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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The crash was reported shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday on northbound Highway 29 south of Hill Road.
Initial radio reports said a wrong-way driver had crashed head-on into another vehicle, blocking the northbound lane.
Lakeport Fire, Northshore Fire, Cal Fire, the California Highway Patrol and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded, according to radio traffic.
The first units to arrive on scene reported that two vehicles were involved, there was at least one person trapped and another individual may have been ejected.
A Northshore Fire battalion chief assumed incident command, reporting over the radio that there were a total of four victims.
Incident command asked for two air ambulances to respond to Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s landing zone. One of those was later canceled and the remaining helicopter could not fly because of the weather conditions.
Just before 8:20 p.m., it was reported that northbound Highway 29 was completely shut down.
Central Dispatch confirmed over the air there were two fatalities.
Incident command said two other crash victims were being transported to Sutter Lakeside.
Fire units cleared the scene just before 9 p.m.
More information will be published as it becomes available.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 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 938 1869 7570, pass code 401755. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,93818697570#,,,,*401755#.
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.
At 11:30 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing to consider an appeal of the Lake County Planning Commission’s action to approve a major use permit and adoption of initial study for a commercial cannabis cultivation license for Sourz HVR Inc./Aviona LLC.
The company owns the 1,640-acre High Valley Ranch, located at 11650 High Valley Road in Clearlake Oaks, formerly the site of PSI World.
Sourz is proposing 80 acres of cultivation along with processing and distribution activities on a 649-acre portion of the ranch.
In July, the planning commission approved the project, as Lake County News has reported.
Neighbors Don and Marge Van Pelt have appealed the project, citing issues including grading and air quality, odor, water availability, biology, security, alleged noncompliance with the Lake County Zoning Ordinance, cultural resources, traffic, notice deficiency and environmental study.
In other business, as part of the consent agenda, due to irregularities with the way it conducted business at the Oct. 5 meeting, the board is due to rescind actions taken regarding establishing position allocations, reestablishing the deputy Health Services director as a county classification, appointing Jennifer Baker to interim Deputy Health Services director and appointing County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson as interim Health Services director, and at the same time will pass updated actions to put those changes into effect.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: (a) Rescind action taken on Oct. 5, 2021, under extra agenda item 4.3 (b) to adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2021-116 Establishing Position Allocations for Fiscal Year 2021-2022, Budget Unit No. 4012, Health Services Administration and reestablishing the deputy Health Services director as a county classification; and (b) rescind action taken on Oct. 5, 2021, under extra agenda item 4.3 (c) to appoint Jennifer Baker to interim Deputy Health Services director effective Oct. 6, 2021; and (c) rescind action taken on Oct. 5, 2021, under extra agenda item 4.4 to appoint County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson to interim Health Services Director; and (d) appoint CAO Carol Huchingson to interim Health Services Director; and (e) adopt resolution Amending Resolution No. 2021-116 Establishing Position Allocations for Fiscal Year 2021-2022, Budget Unit No. 4012, Health Services Administration and reestablishing the deputy Health Services director as a county classification; and (f) appoint Jennifer Baker to interim Deputy Health Services director effective Oct. 6, 2021.
5.2: Approve electronic submittal of Phase 1 United States Economic Development Administration Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant Application.
5.3: Approve Budget Transfer in Budget Unit 2703, Animal Care and Control to Object Code 62-74 to complete final payment of backup generator installation and create the capital asset.
5.4: Rescind board action to approve the closure of Child Support Services to the public from noon Oct. 21, 2021, through the end of the day of Oct. 22, 2021.
5.5: Approve Board of Supervisors minutes Sept. 9, Sept. 28 and Oct. 2, 2021.
5.6: (a) Adopt “Resolution Accepting Official Canvass of the Statewide Special Election held on September 14, 2021”; and (b) accept the certification of county elections official of the official canvass of the election results with the official statement of votes prepared by the Registrar of Voters Office.
5.7: (a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to section 2-30 8.2 of the County Purchasing Ordinance due to the unique goods and services; and (b) authorize the IT director to issue a purchase order to Tyler Technologies Inc. for Executime clocks in the amount of $44,295.
5.8: Approve a budget transfer in Budget Unit 1671, Buildings & Grounds, to increase capital asset account 62-74 for the purchase of an enclosed cargo trailer.
5.9: a) Adopt resolution authorizing an application for funding through the California Department of Parks and Recreation Rural Recreation & Tourism Program for Courthouse Museum Park and authorize the Public Services director to sign the application, grant agreement and other necessary documents; b) adopt resolution authorizing an application for funding through the California Department of Parks and Recreation Regional Park Program for Mount Konocti Park and authorize the Public Services director to sign the application, grant agreement and other necessary documents.
5.10: Approve agreements between the county of Lake and Enterprise Fleet Management for leased vehicles and authorize the director of Public Works to sign the agreements.
5.11: Sitting as the Board of Directors for the Lake County Watershed Protection District, approve the purchase agreement with Michael S. Mountanos for acquisition of property within the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project in the amount of $1,495,600 and authorize the chair of the board of directors to sign the purchase agreement.
5.12: Sitting as the Board of Directors for the Lake County Watershed Protection District, (a) adopt resolution approving reimbursement agreements between the Lake County Watershed Protection District and the city of Lakeport and the city of Clearlake to provide reimbursement for state-mandated pyrethroid sampling and stormwater monitoring services; and (b) and authorize the Water Resources director to sign the agreements.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Introduction of John Harper, new county director for Mendocino and Lake County’s UC Extension program.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of report from Bruce Wilson, executive director of the Workforce Alliance of the Northbay.
6.4, 10:30 a.m.: Hearing on account and proposed assessment for the property located at 6814 Hammond Ave., Nice, CA; APN #031-071-46; Property Owner: Steve M. DeFilippis.
6.5, 11:30 a.m.: Public hearing, discussion and consideration of appeal (AB 21-04) of the Planning Commission approval of major use permit (UP 21-10) and adoption of initial study (IS/MND 21-10) for a commercial cannabis cultivation license (Sourz HVR, Clearlake Oaks); APN’s 006-004-07 (Project Location) and Contiguous Parcels 006-002-04, 006-004-06, 006-002-09, 006-04-24, 00-004-25 and 006-009-36.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of appointment of county supervisor as alternate to the Lake County Audit Committee.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1) — City of Clearlake v. County of Lake, et al.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1) — Flesch v. County of Lake.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1): Center for Biological Diversity et al. v. County of Lake, et al.
8.4: Public employee evaluation: County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 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. In accordance with updated guidelines from the state of California and revised Cal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards, persons who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are required to wear a face covering at this meeting.
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
Indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that are read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council before the meeting.
The council will meet new Lakeport Police Officer Katie Hutchins and present a proclamation designating October 2021 Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
On the agenda is a public hearing during which the council will receive written protests of the proposed rates, to be followed by adoption of resolutions to establish new water and wastewater rates to go into effect on Nov. 1.
Based on the proposed increases, over five years, an average single-family residential water customer with a monthly flow of 800 cubic feet has an existing bill of $53.09 would see their costs increase to $71.49 by the fifth year for water, and would go from $74.25 to $86.05 over that time period for water.
In other business, City Manager Kevin Ingram will take to the council a proposed one-year lease with the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center, or CLERC, for the reuse of the Carnegie Library building for the development of an environmental research center and associated labs and offices.
The proposed lease calls for the nonprofit to pay $850 a month for the use of the building. The city will cover the costs of electricity, water, sewer and trash.
“As the building has not been utilized in several years it is not clear what the true costs for utilities at this site are at this time. Both the City and CLERC have agreed to revisit the allocation of costs prior to the expiration of the lease term once the parties have data on the actual costs associated with CLERC’s use of the building,” Ingram said in his report.
Also on Tuesday, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen will ask the council to approve a Crisis Intervention Responder Program and authorize him and the city manager to finalize details and sign a memorandum of understanding with Lake Family Resource Center.
On the consent agenda — items usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on Oct. 5; and approval of the side letter agreement with the Unrepresented Employees Compensation and Benefits Program adopted Sept. 7, 2021.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
The California Highway Patrol announced the graduation and deployment of its 10 newest K-9 teams on Friday.
The ceremony at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento is the culmination of 400 to 600 hours of intense training for each officer and their canine partner.
“After weeks of rigorous training, these new teams are ready to assist in the CHP’s mission of protecting and serving the State of California,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “Our canines are a tremendous asset to the department, and the addition of these 10 teams to our existing resources will supplement the already highly effective canine program.”
The CHP uses its canines to perform a variety of functions, including detecting human scent, contraband, and explosives.
A canine team can improve the safety and effectiveness of officers as well as saving time and money.
The CHP canines are also used to assist allied agencies in apprehending criminals, detecting explosives or drugs, and in locating “at-risk” missing persons.
This is the only graduation in 2021 for CHP canine teams trained in handler protection and narcotics detection or handler protection and explosive detection.
The canine teams completed between 11 and 15 weeks of intensive training at the CHP Academy, depending on their specialty.
All handlers are CHP officers with departmental experience ranging from four to 15 years.
The graduating canine teams represent the following CHP Divisions: Valley, Golden Gate, Central, Southern, Border and Inland.
Following this graduation, the CHP now has 48 canine teams deployed throughout the state.
