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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Progress continues to be made on Northern California’s fires, which already have burned vast areas of acreage in the summer so far.

The Spring 2 fire, which began on Monday afternoon on Pawnee Trail north of the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision northeast of Clearlake Oaks in Lake County, remained at 80 acres on Tuesday night, with containment up to 80 percent, Cal Fire said.

Reports from the scene stated that one structure had been burned by the fire, which moved into the Pawnee fire burn area.

The incident may have been sparked by a rock strike involving equipment, based on scanner reports.

In Yolo and Napa counties, Cal Fire said the County fire, burning since June 30, remained at 90,288 acres with containment up to 83 percent on Tuesday night.

The total number of structures destroyed remains at 20, with damaged structures totaling three, according to the Cal Fire report.

Resources have continued to be rolled back on the incident. Personnel totaled 1,606, along with 65 engines, 22 water tenders, 16 helicopters, 27 hand crews and 30 dozers, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire reported that firefighters are aggressively working to strengthen perimeter control lines, mop up and tactically patrol.

Unburned pockets of fuel continue to burn within the interior of the fire, and fire suppression repair teams are actively engaged working around the fire perimeter and affected areas, according to the report.

To the north, in Siskiyou County, the Klamathon fire, which began July 5, remains at 36,500 acres on Tuesday night, with containment up to 55 percent.

The fire has killed one, injured three and destroyed 82 structures, officials reported.

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. – The city of Clearlake has named its next chief of police.

Andrew White, 33, who serves as commander and second-in-charge at the Suisun City Police Department, has been hired for the role, according to City Manager Greg Folsom.

“I’m thrilled to join the department,” White told Lake County News, adding that he’s also looking forward to being part of the community.

“Commander White brings a number of skills and 16 years of law enforcement experience to the department that will be a tremendous asset, including supervision experience in animal control and code enforcement and has been the technology go-to person in his current agency,” Folsom told Lake County News. “I am looking forward to having Andrew on board and continuing the positive improvements that we have made under Interim Chief Tim Celli in reducing crime in Clearlake.”

White said he and his family – including his wife and 8-year-old daughter – will live in Clearlake; he was busy this weekend with the move. White also has a 17-year-old stepson who just entered the Marine Corps.

The Whites already have connections to Lake County; he said his wife’s grandmother has lived in Clearlake for more than 50 years and his in-laws live in Kelseyville.

“So I was familiar with the area,” he said.

At its meeting on Thursday the Clearlake City Council will consider authorizing Folsom to appoint White and execute an employment contract.

The proposed employment contract between the city and White calls for a three-year initial term, with three months’ notice prior to its end by the city manager regarding whether the city will extend or end the contract.

The agreement can be extended in two-year increments upon mutual written agreement by the city and White. He will receive six months’ severance pay for termination without cause.

White will receive an annual salary of $130,000, and will be eligible for 5-percent POST Executive Certificate incentive pay after two years on the job.

He also will have use of a vehicle, a cell phone allowance and a one-time relocation expense of $5,000, and the city will pay dues and expenses for his professional development.

Law enforcement career began early

White began his law enforcement career at age 17, starting out as a cadet with Suisun City Police when he was in college. Because he couldn’t be a cadet and a staffer with Suisun City at the same time, he began work as a police dispatcher at the Napa Police Department, where he worked from 2002 to 2004.

In 2004, when he was 19, he started as a full-time officer with Suisun City Police. His assignments ranged from patrol to school resource officer and recruit training officer. He supervised patrol, investigations, code enforcement and marine patrol. White also chairs the Solano County Law Enforcement Commanders Association.

For a brief time, beginning in November 2013, White went into the private sector to work for a computer software firm. He said he continued working part-time for Suisun City Police as a reserve officer, returning to full-time police work in May 2015 when he was hired as the agency’s commander.

White has a bachelor’s degree in organizational management/IT from Union Institute and University. He has attended the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, more commonly known as POST, and has five POST certificates – basic, intermediate, advanced, supervisory and management.

He has experience in law enforcement technology, is his agency’s primary media contact, is commander for the Solano County Mobile Field Force and a member of the California Police Chiefs Association Technology Committee.

Folsom said White has a passion for teaching and has been an instructor at the Napa Valley College Police Academy for more than a decade.

With Clearlake Police also supervising the city’s animal control services, White brings more key experience thanks to having chaired the Solano County Animal Control Authority.

The selection process

The selection of White resulted from a hiring process that began earlier this year, as Lake County News has reported.

In December, city officials announced the retirement of Chief Craig Clausen, who had been off for two years due to an injury with Lt. Tim Celli as acting chief since December 2015.

The council then appointed Celli interim chief and in February hired Ralph Andersen & Associates to lead the executive search process for the new chief, which included a public meeting later that month to gather community input.

The city’s hiring brochures said the next chief needed to be “experienced, well qualified, and possess exceptional skills to be a leader – not just an administrator.”

It listed the ideal candidate as “confident, experienced, and hard-working,” with an unwavering, positive attitude, the ability to motivate and build strong team culture, the ability to work in the field, be a fixture in the community and “be authentic, of the highest integrity, and possess
a good moral compass.”

“At all times, the Chief of Police must set the bar high for ethical conduct, professionalism, and the advocacy of Clearlake. The Chief must be of impeccable character, and a role model for both members of the Department and the community,” the brochure said.

White said that when he was considering applying for the job, he and his family came for a visit in order to check out the community.

They liked it and he decided to move forward with applying, explaining that there are a lot of similarities between Clearlake and Suisun City in terms of challenges and opportunities.

White said it also seemed like a good time to get closer to his wife’s family and to change to a less-urban area; Suisun City has 28,000 people in a five-square-mile area, about twice Clearlake’s population.

He said he has a solid background in code enforcement – an area in which he knew the city was looking for experience – plus Suisun City, like Clearlake, is a community where water plays an important role.

Folsom said the recruiting firm received 22 applications for the police chief’s job and telephone screened all of them.

The screening narrowed the applicants to a group recommended to be interviewed by a community panel, Folsom said.

From that panel interview, the three top candidates were recommended for a final interview with a panel consisting of Folsom and the city council.

Last month, Folsom confirmed to Lake County News that the top candidate had been selected and that the city was in the final steps of doing an in-depth background that took several weeks to complete.

The result of that background was to confirm that White is “an officer of the highest character,” coming highly recommended by his current chief at Suisun City, his fellow officers, and past and present Solano County chiefs, according to Folsom’s report for the council meeting.

Folsom said all of the associates interviewed by the background investigator called White “highly intelligent, ethical and an outstanding candidate for chief,” with excellent annual evaluations and no negatives in his personnel file.

“By all accounts he is exceptionally intelligent, has a calm demeanor and is an excellent communicator,” Folsom told Lake County News Monday.

Celli also had applied for the chief’s job. A longtime member of the department, Celli has been successful at getting the department much-needed new equipment and keeping staffing levels up.

He said in a previous interview that he’s looking forward “to working with a new chief with some fresh ideas.”

White said that when he starts work, he wants to look at the organization and see how things are done, explaining that he knows there are heavy service demands on the department.

“There’s a lot of opportunities,” he said.

At the same time, asked about priorities, he said, “I think, clearly, recruitment and retention are important,” because if they don’t have the staff, they can’t do the job, which impacts the community.

The Clearlake Police Department has 23.5 sworn officer positions and 10.5 full-time equivalent positions for professional support staff, and a $4 million budget.

White said that in speaking with Celli he understands the department now has four unfilled officer positions.

Across the spectrum in law enforcement, recruitment is a challenge, particularly in smaller cities, White said.

In the face of its challenges, White said there have been a lot of good things that have happened at the Clearlake Police Department, and he’ll work with staff to continue to make improvements, and to help them become more efficient and responsive.

Folsom said White will be sworn in at the council’s July 26 meeting, with a reception to follow.

White, who has a few weeks left with Suisun City Police, said his first official day on the job as Clearlake Police’s chief will be Monday, July 30.

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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Sharon Foley. Courtesy photo.


LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing adult.

Sharon Foley, 67, was last seen on July 3.

She left her residence in Kelseyville in a white Ford Crown Victoria, California license plate 6FYP475. No clothing description was provided for her.

Officials said she suffers from bipolar disorder and has not been taking her medications.

She is unable to walk on her own and requires the assistance of a wheelchair.

Foley also went missing for a few days in May before she was located.

If you have information about her, please contact the Lake County Sheriff's Office at 707-263-2690.
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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Area Town Hall this week will get updates on the Hardester’s Market rebuilding and the proposal for a Dollar General store.

MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 12, at the Middletown Community Center, 21256 Washington St.

Meetings are open to the community, and offer the opportunity for additional public input on items not included on the agenda.

On the agenda is an update on Hardester’s Market from co-owner Ross Hardester.

A fire destroyed the family’s Middletown store on Memorial Day, as Lake County News has reported.

Brian Bottari of Pacific Gas and Electric also will be on hand for a presentation.

There also will be a discussion about the proposed Dollar General store, to be built at 20900 Highway 29.

The MATH Board includes Chair Joseph Sullivan, Vice Chair Courtney Van Leuven, Secretary Marlene Elder, and members-at member Lisa Kaplan, and alternates Mike Tabacchi and Claude Brown.

MATH – established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 – is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.

Meetings are subject to videotaping.

For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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. – Authorities are investigating the discovery of a body in Cache Creek over the weekend.

A kayaker reported finding the body of a man in the water on Sunday afternoon.

Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the remains of a deceased male were recovered from Cache Creek approximately a half mile from the dam, on the west or lake side of the dam.

“The identity and cause of death are pending autopsy later this week,” Paulich said.

He added, “We do not have any reported missing persons that match the description of the deceased.”

Paulich said the agency also is waiting for the autopsy to determine the individual’s race.

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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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Monday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) said they visited a Health and Human Services, or HHS, facility in Pleasant Hill for immigrant minors.

“Today, after demanding additional information from HHS about separated families, we visited a facility in our region,” they said in a join statement.

“While the facility had high standards for children located there, we have said over and over that no level of care at these facilities can make up for the fact that children are subjected to the harmful and lasting trauma of being separated from their families.

“What’s more, most of the children at this facility are not the kids separated from their parents about whom we are demanding more information.

“We need answers – HHS and the Department of Homeland Security must allow us to obtain more information about separated families, present their plan for reuniting families as efficiently as possible, and further outline the progress of this effort as it continues,” they concluded.

Thompson had previously followed the HHS-prescribed protocols to schedule a visit to this and other facilities in the region and his requests were denied.

After multiple requests to HHS, the agency reversed course and allowed members of Congress to visit.

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake has received a new grant that will help it move forward with cleaning up blighted properties.

In August of 2017, the city of Clearlake applied for a Solid Waste Disposal and Codisposal Site Cleanup Grant in the amount of $214,030 to clean up multiple sites throughout the city, according to City Manager Greg Folsom.

Folsom said CalRecycle offers grant funds to cities to help clean up blighted properties where the responsible party is unwilling or unable to clean up.

Once the blighted property has been cleaned up, a lien is placed on the property for the cost of the clean-up and CalRecycle is reimbursed out of the sale proceeds, he said.

Unfortunately, Folsom said that before CalRecycle was able to award the 2017 grants the North Bay Wildfires of Oct. 9 hit and CalRecycle personnel were assigned to assist with recovery efforts.

However, Folsom said the city of Clearlake received notification last week that CalRecycle recently awarded the city $214,030 in grant funds to be used for abating up to 18 properties within the city limits.

“This is a great program that we have used in the past to remediate blighted properties and we put a lot of effort into last year’s application so we are very excited to be notified that we were awarded the full amount requested in our application,” said Folsom. “These funds will go a long way toward helping achieve our goal of making Clearlake a cleaner city.”
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NICE, Calif. – A Kelseyville man was seriously injured on Thursday when his motorcycle crashed into a vehicle on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff.

Raymond Cromwell, 58, suffered major injuries in the wreck, which occurred at around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Officer Kory Reynolds of the California Highway Patrol.

Reynolds said Cromwell was riding a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle westbound on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff at about 30 miles per hour.

Ahead of him was a 2007 Pontiac G4 driven by Veronica Becerra Lopez, 22, of Nice, Reynolds said.

Becerra Lopez’s car was stopped while she waited for another car to turn ahead of her into the county park. Cromwell, who was coming through the curve before the bridge over the Rodman Slough, was unable to stop in time and hit the back of the car, according to Reynolds.

Cromwell was thrown from his motorcycle and went down in the roadway’s eastbound lane. Reynolds said some people helped pull Crowell out of the road.

Reynolds said Cromwell suffered a fractured left shoulder, lacerations on his arms and the back of the head, broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Cromwell was flown by a REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, according to Reynolds.

Becerra Lopez was uninjured, Reynolds said.

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 OAKS, Calif. – A new wildland fire has begun northeast of Clearlake Oaks and is burning into the Pawnee fire footprint.

The Spring fire was first reported shortly after 4:30 p.m. Monday north of the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision off of Pawnee Trail, near where the Pawnee fire began June 23.

Reports from the scene indicated that the fire may have been caused by a rock strike, possibly from equipment.

The Pawnee fire was fully contained on Sunday, but Cal Fire reported that units remained on scene for patrol.

Cal Fire responded will a full wildland fire dispatch that included air resources, with Northshore Fire also en route, according to radio reports.

The first units on scene minutes after dispatch reported that the fire was about half an acre, burning uphill toward the Pawnee fire burn area.

Shortly before 5 p.m., incident command requested that four dozers, 10 engines, four crews and aircraft respond.

Air resources reported just after 5 p.m. that the fire was about 25 acres in size, burning in grass and oak woodland, with a moderate rate of spread. At that point it was estimated to have a potential to grow to 100 acres if it hit the burn area.

Smoke from the Spring incident led to a dispatch at around 5:15 p.m. for a fire in the area of Walker Ridge and Highway 20, but it was determined that there was no fire and it was only drift smoke.

By 5:20 p.m., air attack reported that the Spring fire was up to 40 acres and moving into the Pawnee fire burn scar.

Firefighters were working on a spot fire north of the burn scar at that time, based on radio reports.

Air attack estimated they should be able to hold the Spring fire to about 100 acres.

Incident command reported that the fire is on Bureau of Land Management land and a very small portion of the incident is burning in the Mendocino National Forest.

Shortly before 6 p.m., incident command reported that the right shoulder of the fire had burned into the Pawnee fire footprint, while the left shoulder was in an area that hadn’t previously burned. Both flanks were active, fanned by erratic winds.

Eight helicopters from the County fire to the southeast were working at the new incident, based on radio reports.

Incident command said there was no immediate threat to Spring Valley but was asking for a sheriff’s representative to respond to the command center.

Shortly after 6:30 p.m., the fire was reported to be 65 acres and 25-percent contained, growing to 80 acres and 50-percent containment by 7 p.m., according to reports from the scene.

That fire began at about the same time as a vegetation fire was reported in the 14400 block of Olympic Drive in Clearlake.

Forward progress on the Clearlake incident was reported to have been stopped at 4:50 p.m., although crews were dealing with a hotspot in a nearby creekbed.

Additional updates will be posted as they become available.

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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Donald Michael Steele, 44, of Clearlake, Calif., was arrested on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, for being in possession of an illegal weapon, resisting arrest and annoying phone calls/text messages. Lake County Jail photo.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police officers on Tuesday arrested a man they say was sending threatening text messages and who resisted arrest while wielding a billy club.

Donald Michael Steele, 44, was taken into custody on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Clearlake Police Department.

On Tuesday, Sgt. Elvis Cook said he was investigating criminal threats from a unknown source.

He said an unknown subject was sending out random text messages to several citizens. The messages were violent in nature and caused several people concern for their safety.

Cook obtained information that the person responsible was "Don," with a possible address on Vista Street in Clearlake. That led to Cook locating Steele, who lived on Vista Street.

Sgt. Cook and Det. Leonardo Flores responded to Steele's address to contact him regarding the messages.

Initially Steele would not come to the door and officers started to leave. Cook said Steele exited his house holding a brown wooden billy club, which was strapped to his right wrist. Also next to Steele was a homemade weapon, which consisted of two saw blades attached to a long wooden handle.

Steele was advised to drop the weapon, which he refused to do. Cook said Steele was told several more times to drop the weapon and he was advised that it was illegal for him to possess. Steele still refused to follow orders.

Cook said that, after a lengthy period of time, Steele placed the billy club down by his feet. However, as Cook and Flores started to approach Steele, he grabbed the weapon.

The officers quickly reacted and tackled Steele, knocking the weapon away from him, Cook said. Steele continued to resist officers until they were able to place him into handcuffs.

During contact with the officers, Steele said he was not aware of whose phone numbers he was texting as they were numbers he had prior or had located somehow, Cook said.

Cook said Steele’s threats were not directed toward a single person, and it appeared he would send out the same random messages to several phone numbers for some type of personal motive.

Cook said Steele was transported to the Lake County Jail where he was charged for being in possession of an illegal weapon, resisting arrest, and annoying phone calls/text messages.

His bail was set at $15,000 and he remained in custody early Wednesday.

Steele is tentatively scheduled for arraignment on July 12.

Weapons that police said were in the possession of Donald Michael Steele, 44, of Clearlake, Calif., at the time of his arrest on Tuesday, July 10, 2018. Photo courtesy of the Clearlake Police Department.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A hot, dry and windy Monday saw more wildland fire activity in Lake County and other parts of Northern California, while firefighters continued to close in on full containment on the region’s largest incident.

The Spring 2 fire was reported at about 4:30 p.m. Monday in the area of Pawnee Trail on the north end of the Spring Valley Lakes subdivision northeast of Clearlake Oaks.

The fire burned into the footprint of the Pawnee fire, which had been fully contained the previous day.

Resources were called throughout the evening from the County fire in neighboring Yolo and Napa counties to help fight the fire,

The last size estimates from the scene on Monday evening put the fire at 80 acres and 50-percent containment, with one structure destroyed.

More resources are on order to continue working on the Spring 2 fire on Tuesday, according to radio reports.

To the southeast, conditions continued to improve and firefighters gained more ground on Monday on the County fire, which began June 30.

Cal Fire said Monday night that the fire is being held at 90,288 acres, with containment up to 75 percent and 96 structures remaining threatened.

The improving situation led to the lifting of mandatory evacuations along Highway 16 by the sheriff’s offices in Napa and Yolo counties.

Road closures on Berryessa Knoxville Road in Napa County and County Road 40 in Yolo County remain in effect, officials said. All roads within the fire’s perimeter remain closed.

An updated damage assessment puts the number of destroyed structures at 20, with three others damaged, Cal Fire said.

While firefighters continue to work on strengthening containment lines and mopping up, Cal Fire said unburned pockets of fuel continue to actively burn within the interior of the fire.

Resources assigned to the fire include 2,329 personnel, 108 engines, 33 water tenders, 22 helicopters, 47 hand crews and 34 dozers, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire expects the County fire will be fully contained on Thursday.

To the north, the Klamathon fire reached 36,500 acre and 40-percent containment by Monday night.

The fire, which began Thursday afternoon, has killed one person, injured three others, and destroyed 82 structures near the Siskiyou County community of Hornbrook, officials said.

Cal Fire said a firefighter who suffered burn injuries on the Klamathon fire has been released from the UC Davis Burn Center.

In other fire news around the region, the Dale fire began northeast of Red Bluff in Tehama County on Monday.

By nightfall forward progress had been stopped on the fire, which was reported to have burned 856 acres and was 30-percent contained.

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 discuss approving a new tax on cannabis-related businesses and consider a proposal for a sculpture honoring the Pomo people in downtown Lakeport.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, 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 consider a new county ordinance establishing a cannabis business tax.

“The purpose of this ordinance is to achieve the expressed intent of your Board to adopt a tax, for revenue purposes, upon cannabis businesses that engage in business in the unincorporated area of the County of Lake,” County Counsel Anita Grant explain in a report accompanying the proposed ordinance. “Such business includes but is not limited to, cultivating, dispensing, producing, processing, preparing, storing, providing, donating, selling, or distributing medical cannabis or medical cannabis products by commercial cannabis businesses.”

The proposed ordinance would impose upon cannabis businesses a tax beginning on Jan. 1, 2019, as follows, with the possibility of future tax increases based on board action:

– $1 annually per square foot of an outdoor cultivation site up to a maximum of $4 annually;
– $2 annually per square foot of a mixed-light cultivation up to a maximum of $7 annually;
– $3 annually per square foot of an indoor cultivation site up to a maximum of $10annually.
– For every person engaged in cultivation at a nursery, $1 annually per square foot of any cultivation site at any nursery up to a maximum of $2 annually;
– For every person who engages in the operation of a testing laboratory, zero percent of gross receipts annually up to a maximum of 2.5 percent annually;
– For every person who engages in the retail sales of cannabis as a dispensary, microbusiness or delivery business, 4 percent of gross receipts annually up to a maximum of 6 percent annually.
– For every person who engages in a cannabis manufacturing, processing, transportation, distribution or any other type of cannabis business, 2.5 percent of gross receipts annually up to a maximum of 4 percent annually.

The document also proposes to create a tax administrator position who would be responsible for the development of an administrative program to ensure the collection of the tax.

The tax would not apply to personal and caregiver cannabis cultivation as defined in the Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act.

The proposed tax differs from the cannabis cultivation tax Measure C, which appears in a section of Lake County Code that is different from where the proposed new tax would be codified. Measure C was passed by voters in November 2016.

Measure C established an annual tax of $1 per square foot of an outdoor cultivation site, $2 per square foot of a mixed-light cultivation site and/or $3 per square foot of an indoor cultivation site, subject to annual Consumer Price Index increase.

This new tax, like Measure C, would need to be approved by voters; it’s anticipated to go before voters in November.

In other business, at 9:45 a.m. the board will discuss the county employee health insurance benefit and the impact rising premiums are having on county employees.

At 10:30 a.m. the board will consider providing space in Historic Courthouse Museum Square to place a sculpture celebrating the culture and resilience of Lake County’s Pomo people.

At 10:15 a.m., the board will consider accepting a $25,000 from Rebuild Northbay Foundation for Pawnee fire relief.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

7.1: Approve resolution of the City Council of the City of Clearlake calling for and providing for and giving notice of the General Municipal Election to be held in the City of Clearlake, County of Lake, State of California, on the 6th day of November 2018 for the purpose of electing two City Council Members and a City Treasurer, each to hold a term of four years, or until their successors are elected and qualified, and requesting approval of the Lake County Board of Supervisors for election services to be provided by the County Elections Department.

7.2: Approve extended leave of absence for Deputy Assessor-Recorder III Marilyn Higgins.

7.3: (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 Crestwood Behavioral Health for adult residential support and specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $800,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

7.4: (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 Davis Guest Home for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $130,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

7.5: Adopt resolution designating the Community Development director to review less than three acre conversion exemption applications received from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

7.6: Approve annual renewal of Veterans Subvention Program Certificate of Compliance and Medi-Cal Cost Avoidance Program Certificate and authorize the board chair to sign.

7.7: Approve plans and specifications for the 2016 HSIP Signs and Striping Project; Bid No. 18-02, Federal Aid Project No: HSIPL-5914(104); and authorize the Public Works director/ assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids once authorization to proceed with construction phase is received from Caltrans.

7.8: Approve plans and specifications for the Cycle 8 HSIP Signs and Striping Project; Bid No. 18-04, Federal Aid Project No: HSIPL-5914(113); and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids once authorization to proceed with construction phase is received from Caltrans.

7.9: Approve Inspection Agreement for Doug Bridges (Bridges Construction) to provide engineering services for the review of plans and specifications of Assessor’s Parcel No. 008-061-26 and authorize the chair to sign.

7.10: Approve plans and specifications for the Lampson Field Airport Rehabilitation of Runway 10-28, Bid No. 18-01, AIP Project No. 3-06-0117-019-2018; and authorize the Public Works director/ assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids.

7.11: Approve waiver of the 900 hour extra help limit for Law Enforcement Records Technician Von McPherson.

7.12: Report approve long distance travel for Kelli Page, Program manager, housing to attend the Lindsey Software Systems Training in Hot Springs, Arkansas, July 16-19.

7.13: Approve contract between the county of Lake and Industrial Employers and Distributers Association in the amount of $22,588, from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, and authorize the chair to sign.

7.14: approve acceptance of easement deeds on multiple parcels in Anderson Springs for the Anderson Springs Septic to Sewer Project and authorize clerk to sign.

TIMED ITEMS

8.2, 9:10 a.m.: Consideration of the continuation of a proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer due to the Pawnee fire Incident.

8.3, 9:15 a.m.: Hearing, Nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $2,863.89, for 8875 North State Highway 29, Upper Lake (APN 003-041-23 - Joann Madia).

8.4, 9:20 a.m.: Hearing, nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $3,685.77, for 12886 Fourth St., Clearlake Oaks (APN 035-381-31 - Cecilia Kerry).

8.5, 9:30 a.m.: Continued from June 19, public hearing, consideration of appeal of Planning Commission’s approval of Deviation DV 16-01 for Parcel Map PM 15-03; AB 18-01 APNs 024-049-07 and 10 Supervisor District 1.

8.6, 9:45 a.m.: Discussion of our employee health insurance benefit and the impact rising premiums are having on county employees.

8.7, 10:15 a.m.: Consideration of acceptance of donation in the amount of $25,000 from Rebuild Northbay Foundation for Pawnee fire relief.

8.8, 10:30 a.m.: Consideration of providing space in Historic Courthouse Museum Square to place a sculpture celebrating the culture and resilience of the Pomo people of Lake County.

UNTIMED ITEMS

9.2: Consideration of Advisory Board Appointments Lake County Resource Conservation District.

9.3: Consideration of resolution declaring the Board of Supervisors Intent to sell property not required for public use, located at 934-946 Bevins Court, Lakeport, California (APN’s 025-462-100 and 090), Pursuant to Government Code Section 25520 Et Seq.

9.4: Consideration and possible adoption of a county of Lake Employee Compensation Philosophy.

9.5: Discussion and consideration of a county ordinance adding Article VII to Chapter 18 of the Lake County Code establishing a cannabis business tax.

CLOSED SESSION

10.1: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(2)(e)(3): Claim of Global Discoveries Ltd.

10.2: Public employee evaluation title: Health Services director.

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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