LAKEPORT
Public Defender Oversight Committee
The Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants to fill vacancies on the Public Defender Oversight Committee. The current bylaws require two members of the General Public and one attorney to be appointed to this advisory board.
The purpose of this committee is to receive and review reports on the County’s Public Defender Program and discuss the performance and ability to meet the needs of the County, the Courts and those who utilize these services.
Applications are available at the Lake County Courthouse, Clerk of the Board Office, Room 109, 255 North Forbes Street, Lakeport, California, or online at https://www.lakecountyca.gov/1116/Board-of-Supervisors. Please note that the membership on the above-referenced advisory board is voluntary.
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CLEARLAKE
Compassion in The Cold
The National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Consumer Advisory Board and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council encourage communities to host public events on or around the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year and first day of winter) to honor those who died while homeless. The event will take place December 21, 2023, 5 to 8 pm at Hope Center 3400 Emerson St, Clearlake
We would like to honor the patients and people we lost this last year due to homelessness. There will be a candlelight vigil, a remembrance tree that we hope to use every year to follow, and devotion, prayer, and dedication by the public and those who have lost people, as well as a panel of speakers with lived experience of homelessness. We will be serving chili and warm beverages. Warming supplies and jackets will be available for persons currently experiencing homelessness. If anyone attending has a jacket to donate, we invite you to do so. This event will be held outside and we encourage you to dress warmly. This is a community event and we encourage you to bring your family.
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CLEARLAKE
Elem Indian Colony and City of Clearlake collaborate on project
The City of Clearlake and the Elem Indian Colony reached agreement on a memorandum of agreement for a development
project in the City on two parcels Elem purchased in 2019 on Lakeshore Drive near Redbud Park. The parcels total approximately one acre and will include a building with a convenience store and office space as well as fueling and electric
vehicle charging stations.
After the environmental document was approved in February, it paved the way for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to place the property into trust and authorize Elem’s project to move forward.
“We can’t express enough about the collaborative approach of the Elem Tribal Council and their desire to work in
partnership with the City on this outstanding project,” said Mayor Russ Perdock. “We worked in partnership to reach an
agreement on many critical project components although they are not required to obtain approval from the City since we do
not have any jurisdiction over tribal land in trust with the federal government.”
Key agreement points include:
Tax revenue – While transactions on tribal lands are not subject to federal, state, or local taxes, Elem has agreed to pay the
City an equal amount of tax receipts that would be generated by the local Measure P and Measure V tax measures. They
will also contribute 60 percent of the City’s sales tax rate, increasing it by 10 percent annually until it reaches 100 percent.
Public Benefit Fund – Elem will establish a public benefit fund with an initial grant of $100,000 to assist with projects
benefiting the community at large. Two City and two Tribal representatives will jointly determine the projects to support.
Consistency with City ordinances/plans – Elem agreed to develop the project consistent with City standards and
ordinances, despite no obligation to do so on tribal lands.
Review of plans/permits – While projects on tribal lands are not subject to review and approval for building permits,
grading permits, etc., Elem has agreed to submit the plans to the City for review, comment and recommendation.
Tribal/City Advisory Committee – A new committee with two representatives from each government will discuss common
issues for each entity to consider at quarterly meetings open to the public.
Agreements concerning prohibited flavored tobacco sales and use of Clearlake’s law enforcement are also included.
Agustin Garcia, the Elem Tribal Chairman stated that “this agreement is the culmination of the tribes desire for economic
development in the City the Tribe calls home. We appreciate the City’s commitment to work collaboratively with us to create
a project that reflects both the Tribe’s and City’s vision for Clearlake and Lake County that will stand for generations. The
agreement also reflects what can happen when all issues are placed on the table and both parties work towards common
goals. The Elem Indian Colony thank City leaders for their support and trust in approving the agreement.”
“We can’t express enough how much we appreciate the interest in benefiting the community by Elem tribal leadership
throughout this process,” said City Manager Alan Flora. “In many cases, negotiations like this are combative and end up in
court. But Elem considered our needs and concerns and addressed them in a meaningful way. We see this as a long and
cooperative relationship with Elem that will benefit the Clearlake community and support Tribal sovereignty.”
The City of Clearlake is taking bold steps to bring economic benefits, youth programming, infrastructure improvements,
health services and tourism to improve the quality of life of people living, working and owning businesses in the City. This
project is one more step toward making the City a more desirable place to live, work and play.
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