How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
The supervisors will meet in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, for a hybrid meeting format which also will include the opportunity for community members to continue to participate virtually.
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 at 9 a.m. The meeting ID is 993 7987 0523, password 835361.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item please 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 9:02 a.m., the board will consider a reference filed with the Registrar of Voters Office to challenge the ordinance the board passed on Aug. 18 to provide for graduated levels of enforcement of Public Health orders, including the imposition of fines.
At 10 a.m., the board will present several proclamations, including to Bob Malley, who has spent more than a decade on the Lake County Planning Commission, to Det. Jerry Pfann of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office who is retiring this month, another marking the 100th anniversary of Disabled American Veterans, one declaring Friday, Sept. 25, as Native American Day in Lake County, and will honor Lakeport resident Lydia Meraz for her heroic actions in saving the life of 3-year-old Darius Apar.
At 11:15 a.m., the board will continue a discussion from Sept. 1 regarding issues with the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office, including a proposed vote of no confidence and request for resignation of Treasurer-Tax Collector Barbara Ringen.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation commending Bob Malley for his 10+ years of service as a planning commissioner.
5.2: Adopt proclamation honoring the 100th anniversary of Disabled American Veterans.
5.3: Adopt proclamation declaring Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, as Native American Day in Lake County, California.
5.4: Adopt proclamation commending Lydia Meraz for heroic actions in saving the life of 3-year-old Darius Apar.
5.5: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2020-133 adopting the Final Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-21.
5.6: Approve change to board’s annual meeting calendar for 2020.
5.7: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Resource Development Associates for implementation and maintenance of the Network of Care Website for Fiscal Year 2020-21 for a contract maximum of $48,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.8: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Vista Pacifica Enterprises Inc. for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2020-21 for contract maximum of $78,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.9: Adopt resolution to amend the budget for FY 2020-2021 by appropriating unanticipated revenue for Public Health Services and authorize the Health Services director to sign necessary documents to secure these funds.
5.10: Sitting as the Kelseyville County Waterworks #3 Board of Directors, (a) approve Proposed Private Lateral Grant Program to assist property owners for the replacement costs of private laterals to reduce inflow and infiltration; and (b) adopt resolution canceling reserves in the amount of $15,000 to fund the program.
5.11: (a) Adopt resolution revising the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 adopted budget of the county of Lake by canceling reserves in Fund 295 Special Districts Administration Equipment, in the amount of $30,000 to make appropriations in Budget Unit 8695, Object Code 786.62-74; (b) authorize the Special Districts administrator / assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $30,000 to Industrial Electrical Co. for the purchase of a 15 KW generator for the Special Districts Administration building.
5.12: Adopt proclamation commending Jerry Pfann on his retirement.
5.13: Approve mileage reimbursement for Al Acrey, quagga mussel monitor in the amount of $983.32 and authorize the auditor to pay.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:02 a.m.: Consideration of direction to the Registrar of Voters regarding the referendum against Ordinance No. 3097, “An Ordinance of the County of Lake to Provide for Graduated Levels of Enforcement of Public Health Orders Through Education and Training and the Imposition of Administrative Fines”, adopted by your Board on Aug. 18, 2020.
6.3, 10 a.m.: Presentation of (a) proclamation commending Bob Malley for his 10+ years of service as a planning commissioner; (b) proclamation commending Jerry Pfann on his retirement; (c) proclamation honoring the 100th anniversary of Disabled American Veterans; and (d) proclamation declaring Friday, September 25, 2020, as Native American Day in Lake County; and (e) proclamation commending Lydia Meraz for heroic actions in saving the life of 3-year-old Darius Apar.
6.4, 10:10 a.m.: Presentation of Employee Service Awards.
6.5, 11:00 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration/discussion of naming existing unnamed roads in the Jerusalem Valley area of Middletown.
6.6, 11:15 a.m.: Continued from Sept. 1, presentation on continuing issues regarding Treasurer/Tax Collector’s Office, vote of no confidence and request for resignation of Barbara Ringen.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public Employee Evaluations: IT Director Shane French, Social Services Director Crystal Markytan.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1) Center for Biological Diversity v. County of Lake, et al.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1) California Native Plant Society v. County of Lake, et al.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
On Sunday the complex – burning for a month on the Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests – reached 836,871 acres and 34-percent containment, the US Forest Service said.
The number of structures it has destroyed remained at 35 on Sunday, with 1,595 structures still threatened, officials said.
The Forest Service said steady progress continues on the South Zone of the August Complex. The east side of the complex is now contained, and resources are being shifted to other areas of the fire.
On Saturday, crews continued to improve lines near Pillsbury Ranch and conducted additional burning when weather and other conditions were favorable. The strategically applied burning will increase the protection of structures in Lake Pillsbury by removing vegetation between control lines and the main fire perimeter, officials said.
Officials said the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington has 233 soldiers deployed on the complex, and they continue to support the August Complex.
These firefighting soldiers have been engaged in fireline construction, mop up and patrol, and many are now assisting with structure protection and holding lines as firing operations continue in the Lake Pillsbury area, officials said.
An updated Forest Order No. 08-20-13 was issued for the August Complex on Sept. 19. This Forest Order adjusted the southern boundary of the previous closure to encompass more of the area around Lake Pillsbury due to firefighting activities and to protect the public from potential injury caused by hazards within the fire area.
Residents and property owners may return to their properties within the Mendocino National Forest in Glenn County, but should use extreme caution when entering the burn area, as hazards may be present.
Properties accessed by a Forest Service road will require a permit from the US Forest Service. Access to the Forest Service closure area for other purposes, including hunting and recreation, is prohibited.
In the August Complex South Zone, evacuation orders are in effect for Mendocino and Lake counties. In Lake, the orders are for Pillsbury Ranch and the entire Lake Pillsbury basin.
Evacuation information can also be found at Inciweb.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The discussion is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
At its Sept. 1 meeting, the board was due to consider a vote of no confidence and asking for the resignation of Barbara Ringen, who has served as treasurer-tax collector since 2013.
Supervisor Bruno Sabatier had asked for the board to consider the action against Ringen, whose performance has been under scrutiny due to a list of concerns, from a lack of tax-defaulted property sales to issues with check deposits for property tax payments, inability to implement new taxes or enhance collection of current taxes such as those for cannabis and vacation rentals, and a host of other matters.
However, after Ringen said she was unprepared to respond to all of Sabatier’s concerns, the board agreed to give her until Sept. 22 to return with a response.
Ringen’s performance has been a source of discussion for the board and the County Administrative Office going back to September of 2018. Issues previously cited have run the gamut from lack of consistent tax default sales, collection of taxes, lack of transparency regarding the county’s investment practices and status, and customer service.
That led to the board in early 2019 creating an ad hoc committee to work with Ringen’s office. In June 2019, Ringen emailed the ad hoc committee to offer her resignation effective January 2020.
However, during an August 2019 board meeting, Ringen appeared to make an about-face, refusing to give a firm resignation date.
Ultimately, Ringen – who was reelected in November 2018 – didn’t go through with leaving her job. Her term continues until January 2023.
Also last year, the state Legislature approved and the governor signed AB 632, legislation requested by the Board of Supervisors and carried by Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and State Sen. Mike McGuire, that will allow the county government to combine the elected positions of auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector into a single elected office.
However, county officials said no movement has been taken on that department combination yet.
Sabatier outlines concerns
At the Sept. 1 meeting, Sabatier read through a portion of his nine-page report raising concerns with Ringen’s performance, which can be seen below.
Sabatier raised five key topics: Delayed deposits which impact our partner agencies as well as individuals; inability to implement new taxes or enhance the collection of current taxes; inability to problem solve the issues of the department whether through creative staffing strategies or the addition of technology; inability to follow through and make the necessary changes to make progress in mitigating the problems of the department; and inability to trust that change will occur in a meaningful way or that the answers the board is given are honest or truthful.
After Sabatier gave his review, Supervisor Tina Scott asked if Ringen was attending the meeting virtually. At that point, she was not, and Sabatier said he’d had a short conversation with her the previous Thursday to let her know it was on the agenda.
While they waited for Ringen to join the meeting, Supervisor Rob Brown saidt, “We always think that we can do better, including our office.”
He added, “We just keep getting stuff thrown at us, one thing after another.”
Brown said he wasn’t trying to make excuses, but was pointing out that more things were getting stacked on, and noted that adding on cannabis taxation was “a huge thing, over and above” everything else.
Brown asked about staffing levels. Sabatier said Ringen is budgeted for close to 12 staff, and is only down by one, and also is using extra help staffers.
When COVID-19 appeared, Brown said the board was working on a classification and compensation study that would result in $91,000 to increase salaries in Ringen’s office, which he said would help with turnover and get the department caught up.
Ringen joined the meeting a short time later, saying she wanted time for a fair chance to respond because she didn’t have all of the necessary information at hand.
In a brief prepared response, Ringen said she wasn’t aware of delayed deposits burdening partner agencies and individuals, and acknowledged a slight delay in processing tax payment during tax season.
She said cannabis taxes are paid in two annual installments and transient occupancy tax, or bed tax, is billed quarterly. Her department recently added a TOT billing module.
Ringen said her department can accomplish the tasks in a more effective manner.
She added that her office has received and processed more than 700 COVID-19-related penalty cancellation requests on property tax payments.
During public comment, Lakeport resident Michael Green argued action against Ringen isn’t warranted.
She said tax-default property sales are an unfunded state mandate. “Ultimately it’s really not up the Board of Supervisors to render judgment on her performance,” but it’s a matter for the public, said Green.
Sabatier maintained he was not making a personal attack against Ringen, who he said is a kind and sweet person. He added that he’s been trying to make positive changes with regard to her department for a year and a half and he’s seen nothing, so he wanted to spotlight the issue.
“This is about a specific role, not a specific person,” he said.
He added, “Our community is waiting for us to see change and we need to provide that to them.”
The board agreed to reschedule the discussion to its Sept. 22 meeting to give Ringen a chance to fully respond.
Also at the Sept. 1 meeting, the board held a closed session to discuss the suit filed by the city of Clearlake over issues including the tax sales. County Counsel Anita Grant said the board took no action.
In related news, at its meeting last week, the board approved an item on its consent agenda to approve a contract of up to $95,000 with Harmony Research for the new fiscal year for professional research services related to the tax default land sales.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The commission will meet virtually beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22
The agenda can be found here.
Submit comments and questions in writing for commission consideration by sending them to
Community members also can participate via Zoom.
To give the planning commission adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit written comments prior to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
The meet will be broadcast live on the Youtube channels for the city of Clearlake or Lake County PEG TV.
Commissioners on Tuesday will consider election of the chair and vice chair.
Also on the agenda are public hearings, including one continued from the July and August meeting, as well as to consider adopting a resolution with amendments to the zoning map, and design review procedures and that implement the new zoning ordinance.
Email Elizabeth Larson at