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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors kicked off 2020 with the election of its leadership for the coming year and the approval of a host of annual committee and commission assignments for its members.

Among the decisions the board opened the year with at its Tuesday meeting was the selection of Moke Simon as chair for 2020.

Supervisor Bruno Sabatier nominated Simon, with EJ Crandell seconding and the board voting unanimously.

Simon, in turn, nominated Sabatier for vice chair, a motion Crandell also seconded and the board voted 5-0 to confirm.

Outgoing Board Chair Tina Scott then switched seats with Simon, who led the rest of the meeting.

In separate motions, Scott nominated Simon and Sabatier as chair and vice chair, respectively, for the Lake County Board of Equalization, motions the board unanimously adopted.

The board also elected Simon as chair and Sabatier as vice chair, respectively, of the Lake County In-Home Supportive Services Board of Directors in 4-0 votes. Supervisor Rob Brown recused himself from the votes due to a declared conflict of interest.

Also on Tuesday, the board approved numerous committee assignments which Simon had sent out to the supervisors ahead of the meeting for review.

Among the key appointments are the following:

– Airport Land and Use Commission: Rob Brown, Tina Scott.
– Area Agency on Aging Governing Board: EJ Crandell, Tina Scott as alternate.
– Area Planning Council/Transit Authority: Moke Simon, Bruno Sabatier, Tina Scott as alternate.
– Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Commission: Moke Simon, Bruno Sabatier, Tina Scott as alternate.
– Blue Ribbon Committee: EJ Crandell, Moke Simon.
– Lake Local Agency Formation Commission: Bruno Sabatier, Moke Simon, Tina Scott as alternate.

The full list is below.

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.

010720 Lake County Board of Supervisors 2020 committee assignments by LakeCoNews on Scribd

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake announced that it has hired a new Public Works director.

Joining the city is Dale Goodman, who was introduced to the Clearlake City Council on Thursday evening when he attended his first council meeting.

Goodman has extensive public service experience, serving as director of Public Works for the city of American Fork in Utah; Willows, California; and St. Helens, Oregon.

Goodman also worked for the city of Rialto, California as public works maintenance superintendent and as a project manager, planning and managing the Rialto Metrolink Downtown Pedestrian Improvement Project.

“We are very excited about the hiring of Dale Goodman. His expertise and experience as an innovative problem solver and leader make him the perfect fit for the many public infrastructure improvements we are making and the transformation that is underway in Clearlake,” said City Manager Alan Flora.

Goodman has spearheaded many valuable projects, including flood recovery, capital improvement and regulatory compliance programs, for jurisdictions in several states.

Additionally, Goodman brings civic governance experience with him, having served as planning commissioner and council member for the city of Vineyard, Utah.

Goodman served in the U.S. Army and National Security Agency as an intelligence analyst. He has a Master’s of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science from the University of the State of New York at Albany.

“I’m excited to be here and look forward to making a positive impact in the lives of the citizens of Clearlake,” Goodman said. “I am already very impressed with the quality and professionalism of the public works staff and in fact all the other staff members with whom I’ve come in contact. My wife and I are looking forward to actively participating in the activities of the community, and enjoying all that Clearlake has to offer.”

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has many dogs waiting for new homes this week.

The kennels also have many dogs that need to be reunited with their owners. To find the lost/found pet section, click here.

The following dogs are ready for adoption.

‘Charlotte’

“Charlotte” is a female Akita mix.

She is dog No. 3040.

‘Clarice’

“Clarice” is a female German Shepherd mix puppy.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 3402.

‘Eve’

“Eve” is a female American bully with a short brindle and white coat.

She is dog No. 3480.

‘Fable’

“Fable” is a female Alaskan Malamute mix with a brown and buff coat.

She is dog No. 3044.

‘King’

“King” is a male purebred Staffordshire Bull Terrier with a short brindle coat.

He has been neutered.

He is dog No. 3034.

‘Linus’

“Linus” is a male Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix with a short gray and white coat.

He is dog No. 3255.

‘Lola’

“Lola” is a female pit bull terrier mix with a short red and white coat.

She has been spayed.

She is dog No. 3337.

‘Nook’

“Nook” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier mix with a short brindle and white coat.

He is dog No. 3415.

‘Spice’

“Spice” is a female pug mix with a short tan coat and black markings.

She has been spayed.

Spice is dog No. 3033.

‘Woodrow’

“Woodrow” is a male Staffordshire Bull Terrier with a black and white coat.

He is dog No. 3281.

Clearlake Animal Control’s shelter is located at 6820 Old Highway 53, off Airport Road.

Hours of operation are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shelter is closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays; the shelter offers appointments on the days it’s closed to accommodate people.

Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions.

Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or at the city’s Web site.

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.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol will offer a free “Start Smart” traffic safety class for soon to-be-licensed, newly licensed, and teenage drivers and their parents or guardians on Thursday, Jan. 30.

The class will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Clear Lake Area CHP office, located at 5700 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville.

The CHP said a teenager is killed in a traffic collision every four hours nationwide. That equates to more than 1,870 teenagers killed each year. Another 184,000 teenagers are injured in traffic collisions.

These deaths and injuries can be substantially reduced or prevented by eliminating high-risk driving behaviors through education, and the CHP said its “Start Smart” program can help prevent these tragedies.

The Start Smart program focuses on providing comprehensive traffic safety education classes for teenagers and their parents.

Start Smart employs innovative techniques to capture the attention of teenagers and parents, providing a lasting experience.

The curriculum includes information on collision statistics, teen driver and passenger behaviors, graduated driver’s license laws, cultural changes in today’s society and the need for stronger parental involvement in a teenager’s driving experience.

Space is limited for this class. For more information or reservations, call Officer Joel Skeen at the CHP office, 707-279-0103, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday began the year with actions that included approving an assistant city manager classification as part of succession planning efforts.

Administrative Services Director Kelly Buendia presented the classification along with a request for an updated master pay schedule to the council at its first meeting of the year.

The discussion begins at the 8:48 mark in the video above. The written report from Buendia begins on page 38 of the agenda packet published below.

The classification already is included in this year’s budget, with funding for half a year, totaling $85,000, also allocated. The proposed salary range is $8,466 to $10,290 per month, which Buendia said is comparable with the city of Clearlake.

Buendia said the opportunity for city department heads to pursue the opportunity has existed for a few years, and included having them be cross-trained in areas outside of their expertise.

She said the next step is to make the assistant city manager job a permanent position and move someone into it.

During the budget hearings in the summer, Buendia said City Manager Margaret Silveira had asked for funding for the job for half a year, which was approved. At that time, staff didn’t have a job classification and description, and said they would return with that information, along with a salary range, which was what Buendia presented on Tuesday.

Councilman Kenny Parlet moved to approve the classification, which Councilman Tim Barnes seconded and the council approved it 5-0.

Likewise, Parlet moved to approve rescinding the old master pay schedule and replacing it with a new one, which the council also unanimously approved.

After the meeting, Buendia told Lake County News that Community Development Director Kevin Ingram has been doing the assistant city manager job, and has been the only candidate to pursue it.

As for what’s next, she said she expected some action to be taken within the month. She said Silveira will decide whether to do an internal or external recruitment. The city’s structure also gives Silveira the authority to hire department heads.

In other business, Finance Director Nick Walker presented a resolution approving the revised administrative policy for utilities billing effective Feb. 1, with the council adopting a resolution approving the revised service deposits for new water accounts, also effective Feb. 1.

The updated resolution will allow the city to raise its service deposit from $75 to as much as $225 for customers with poor credit with the smallest residential hookup and from $1,155 to $3,465 for commercial customers with poor credit who have a 6-inch connection.

Walker said the changes are in response to state law which lengthens the time the city must wait to disconnect water services for nonpayment, thus increasing the city’s risk.

Also on Tuesday, the council approved committee appointments made by Mayor Spurr, received and filed a compliance and implementation plan for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act now that the city has passed a 50-employee threshold for large employers, and Spurr presented Walker with the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The city has received the award for years 2014 to 2018 so far.

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.

010720 Lakeport City Council Agenda Packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council is set to discuss a proposed policy that would offer city support to cannabis growing projects near the city limits and within the county’s cannabis exclusion area under certain circumstances.

The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

At the start of the meeting, there will be the swearing-in of new police dispatcher Miranda Logan, presentation of recognition to Sgt. Dominic Ramirez for his years of service and recognition for police department employees, and presentations by Lake Transit Mobility Programs Manager Karl Parker on the Lake Links program and Vikki Patino, a partnership specialist for the US Census Bureau, on the 2020 Census.

In council business, council members will discuss a policy to provide letters of support for projects within the county of Lake’s cannabis exclusion area.

In a report to the council, City Manager Alan Flora and City Attorney Ryan Jones are recommending the adoption of a new policy that would allow the city to issue support letters to the county for cannabis projects located within the exclusion area – 1,000 feet from the city boundary – under certain circumstances, including in cases where the property is contiguous with a property within the city that is designated for; and if the city requests the county condition the approval of any appropriate project permit to address the projects impacts on city infrastructure and resources.

Flora and Jones reported that there are several applicants or potential applicants that are interested in cultivating cannabis within the exclusion area around the city of Clearlake, primarily in the Ogulin Canyon area.

“One application has been received by the County as well as a request to the City that a letter of support be provided to allow cultivation within the Exclusion Area. On October 10, 2019 the Council provided direction related to staff on developing a policy regarding projects within the cannabis exclusion area. The Council was split on whether to provide letters of support for any project, however the majority directed a policy framework be crafted and brought back for final Consideration,” the report said.

The report continues, “Staff believes it is important to utilize the effort many put into the process of establishing cannabis regulations within the City boundary and build upon the decisions of the Commercial Cannabis Ad Hoc Committee, the Planning Commission and City Council. This process designated land in three areas of the City that would allow for various commercial cannabis businesses. It is therefore reasonable to determine that properties near these existing zones, but outside of the City, are appropriate for commercial cannabis activity with any necessary permit conditions.”

The council also will hold the first reading of an ordinance relating to electric and electronic access gates.

Police Chief Andrew White’s report for the discussion explained that the council adopted an ordinance in February 2019 requiring gates to multi-unit residential buildings and areas to be constructed and maintained in accordance with plans approved by the city that incorporate the electronic systems allowing rapid access by first responders.

“Following a suggestion during public comment, the City Council requested staff return with an ordinance to extend the ordinance to cover commercial properties,” he wrote. “The proposed ordinance incorporates commercial properties and provides one year for existing gates to come into compliance. The cost to retrofit an existing gate is approximately $1,500.”

In other business, council members will consider appointing representatives to represent and vote on behalf of the city at the League of California Cities, Redwood Empire Division business meetings and represent the city and vote at the division legislative committee meetings, and consider the mayor’s appointments for 2020.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote – are warrant registers; continuation of a local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action on Oct. 12, 2017; consideration of a change to the annual calendar of meetings for 2020; adoption of Resolution No. 2020-01 to declare surplus property; consideration of Resolution No. 2020-02 to change the Clearlake Planning Commission days; approval of the Fair Political Practices Form 806 reporting public official appointments.

After the public portion of the meeting, the council is scheduled for a closed session with legal counsel to discuss an existing case of litigation against Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

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.

010920 Clearlake City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd