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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council of the city of Lakeport are opening membership to the Parks and Recreation Commission to include one member residing outside the city limits but within the Lakeport zip code.

There are currently three seats open. If you have an interest in serving your community, applying for a position on a city commission or committee is a great place to start.

Applications will be accepted until March 5 at 5 p.m.

This is an opportunity to give input on ongoing projects such as the continued expansion of Westside Community Park, the rehabilitation of the Westshore swimming pool, the maintenance and operation of Library Park and the Lakefront Park area.

In addition to these ongoing projects, the Parks and Recreation Commission acts in an advisory capacity to the Lakeport City Council in matters pertaining to city parks and recreation.

They also cooperate with the Lakeport Planning Commission and civic organizations to advance the sound planning of new recreation areas and facilities.

The commission consists of five voting members, at least four who are residents of the city and up to one member who lives outside of the city limits but within the Lakeport zip code area, to be appointed by the city council on the basis of interest and qualification.

The Parks and Recreation Commission meets monthly and the term for membership on this committee is two years.

The appointments will be effective retroactive to Jan. 1.

Membership on the Parks and Recreation Commission is voluntary.

If you are interested in serving on the commission, applications are available on the city’s Web site at www.cityoflakeport.com under the Hot Topic, “Now Recruiting: Parks and Recreation Commission."

For additional information, please contact Deputy City Clerk Hilary Britton at 707-263‑5615, Extension 102, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Dr. Mohamad Almawaldi, 56, of Lakeport, Calif., was arrested on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, for sexual battery. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Authorities have arrested a Lakeport doctor who is accused of sexual battery on a woman who worked at his office.

Dr. Mohamad Moutaz Almawaldi, 56, was arrested last week, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Paulich said that on Aug. 9 a report was made to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office regarding an assault that the victim said was committed by Dr. Almawaldi.

The adult female victim reported that Dr. Almawaldi had sexually battered her while she was working at his office in Lakeport. Paulich said she reported that Dr. Almawaldi forcefully kissed her and pulled down her shirt.

Dr. Almawaldi was contacted and did not wish to provide a statement, Paulich said.

Paulich said the sheriff’s office forwarded the case to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, which in turn filed a complaint with the Lake County Superior Court.

On Nov. 30 a felony arrest warrant was issued for Dr. Almawaldi, Paulich said.

On Feb. 7, the Lakeport Police Department located Almawaldi, according to Chief Brad Rasmussen.

Rasmussen said his agency was aware that Almawaldi had a warrant and they located him at Evergreen Lakeport Healthcare, where they took him into custody.

Paulich said Almawaldi was booked into the Lake County Jail on the same night. He later posted the $20,000 bail and was released.

Emma Dugas, a spokesperson for Sutter Lakeside Hospital, told Lake County News that the hospital is aware of the allegations against Dr. Almawaldi, which were reported to have occurred in his private practice.

“Dr. Almawaldi has had courtesy privileges with Sutter Lakeside Hospital so that he may order diagnostic tests for his private practice patients,” said Dugas.

She said Almawaldi is not an active member of the Sutter Lakeside Hospital medical staff.

Dugas said the hospital couldn’t comment further.

According to the Medical Board of California, Almawaldi is a board-certified nephrologist, or kidney specialist, who graduated from the University of Damascus Faculty of Medicine in his native Syria in 1984.

He has been licensed as both a physician and surgeon since August 1991, with his license due to expire in June 2019, according to the Medical Board.

Online medical board records show that Almawaldi has no record of administrative disciplinary actions, court orders, convictions, malpractice judgments, probationary licenses or letters of reprimand.

Almawaldi is tentatively scheduled to appear in Lake County Superior Court on April 3, according to his booking sheet.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 707-262-4238.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – At its Thursday meeting the Clearlake City Council agreed to give the Southshore Little League an extension of its current lease, a request the league made in order to carry out more upgrades on the fields and facilities.

City Manager Greg Folsom told the council on Thursday night that the league had approached him about its interest in installing new “capital intensive” upgrades, including lighting and a new t-ball field at Haverty Field and the Redbud Park ball fields

At the same time, the league wants to have a longer-term lease, Folsom said. The league’s current lease has five years remaining on it.

Helen Mitcham, secretary-treasurer of Southshore Little League, told the council that the league was seeking modifications to its existing use agreement.

She said the league originally was chartered in 1959, when it was known as Konocti Little League. “We have played on the Redbud fields for 60 years next season,” she said.

Many local leaders have played on the fields as children, as did Ray Silva, who went on to play in the big leagues, Mitcham said.

Mitcham said that last season there were 34 teams and 443 players ranging in age from 4 to 15.

The league’s use agreement is dated to March of 2010. Mitcham said they came back in 2012 to request a change, and that’s when it was modified to a 10-year use agreement.

In 2013 the league made a number of upgrades, including installing power lines to accommodate pitching machines and a new circuit to the snack shack, plus a new flagpole, with all the buildings painted and the dugouts reroofed, she said.

She said that in 2015 the league replaced and upgraded the main electric panel, replaced an electric scoreboard, reinstalled a swamp cooler on the snack shack, purchased a storage container, and replaced and upgraded the old alarm system.

The following year, they rebuilt the pitchers’ mounds, reworked both fields, purchased a new ice machine for the snack shack, renamed the field for donors Dale and Karen Valentine and put in a sign with the Valentine Field name, she said.

She said that in 2017, they painted all the dugouts, installed locked gates on them as well as on the announcer’s booth, and made some other upgrades as well.

Mitcham said the league was seeking to extend its existing use agreement with the city up to 25 or 30 years, as they have potential donors who want to see a longer-term commitment to allow the league’s use of the facilities.

Key goals are building a t-ball field, installing lights on the ball field and batting cages as the league seeks to bring tournament play to Clearlake, Mitcham said.

The league also sought the council’s agreement in concept to those larger projects. “We know they require permits and firm plans, and we're ready to get the ball rolling,” said Mitcham.

Mitcham said league volunteers are anxious to work with the city to make Redbud park a showcase for baseball and softball “Together we can make this a home run,” she said with a chuckle.

Councilwoman Joyce Overton said the location is a “prime piece of property” that it’s hoped will be developed at some point. She asked if the league had looked at a large piece of property by the Redbud Library. Mitcham said they hadn’t, as when the Clearlake Youth Center opened near Redbud Park, the idea was that it would be the hub of youth activities.

Mitcham also was concerned about what would happen to the fields if the league left. “We have significant investment in what's already there.”

“I think that what we have here is a little league that is completely underutilized,” said Councilman Phil Harris.

He said the league’s efforts to bring tournament play to the city would be beneficial, and having it downtown is exactly what the city desires.

“The cost of moving the fields would be substantial,” said Harris, pointing out the infrastructure already there.

Councilman Nick Bennett said, “There are obstacles to overcome,” one of them being parking in the area. However, he said he was very happy with the league’s plans, noting his daughter played ball with them.

Harris supported adding another 15 years to the five years remaining on the agreement, which would take them to 2038.

He wanted to add a caveat that if an investor was interested in the property there were would be the potential for the development of a new field in a new location, which would have to be completed before game play on the existing fields was terminated.

Mayor Bruno Sabatier said he loves what the league does for the city, noting all of the work is being done by volunteers. “Since 1959 this has been a service to our community.”

He said the league’s location is prime for attracting people to the downtown, and he agreed with Harris’ extension proposal. Sabatier added that preserving open space and childrens' play spaces is a top priority.

A league volunteer told the council that field lightning could be close to $100,000. Once they have the agreement extension, they can move forward with pursuing the necessary grant, which they could have within a year. The goal is to have the lights up and ready by the 2020 season, although it’s possible they could be in place by the 2019 season.

Harris thanked Southshore Little League for its work before the council agreed to give direction to Folsom to work with the league on the updated agreement.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – At the end of a Tuesday vehicle pursuit Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a woman who was a suspect in an armed robbery in Ukiah.

The identity of the woman, who was fatally shot in Willits where the pursuit had ended after confronting deputies while armed with a handgun, was not released by authorities on Tuesday.

Capt. Gregory Van Patten said the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office was notified at 9:25 a.m. Tuesday of an armed robbery of a Chevrolet Camaro at Thurston Auto Plaza, located at 2800 North State Street in Ukiah.

Van Patten said the suspect was described as a white female adult and the Camaro was last seen traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on Highway 101 toward Calpella.

A short time later a Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputy saw the Camaro traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on Highway 101 near the Cal Fire Howard Forest station, which Van Patten said is a few miles south of the city of Willits.

The deputy sheriff attempted a traffic stop of the Camaro and a pursuit ensued at speeds over 100 miles per hour onto the Highway 101 bypass, Van Patten said.

Additional Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies joined the pursuit with assistance from officers from the Willits Police Department, according to Van Patten.

Van Patten said that a short time later the Camaro crashed along the roadside of Highway 101 at Mile Post Marker 49.10 north of the bypass.

He said a white female adult exited the Camaro while holding a handgun and subsequently confronted the pursuing deputy sheriffs and officers.

A shooting resulted and the white female adult died at the scene. No deputy sheriffs or officers were injured as a result of the shooting, Van Patten said.

Highway 101 was closed to both directions of traffic for several hours to preserve scene evidence, Van Patten said.

He said investigators from the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office were summoned to the scene and will be the lead investigative agency.

District Attorney’s Office spokesman Mike Geniella confirmed that the agency will oversee the investigation into the shooting, but added that there would be no further comment by the District Attorney’s Office on any details until that investigation is complete.
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol is working to identify an individual who fled the scene of a Friday night solo-vehicle hit-and-run crash that injured one person.

The crash occurred at 11:35 p.m. on Fairway Drive east of Tenino way in the Clear Lake Rivieras, according to the CHP’s Clear Lake Area office.

Injured in the crash was the vehicle’s passenger, Charles Wade Rose Jr., 53, of Kelseyville, the CHP reported.

The CHP said the driver who fled was behind the wheel of a 2003 Ford F-350 pickup traveling westbound on Fairview Drive.

The driver failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, which allowed the pickup to go off the road and travel down a steep embankment, according to the report.

As the pickup was going down the embankment, the front of it hit a large rock, causing it to overturn, the CHP said.

The CHP said the pickup came to rest approximately 100 feet south of Fairway Drive where it caught fire.

After the crash, the driver fled on foot and was not located, the CHP said.

Rose, who was seated in the right front seat and wearing a seat belt, sustained moderate injuries in the wreck and was flown by REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, according to the CHP.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the CHP.

Any witnesses not contacted by the CHP on scene are encouraged to call the CHP’s Clear Lake Area Office at 707-279-0103.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has a big group of dogs waiting for new homes this week.

The available dogs are Buttercup, Hutch, Jessie, Magnolia, Niko, Oliver, Robbie and Taco.

To meet the animals, call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8201 and speak to Marcia at Extension 103 or call Extension 118, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or leave a message at any other time.

Below are this week's available pets.

“Buttercup.” Courtesy photo.

‘Buttercup’

“Buttercup” is a female Chihuahua-terrier mix who is estimated to be between 6 and 8 months old.

Shelter staff said she weighs about 20 pounds, is good with other dogs and with children.

She is shy but warms up quickly, and has young pup manners.

“Hutch.” Courtesy photo.

‘Hutch’

Hutch is a calm shepherd mix estimated to be between 1 and 2 years old, with a short brown coat and weighing 55 pounds.

Shelter staff said he appears to be good with other dogs, and is attentive.

He walks great on leash but also likes to just chill on his bed.

“Jessie.” Courtesy photo.

‘Jessie’

“Jessie” is a small female shepherd mix, weighing about 20 pounds and estimated to be 4 months old.

She has a short tan coat with black and white markings.

Shelter staff said she is good with other dogs and with children.

Jessie is very spunky and on the go, and loves to play chase and zoom around. Staff said she is quickly learning to walk nicely on leash.

“Magnolia.” Courtesy photo.

.‘Magnolia’

“Magnolia” has a short brown and white coat.

Shelter staff said she loves walks and commands you rub her belly. She wiggles over then flops over for the rubs.

She came in as a stray and is already spayed. Staff estimated she is around 2 years old and weighs about 60 pounds.

Magnolia is very social and friendly. She is fine with other dogs, and walks well on leash.

“Niko.” Courtesy photo.

‘Niko’

“Niko” is a handsome 2-year-old male German Shepherd.

He weighs 70 pounds and has a black and tan coat.

Shelter staff said he is calm and attentive, eager to learn and easy to walk. He likes to play and minds his own business when around other dogs. He has a couple old wounds that have been treated and are healing nicely.

Niko has great kennel manners, so staff said he could possibly be house trained. He needs a big fenced yard to play and get lots of exercise, staff said.

He is vaccinated and will be neutered prior to adoption.

“Oliver.” Courtesy photo.

‘Oliver’

Oliver is a very handsome 9-month-old male mixed breed who weighs about 90 pounds and has a short black and white coat.

Shelter staff said he is good with children, treat motivated and eager to please. He’s also a quick learner.

“Robbie.” Courtesy photo.

‘Robbie’

“Robbie” is a young and happy-go-lucky mix – possibly Labrador Retriever and Rottweiler.

Shelter staff said is he around a year and a half old and weighs 50 pounds.

He walks well on a leash, makes friends with other dogs, and is playful but not super active.

Robbie is vaccinated and will be neutered prior to adoption.

“Taco.” Courtesy photo.

‘Taco’

“Taco” is a 1-year-old male Chihuahua.

He weighs 4 pounds and already has been neutered.

Shelter staff said Taco is super entertaining and comical.

He gets along with other dogs and with children; it’s unknown how he interacts with cats. He is not timid or fearful.

Taco has a sweet personality and loves to be in your lap, but also loves a quick walk.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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Denise Loustalot. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Local business owner and East Region Town Hall Chairwoman Denise Loustalot has pulled papers from the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office and officially announced her candidacy to represent the people of District 3 on the Lake County Board of Supervisors.

“Our Northshore communities need more jobs and better economic opportunities. As the successful owner of two local businesses that employ 28 people, I have the experience to create jobs and attract new businesses to District 3,” said Loustalot.

“Creating a more prosperous local economy also means protecting Clear Lake, our most precious economic and environmental resource,” she said. “As county supervisor, I will focus on environmentally appropriate business development that preserves our quality of life.”

“Unfortunately, the needs of District 3 residents have too often gone unmet at the county level,” continued Loustalot. “We deserve a supervisor who listens better, talks less, and works in a more effective manner with other county leaders to improve roads and services in our local communities.

She added, “As a regional town hall chair and former Clearlake mayor, I will use my leadership skills to ensure that the people of District 3 receive our fair share of county resources.”

Local community and business leaders joined in expressing their support for Loustalot’s candidacy for county supervisor.

“Denise is a public servant not a politician. She is truly committed to the best interests of our communities and I’m proud to endorse her candidacy for Supervisor,” stated Northshore resident Kathy Garner.

“Denise Loustalot understands how to grow a business and create jobs,” said Bill Stone, immediate past president of the Clearlake Oaks Business Association. “We need that kind of hands-on leadership working for District 3 on the County Board of Supervisors.”

Other community leaders endorsing Denise include Lake County Planning Commissioner Bob Malley, Upper Lake business owner Roger Hue de Laroque and former Lake County Supervisor Ed Robey.

A resident of Lake County for more than 37 years, Loustalot graduated from Lower Lake High School in 1988.

She is a third-generation family small business owner. Denise and her husband Pete own two successful local businesses. She currently serves as president of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to her business involvement, Loustalot has devoted many years of service to the community.

She chairs the East Region Town Hall community organization and formerly served on the boards of the Land Area Formation Council and the Lake County Area Planning Council, as well as the Public Education and Government TV Board.

Loustalot is a former councilwoman and two-term mayor from the city of Clearlake . She is a member of Rotary and Soroptimists.

The Loustalots have a “blended” family of five children.
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A Thursday evening four-vehicle wreck near Kelseyville left one driver injured.

The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said the crash occurred just before 6 p.m. Thursday on Highway 29 at Bottle Rock Road.

The CHP said Angela Salazar, 58, of Lakeport was driving a 1997 Nissan Quest northbound on Highway 29 approaching the intersection with Bottle Rock Road.

At the same time, Flora Hutchison, 73, of Cobb, driving a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder, was stopped in Highway 29’s northbound lane waiting to make a left turn onto Bottle Rock Road with her left turn signal on, the CHP said.

Crystal Johnson, 36, of Kelseyville was driving a 2007 Chevy pickup southbound approaching Bottle Rock, while the CHP said 16-year-old Bryson Trask of Clearlake was driving a 1994 Toyota pickup behind Salazar in the northbound lane.

The CHP said Salazar failed to notice that Hutchison was stopped and hit the rear of the Hutchison’s Nissan.

Salazar’s vehicle then bounced into the southbound lane, directly in Johnson’s path, hitting the left front of Johnson’s pickup, the CHP said.

Trask applied the brakes to his pickup but was unable to stop and hit the rear of Salazar’s Nissan, according to the report.

The wreck left the cars driven by Salazar, Johnson and Trask disabled and blocking both lanes of the highway and the Bottle Rock Road intersection, the CHP said.

The CHP said the roadway was closed for an extended period of time to extricate Salazar and remove the additional disabled vehicles.

Salazar was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital with moderate injuries, which the CHP said included complaint of pain to her arm. The other drivers were uninjured.

All of the drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the wreck, and the CHP said neither drugs nor alcohol were determined to be factors in the crash.

The crash is still under investigation and the CHP asks that any witnesses contact its Kelseyville office at 707-279-0103.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will consider midyear budget adjustments and look at a proposal for a new employees unit.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, 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 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

In an untimed item, the board will hold its midyear budget review.

As part of that process, supervisors will consider a resolution to adjust reserves, fund balance carry over, revenues and appropriations for the current fiscal year and also consider a resolution establishing new classifications and amending a previous resolution to amend the position allocations to conform to the mid-year budget adjustments.

In another untimed item, the board will discuss and consider establishing the Lake County Sheriff’s Management Unit.

In a memo to the board, Sheriff Brian Martin said sworn peace officer management staff at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office is requesting to be recognized as a separate bargaining unit from the Management Unit.

According to county documents, the staff who would be represented by the new unit include the undersheriff, two captains and five lieutenants.

In other business, in items timed between 9:15 a.m. and 9:18 a.m., the board will consider continuing proclamations of local emergencies due to the Rocky, Jerusalem, Valley, Clayton and Sulphur fires, and the atmospheric river storm.

The full agenda follows.

CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS

6.1: Consideration of Contract Change Order No. 1 for the CSA-2 Spring Valley Distribution System Improvement Project, Bid No. SD16-10.

6.2: Consideration of Contract Change Order No. 2 for the CSA-2 Spring Valley Distribution System Improvement Project, Bid No. SD16-10.

CONSENT AGENDA

7.1: Adopt the resolution of support for protection of our ocean and coast from offshore drilling and fracking.

7.2: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings held Nov. 14, 2017, and Nov. 28, 2017.

7.3: Appoint the County Administrative Officer as the designated representative for unrepresented labor groups regarding salaries, salary schedules or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits.

7.4: Approve addendum to the commercial lease agreement between the county of Lake and Tri-Star Properties, L.P. for the lease of property located at 845 and 849 Bevins Street, Lakeport, CA 95453 in the amount of $1,845.26 per month and authorize the chair to sign.

7.5: Approve Amendment 3 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Ford Street Project for substance use disorder residential and detoxification services FY 2017-18, an increase of $30,000 and contract maximum of $80,000 and authorize the chair to sign.

7.6: Approve Amendment 3 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Center Point DAAC for SUDS Detoxification and Residential Treatment Services FY 2017-18, a decrease of $20,000 and a contract maximum of $10,000 and authorize the chair to sign.

7.7: Approve plans and specifications for the Mockingbird Lane at Robinson Creek Bridge Replacement Project; Bid No. 18-01, Federal Aid Project No: BRLO-5914(105).

7.8: Adopt resolution approving right-of-way certification for East Lake Elementary Safe Routes to School and CDBG Project - Federal Aid No. SR2SL-5914 (064), SRTSL-5914 (057) and SRTSL-5914 (097).

TIMED ITEMS

8.2, 9:15 a.m.: (a) Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the Sulphur fire incident; and (b) update and discussion on the Sulphur fire recovery

8.3, 9:16 a.m.: (a) Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to wildfire conditions, pertaining to the Rocky, Jerusalem and Valley fires; and (b) update on Valley Fire Debris Insurance Collection Project.

8.4, 9:17 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to Clayton fire.

8.5, 9:18 a.m.: (a) Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the atmospheric river storm; and (b) update and discussion of the atmospheric river storm recovery.

UNTIMED ITEMS

9.2: Consideration of the Following Appointment: Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health.

9.3: a) Consideration of Resolution Amending Resolution No. 2017-124 to Amend the FY 2017-18 adopted budget by adjusting reserves, fund balance carry over, revenues, and appropriations; and b) consideration of resolution establishing new classifications and amending Resolution 2017-125 to amend the position allocations for FY 2017-18 to conform to the mid-year budget adjustments.

9.4: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors consideration of reappointment of Roger Bakke, Nancy Perrin and Cameron Reeves to the LCAQMD Hearing Board for three year terms, pursuant to Health and Safety Code.

9.5: Discussion and consideration for the establishment of the Lake County Sheriff’s Management Unit.

CLOSED SESSION

10.1: Conference with Labor Negotiator pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54957.6: a. agency negotiator: Carol J. Huchingson, CAO b. Unrepresented confidential and management employees.

10.2: Public employee evaluations title: Human Resources director.

10.3: Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to Initiate Litigation Pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(4): Two potential cases.

10.4: Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation Pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(4): County of Lake v. PG&E.

10.5: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1): LCCOA v. County of Lake, et al.

10.6: Conference with real property negotiators pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.8: Property owner: Paul and Barbara Breunig/Edward and Tina Brown. County reps: Scott De Leon and Jeff Rein Properties: 2575 and 2585 South Main Street APNs: 005-053-18 and 005-053-19.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) has made more significant progress in her efforts to improve the health of Clear Lake.

Curry, whose district includes Lake County, announced on Monday that successful work with Secretary John Laird of the California Natural Resources Agency, or CNRA, and the Department of Water Resources, or DWR, to secure $15 million to help complete the first phase of the Middle Creek Restoration project located at the north end of Clear Lake in Lake County.

The grant will be funded by bond proceeds from Propositions 84 and 1E.

“I want to thank Secretary Laird, Director Nemeth and the staff at CNRA and DWR for their work on this critical project for Lake County,” said Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry. “This is a big victory for Clear Lake and the county. They’ve really used some creativity to come through for us.”

The Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project’s goal is to eliminate flood risk to residential structures, numerous outbuildings, and approximately 1,650 acres of agricultural land at the north end of Clear Lake. It will restore damaged habitat and help the watershed that feeds the lake.

Restoration of this large, previously reclaimed area, as a functional wetland is anticipated to have a significant effect on watershed health and the water quality of Clear Lake.

Clear Lake is the largest, natural freshwater lake in California and possibly the oldest lake in North America.

The natural properties of the Lake and the watersheds that feed into it make the lake very nutrient rich. One of the primary sources of these nutrients is located within the Middle Creek Restoration Project.

Completion of the project would have an immediate positive effect on the state of the lake and surrounding areas.

“Last year, in my AB 707, we were able to establish a Blue Ribbon Committee to guide the future of Clear Lake water and watershed quality and regional economic development, $2 million for Clear Lake research and a stewardship plan, and $5 million in the water bond on this year’s ballot to protect the Lake,” said Aguiar-Curry. “This grant for the Middle Creek Restoration Project will continue those efforts, reduce flooding, restore wetlands, and reduce the amount of nutrients flowing into Clear Lake. Gov. Brown, Secretary Laird and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon have been tremendous partners in our efforts to make Lake County’s future brighter, cleaner and more prosperous.”

Aguiar-Curry represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all of Lake and Napa counties, parts of Colusa, Solano and Sonoma Counties, and all of Yolo County except West Sacramento.
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LUCERNE, Calif. – The county of Lake has released a request for proposals from organizations and individuals interested in leasing or purchasing the historic Lucerne Hotel.

The 55,000-square-foot building sits on seven acres at 3700 Country Club Drive.

The county’s redevelopment agency purchased the building in 2010 and conducted extensive renovations.

For several years the building housed Southern California-based Marymount California University, which abruptly left in June. The university later paid the county $65,000 for breaking the lease.

The building, around which the town of Lucerne was built, turns 90 this year.

The Hotel Lucerne Corp. began construction on the building in 1927, with that work completed in 1928.

John Rinker Kibbey was the Lucerne Hotel’s architect. Kibbey is noted for having designed numerous historic buildings across Southern California and in Arizona.

Another great building designed by Kibbey was the Brophy Chapel at Brophy College Preparatory. It was built in 1928, the same year the Lucerne Hotel was completed.

His firm, Lescher & Kibbey, also designed the Mohave County Courthouse, which is on the National Historic Register. He was reported to have later designed Hollywood movie sets.

The Lucerne Hotel RFP, issued on Wednesday, has a deadline of 5 p.m. April 25.

“The county invites Proposers to envision utilizing this extraordinary building for a use which would be an economic generator for the community,” the RFP document states. “Each proposal should reflect the County’s desire to have a Proposer who provides a high level of return to the community when purchasing or operating and maintaining the Property and related activities in a fiscally responsible manner.”

The document suggests that the building’s educational, vocational and commercial uses might include, but not be limited to, lodging, professional office space, education, a culinary academy, event and conference center, hospitality training, research facility, a tech campus, a viticultural and enology center, “and others as proposed which will be evaluated based upon the potential for a beneficial outcome.”

The RFP continues, “We invite significant and creative proposals for potential uses of the Property. The County’s primary goal for this RFP is to secure the best and highest use for the Northshore/Lucerne/and the county as a whole. The proposed use should provide collaborative, complementary, and beneficial services to the community.”

The full document can be seen below.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.


Lucerne Hotel Property Request for Proposals by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council on Thursday held a first reading of a commercial cannabis ordinance amendment to clarify language regarding where the activities can take place, with council members indicating they wanted to protect the Lakeshore Drive corridor.

City Manager Greg Folsom and City Attorney Ryan Jones brought the amendment to the council in order to address issues with an ordinance the council approved in October which, because of a missing semicolon, appeared to allow for growing on both sides of Highway 53.

In December, the council implemented an urgency ordinance to prevent commercial cannabis on the west side of Highway 53, where they had indicated at that time that they didn’t want the activities, as Lake County News has reported.

One of the key issues that emerged for the four council members during the discussion on Thursday was that they didn’t want growing activities along Lakeshore Drive.

That was the biggest concern for Councilwoman Joyce Overton, with Councilman Nick Bennett agreeing about protecting Lakeshore but adding that he also is concerned about Olympic Drive, the city’s other key thoroughfare.

Bennett said he wasn’t against commercial grows, as they’re now a reality. “We need to look into the future – five, 10, 20 years from now. What is the cutoff point, where are we going to limit it to?”

He said he believed it had been the Clearlake Planning Commission’s intent to keep the activities on the east side of the highway.

Overton said there appeared to be one spot on Olympic Drive in commercial zoning that would be acceptable.

Councilman Phil Harris said he believed the council should move forward with allowing commercial cannabis on all sides, excluding Lakeshore Drive.

During public comment, Jeremy Mayfield said permits can easily be revoked if necessary, and the real issue is seeing and smelling the plants. He suggested they decided on operations on a case-by-case basis.

Henry Bornstein suggested more precise language, noting that the amended ordinance would be clearer if it said grows could take place if they’re located to the east of the highway and if they comply with city rules.

Cannabis business owner Chris Jennings said he felt the ordinance was missing some important items, and should have added to it every license type, including microbusiness.

Jennings said people in his industry already are having to jump through hoops forward, backward and sideways. He suggested that instead the city should be encouraging people, noting the trend for people to want to come the area, work and make a living.

He said he already has nine full-time employees with more to come, and said he believed Bennett has the idea of the future wrong when it comes to cannabis, the potential for which he suggested could easily surpass all of the county’s agriculture production.

Jennings said any cannabis businesses and facilities proposed for Lakeshore or Olympic drives will be new or renovated buildings with a lot of investment.

“There’s a lot of good that comes from the cannabis industry, and it touches a lot of different areas,” he said.

In response, Bennett clarified that, in speaking about the future limits, he believed cannabis needed to be controlled so it doesn’t take over the city or negatively impact the community.

Mayor Bruno Sabatier said he didn’t disagree about not having cultivation on Lakeshore Drive, where he wants to see restaurants and retail. He said he also wasn’t against cannabis activities on Olympic Drive in C4 zoning, defined as heavy service commercial and light industrial.

Harris moved to approve commercial cannabis activities on both sides of Highway 53 when it’s entirely inside a building, and also allow it on the east side in hybrid greenhouses except in properties adjacent to Lakeshore and Olympic, with allowances for C4 zoning areas on Olympic.

A second reading will go before the council at an upcoming meeting.

In other business on Thursday, the council directed staff to work on a 15-year extension to the remaining five years on Southshore Little League’s contract for Haverty Field and the Redbud Park ball fields in order for the league to move forward on a number of proposed improvements.

The council presented a proclamation declaring February as Black History Month to Rick Mayo of the Lake County NAACP chapter, awarded a contract for design services for the Highlands Park Improvement Project to Melton Design Group for an amount not to exceed $94,420, and held a public hearing and approved a resolution approving committing Community Development Block Grant Program income funds for code enforcement and an updated program income reuse agreement.

The council also held a special meeting before the regular meeting for the purposes of the midyear budget review, and approved $395,000 in recommended budget adjustments.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

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