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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Memorial Day is the traditional start to the summer travel season, and this weekend California’s roadways will likely be bustling with activity.
To help ensure the safety of motorists throughout the holiday, the California Highway Patrol will conduct a maximum enforcement period, or MEP.
The Memorial Day MEP will run from 6 p.m. Friday, May 28, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 31, and focus on properly using seat belts.
During the MEP, all available CHP officers will be out enforcing traffic safety laws throughout the state.
Officer Joel Skeen of the Clear Lake Area CHP office in Kelseyville said the local office also will be running heavier staffing for the weekend.
Officers will be watching carefully for distracted drivers and those who are impaired by drugs or alcohol.
“Seat belts save lives every day, yet some people still don’t buckle up,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “Start the holiday weekend off right by making sure you and your passengers are properly restrained.”
Approximately 78 percent of people killed in a crash within CHP jurisdiction during the 2020 Memorial Day MEP were not wearing a seat belt. Statewide, at least 31 people died in a crash during the holiday weekend.
In addition, CHP officers made 854 arrests for impaired driving during the 78-hour traffic safety campaign.
Motorists are also reminded to protect child passengers through the proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.
The law requires that, whenever possible, children under age 8 ride in the back seat and that a child under 2 is always secured in a rear-facing car seat.
To reinforce the importance of seat belt usage, the CHP also is participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s ongoing “Click It or Ticket” campaign, which runs May 17 to June 6.
To help ensure the safety of motorists throughout the holiday, the California Highway Patrol will conduct a maximum enforcement period, or MEP.
The Memorial Day MEP will run from 6 p.m. Friday, May 28, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 31, and focus on properly using seat belts.
During the MEP, all available CHP officers will be out enforcing traffic safety laws throughout the state.
Officer Joel Skeen of the Clear Lake Area CHP office in Kelseyville said the local office also will be running heavier staffing for the weekend.
Officers will be watching carefully for distracted drivers and those who are impaired by drugs or alcohol.
“Seat belts save lives every day, yet some people still don’t buckle up,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “Start the holiday weekend off right by making sure you and your passengers are properly restrained.”
Approximately 78 percent of people killed in a crash within CHP jurisdiction during the 2020 Memorial Day MEP were not wearing a seat belt. Statewide, at least 31 people died in a crash during the holiday weekend.
In addition, CHP officers made 854 arrests for impaired driving during the 78-hour traffic safety campaign.
Motorists are also reminded to protect child passengers through the proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.
The law requires that, whenever possible, children under age 8 ride in the back seat and that a child under 2 is always secured in a rear-facing car seat.
To reinforce the importance of seat belt usage, the CHP also is participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s ongoing “Click It or Ticket” campaign, which runs May 17 to June 6.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co., which serves more than 16 million Californians, is paying property taxes and franchise fees of over $406 million this spring to the 50 counties, 246 local cities and one district where it owns and operates gas and electric infrastructure.
On April 12, PG&E paid property taxes of more than $268 million to the 50 counties in which it owns property.
The payment covers the period from January 1 to June 30, 2021. Total payments for the tax year of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 are more than $537 million.
Lake County received $961,632.
Neighboring counties received the following amounts: Colusa, $4,137,638; Glenn, $1,002,342; Mendocino, $1,824,242; Napa, $3,369,198; Sonoma, $8,764,068; and Yolo, $2,917,664.
PG&E pays franchise fees to cities and counties for the use of public streets for its gas and electric facilities. The energy company is submitting the fees by April 15.
PG&E’s franchise fee payments totaled more than $138 million – more than $42 million for natural gas and nearly $96 million for electric service.
In 2020, PG&E invested about $7 billion to enhance and upgrade its gas and electrical infrastructure for safety, reliability and wildfire mitigation across Northern and Central California, and the increase in property tax payments reflect those continuing investments.
The full list of county payments follows.
PG&E’s second installment of property taxes paid on April 12, 2021
Alameda — $32,404,709
Alpine — $80,538
Amador — $1,108,032
Butte — $5,667,359
Calaveras — $1,191,644
Colusa — $4,137,638
Contra Costa — $21,497,366
El Dorado — $1,740,390
Fresno — $18,276,652
Glenn — $1,002,342
Humboldt — $4,106,763
Kern — $9,771,985
Kings — $1,706,582
Lake — $961,632
Lassen — $51,276
Madera — $2,510,612
Marin — $4,750,923
Mariposa — $318,727
Mendocino — $1,824,242
Merced — $3,967,492
Modoc — $214,875
Monterey — $4,022,424
Napa — $3,369,198
Nevada — $1,357,769
Placer — $6,606,295
Plumas — $2,565,430
Sacramento — $7,024,199
San Benito — $877,418
San Bernardino — $1,450,867
San Diego — $6,446
San Francisco — $14,835,825
San Joaquin — $13,167,723
San Luis Obispo — $10,392,451
San Mateo — $15,317,959
Santa Barbara — $1,180,653
Santa Clara — $33,320,405
Santa Cruz — $2,016,295
Shasta — $6,227,812
Sierra — $124,531
Siskiyou — $100,917
Solano — $6,654,033
Sonoma — $8,764,068
Stanislaus — $2,904,283
Sutter — $1,415,569
Tehama — $1,551,202
Trinity — $181,612
Tulare — $610,668
Tuolumne — $910,615
Yolo — $2,917,664
Yuba — $1,474,638
On April 12, PG&E paid property taxes of more than $268 million to the 50 counties in which it owns property.
The payment covers the period from January 1 to June 30, 2021. Total payments for the tax year of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 are more than $537 million.
Lake County received $961,632.
Neighboring counties received the following amounts: Colusa, $4,137,638; Glenn, $1,002,342; Mendocino, $1,824,242; Napa, $3,369,198; Sonoma, $8,764,068; and Yolo, $2,917,664.
PG&E pays franchise fees to cities and counties for the use of public streets for its gas and electric facilities. The energy company is submitting the fees by April 15.
PG&E’s franchise fee payments totaled more than $138 million – more than $42 million for natural gas and nearly $96 million for electric service.
In 2020, PG&E invested about $7 billion to enhance and upgrade its gas and electrical infrastructure for safety, reliability and wildfire mitigation across Northern and Central California, and the increase in property tax payments reflect those continuing investments.
The full list of county payments follows.
PG&E’s second installment of property taxes paid on April 12, 2021
Alameda — $32,404,709
Alpine — $80,538
Amador — $1,108,032
Butte — $5,667,359
Calaveras — $1,191,644
Colusa — $4,137,638
Contra Costa — $21,497,366
El Dorado — $1,740,390
Fresno — $18,276,652
Glenn — $1,002,342
Humboldt — $4,106,763
Kern — $9,771,985
Kings — $1,706,582
Lake — $961,632
Lassen — $51,276
Madera — $2,510,612
Marin — $4,750,923
Mariposa — $318,727
Mendocino — $1,824,242
Merced — $3,967,492
Modoc — $214,875
Monterey — $4,022,424
Napa — $3,369,198
Nevada — $1,357,769
Placer — $6,606,295
Plumas — $2,565,430
Sacramento — $7,024,199
San Benito — $877,418
San Bernardino — $1,450,867
San Diego — $6,446
San Francisco — $14,835,825
San Joaquin — $13,167,723
San Luis Obispo — $10,392,451
San Mateo — $15,317,959
Santa Barbara — $1,180,653
Santa Clara — $33,320,405
Santa Cruz — $2,016,295
Shasta — $6,227,812
Sierra — $124,531
Siskiyou — $100,917
Solano — $6,654,033
Sonoma — $8,764,068
Stanislaus — $2,904,283
Sutter — $1,415,569
Tehama — $1,551,202
Trinity — $181,612
Tulare — $610,668
Tuolumne — $910,615
Yolo — $2,917,664
Yuba — $1,474,638
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The super blood moon eclipse took place over the course of several hours early Wednesday.
The heavenly show was also the first lunar eclipse of 2021.
The picture above was taken by Lake County News Editor and Publisher Elizabeth Larson at 4:08 a.m. from Lucerne.
The next lunar eclipse, a partial one, will take place in November and will be visible from parts of the world including North America.
Photo settings: one second exposure, 1600 ISO speed rating. Equipment: Sony A6000 camera with a 1,400 millimeter lens.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — At the end of a special meeting on Tuesday evening, the Lakeport City Council overturned the appeal of the owner of two dogs that have been deemed vicious after numerous complaints and the killing of pets over a 15-month period.
Maria Anderson filed an appeal with the city over the decision made by Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen and Lake County Animal Care and Control Director Jonathan Armas to declare her dogs “Bane” and “Bandit” as vicious and require her to follow 10 requirements as part of a vicious animal abatement order.
The vicious animal abatement order, which is in effect for three years, was issued on May 10 for Bane, a 3-year-old neutered male German shepherd mix, and Bandit, a 1-year-old neutered male pit bull mix.
That was three days after Animal Care and Control received the last complaint of the two dogs attacking ducks on a property where they had previously killed a rabbit and attacked chickens.
On the same day as the order was issued, the dogs were impounded from their Second Street home and are being held at the Animal Care and Control shelter in Lakeport.
The order’s conditions include Anderson having public liability insurance; posting “beware of dogs” signs at her home; obtaining and keeping current dog licenses and rabies vaccinations; constructing a 10-foot by 10-foot chain link kennel with a cement floor, padlocking gate and solid roof; keeping the dogs at the property except for veterinary visits; photographing them and notifying police of moving them to new ownership or a new residence within 10 days.
During the hour-and-a-half-long meeting, the council heard testimony from Animal Care and Control staff, neighbors whose animals had been killed and Anderson herself.
Deputy Animal Care and Control Director Jessica Leishman told the council that there were 11 instances of the dogs running loose and attacking animals from Feb. 19, 2020, until the date of their impoundment earlier this month.
She said her agency received calls about the dogs killing rabbits, chickens and cats.
Anderson, who adopted Bandit from Animal Care and Control late last year, previously had another dog, “Cissy,” who Animal Care and Control also had received complaints about until she was hit and killed by a car on 11th Street while running loose in July.
Animal Care and Control Officer Hailey Del Fiorentino went over the numerous complaints with the council. She said they had received three complaints for Cissy, seven for Bane and three for Bandit.
Julianna Bisaccio, offering testimony via Zoom, was shown a picture of the dogs and identified Bane and Bandit as having been responsible for killing her 8-year-old daughter’s young cat at her home on Second Street. She said the dogs wouldn’t leave the cat alone despite an attempt by the neighbor to squirt them with water to make them leave.
Bisaccio said she saw the dogs attack another cat along with a chicken. She said they are very aggressive, and with so many children in her neighborhood, she said she was concerned they would attack a child.
Stephanie Del Bosco said the dogs attacked her cat, “Bones,” nearly a year ago, in an incident on Oak Crest Drive near her home.
Bones survived the attack but the veterinary care to save his injured leg cost Del Bosco nearly $1,400. “We’re grateful he survived it,” she said of the attack.
Michelle Dollosso, who lives on 11th Street with her family, identified the dogs in a video of them carrying off her son’s pet rabbit, which they had killed. She said they broke into her rabbit hutch as well as the chicken coop.
“They’ve come in the yard more times than I could count,” she said, noting they had to chase them off. “It was traumatizing for our children.”
Owner apologetic; wants opportunity for dogs to be trained
A tearful Anderson, who was present in the council chambers, apologized to the women whose pets had been killed or injured.
“They’re our family,” she said of the dogs, noting that she’d had them since they were babies and they play with her children and live with other pets every day.
“I feel horrible that when they get out they are killing other animals but they are not mean dogs,” she said, adding that Bane loves to be free and run, and it’s a game for him to get away.
Anderson said she has gotten the vicious animal insurance and constructed the 10-foot by 10-foot enclosure on her property that’s required as part of the abatement order.
She said she had appealed the order because it doesn’t allow for them to be taken from her property unless it’s for vet care, and she wants to take them to a trainer as well as other places, like her father’s property and on trips to the ocean, as well as to allow for her children to walk them.
“All the things that you do when you have dogs, we wouldn't be able to do,” she said.
During the discussion, Anderson said they also have reinforced their gates and fences, installed latches and purchased electric fencing.
Councilman Michael Green asked if staff had considered another alternative — having the dogs euthanized.
“Ordering a destruction, I believe, would be a high level order, one that I don't take lightly,” said Armas.
The council also asked about the possibility of success with following the abatement order.
“If the appellant can follow these 10 conditions as outlined, then the dogs can be safely kept on her property,” Rasmussen said.
Armas noted that in his five years with Animal Care and Control, he’s only had one person fail an abatement, and he said his department is in the middle of a hearing on that matter right now.
The vicious dog determination would remain in effect for 36 months under California Food and Agriculture code. At the end of that time, that determination can be removed, said Armas.
Anderson also must complete all of the steps outlined in the order before the dogs will be released to her. While they are impounded, Anderson must cover their costs.
Councilwoman Stacey Mattina said she believed the order’s conditions are reasonable considering the amount of time the police and neighbors have chased the dogs, as well as the heartache of people losing their pets.
“They appear to be a threat to the neighborhood if they do get away,” she said.
Councilwoman Mireya Turner agreed with Mattina and said she appreciated Anderson’s attempts to follow the order and the fact that she expressed regret for her dogs’ actions.
While Turner said she understood that the dogs are different when they are with Anderson’s family, when they get out of the home, they are no longer family dogs. “They’re pack dogs,” and are roaming more than a mile away from their home while causing damage and trauma to people and other animals.
Based on his assessment of the dogs’ conduct, Green suggested that the council should order Bane’s humane destruction. He questioned if it’s humane to keep dogs caged up in the backyard.
Mattina moved to deny the appeal with Turner seconding and the council approving the motion 5-0.
Following the meeting, Rasmussen told Lake County News that he believes Anderson should be done implementing the conditions of the order and ready to call for an inspection within a few days, which will allow the dogs to be released to her.
Rasmussen said this is the first vicious abatement hearing he recalls during his nearly 10 years as chief, explaining that the hearing was the result of the appeal being filed.
He said the last vicious animal case his department dealt with happened in July 2019 and involved a dog that was impounded, held for a long time and ultimately destroyed after the owner failed to comply with the abatement conditions.
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.
Maria Anderson filed an appeal with the city over the decision made by Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen and Lake County Animal Care and Control Director Jonathan Armas to declare her dogs “Bane” and “Bandit” as vicious and require her to follow 10 requirements as part of a vicious animal abatement order.
The vicious animal abatement order, which is in effect for three years, was issued on May 10 for Bane, a 3-year-old neutered male German shepherd mix, and Bandit, a 1-year-old neutered male pit bull mix.
That was three days after Animal Care and Control received the last complaint of the two dogs attacking ducks on a property where they had previously killed a rabbit and attacked chickens.
On the same day as the order was issued, the dogs were impounded from their Second Street home and are being held at the Animal Care and Control shelter in Lakeport.
The order’s conditions include Anderson having public liability insurance; posting “beware of dogs” signs at her home; obtaining and keeping current dog licenses and rabies vaccinations; constructing a 10-foot by 10-foot chain link kennel with a cement floor, padlocking gate and solid roof; keeping the dogs at the property except for veterinary visits; photographing them and notifying police of moving them to new ownership or a new residence within 10 days.
During the hour-and-a-half-long meeting, the council heard testimony from Animal Care and Control staff, neighbors whose animals had been killed and Anderson herself.
Deputy Animal Care and Control Director Jessica Leishman told the council that there were 11 instances of the dogs running loose and attacking animals from Feb. 19, 2020, until the date of their impoundment earlier this month.
She said her agency received calls about the dogs killing rabbits, chickens and cats.
Anderson, who adopted Bandit from Animal Care and Control late last year, previously had another dog, “Cissy,” who Animal Care and Control also had received complaints about until she was hit and killed by a car on 11th Street while running loose in July.
Animal Care and Control Officer Hailey Del Fiorentino went over the numerous complaints with the council. She said they had received three complaints for Cissy, seven for Bane and three for Bandit.
Julianna Bisaccio, offering testimony via Zoom, was shown a picture of the dogs and identified Bane and Bandit as having been responsible for killing her 8-year-old daughter’s young cat at her home on Second Street. She said the dogs wouldn’t leave the cat alone despite an attempt by the neighbor to squirt them with water to make them leave.
Bisaccio said she saw the dogs attack another cat along with a chicken. She said they are very aggressive, and with so many children in her neighborhood, she said she was concerned they would attack a child.
Stephanie Del Bosco said the dogs attacked her cat, “Bones,” nearly a year ago, in an incident on Oak Crest Drive near her home.
Bones survived the attack but the veterinary care to save his injured leg cost Del Bosco nearly $1,400. “We’re grateful he survived it,” she said of the attack.
Michelle Dollosso, who lives on 11th Street with her family, identified the dogs in a video of them carrying off her son’s pet rabbit, which they had killed. She said they broke into her rabbit hutch as well as the chicken coop.
“They’ve come in the yard more times than I could count,” she said, noting they had to chase them off. “It was traumatizing for our children.”
Owner apologetic; wants opportunity for dogs to be trained
A tearful Anderson, who was present in the council chambers, apologized to the women whose pets had been killed or injured.
“They’re our family,” she said of the dogs, noting that she’d had them since they were babies and they play with her children and live with other pets every day.
“I feel horrible that when they get out they are killing other animals but they are not mean dogs,” she said, adding that Bane loves to be free and run, and it’s a game for him to get away.
Anderson said she has gotten the vicious animal insurance and constructed the 10-foot by 10-foot enclosure on her property that’s required as part of the abatement order.
She said she had appealed the order because it doesn’t allow for them to be taken from her property unless it’s for vet care, and she wants to take them to a trainer as well as other places, like her father’s property and on trips to the ocean, as well as to allow for her children to walk them.
“All the things that you do when you have dogs, we wouldn't be able to do,” she said.
During the discussion, Anderson said they also have reinforced their gates and fences, installed latches and purchased electric fencing.
Councilman Michael Green asked if staff had considered another alternative — having the dogs euthanized.
“Ordering a destruction, I believe, would be a high level order, one that I don't take lightly,” said Armas.
The council also asked about the possibility of success with following the abatement order.
“If the appellant can follow these 10 conditions as outlined, then the dogs can be safely kept on her property,” Rasmussen said.
Armas noted that in his five years with Animal Care and Control, he’s only had one person fail an abatement, and he said his department is in the middle of a hearing on that matter right now.
The vicious dog determination would remain in effect for 36 months under California Food and Agriculture code. At the end of that time, that determination can be removed, said Armas.
Anderson also must complete all of the steps outlined in the order before the dogs will be released to her. While they are impounded, Anderson must cover their costs.
Councilwoman Stacey Mattina said she believed the order’s conditions are reasonable considering the amount of time the police and neighbors have chased the dogs, as well as the heartache of people losing their pets.
“They appear to be a threat to the neighborhood if they do get away,” she said.
Councilwoman Mireya Turner agreed with Mattina and said she appreciated Anderson’s attempts to follow the order and the fact that she expressed regret for her dogs’ actions.
While Turner said she understood that the dogs are different when they are with Anderson’s family, when they get out of the home, they are no longer family dogs. “They’re pack dogs,” and are roaming more than a mile away from their home while causing damage and trauma to people and other animals.
Based on his assessment of the dogs’ conduct, Green suggested that the council should order Bane’s humane destruction. He questioned if it’s humane to keep dogs caged up in the backyard.
Mattina moved to deny the appeal with Turner seconding and the council approving the motion 5-0.
Following the meeting, Rasmussen told Lake County News that he believes Anderson should be done implementing the conditions of the order and ready to call for an inspection within a few days, which will allow the dogs to be released to her.
Rasmussen said this is the first vicious abatement hearing he recalls during his nearly 10 years as chief, explaining that the hearing was the result of the appeal being filed.
He said the last vicious animal case his department dealt with happened in July 2019 and involved a dog that was impounded, held for a long time and ultimately destroyed after the owner failed to comply with the abatement conditions.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College is honoring its long-time welding instructor who is retiring this week.
David Hubbard is retiring on Thursday, May 27, after teaching part-time at the college for 36 years.
He also worked full-time for Homestake Mining for 15 years and at Lower Lake High School as wood and metal shop teacher for 14 years.
Hubbard was born in Riverton, Wyoming, graduating from the University of Wyoming in education and industrial arts and began his teaching career in the 1970s.
He moved his family to Lake County in 1984 to work for Homestake Mining.
While working for Homestake, Dave asked the mining company if they would build a welding shop at the Clearlake College for the county.
Homestake gladly built the shop to hire students who took the welding class. Hubbard was hired to teach the class and has continued to this day.
For the past two years, Hubbard has helped with renovating the new welding classroom and shop for future students and teachers.
He also taught home maintenance and repair at Lake County Tribal Health and admired the student’s willingness to learn and find jobs in their community.
Hubbard has been the Lake County Toys for Tots distributor for 13 years working under the United States Marines and closely with community businesses to assure no child goes without having a new toy during the Holidays.
He and his wife, Pat, are relocating to Idaho Falls, Idaho to be closer to family members.
If you would like to contact Hubbard, please write to him at 1925 Eagle Drive, Ammon, Idaho 83406. He would enjoy hearing from past students and friends he has known throughout his career in Lake County.
The college offered its best wishes to Hubbard. “Congratulations Dave, ‘Catch the BIG one!’”
College officials thanked Hubbard for his dedication and service to students, staff, faculty and administration.
“You are a true role model and leader, your legacy will continue with the renovation completion of Building 500, the Welding Building at the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College,” the college said.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Planning Commission this week will continue its consideration of a cannabis project near Lakeport that it held over from last month’s meeting due to concerns about unresolved state violations.
The discussion regarding the project proposed by Joseph Gustafson of Gustafson Farms LLC will be held during the commission’s regular meeting beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 27, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The webinar ID is 920 6904 9979, the passcode is 101201.
The commission is scheduled to hear Gustafson’s request for a major use permit at 9:20 a.m.
Gustafson is seeking the permit for property at 4440, 4460, 4520 and 4550 George Road, not far from Lampson field and next to numerous homes.
His project is for 111,620 square feet of canopy area, including 89,620 square feet of outdoor growing area for which the agriculture commissioner and the Lake County Farm Bureau said he never should have received approval to do.
Gustafson also plans to have a total of 237,220 square feet of cultivation area and facilities including 50,000 square feet processing facility, 24,000 square feet of greenhouse for nursery, 50,000 square feet for drying facility, three storage sheds, and 23,000 square feet of greenhouse structures for mixed-light canopy.
At the commission’s April 22 hearing, neighbors raised numerous issues with Gustafson’s operations so far, among them, excessive traffic around the clock on George Road, which is a county-maintained dead-end road. That traffic also has led to dust and garbage issues.
Residents spoke about their concerns about the traffic impacts in their neighborhood, where people like to walk and children play and ride their bikes, and faulted him with not following the rules.
The Lake County Chamber of Commerce submitted a letter saying it opposes the project. Brenna Sullivan of the Lake County Farm Bureau said the project shouldn’t be allowed as proposed.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Hajik said Gustafson should not have received early activation approval from the county last year for his project, noting it’s within the farmland protection zone and therefore was required to be an indoor, not an outdoor, grow.
Hajik said Gustafson holds no state CalCannabis licensing and reported the state water board also had problems with the operation. He also raised issues with Gustafson’s performance in the county’s hemp program in 2019, when low-grade cannabis — not hemp — was found during testing at a Lower Lake site run by Gustafson.
In response to Hajik’s comments last month, Gustafson told Lake County News, “All genetics of hemp can spike above the limit of THC and you never know what a genetic will do until grown.”
The issue for the commission came down to Gustafson having outstanding violations at that point on his property with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Rather than deny the project, the commission agreed to hold off on a decision until this month’s meeting in order to let Gustafson try to fully resolve the matters.
Gustafson told Lake County News that he had violations for undersized culverts on his property. He said those violations have now been addressed and he has a state permit for work.
He said the property is also a vineyard which has 30 acres of grapes and 40 acres of vines he plans to replant.
“Ultimately I plan to run a successful operation that boosts the local economy and try to mimic my neighbor Kendall Jackson with beautiful rows of grapes and an amazing processing center,” he said.
Other items on the commission’s agenda are as follows:
9:05 a.m.: Public hearing, major use permit (UP 20-85). Applicant/owner: Kushmen & Bakefield Enterprises Inc. Proposed project: Applicant is applying for one Type 6 “Non-Volatile Cannabis Manufacturing License” and one Type 11 “Cannabis Distributor License” to occur within an existing 11,000 square foot building. Location: 11270 Clayton Creek Road, Lower Lake; APN: 049-300-15. Environmental Evaluation: Categorical exemption (CE 21-12).
9:10 a.m.: Public hearing, major use permit (UP 19-32). Applicant/owner: Patrick Smythe. Proposed project: Applicant is applying for a total of 41,796 square feet canopy (32,076 square feet of outdoor cultivation and 9,720 square feet of mixed-light cultivation) area within a total of 44,121 square feet of cultivation area and facilities including three 30-foot by 108-foot greenhouses, one 1,800 square foot processing facility, one 525 square foot, one 1,225 square foot concrete pad to hold to hold nine 1,500-gallon water storage tanks and three 3,500-gallon water storage tanks. Location: 19697 and 19713 East Road, Lower Lake; APNs: 012-049-17 and 012-049-18.
9:15 a.m.: Public hearing to consider rezone (RZ 20-02) and general plan amendment (GPAP 20-02). Applicant/owner: Greg Hanson. Proposed project: The applicant is requesting a split rezone of approximately +/- 7 acres from “A” Agriculture to “A-M2” Agriculture-Heavy Industrial, and general plan amendment from “A” Agriculture” to “A-I” Agriculture-Industrial of undeveloped land on two parcels under one legal lot. Location: 3555 and 3445 Big Valley Road, Kelseyville,; APNs: 008-038-17 and 008-038-44. Environmental evaluation: Negative declaration (IS 20-91).
9:25 a.m. Public hearing to consider a major use permit (UP 19-13) to consider approval of a commercial cannabis cultivation project on a 230-plus acre property, and consideration of adopting a mitigated negative declaration (IS 19-25). Applicant/owner: Tiffany Devitt. Proposed project: Twelve A-Type 3 medium outdoor cannabis cultivation licenses requesting 650,000 square feet of cannabis cultivation area and one A-Type 13 self-distribution license. Location: 2800 Manning Road, Lakeport; APN: 008-009-03. Environmental evaluation: Mitigated negative declaration.
9:30 a.m. Public Hearing to consider a major use permit (UP 19-15) to consider approval of a commercial cannabis cultivation project on a 41-plus acre property, and consideration of adopting a mitigated negative declaration (IS 19-27). Applicant/owner: Legendary Farms LLC. Proposed project: One A-Type 3 medium outdoor cannabis cultivation licenses requesting 43,560 square feet of cannabis canopy area and one A-Type 13 self-distribution license. Location: 2290 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport; APN: 008-010-29. Environmental evaluation: Mitigated negative declaration.
9:35 a.m. Public Hearing to consider a major use permit (UP 20-01) to consider approval of a commercial cannabis cultivation project on a 20-plus acre property, and consideration of adopting a mitigated negative declaration (IS 20-01). Applicant/owner: Stella Green Farms LLC. Proposed project: One A-Type 3 medium outdoor cannabis cultivation licenses requesting 43,560 square feet of cannabis canopy area and one A-Type 13 self-distribution license. Location: 5808 Highland Springs Road, Lakeport; APN: 008-044-24. Environmental evaluation: Mitigated negative declaration.
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The discussion regarding the project proposed by Joseph Gustafson of Gustafson Farms LLC will be held during the commission’s regular meeting beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 27, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The webinar ID is 920 6904 9979, the passcode is 101201.
The commission is scheduled to hear Gustafson’s request for a major use permit at 9:20 a.m.
Gustafson is seeking the permit for property at 4440, 4460, 4520 and 4550 George Road, not far from Lampson field and next to numerous homes.
His project is for 111,620 square feet of canopy area, including 89,620 square feet of outdoor growing area for which the agriculture commissioner and the Lake County Farm Bureau said he never should have received approval to do.
Gustafson also plans to have a total of 237,220 square feet of cultivation area and facilities including 50,000 square feet processing facility, 24,000 square feet of greenhouse for nursery, 50,000 square feet for drying facility, three storage sheds, and 23,000 square feet of greenhouse structures for mixed-light canopy.
At the commission’s April 22 hearing, neighbors raised numerous issues with Gustafson’s operations so far, among them, excessive traffic around the clock on George Road, which is a county-maintained dead-end road. That traffic also has led to dust and garbage issues.
Residents spoke about their concerns about the traffic impacts in their neighborhood, where people like to walk and children play and ride their bikes, and faulted him with not following the rules.
The Lake County Chamber of Commerce submitted a letter saying it opposes the project. Brenna Sullivan of the Lake County Farm Bureau said the project shouldn’t be allowed as proposed.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Hajik said Gustafson should not have received early activation approval from the county last year for his project, noting it’s within the farmland protection zone and therefore was required to be an indoor, not an outdoor, grow.
Hajik said Gustafson holds no state CalCannabis licensing and reported the state water board also had problems with the operation. He also raised issues with Gustafson’s performance in the county’s hemp program in 2019, when low-grade cannabis — not hemp — was found during testing at a Lower Lake site run by Gustafson.
In response to Hajik’s comments last month, Gustafson told Lake County News, “All genetics of hemp can spike above the limit of THC and you never know what a genetic will do until grown.”
The issue for the commission came down to Gustafson having outstanding violations at that point on his property with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Rather than deny the project, the commission agreed to hold off on a decision until this month’s meeting in order to let Gustafson try to fully resolve the matters.
Gustafson told Lake County News that he had violations for undersized culverts on his property. He said those violations have now been addressed and he has a state permit for work.
He said the property is also a vineyard which has 30 acres of grapes and 40 acres of vines he plans to replant.
“Ultimately I plan to run a successful operation that boosts the local economy and try to mimic my neighbor Kendall Jackson with beautiful rows of grapes and an amazing processing center,” he said.
Other items on the commission’s agenda are as follows:
9:05 a.m.: Public hearing, major use permit (UP 20-85). Applicant/owner: Kushmen & Bakefield Enterprises Inc. Proposed project: Applicant is applying for one Type 6 “Non-Volatile Cannabis Manufacturing License” and one Type 11 “Cannabis Distributor License” to occur within an existing 11,000 square foot building. Location: 11270 Clayton Creek Road, Lower Lake; APN: 049-300-15. Environmental Evaluation: Categorical exemption (CE 21-12).
9:10 a.m.: Public hearing, major use permit (UP 19-32). Applicant/owner: Patrick Smythe. Proposed project: Applicant is applying for a total of 41,796 square feet canopy (32,076 square feet of outdoor cultivation and 9,720 square feet of mixed-light cultivation) area within a total of 44,121 square feet of cultivation area and facilities including three 30-foot by 108-foot greenhouses, one 1,800 square foot processing facility, one 525 square foot, one 1,225 square foot concrete pad to hold to hold nine 1,500-gallon water storage tanks and three 3,500-gallon water storage tanks. Location: 19697 and 19713 East Road, Lower Lake; APNs: 012-049-17 and 012-049-18.
9:15 a.m.: Public hearing to consider rezone (RZ 20-02) and general plan amendment (GPAP 20-02). Applicant/owner: Greg Hanson. Proposed project: The applicant is requesting a split rezone of approximately +/- 7 acres from “A” Agriculture to “A-M2” Agriculture-Heavy Industrial, and general plan amendment from “A” Agriculture” to “A-I” Agriculture-Industrial of undeveloped land on two parcels under one legal lot. Location: 3555 and 3445 Big Valley Road, Kelseyville,; APNs: 008-038-17 and 008-038-44. Environmental evaluation: Negative declaration (IS 20-91).
9:25 a.m. Public hearing to consider a major use permit (UP 19-13) to consider approval of a commercial cannabis cultivation project on a 230-plus acre property, and consideration of adopting a mitigated negative declaration (IS 19-25). Applicant/owner: Tiffany Devitt. Proposed project: Twelve A-Type 3 medium outdoor cannabis cultivation licenses requesting 650,000 square feet of cannabis cultivation area and one A-Type 13 self-distribution license. Location: 2800 Manning Road, Lakeport; APN: 008-009-03. Environmental evaluation: Mitigated negative declaration.
9:30 a.m. Public Hearing to consider a major use permit (UP 19-15) to consider approval of a commercial cannabis cultivation project on a 41-plus acre property, and consideration of adopting a mitigated negative declaration (IS 19-27). Applicant/owner: Legendary Farms LLC. Proposed project: One A-Type 3 medium outdoor cannabis cultivation licenses requesting 43,560 square feet of cannabis canopy area and one A-Type 13 self-distribution license. Location: 2290 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport; APN: 008-010-29. Environmental evaluation: Mitigated negative declaration.
9:35 a.m. Public Hearing to consider a major use permit (UP 20-01) to consider approval of a commercial cannabis cultivation project on a 20-plus acre property, and consideration of adopting a mitigated negative declaration (IS 20-01). Applicant/owner: Stella Green Farms LLC. Proposed project: One A-Type 3 medium outdoor cannabis cultivation licenses requesting 43,560 square feet of cannabis canopy area and one A-Type 13 self-distribution license. Location: 5808 Highland Springs Road, Lakeport; APN: 008-044-24. Environmental evaluation: Mitigated negative declaration.
Email Elizabeth Larson at