LAKEPORT — The Clear Lake Advisory Committee (CLAC) quarterly report suggested a number of ways the county could improve its lake management, but some Lake County supervisors were dismayed because funding options did not accompany the recommendations Tuesday.
Committee chair Sarah Ryan presented the group”s second-quarter report to the Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) during the morning session at the Lakeport courthouse.
CLAC recommended the BOS direct its staff to do nine things, including continue the work of the Middle Creek Restoration Project, analyze existing and cumulative pollutant sources and their impact on nuisance algae and change the quagga mussel prevention program to focus on entry roads into the county.
BOS Chair Rob Brown called the recommendations “obvious” and asked Ryan whether the committee analyzed what the costs would be.
“It”s easy to say, ”we need to do all these things and you worry about how to pay for it.” We”ve covered this before and we have to stick with what we can realistically accomplish too,” Brown said.
Ryan responded, saying, “We”re not your staff. As you know, the members of this committee are volunteers and are very interested in this lake and want to help find solutions for it that don”t necessarily have the inner workings of what it”s going to take to put these things forward.”
District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington said the recommendations were “consistent with I believe most of our board”s perspective it does come down to a funding issue.”
Farrington also questioned why the CLAC report did not refer to the sales tax measure to fund lake-related programs that will appear on the November ballot.
Ryan said the committee would weigh in on the ballot measure “at some point.”
The BOS did not take any action related to the CLAC report.
In other business, the supervisors decided to postpone their discussion on an ordinance that would provide for a fee of 1 percent of a cable operator”s gross revenues to support the public, educational and governmental access television station.
The cost would be passed through to Mediacom cable subscribers.
The BOS delayed the discussion to allow County Counsel Anita Grant time to research the impact of Proposition 26, which state voters passed in 2010.
“You need to look and characterize everything to determine: is it a fee or is it actually a tax that requires two-thirds vote of the public,” Grant said. “A lot of local governments are being challenged presently for violating Prop. 26 for various things that they could do.”
The item will be revisited on Sept. 11.
The BOS indicated support for an ordinance that would adjust certain animal control fees.
The dog license fees would rise to $15 for altered dogs, $75 for unaltered dogs and $50 for unaltered dogs that fall into an exempt category. The current prices have not increased in more than five years, according to Animal Care and Control Director Bill Davidson.
The cattery license fee would decrease to $20, and owner surrender fees for cats and dogs would increase to match the surrender costs for euthanasia.
A second reading of the proposed ordinance is set for next week.
The supervisors approved a resolution adopting a side letter of agreement to the memorandum of understanding between the Lake County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority and the California United Homecare Workers Union Local 4034.
No changes to benefits or current provider wage rates occurred. The vote was 4-0 because Brown left for part of the meeting to assist with the procession for a fallen Kelseyville soldier.
Later, all five supervisors voted to deny requests from a Kelseyville landowner asking for a general plan amendment and rezone so he could plant a vineyard on his property on the Buckingham Peninsula.
Dennis De La Montanya wanted the county to change his parcel from a residential zone to suburban reserve.
In its denial, the BOS found the project was inconsistent with the county”s general plan and surrounding land uses and would result in land-use conflicts.
Earlier, the BOS supported a Red Lava Vineyards and Winery proposal to place a small winery in an existing building on its property, located on Highway 29 in southern Kelseyville.
The four supervisors present for the discussion made an intended decision to deny the appeal of a neighbor who opposed the planning commission”s choice to approve a minor use permit and mitigated negative declaration for the project.
A final decision is due within 45 days.
The BOS unanimously approved the Lake County Chamber of Commerce”s request to hold a mixer at the Lucerne Hotel in October.
Jeremy Walsh is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636, ext. 37 or jwalsh@record-bee.com. Follow him on Twitter, @JeremyDWalsh.
