Lake County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lake County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Cross-connection control ordinances
The county was scheduled to hold two public hearings on draft ordinances requiring backflow and cross-connection protections for public water systems, including Kelseyville Waterworks District No. 3. The rules are meant to keep contaminants from flowing back into drinking water.
City Council Meeting Highlights
The Board was scheduled to interview candidates for County Administrative Officer in closed session — the county's top staff job.
Quagga Mussel Prevention Program fees
The county accepted state grant funding to help keep invasive quagga and zebra mussels out of Clear Lake and local waterways.
County Road Commissioner Appointment
The county needs a licensed civil engineer to serve as Road Commissioner, the person legally responsible for county road matters. Two firms' statements of qualifications were in the packet. This affects who oversees road maintenance and standards countywide.
Cannabis Permit Revocations
A resident told the commission that several cannabis permits slated for revocation have been sitting unactioned for months. Staff confirmed one revocation has been initiated by the CDD director and will come before the commission before the end of the year, with others under assessment.
South Shore behavioral health expansion
The county is lining up contracts for psychiatric hospitalization, a substance use disorder medical director, and residential mental health support — together potentially $3.35 million for fiscal year 2026-27. These services affect residents dealing with mental health and substance use crises.
Behavioral Health Services Contracts
The county is lining up contracts for psychiatric hospitalization, a substance use disorder medical director, and residential mental health support — together potentially $3.35 million for fiscal year 2026-27. These services affect residents dealing with mental health and substance use crises.
Lake Coco Farms commercial cannabis cultivation permit
The applicant is appealing the Planning Commission's denial of a major use permit for Lake Coco Farms on Hendricks Road in Lakeport. The Board's decision will determine whether the operation can proceed, with the associated mitigated negative declaration also at issue.
Special District Election for Fire Protection Tax
A special district election is proposed for March 2, 2027, asking voters to approve a special property tax for fire protection and emergency medical response. The Board was scheduled to order the election and approve the ballot measure language.
Public Works hiring freeze waiver
The county picked its next Public Works Director — the job that runs roads, engineering, and county construction projects. Lars Ewing starts immediately.
Lake Pillsbury / FERC relicensing
The Board was asked to join the Save Lake Pillsbury Coalition in a letter to the National Energy Dominance Council, building on its August 2026 letter to FERC.
7th Cycle Housing Element
The county adopted resolutions to seek state Prohousing designation and apply for incentive grant funds, along with a homeless encampment best-practices summary — groundwork for future housing and homelessness funding.
Middle Creek Restoration Project
The Board got a status update on the Middle Creek Restoration Project and discussed strategies for acquiring the property needed for it. How the county buys land here affects flooding reduction and long-term restoration around the project area.
Mental health and substance use funding expansion
The Board was scheduled to add roughly $4.9 million to the mental health budget and about $10 million to substance use disorder services, mostly Medi-Cal revenue, plus a $5.4 million contract for psychiatric services including telepsychiatry.
Leadership Change at Community Development Department
The county's top planning and building official, Mireya Turner, was fired effective immediately, with CAO Susan Parker stepping in as interim director. This affects anyone dealing with permits, planning approvals, or code enforcement while leadership is in transition.
Clear Lake Watershed Co-Management with Koi Nation
The county and the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians will jointly manage the Clear Lake watershed under a memorandum of understanding. It's a milestone in shared stewardship of the lake that the whole county depends on.
Lake County 2050 General Plan and Local Area Plans Update
The county's state-mandated housing plan — how Lake County will plan for its share of future housing — moved forward on first reading. It shapes where and how new homes can be built in the county for years to come.
Lake County Sanitation District Governance
The Board, acting as the LACOSAN board, confirmed how the sewer district is run and then set its interim governing board makeup — and picked a new second member on a 3-2 split. This affects who oversees sewer services and rates countywide.
Clear Lake Watershed Co-Management Agreement
Sitting as the Watershed Protection District, the board approved two fish and wildlife management contracts totaling $1.148 million.
Interim Public Health Officer appointment
The county needs a Public Health Officer and added this appointment to the agenda at the last minute. Whoever fills the seat leads public health programs and emergency health responses for county residents.
Commercial cannabis regulations overhaul
The county's commercial cannabis rules rewrite — ongoing since March — was continued again to July 7 after public testimony.
Guenoc Valley development agreement
The Board finalized a development agreement for the large Guenoc Valley mixed-use project, locking in the terms between the county and the developer.
Fire Mitigation Fees Implementation
The Fire Safe Council and Community Risk Reduction Authority presented updates on 2024–25 and 2025 wildfire prevention activities — ongoing efforts to protect communities from fire.
LACOSAN Governance Restructuring
Two related items would reshape who sits on the sanitation district's governing board — the Kelseyville water district picking its representative, and a resolution of intent on an interim board composition.
Middletown Grange Road use permit appeal
Rancho Lake, LLC seeks a major use permit for 19.6 acres of outdoor cannabis canopy plus a self-transport distributor license on four parcels along Grange Road in Middletown. The hearing had been continued three times, with concerns raised in public comments about water, groundwater, and neighborhood impacts.
Pasta Farms 3 Appeal
The applicant behind Pasta Farms 3 is appealing the Planning Commission's denial of a major use permit for a cannabis project spanning ten parcels near Seigler Springs. The Board of Supervisors gets the final say.
Four-Year Capital Improvement Plans
The county and LACOSAN laid out their project wish lists for the next four fiscal years — the roadmap for infrastructure spending on everything from facilities to sewer systems.
Fire mitigation fee request — hearing continued again
Fire agencies want the county to implement fire mitigation fees with automatic inflation. The hearing — continued since April — got pushed once more to July 21.
Informal hiring freeze for general fund positions
The county is freezing hiring in all general-fund positions starting July 1 to shore up the budget. The CAO can still approve waivers for critical roles, but expect slower filling of county jobs.
Mobilehome Park Rent Stabilization Update
The Board took a first look at updating the county's mobilehome rent stabilization code — the rules that cap rent increases for mobilehome park residents, many of whom are seniors on fixed incomes. It comes back June 23 for a final vote.
T-Mobile monopine cell tower at 5017 Terrace Avenue, Lakeport
A proposed 150-foot fake-pine cell tower could improve mobile coverage in North Lakeport but change the viewshed on Terrace Avenue. The hearing packet includes a biological assessment, tribal comments, and public comment, plus a recent CPUC ruling.
Global Interactive Solutions commercial cannabis cultivation permit
A proposed multi-stage commercial cannabis operation — outdoor and mixed-light cultivation plus a Type 13 distribution license — on Highway 53 in Clearlake. The environmental review, hydrology and drought plan, biological reports, and tribal and public comments were all part of the record, making this the meeting's most consequential item for the Clearlake area.
Fire Mitigation Fees with Automatic Inflation
Lake County fire agencies want the county to implement fire mitigation fees that rise automatically with inflation — the hearing was pushed to May 19, so there's still time to weigh in.
County liability insurance program (PRISM)
The county was scheduled to hear how rising casualty costs are driving up its liability insurance, and whether to give notice on its primary liability coverage with PRISM and amend the joint powers agreement. This affects what the county pays to protect itself from lawsuits.
Termination of Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Bernstein
The Board fired the county's top health official in closed session and immediately installed Dr. Anju Goel on an interim basis. Leadership of the county's public health response — from clinics to emergency proclamations — is now in transition.
Health Services Director Termination
The county's top public health leader was fired after a closed-session personnel discussion, with Assistant CAO Stephen Carter stepping in on an interim basis. Leadership stability in the Health Services Department is the open question for residents who rely on county public health programs.
Sewer Rate Studies for LACOSAN Systems
Consultants presented rate studies for the Lands End/South Lakeport and Southeast Regional sewer systems. No increase was adopted yet — the board wants to revisit Southeast Regional in six months, post-emergency, so rate changes for those customers remain ahead.
Homelessness prevention funding
Up to $400,000 goes to Catholic Charities for homelessness prevention and diversion services through mid-2027, aiming to keep people from falling into homelessness in the first place.
Acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services
The county committed up to $500,000 to North Valley Behavioral Health for acute inpatient psychiatric care in fiscal year 2025–26 — a lifeline for residents in mental health crisis.
Clear Lake phosphorus management contract
The Watershed Protection District awarded a $3.36 million contract to EutroPHIX to manage phosphorus in Clear Lake — the nutrient behind harmful algae blooms. Cleaner water means better recreation, tourism, and health outcomes around the lake.
Mid-Year FY 2025-26 Budget Adjustments
The county tweaked its current-year budget and staffing plan mid-stream, passing both changes after a brief reconsider-and-rescind detour. These adjustments affect which services and positions get funded through June.
Deficit in Tax-Defaulted Land Sales
The Auditor-Controller presented a letter and memo on deficit tax-default land sales and how the Teeter Plan works — but the item was pulled and continued, so no action was taken yet.
Transitional rent services for Medi-Cal members
The county will now provide transitional rent help for qualifying Medi-Cal members through a deal with Partnership HealthPlan, at no cost to the general fund. Tribal representatives raised concerns, and the board ordered consultation with tribes before any amendments are finalized.
Housing Element Zoning Code Amendments
The board adopted zoning code changes that put the county's General Plan housing element policies into practice, affecting how housing gets built across Lake County. It passed unanimously on second reading.
County Administrative Officer Succession
Lake County’s top administrator is retiring after a rushed budget mess that nearly missed the state deadline, and supervisors are picking her replacement behind closed doors Tuesday. If you care about how county money gets spent—and how openly those calls are made—this is one to watch.