LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week is set to consider changing the masking requirements in county facilities and to discuss potential reforms to the county’s cannabis tax.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 8, 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, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 917 9771 8692, pass code 233443. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,91797718692#,,,,*233443#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
In a discussion timed for 9:15 a.m., the board will consider rescinding an urgency ordinance requiring everyone in county facilities to wear face coverings, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.
Health Services Director Jonathan Portney’s report to the board cited the state’s lifting last week of masking requirements for public indoor places — although a strong recommendation to mask remains in place.
Portney said that, based on updated state and federal guidance, new Public Health Officer Dr. Erik McLaughlin is recommending the board rescind the ordinance requiring masking in county facilities. “Instead, Dr. McLaughlin highly recommends masking in County facilities.”
At 9:45 a.m., the board is set to get a presentation on the Big Valley Groundwater Basin Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and implementation, and at 10 a.m. will receive a presentation from the Lake County Cannabis Alliance.
In an untimed item, the board will consider taking action to reform the county’s cannabis tax.
Options staff is presenting include changing the taxable area from “cultivation area” to “canopy area,” which would reduce the tax by 15%; extend the due date for the cultivation tax’s second installment from May 15 to Oct. 30 and, going forward, resetting the future due dates; and temporarily reducing the cultivation tax rate by 50% for cultivation in 2022 and 25% for cultivation in 2023.
The proposal arose after the board heard from cannabis business owners in January who said the taxes, combined with market forces, were forcing them out of the industry.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve letter to the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands in support of expansion of the existing Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Walker Ridge, authorizing the chair to sign.
5.2: Adopt proclamation commending Tim Celli for his 26 years of devoted service to the residents of Clearlake and Lake County.
5.3: Approve Northshore Fire Protection District Wildland Fire Fuels Crew Grant agreement for the purchase of equipment for an amount not to exceed $521,779.
5.4: Adopt resolution amending Resolution 2021-31 and replace Appendix A to include an updated legal description of the property exchange agreement with the state of California (APN 010-043-01) executed on Oct. 29, 2021.
5.5: Approve an amendment to the September 2021 letter of commitment between the county of Lake and Trane Technologies, enabling pursuit of grant funding toward a firemain linked auxiliary supply hydraulic energy storage (FLASHES) system project in north Lakeport.
5.6: a) Reaffirm action taken on Oct. 26, 2021, adopting resolution No. 2021-135 authorizing the agreement in the amount of $757,550.00 between the county of Lake and the California Mental Health Services Authority for the period of agreement execution through Dec. 31, 2024; and b) authorize the Behavioral Health director to sign the agreement.
5.7: Approve amendment to the agreement between county of Lake and Hilltop Recovery Services for substance use disorder outpatient drug free and residential services for a new contract maximum of $292,050.00 for fiscal year 2021-22 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.8: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes Feb. 15, 2022.
5.9: (a) Adopt resolution recognizing, endorsing and accepting the technical and financial support provided to Lake County by the Northern California Coalition to safeguard communities in an effort to address criminal activities associated with the illegal cultivation of cannabis by drug trafficking organizations; and (b) adopt resolution amending Resolution 2021-115 to amend the adopted budget for FY 2021-22 by appropriating unanticipated revenue in the sheriff/coroner budget 2201.
5.10: Approve late travel claim for Water Resources Program Coordinator William Fox in the amount of $224.28 for the Western Groundwater Congress Conference held in Burbank, California, and authorize the auditor to pay.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration to rescind Urgency Ordinance No. 3114 requiring all persons, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, wear face coverings in county facilities.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of hearing on account and proposed assessment for 12201 Widgeon Way, Clearlake Oaks.
6.4, 9:45 a.m.: Presentation of Big Valley Groundwater Basin Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, and implementation.
6.5, 10 a.m.: Consideration of presentation from the Lake County Cannabis Alliance.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of resolution authorizing state of California cannabis equity funding.
7.3: Consideration of cannabis tax reform options.
7.4: a) Discussion and possible renegotiations of certain provisions of agreement approved on Sept. 28, 2021, with the Rural Communities Housing Development Corp. and b) discussion and direction on audit for financial activity regarding loan and loan forgiveness regarding Collier Avenue project.
7.5: Discussion of interest apportionment with the treasurer–tax collector.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluation: Health Services director.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: Public Health officer.
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.
Supervisors to consider changes to masking rules, cannabis tax reforms
- Elizabeth Larson
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