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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lakeport Planning Commission held its first meeting of the new year on Wednesday evening, with the three new commissioners taking their oaths, new officers elected for the coming year and a discussion of a county pilot program to allow for microenterprise home kitchen operations.
At the start of the hour-and-a-half-long virtual meeting, City Clerk/Administrative Services Director Kelly Buendia administered the oath of office to Scott Barnett, Kurt Combs and Nathan Maxman, who the Lakeport City Council appointed to three vacant commission seats in December.
They join Mark Mitchell and Jeff Warrenburg, now in their first terms.
Warrenburg nominated Mitchell as chair, with Maxman seconding. Combs nominated Warrenburg as vice chair. The commission voted unanimously to approve both of those nominations.
Both Buendia and Community Development Director Jenni Byers then gave a presentation on the commission’s duties and responsibilities, including the requirements of the Brown Act.
Also on Wednesday, the commission discussed the new pilot program for microenterprise home kitchen operations that the Board of Supervisors approved in November under the auspices of AB 626.
Microenterprise home kitchen operations are home-based businesses that may prepare a maximum of 30 meals per day or 60 meals a week, with annual sales not to exceed $50,000.
The pilot runs from Jan. 4 to June 30, allows up to two permits per month and a maximum of two per supervisorial district. Lake County Environmental Health is the lead agency, with Byers noting that a city business permit will be required, along with landlord permission, and zoning and minor use permits.
City staff explained that Lake County Environmental Health will handle the health-related issues and inspections while the city will follow up on conditions related to parking and other requirements.
Byers said that AB 626 requires a local health department to act as the lead agency, so if the county chooses not to continue with the program after the pilot time period ends, the city wouldn’t continue with it either.
Associate Planner Dan Chance said they have had a member of the public come in to ask about the program. That individual was interested in producing cupcakes, a food product covered under the cottage kitchen law, which the city already allows.
Under that law, Chance said the city has granted home occupation permits over the last few years for those who want to bake cookies or make cakes for sale from their homes.
Maxman asked what kind of timeline Byers anticipated should staff work on creating city rules to allow the operations in the city. Byers said they could have something in place by March or April.
Maxman said he was concerned about the city not having something in place, and Byers explained that if the city has no rules of its own, the county could permit such operations in the city limits. However, Chance added, he didn’t think the county would do that without city input.
“We’re not looking to reinvent the wheel on anything,” said Byers, explaining that staff could look at the Lake County ordinance and utilize it. However, she said that based on the law, the city can’t have more restrictions in its ordinance than are included in the county’s.
Warrenberg moved to direct staff to prepare a minute order to initiate a text amendment to the Lakeport Zoning Ordinance to address microenterprise home kitchen operations and work with the county in order than the text amendment would be in effect prior to the end of the county pilot program.
Barnett seconded the motion, which the commission approved 5-0.
The commission will next meet on Feb. 10.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
House Resolution 24 leveled one charge against Trump, “incitement of insurrection” for the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Congressman John Garamendi (CA-03) and Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05) issued statements explaining their votes and the decisions behind them following the House vote of 232 to 197.
Both men also had voted on Tuesday to support the passage of House Resolution 21, urging Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, gather the Cabinet and remove the president from office.
The House of Representatives first impeached Trump in December 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, with both Garamendi and Thompson voting in support. The U.S. Senate would acquit Trump in February 2020.
Trump, a Republican, is the third U.S. president to be impeached.
The first was Andrew Johnson, a Democrat and vice president to President Abraham Lincoln, who the House of Representatives impeached in February 1868 for charges he violated the Tenure of Office Act for trying to remove Secretary of War Edwin Stanton from office without Senate approval.
Johnson was not convicted in the Senate following a nearly three-month trial. Each of the votes on the articles of impeachment fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority by just one vote.
He served only one term as president, but later was reelected to the U.S. Senate, where he had served before becoming Lincoln’s running mate in 1864.
The second president to be impeached was Bill Clinton, also a Democrat. The House impeached Clinton in December 1998 for perjury to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice, charges that had arisen because he had lied to cover his affair with Monica Lewinsky. Clinton was, at that time, in his second term as president.
The Senate acquitted Clinton on both charges in February 1999 following a trial that lasted more than a month.
The Senate is expected to consider Trump’s impeachment later this month. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said senators aren’t expected to return until, at the earliest, Jan. 19, the day before President-elect Joe Biden is to be sworn in as the 46th president.
The article of impeachment can be found here.
The written statements from Garamendi and Thompson are published in their entirety below.
Rep. John Garamendi’s statement on impeachment of President Trump
“I rise today with great sadness and anger over the events that transpired on Jan. 6, and with a steadfast determination to ensure those who incited and committed the unconscionable acts on that day are brought to justice.
“Last week’s violent insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, which has left at least six people dead and dozens injured, was a stain on our nation. The president’s blatantly false claims about election fraud, which were parroted by current administration officials and Members of the House and Senate, finally reached a tipping point last week when these bald-faced lies gave way to a violent assault on our Capitol. Even after 64 failed attempts in federal court to substantiate the baseless claims about election fraud, the president, his administration, and members of Congress continued to double down and use these mistruths to incite a mob that staged a bloody insurrection against the United States Government. They beat and murdered police officers, planted pipe bombs, brandished weapons, and left our nation shocked and in mourning.
“What does it mean, then, for America that a sitting President invited thousands of his most fervent supporters to Washington and incited them to commence a violent occupation of the world’s citadel of democracy – the United States Capitol?
“Without a proper check and proportional response to these events, we will be doomed to relive the same hell over and over again. In time, we will lose our democracy, our hallowed institutions, and irreparably tear at the very fabric of our nation. As elected leaders of this nation, we have a right, but more importantly, a moral obligation to respond to those who incited this riot in the strongest possible terms.
“Just as this Congress returned mere hours after this insurrection to certify the lawful results of the 2020 Presidential election, we stand here today prepared to take firm, decisive, and necessary action to restore our country from the heinous state it spiraled into on 1/6/2021.
“The president’s violent rhetoric and actions pose a significant threat to our nation. No president who invites thousands of his most devoted supporters to Washington and urges them to ‘fight’ his political enemies by committing a seditious attack on our Capitol should be allowed to remain in office. Our nation has endured and persevered through so much, and it will survive this president. But if we do not act and hold him accountable, then we will leave our nation vulnerable to a future demagogue. That brings us here on this somber day to carry out our sacred oath to defend and protect the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic.
“Today, I voted to impeach President Donald Trump,” Garamendi said.
Thompson votes to impeach Trump, cites his attempt to incite attack on Capitol and decimate democracy
“Our institution of representative democracy is a beacon of hope for millions of people around the world and has been for nearly 250 years. Last week, the president changed that when he sent domestic terrorists to tear that beacon down. He put the lives of every person in the Capitol at risk, from those in the line of succession, to Members of Congress, to the employees and staff, to the Capitol Police officers. He incited a mob that wanted to hang the Vice President, kill the Speaker and take hostages. This is the most unconscionable thing I’ve ever seen.
“This attack, incited by the President, was an attempt to disrupt the Constitutional process to certify the vote of the Electoral College. Make no mistake, it was an attempt to overturn our presidential election and decimate democracy. This seditious act must have consequences. That’s why today I voted for the article of impeachment charging the president with inciting this grave attack. He must be held accountable. The Senate must swiftly convict and remove him from office.”
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
This latest development puts 22 percent of Lake County’s population into this new priority level.
According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, Lake County is home to 14,333 residents aged 65 or older out of a total population of 64,195.
“There is no higher priority than efficiently and equitably distributing these vaccines as quickly as possible to those who face the gravest consequences,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday. “Individuals 65 and older are now the next group eligible to start receiving vaccines. To those not yet eligible for vaccines, your turn is coming. We are doing everything we can to bring more vaccine into the state.”
Those in Phase 1A – health care workers and long-term care residents – remain the highest priority to receive vaccines. Demand for the vaccines continues to far exceed supply.
“With our hospitals crowded and ICUs full, we need to focus on vaccinating Californians who are at highest risk of becoming hospitalized to alleviate stress on our health care facilities,” said Dr. Tomás Aragón, director of the California Department of Public Health and State Public Health Officer. “Prioritizing individuals age 65 and older will reduce hospitalizations and save lives.”
Following a bipartisan letter from nine governors including Gov. Newsom on Jan. 8, the Centers for Disease Control announced changes on Tuesday to its vaccine plan including making more of the coronavirus vaccine supply available to all states.
Along with the increase in vaccine supply, the federal government encouraged states to expand the pool of those eligible to receive the vaccine to individuals 65 and older.
The governor also announced a new system to let people know if they are eligible to receive a vaccine, and if not yet eligible, to register for a notification via email or text when they are eligible. That system is expected to launch next week.
A second phase of that system will help counties, cities and others run mass vaccination events. This will include a way for eligible members of the public to schedule their vaccination appointments at those events.
Community vaccination events are only one way for eligible Californians to receive their vaccines. When available, the public can also go to their doctor or pharmacy to receive the vaccine.
Newsom has laid out the goal of 1 million additional vaccines administered by the end of this week.
The state, at Newsom’s direction, is tackling the vaccination challenge with a multipronged approach.
That includes increasing the number of people who can provide vaccinations by more than 100,000 health care professionals.
Last Monday, 36,000 dentists were added to the pool of health care providers who can administer the COVID-19 vaccines. The state has already received anecdotal reports of dentists actively administering vaccines after completing the required COVID-19 training.
This expansion comes on the heels of a similar waiver in late December allowing pharmacy technicians overseen by licensed pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccines. There are 69,000 pharmacy technicians in California.
The Governor’s Office reported that it has convened meetings with leaders across the public and private health care system and received commitments to cooperatively accelerate the pace of vaccine administration.
For more information on the state’s efforts to distribute a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine in a fair way to everyone who wants it, visit the Vaccinate All 58 webpage.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
On Tuesday morning, State Sen. Mike McGuire was among the state and local officials who discussed the project, which is based on a proposed property swap between the county and the state of California.
In exchange for the Lakeport National Guard Armory at 1431 Hoyt Ave., which is being vacated after the guard unit consolidated with another one, the county will trade the state a 15.5-acre property at 15837 18th Ave. in Clearlake.
That property in Clearlake, in turn, is set to be developed with 100 new affordable housing units, officials said Tuesday.
The state will require, at minimum, that 50 percent of those units meet the “affordable” criteria, including 12.5 percent being very low, 12.5 percent being low and 25 percent being moderate, with units expected to range between one and three bedrooms, said Jason Kenney, deputy director of the state Department of General Services’ Real Estate Services Division.
McGuire told the board on Tuesday that the project is the result of an “incredible partnership” between local and state officials over the past two years.
“We all need a little bit of hope in our lives right about now,” said McGuire, referring to COVID-19, civil unrest and last week’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, adding he believes this project will bring hope, as well as a new headquarters for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
He said the 100 new homes will be adjacent to the city of Clearlake’s largest shopping center and Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital.
The development, as it would be pointed out during the meeting, also will be situated closely to Woodland Community College’s Clear Lake Campus as well as a major new transit hub that will serve areas ranging from the Bay Area to Shasta County.
McGuire said the county and the sheriff’s office have had an interest in moving the agency into the state-owned armory, but the price tag had been too expensive. That meant they needed an innovative approach, which is what this proposal offers.
Once completed, the state will transfer the ownership of the armory to the sheriff’s office. He pointed out that the armory is on the same campus as the Lake County Jail and the county’s emergency operations center, offering the sheriff’s office operational efficiencies.
He said the armory will be an improvement over the sheriff’s current headquarters at 1220 Martin St. in Lakeport in that it doesn't leak or have foundation issues, and that it has a commercial kitchen, a vault and storage.
Closing the deal on the armory is dependent on the land swap for the housing development, McGuire said. Once that’s done, the armory’s keys could be turned over to the county later this spring.
The county’s 15.5-acre property in Clearlake – which once had been proposed for a veterans housing facility – will then be developed.
“It is a fantastic location for affordable housing,” said McGuire, adding, “You couldn't ask for a more central buildout.”
He said the state has had interest from three developers interested in building housing at the site. A developer is expected to be selected within the next 60 to 90 days and that, depending on the funding allocation, construction could start in 2022 or 2023.
McGuire said the county will give the state a 99-year lease on the land.
Development proposals due in February
Kenney referred to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January 2019 executive order, which directed state agencies to identify excess state-owned property “for sustainable, innovative and cost-effective housing developments to address California’s shortage of affordable housing.”
He said with Lake County’s history of fires and housing needs, the project checks a number of boxes. “But it also is innovative.”
Kenney said additional legislative authority was needed to make the proposal work, and they got that in the last budget cycle.
He said the project wouldn’t have happened had McGuire, the sheriff and the county not worked to bring it forward. “The synergy has been fantastic here.”
The state is now in the solicitation phase for a developer. Kenney said final proposals are due Feb. 26, with three very qualified developers aiming for the city. The county and the city have been invited to be part of the proposal evaluation process, and Kenney said they are excited and eager to see the proposals.
Board Chair Bruno Sabatier, whose district includes the city of Clearlake, said it will probably be one of the biggest developments in the city of Clearlake in some time.
Sheriff Martin said of the effort, “I just can't possibly thank everybody enough.”
He said his department headquarters is very dated, and although there have been some improvements, it’s really not a suitable place for a law enforcement facility – but the armory is.
When he heard the National Guard Unit was consolidating and vacating the location, Martin said he wanted to jump on it. “It’s quite a good opportunity for us.”
The site will also offer the opportunity to have wildland fire response training courses, he said.
Martin said he’s looking forward to a place that the sheriff’s office can call home for many years. “I know we’re not done yet but this is a major step in getting there.”
Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora said this has been a great example of a real collaborative project.
“We’re looking forward to a great project,” Flora said.
Flora recognized McGuire’s leadership and commitment, noting that he refused to let anything slip and used his influence to make sure it happens.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said it’s an understatement to say that the project team is enthusiastic.
She said staff was seeking direction from the board to authorize county staff to take all the steps to seal the deal, adding that they will need the guiding hand of County Counsel Anita Grant.
“We’re excited,” Huchingson said.
Supervisor Moke Simon said the project will benefit the entire county and open up other office space for the county government.
The newest board member, Jessica Pyska, noted, “This is so exciting,” and fellow board members Tina Scott and EJ Crandell both thanked McGuire.
McGuire said it’s the Lake County way to find solutions when challenges are in the way. “We’re just about to cross the finish line.”
He also noted that this will be the first rural development in this state housing program, as the Department of General Services has so far been very focused on urban areas.
Sabatier said Clearlake is an opportunity zone, and with these positive new developments going in, he suggested it’s a catalyst for bringing other commercial developments to the region.
Asked about the timeline for the armory’s conversion to the sheriff’s headquarters, Martin said it will be a significant project that will take a few years.
Right now he and county staff are looking for funding and grants to pay for the improvements.
The board gave staff unanimous consensus to proceed with finalizing the land swap.
Email Elizabeth Larson at