How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Neville Nish Nichol, 33, was identified as the motorcycle rider in the fatal wreck, said Lauren Berlinn, spokesperson for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said in a Monday report that Nichol was riding a 2006 Honda CBR1000 motorcycle southbound on Highway 29 south of Callayomi Street at 2:46 a.m. Sunday what the crash occurred.
The CHP said that, for reasons still under investigation, Nichol crossed the double-yellow line and the opposing lane and went off the road, where he was thrown from the motorcycle.
Both Nichol and the motorcycle hit boulders down an embankment, coming to rest in an area with heavy foliage, the CHP report said.
A passerby found the crash site along the creek, the CHP said.
The CHP said medical personnel pronounced Nichol dead at the scene.
The crash that killed Nichol, who was using his safety equipment, remains under investigation, the report said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 3, 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 984 1278 3324, pass code 816941. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,98412783324#,,,,*816941#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to
the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
On Tuesday, in an untimed item, the board will discuss the next steps to take in filling Supervisor Tina Scott’s seat.
Scott, who represents District 4, has announced her plans to resign effective July 31. She is taking a teaching job with the Lakeport Unified School District.
Staff is recommending the board consider approving a resolution that would put the seat on the Nov. 8 statewide general election ballot.
However, that resolution’s wording doesn’t appear to match that of state law. The resolution says that, “pursuant to Government Code Section 25060, the vacancy may be filled by an appointment of the Governor, and that individual will hold office until the election and qualification of their successor.”
That Government Code section, however, doesn’t say “may” but “shall”: “Whenever a vacancy occurs in a board of supervisors, the Governor shall fill the vacancy. The appointee shall hold office until the election and qualification of his or her successor.”
County staff has reportedly been in contact “with appropriate State and Local officials,” and will provide an update and invite the board’s discussion on Tuesday.
In another untimed item, Human Resources Director Pam Samac will present to the board guidelines for the recruitment of the new county administrative officer.
Carol Huchingson, who held the job for the last six years, retired on Friday.
Last Tuesday, the board had asked staff to come back with guidelines to address transparency and potential conflict of interest concerns since Huchingson’s assistant administrative officer, Susan Parker, has been appointed to the job on an interim basis.
Since Human Resources is under the direction of the County Administrative Office, that has raised concerns that Parker — who is seeking the job on a permanent basis — would have a conflict with overseeing Human Resources while the recruitment is taking place.
Samac’s report said the recruitment will be coordinated by the Human Resources director, who will confer directly with the board chair for this recruitment.
The recruitment was opened on March 28 with an initial cutoff date of April 18. Samac said they received 636 hits and 14 applications, and they determined that there are five qualified applications.
At the same time, Samac said Human Resources sent a request for qualifications to 10 executive search firms, which had an April 21 deadline to respond. The county will begin the selection process for the executive search firm, if needed, once the first round of recruitment is completed.
She said she reviewed the first-round results with Board Chair EJ Crandell on April 26, and the following day he advised her that he wanted the board to interview all five qualified candidates, and not have a panel convened by Samac narrow the field to three.
The board on Tuesday also will discuss its vision and expectations for the new county administrative officer and schedule an interview date for the candidates.
In an item timed for 1:45 p.m., the board will consider a resolution proclaiming the existence of a local emergency due to pervasive tree mortality.
Also on Tuesday, at 9:35 a.m., the board will present a proclamation honoring Dr. Gaylord "Doc" Starin in celebration of his outstanding life and his 100th birthday.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation in support of Clear Lake Environmental Research Center.
5.2: Adopt proclamation in support of Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 1, 2022.
5.3: Adopt proclamation designating the week of May 9 to 13, 2022, as Economic Development Week.
5.4: Adopt proclamation designating May 1 to 7, 2022, as National Small Business Week.
5.5: Adopt proclamation honoring Dr. Gaylord "Doc" Starin in celebration of his outstanding life and his 100th birthday.
5.6: a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.1, as an extension of an annual agreement; and (b) consideration of agreement for provision of satellite imagery services by Planet Labs to the county of Lake.
5.7: a) Rescind the wireless-communications devices policies; and b) approve the smartphone stipend policy.
5.8: Adopt proclamation recognizing May 2022 as Mental Health Matters Month in Lake County.
5.9: Adopt proclamation designating May 2022 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month in Lake County.
5.10: Approve request to waive 900 hour limit for extra-help Water Resources Administrative Assistant Alma Perez.
5.11: Adopt resolution authorizing the county of Lake Water Resources director to apply for, accept and execute two State General Fund grants, administered by the California Natural Resources Agency: 1) to conduct lake-wide limnological water quality sampling in Clear Lake and 2) to conduct an assessment to understand public perception attitudes and knowledge gaps towards water quality to improve education, outreach and scientific communication within the communities around Clear Lake.
TIMED ITEMS
9:05 a.m.: Pet of the Week.
6.3, 9:07a.m.: Presentation of the Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year Award, presented by California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
6.4, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating May 2022 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month in Lake County.
6.5, 9:20 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating May 2022 as Mental Health Matters Month in Lake County.
6.6, 9:25 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating May 1 to 7, 2022, as National Small Business Week.
6.7, 9:30 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the week of May 9 to 13, 2022, as Economic Development Week.
6.8, 9:35 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation honoring Dr. Gaylord "Doc" Starin in celebration of his outstanding life and his 100th birthday.
6.9, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of a resolution amending the master fee schedule for departmental services rendered by the county.
6.10, 10:30 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of a resolution regarding vacating an alley easement for public use in the area of Middletown.
6.11, 11 a.m.: Continued from April 12, public hearing, discussion and consideration of appeal (AB 21-05) of Planning Commission approval of Major Use Permit 19-36 and IS/MND 19-56 “Lake Vista Farms, LLC,” Clearlake. APN’s 010-053-01 and 010-053-02.
6.12, 1:30 p.m.: Consideration of presentations and updates of community efforts to include; a) Risk Reduction Authority and California Wildfire Mitigation Program; and b) Clear Lake Environmental Research Center; and c) Tree Mortality Task Force; and d) Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
6.13, 1:35 p.m.: Presentation of proclamation in Support of Clear Lake Environmental Research Center.
6.14, 1:40 p.m.: Presentation of proclamation in support of Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 1, 2022.
6.15, 1:45 p.m.: Consideration of resolution proclaiming the existence of a local emergency due to pervasive tree mortality.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: (a) Discussion of next steps to fill the role of District 4 Supervisor, to be Vacated by Tina Scott July 31, 2022; (b) consideration of a resolution setting an election for District 4 supervisor as part of the Nov. 8, 2022, Statewide General Election.
7.3: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Child Care Planning Council.
7.4: Consideration of confidential recruitment of county administrative officer protocol and summary.
7.5: Consideration of an ordinance establishing Chapter 31 of the Lake County Code for an edible food recovery program.
7.6: Consideration of the award of Bid No. 22-10 for the Courthouse Roof Replacement Project in the amount of $791,000 to Best Contracting Services Inc.; and authorize the chair to sign the agreement and notice of award.
7.7: Notice of public hearing for June 7, 2022, regarding AB481, California Government Code 7070-7075, Military Equipment use presentation and adoption of sheriff's office military equipment use policy.
7.8: Consideration of presentation and discussion by Watershed Protection District for the request to allocate $500,000 internal matching funds, over a period of six years, to support $1.9 million in approved, and partially awarded, Blue Ribbon Committee Storm Water Project Grant Funds.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda can be found here.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. Masks are highly encouraged where 6-foot distancing cannot be maintained.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to
On Tuesday, the council will meet new Community Development Department employees Victor Fernandez and Bethany Moss, and present proclamations designating May as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, May 1 to 7 as National Small Business Week and May 9 to 13 as Economic Development Week.
Under council business, Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Nick Walker will ask the council to consider options for financing $5.845 million in proposed water system capital improvement projects.
“The Water Fund has a great need for capital improvement projects,” Walker explained in his written report. “The most recent rate study, approved in August 2021, included the identification of priority projects totaling $5.8 million to be completed over the next 10 years. While the City’s 5 -year water rate study included new debt service expenditure for $2 million in capital projects, the need for funding additional projects is imminent. Staff has been investigating various options to best leverage existing resources and risks for the benefit of the customer.”
Walker said the research has shown “that additional projects can be accelerated and included in a financing plan. Staff believes that the window is increasingly short for attractive interest rates and completing projects sooner could also be beneficial to hedge against rising inflation.”
He said city staffers have been working with the firm NHA Advisors on analyses of various financing plan options.
NHA Advisors is the same company that has assisted the city of Clearlake with the creation of a roadwork financing plan, which the Clearlake City Council approved late in April, as Lake County News has reported.
Walker said additional detail and a presentation will be reviewed at Tuesday’s meeting.
If the council is interested in moving forward, Walker said staff will ask direction to bring back the final financing plan for approval at the June 7 council meeting.
In other business, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen will ask for the council’s approval of a memorandum of understanding between the Lakeport Police Department and the Lakeport Unified School District for a school resource officer for fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Rasmussen’s written report to the council explained that the city and Lakeport Unified have been operating under similar agreements since the start of the 2016-17 fiscal year, and that both the department and the district have found the school resource officer position “to be very beneficial to all parties.”
He said this year he and Superintendent Matt Bullard are recommending a two-year agreement. The district’s board of trustees gave its approval to the agreement at its April 13 meeting and Bullard has signed it.
The agreement costs the city $25,000 a year, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen also will present to the council a determination that public convenience or necessity would be served by the issuance a Type-42 Off Sales Beer and Wine Liquor sales license to Andre’s Jazz & Blues Lounge, located at 150 N. Main St., along with adoption of a proposed
resolution.
On the consent agenda — items usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on April 19; adoption of a resolution authorizing continued remote teleconference meetings of the Lakeport City Council and its legislative bodies pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e); approval of event application 2022-016, with staff recommendations, for the 2022 Old Time Machines Show; receipt and filing of the draft minutes of the regular Measure Z Advisory Committee meeting of April 20, 2022; conducting a second reading and adoption of an ordinance amending Title 17 of the Lakeport Municipal Code for language referring to Objective Design Standards for Multifamily Housing and Accessory Dwelling Units; receipt and filing of a quarterly community development activity report.
The counsel also will hold a closed session discussion with legal counsel regarding existing litigation, City of Lakeport et al. v. AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation et al.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Cal Fire
Being proactive and prepared for wildfire is crucial for all Californians in making its communities more resilient to the impacts of wildfire.
Almost half of the state’s largest and most damaging wildfires occurred in 2020 and 2021, and more than 6.8 million acres burned during this time.
Lack of rainfall, with above normal temperatures through the spring, will leave fuel moisture levels lower than normal, increasing the potential for wildland fire activity.
In 2022, Cal Fire has already responded to more than 1,400 wildfires, burning more than 6,500 acres on state and federal lands combined.
“California continues to experience longer wildfire seasons as a direct result of climate change,” said Joe Tyler, Cal Fire director/chief. “Minimal rainfall is expected throughout the spring, leaving most of the state in moderate to extreme drought conditions prior to summer.”
This year, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget for Cal Fire allocates more than $3 billion for fire management, fire prevention, mitigation efforts including prescribed fire and fuel breaks, forest health and home hardening.
Californians also have an important role in preparing for and preventing wildfires. Thousands of communities depend on smart planning and prevention tools like protective fuel breaks, defensible space, and home hardening for their safety and survival. These tools work together to build more fire-resilient communities.
By preparing well in advance of a wildfire and taking steps now to reduce wildfire risks, you can dramatically increase your safety, the safety of your community, and the survivability of your home.
To learn more about wildfire safety and preparedness, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
Additionally, Cal Fire continues to encourage Californians to access the “Ready for Wildfire” web-based app that includes local alerts, checklists for preparedness, evacuation plans, and other kits.
To download the free app, visit https://plan.readyforwildfire.org/.