foot. sheds; one 64 square foot cannabis waste storage and compost area; one 312 square foot portable office building; one 312 sq. ft. portable building for use as an employee break room; three 60,000 gallon water storage tanks; portable restrooms, and a 6’ tall security and privacy fence.
9:15 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of Major Use Permit (UP 20-21) and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS 20-24). The applicant: High Valley Oaks, LLC/Kim Gardner and Cody William Leck is proposing four A-Type 3: “Outdoor” licenses: Outdoor cultivation for adult use cannabis without the use of light deprivation and/or artificial lighting in the canopy area at any point in time from 10,001 square feet to one acre, inclusive, of total canopy size on one premises; and a Type 13 “Distributor Transport Only, Self-Transport Distribution” license. The project is located at 9850 High Valley Road, Clear Lake Oaks; and further described as APN: 006-004-19.
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 meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 10, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The agenda is here.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The webinar ID is 932 8581 7317, the pass code is 473355.
Access the meeting via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,93285817317#,,,,*473355# or dial in at 669-900-6833.
The meeting also can be viewed on the county’s website or Facebook page.
On the agenda at 9 a.m. is a public hearing for a major use permit and addendum for a mitigated negative declaration sought by Mike Mitzel and Jed Morris for a property at 9475 Bottle Rock Road, Kelseyville.
They are asking to expand the existing use to legitimize an 8100 square foot building that was built without land use approval or building permits by a prior property owner, according to the county staff report. The building, which was meant to be used for cannabis drying, was red-tagged by the county in May 2020.
The staff report explains that the Planning Commission continued this item from Jan. 27 to this week’s meeting to allow time to explore if the building could be allowed under current codes.
The commission will need to decide whether to allow the building, which doesn’t comply with height and size requirements,
Staff is recommending the commission not adopt the mitigated negative declaration and deny the requested modification.
The commission also will hold hearings on cannabis projects proposed by Walnut Ranch/Omar Malfavon at 12182 White Rock Canyon Road and 12206 Elk Mountain Road in Upper Lake; Red Hills, RHRP1/Crystal Keesey located at 8210, 8300 and 8500 State Highway 175, Kelseyville; and High Valley Oaks, LLC/Kim Gardner and Cody William Leck, located at 9850 High Valley Road, Clear Lake Oaks; and further described as APN: 006-004-19.
The full agenda follows.
AGENDA
9 a.m.: Continued from Jan. 27, public hearing on consideration of amendment (MMU 20-11) to Major Use Permit (UP 18-25) and an addendum to Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS 18-110), to grant the expansion of the existing use to legitimize an 8100 square foot building that was built without land use approval or building permits, and is associated with the previously approved Major Use Permit (UP 18-25). The applicant is KLS-RBS LLC/ Mike Mitzel and Jed Morris and the project is located at 9475 Bottle Rock Road, Kelseyville; and further described as APN 011-004-60.
9:05 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of a Major Use Permit (UP 20-24) and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS 20-27). The project applicant: Walnut Ranch/Omar Malfavon is proposing one A-Type 3B Medium Mixed-light Commercial Cannabis License, three A-Type 1C Specialty Cottage Licenses, and a "Type 13 Self Distribution" License that would allow legal transportation of cannabis to and from the site.
9:10 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of Major Use Permit (UP 20-81) and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS 20-97). The applicant: Red Hills, RHRP1/ Crystal Keesey, is proposing 25 A-Type 3 Medium Outdoor Commercial Cannabis Cultivation Licenses consisting of 35 acres of cultivation area and 25 acres of canopy area, and one A-Type 13 ‘Self Distribution’ license. Also proposed are two 120 square foot. sheds; one 64 square foot cannabis waste storage and compost area; one 312 square foot portable office building; one 312 sq. ft. portable building for use as an employee break room; three 60,000 gallon water storage tanks; portable restrooms, and a 6’ tall security and privacy fence.
9:15 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of Major Use Permit (UP 20-21) and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS 20-24). The applicant: High Valley Oaks, LLC/Kim Gardner and Cody William Leck is proposing four A-Type 3: “Outdoor” licenses: Outdoor cultivation for adult use cannabis without the use of light deprivation and/or artificial lighting in the canopy area at any point in time from 10,001 square feet to one acre, inclusive, of total canopy size on one premises; and a Type 13 “Distributor Transport Only, Self-Transport Distribution” license. The project is located at 9850 High Valley Road, Clear Lake Oaks; and further described as APN: 006-004-19.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The National Weather Service said Lake County can expect cold morning temperatures, high winds and the potential for rain in the coming days thanks to an incoming weather system.
Forecasters said cold morning temperatures are likely on Wednesday and Thursday. In Lake County, temperatures are expected to drop into the low 30s on Wednesday night, rising into the low 40s through early next week.
Daytime temperatures through Tuesday will range from the high 50s to high 60s, the forecast said.
A cold, dense air mass is expected to spread across the region, bringing winds with gusts of up to 50 miles per hour over ridgetops in Lake and Mendocino counties on Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.
The critically dry air mass moving over the area, coupled with relative humidity values falling into the teens and single digits, could lead to elevated fire weather conditions on Thursday afternoon as a result, the forecast said.
Forecasters said the winds are expected to taper off on Friday.
The regional forecast includes chances of much-needed rain, noting that “widespread beneficial rain becoming” is increasingly probable Saturday through early next week.
In Lake County, the specific forecast indicates the potential for rain from Saturday through Tuesday.
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.
Forecasters said cold morning temperatures are likely on Wednesday and Thursday. In Lake County, temperatures are expected to drop into the low 30s on Wednesday night, rising into the low 40s through early next week.
Daytime temperatures through Tuesday will range from the high 50s to high 60s, the forecast said.
A cold, dense air mass is expected to spread across the region, bringing winds with gusts of up to 50 miles per hour over ridgetops in Lake and Mendocino counties on Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.
The critically dry air mass moving over the area, coupled with relative humidity values falling into the teens and single digits, could lead to elevated fire weather conditions on Thursday afternoon as a result, the forecast said.
Forecasters said the winds are expected to taper off on Friday.
The regional forecast includes chances of much-needed rain, noting that “widespread beneficial rain becoming” is increasingly probable Saturday through early next week.
In Lake County, the specific forecast indicates the potential for rain from Saturday through Tuesday.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A virtual town hall this week will discuss tree mortality concerns and fire prevention efforts across Lake County.
The event will take place beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, via Zoom.
The meeting ID is 955 1024 4148, pass code is 895673. It also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,95510244148#,,,,*895673# US.
From any mobile or landline phone, you may also dial 1-669-900-6833, and enter the Meeting ID and Passcode above, when prompted. To contribute to this meeting from a phone, press *9 to raise your hand, and *6 to unmute, once you are recognized to speak.
The meeting is presented by the Lake County Community Risk Reduction Authority, a collaboration of county and city governments, tribal nations, fire protection districts, water purveyors and other partners.
Many people visit and relocate to Lake County because of the wild beauty and drama of our landscapes.
In recent years, wildfire, drought and bark beetles have ravaged local forests, bringing climate-informed risks to communities more quickly and frequently than had been projected.
Taking action in response to tree mortality has become an urgent and critical priority throughout Lake County.
What are the root causes of this crisis? What is already being done to reduce risk of further wildfire and tree death? What strategies and steps are needed to make sustainable progress?
Scheduled presenters include:
· District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon and District 5 Supervisor Jessica Pyska, who will offer the introduction;
· Michael I. Jones, PhD, University of California Cooperative Extension forest advisor, who will give a tree mortality overview;
· Melinda Rivera, local government affairs representative for Pacific Gas & Electric Co., and Peyton May, the company’s vegetation program manager, will discuss current PG&E projects;
· Paul Duncan, Cal Fire North Division operations chief, will speak on early fire season and community wildfire resilience projects;
· Korinn Woodard, US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service District conservationist, will present resources for large property owners;
· Will Evans, executive director of the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center, will provide an update on ongoing projects; and
· Lindsay Dailey, program director for the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance, will give a summary of that group’s projects.
“In our Board’s Vision 2028 Priorities Statement, we committed to ‘Developing and maintaining a high standard of Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Recovery, in collaboration with community stakeholders,’” said Pyska. “We must be responsible stewards of our local environment and ecosystems, and take preventive action where we can.”
“Every Lake County resident can take steps to make our communities safer, and provide a healthier environment for the next seven generations,” said Simon. “It starts with educating ourselves, and this town hall is a great place to learn and get your questions answered.”
The event will take place beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, via Zoom.
The meeting ID is 955 1024 4148, pass code is 895673. It also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,95510244148#,,,,*895673# US.
From any mobile or landline phone, you may also dial 1-669-900-6833, and enter the Meeting ID and Passcode above, when prompted. To contribute to this meeting from a phone, press *9 to raise your hand, and *6 to unmute, once you are recognized to speak.
The meeting is presented by the Lake County Community Risk Reduction Authority, a collaboration of county and city governments, tribal nations, fire protection districts, water purveyors and other partners.
Many people visit and relocate to Lake County because of the wild beauty and drama of our landscapes.
In recent years, wildfire, drought and bark beetles have ravaged local forests, bringing climate-informed risks to communities more quickly and frequently than had been projected.
Taking action in response to tree mortality has become an urgent and critical priority throughout Lake County.
What are the root causes of this crisis? What is already being done to reduce risk of further wildfire and tree death? What strategies and steps are needed to make sustainable progress?
Scheduled presenters include:
· District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon and District 5 Supervisor Jessica Pyska, who will offer the introduction;
· Michael I. Jones, PhD, University of California Cooperative Extension forest advisor, who will give a tree mortality overview;
· Melinda Rivera, local government affairs representative for Pacific Gas & Electric Co., and Peyton May, the company’s vegetation program manager, will discuss current PG&E projects;
· Paul Duncan, Cal Fire North Division operations chief, will speak on early fire season and community wildfire resilience projects;
· Korinn Woodard, US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service District conservationist, will present resources for large property owners;
· Will Evans, executive director of the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center, will provide an update on ongoing projects; and
· Lindsay Dailey, program director for the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance, will give a summary of that group’s projects.
“In our Board’s Vision 2028 Priorities Statement, we committed to ‘Developing and maintaining a high standard of Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Recovery, in collaboration with community stakeholders,’” said Pyska. “We must be responsible stewards of our local environment and ecosystems, and take preventive action where we can.”
“Every Lake County resident can take steps to make our communities safer, and provide a healthier environment for the next seven generations,” said Simon. “It starts with educating ourselves, and this town hall is a great place to learn and get your questions answered.”
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — The Middletown Area Town Hall will meet this week to discuss area projects and hold an election.
MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 10, via Zoom. The meeting is open to the public.
To join the Zoom meeting click on this link; the meeting ID is 659 964 1209. Call in at 669-900-6833.
At 7:05 p.m., MATH will get an update on area projects, including the We Grow cannabis project and the North Bay Forest Improvement Program.
The group also will hold a special election at 7:30 p.m.
Other agenda items include board reports, a discussion on returning to in-person meetings and an update from Supervisors Moke Simon.
The MATH Board includes Chair Monica Rosenthal, Vice Chair Rosemary Córdova, Secretary Todd Fiora, Ken Gonzales and Lisa Kaplan.
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.
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, March 10, via Zoom. The meeting is open to the public.
To join the Zoom meeting click on this link; the meeting ID is 659 964 1209. Call in at 669-900-6833.
At 7:05 p.m., MATH will get an update on area projects, including the We Grow cannabis project and the North Bay Forest Improvement Program.
The group also will hold a special election at 7:30 p.m.
Other agenda items include board reports, a discussion on returning to in-person meetings and an update from Supervisors Moke Simon.
The MATH Board includes Chair Monica Rosenthal, Vice Chair Rosemary Córdova, Secretary Todd Fiora, Ken Gonzales and Lisa Kaplan.
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.
For more information email
Email Elizabeth Larson at