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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, 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 938 6725 3732, the pass code is 314300.
Access the meeting via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,93867253732#,,,,*314300# or dial in at 669-900-6833.
The meeting also can be viewed on the county of Lake website and on the county’s Facebook page.
This will be the commission’s first meeting since the Board of Supervisors passed an urgency ordinance on July 27 to require hydrology reports for all projects due to concerns over water supply, as Lake County News has reported.
This will also be the first meeting for new commissioner Maile Field. The supervisors approved her appointment by District 4 Supervisor Jessica Pyska on Aug. 3. She succeeds Lance Williams.
On this week’s agenda are two timed items.
The first, set for 9:05 a.m., is a public hearing to consider a major use permit south by RMI Venture/Jerusalem Grade Farms, located at 22644 Jerusalem Grade Road in Middletown, and owned by Ryan Santiago and Igor Stolper. County records show the property is 21.3 acres.
The proposed project would include a license for outdoor cultivation of 43,560 square feet of canopy, a 25-foot by 50-foot processing building, four 1,000-gallon water tanks, two 2,500-gallon water tanks and a license for self-transport distribution.
The staff report said the cultivation operation will use an existing and permitted groundwater well that was permitted through the California Department of Water Resources. A state well completion report said the well produces 100 gallons of water a minute, but a November well test showed that the well produces 70 gallons per minute.
“The project is estimated to use 746,740-gallons per year for the outdoor commercial cannabis cultivation operation. With the existing well producing approximately 70-gallons per minute, the estimated yield the well would produce in a year is approximately 44,214,705-gallons per year. The proposed project will be utilizing approximately 1.6% percent of the well's full capacity,” the staff report states.
The second project, timed for 9:10 a.m., is a major use permit sought by Paul Bernacchio, who wants to locate a retail cannabis shop in the former Driftwood Lounge at 6914 Frontage Road in Lucerne.
The building is 1,783 square feet. The shop would be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, with three to five employees and 10 customers daily with 35 deliveries weekly, according to the staff report.
“To protect the public safety and health and the community's comfort, all the visitors will go through a check-in process at the store security foyer before entering the sales area. Also, the project areas including parking lot will be under the supervision of trained security personnel during operating hours and surveillance cameras at all hours,” the staff report explains.
Staff also reported that the construction schedule will begin on the interior and exterior improvements once the permit is obtained.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Late last week, smoke from multiple fires began coming into the air basin, creating hazy, smoky conditions.
The Lake County Air Quality Management District said multiple fires including the Dixie Fire, the McFarland Fire and Monument Fire, and the River Complex fires, and other fires burning in Northern California and Oregon are creating the regional smoke impacts throughout Lake County and California.
Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart reported that all areas of Lake County have experienced air quality classified as “unhealthy” intermittently over the past week.
On Monday, Gearhart said overall air quality for the past two days had remained in the “Moderate” to “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” categories.
“With wind directions switching around, we will likely see some clearing during the day, but smoke returning toward the evening or overnight if the wind pattern stays as forecast,” he told Lake County News.
The air quality forecast calls for conditions to degrade overnight but to improve from Tuesday into Wednesday, Gearhart said. Conditions will range from “Moderate” air quality to “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.”
Overnight smoke may settle into the air basin, with upper level winds developing Tuesday which is forecast to push smoke to the east of Lake County. Gearhart said this pattern should keep the heaviest smoke concentrations out of the air basin, though all areas should expect periods of degraded air quality intermittently for Tuesday and Wednesday.
This forecast is based on the latest weather, monitoring, fire activity information and will be updated as necessary, said Gearhart.
Gearhart said the district is actively monitoring the smoke impacts throughout the County. Additionally, you may go to www.lcaqmd.net and follow the Quick Links for Air Monitoring for current smoke and air quality conditions. The fire and smoke map integrates multiple monitoring networks and smoke models as well as fire information. Current particulate levels in Lake County range from “moderate.”
Concentrations of smoke may vary depending upon location, weather, and elevation. Smoke from wildfires and structure fires contain harmful chemicals that can affect your health. Smoke can cause eye and throat irritation, coughing and difficulty breathing.
People who are at greatest risk of experiencing symptoms due to smoke include: those with respiratory disease (such as asthma), those with heart disease, young children, and older adults.
These sensitive populations should stay indoors and avoid prolonged activity. All others should limit prolonged or heavy activity and time spent outdoors. Even healthy adults can be affected by smoke. Seek medical help if you have symptoms that worsen or become severe.
Follow these general precautions to protect your health during a smoke event:
• Minimize or stop outdoor activities, especially exercise.
• Stay indoors with windows and doors closed as much as possible.
• Do not run fans that bring smoky outdoor air inside – examples include swamp coolers, whole-house fans, and fresh air ventilation systems.
• Run your air-conditioner only if it does not bring smoke in from the outdoors. Change the standard air conditioner filter to a medium or high efficiency filter. If available, use the “recirculate” or “recycle” setting on the unit.
• Do not smoke, fry food, or do other things that will create indoor air pollution.
If you have lung disease (including asthma) or heart disease, closely monitor your health and contact your doctor if you have symptoms that worsen.
Consider leaving the area until smoke conditions improve if you have repeated coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, palpitations, nausea, unusual fatigue, lightheadedness.
Localized areas of unhealthy air quality are possible until throughout this fire season. Take appropriate measures until the smoke clears.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The committee, or LEDAC, will meet via Zoom from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11.
The meeting is open to the public.
The meeting will be held via Zoom: Meeting ID, 928 1773 9016; pass code, 291966. Dial by your location, 669-900-6833.
The group is meeting monthly on the second Wednesday through December to work on elements of the next Economic Development Strategic Plan for Lakeport.
Also on the agenda are updates on city projects and activities, member reports and citizens input.
Next month’s meeting will take place at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8.
LEDAC advocates for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and acts as a conduit between the city and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs.
Members are Chair Wilda Shock and Vice Chair Denise Combs, Bonnie Darling, Candy De Los Santos, Monica Flores, Pam Harpster, Andy Lucas, Alicia Russell, Laura Sammel and Marie Schrader, with Bill Eaton as an ex officio member. City staff who are members include City Manager Kevin Ingram and Community Development Director Jenni Byers.
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- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Jessie D. Taylor, 27, died as a result of the Friday night crash, which the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said may have had driving under the influence as a factor.
While the crash occurred on Friday night, Taylor was not found until the following morning, the CHP said.
In a Monday report, the CHP said that Taylor was riding his 2019 Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound on Highway 281, north of Highway 29 near Kelseyville, at an unknown speed after 9 p.m. Friday.
Highway 281 curves to the right and Taylor continued straight, crossing the southbound lane before traveling onto the west side of the roadway, the CHP said.
Taylor continued down an embankment and ran into a wire fence, which caused him to be ejected from the bike and onto the ground, according to the CHP’s report.
A nearby resident found Taylor at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The CHP said fire personnel who responded to the scene declared Taylor deceased.
The CHP said Taylor was wearing a Department of Transportation-approved motorcycle helmet at the time of the collision.
Drugs and/or alcohol are suspected to be contributing factors in the crash, the CHP said.
The crash remains under investigation.
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