Board Of Supervisors — Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Through extensive Community Engagement and input, PlaceWorks and County Staff have conducted an in-depth analysis and developed a solution-oriented approach to addressing housing issues in Lake County. The Housing Action and Implementation Plan (HAIP) is a comprehensive manual to address housing in Lake County and incorporates a detailed analysis and Actions Steps necessary to meet the goals outlined in the document. This plan has connectivity to, but is not part of, the General Plan. Additionally, the HAIP can be used as a supporting document for the Housing Element, but it is likewise importantly distinct from that document. Components of the HAIP include analysis of Current Conditions, a Community Engagement Summary, Gaps Analysis, Goals and Strategies, and Action Steps and Resources. This plan provides analysis and recommendations relevant to all of Lake County, including the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport. Extensive community engagement supporting the plan was funded by a Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) Grant, awarded to the County's Community Development Department. Conditions of that funding require Adoption of this plan today. However, as a living document, this plan can be revised at anytime, through action by your board. Additionally, PlaceWorks has undertaken a Sites Analysis and created an interactive Web Map. A demonstration will be given to review the associated Geographic Information System (GIS) layer which will be a resource supplement to the HAIP (i.e., an interactive, online HAIP Parcel Map).

Adopt the Housing Action and Implementation Plan (HAIP).

On April 8, 2025, the County entered into a $5.1 million road reconstruction contract with Argonaut Constructors, which included pulverization of the existing road surfaces in the Cobb area, followed by a chip seal surface application for many roads, as well as pulverization and a hot mix asphalt surfacing for other roads. As construction has proceeded this summer, residents have raised concerns the chip seal surfacing is not sufficient to meet durability and quality expectations. To evaluate these concerns, Public Works staff requested the final design report from Nichols Consulting Engineers (NCE), the firm contracted by the County to prepare the design for this project. NCE submitted that report July 23, 2025, which summarizes the engineering and decision-making process undertaken with former County staff that led to the development of recommendations for this project, including a recommendation many roads be surfaced with a double chip seal. NCE has been asked to attend this presentation to provide information and respond to questions regarding the engineering approach and decision-making process for road rehabilitation. Concerns remain regarding the long-term durability of the chip sealed roads and the best available investment decisions for County Road Maintenance funds. Staff evaluated options to improve the roads that have been pulverized but did not receive asphalt surfacing. Options considered include an additional seal coat, use of the County roads crew for additional maintenance, or asphalt paving by contract. After careful consideration, staff recommends amending the contract with Argonaut Constructors, to include asphalt paving The estimated additional cost for upgrading the surface treatment from chip seal to asphalt paving is approximately $1,000,000. Supervisor Pyska has expressed willingness to commit $225,000 in Cannabis discretionary funding. In preparation for your Board's Tuesday discussion, staff are likewise exploring options for the estimated remaining total of $875,000.

Direction to staff to proceed with modifying the Agreement Between the County of Lake and Argonaut Constructors for the 2024 Pavement Rehabilitation Project to Include Asphalt Paving for Roads Previously Planned to be Double Chip Sealed at an Estimated Additional Cost of $1,100,000.

For your Board's and the public's awareness, the Lake County Watershed Protection District was recently notified our 2025 Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Application, facilitated by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways, will not be funded. the Lake County Watershed Protection District was recently notified our 2025 Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Application, facilitated by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways, will not be funded. This was a $399,520 request to support the Clear Lake Mussel Prevention Project, and the majority of the funding would have gone to support ramp monitor staffing costs. On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, I contacted program staff, emphasizing the potentially profound consequences of disruption to this critical funding. Our Application was denied due to a clerical oversight (exclusion of a Letter documenting California Department of Fish and Wildlife review of the County's Dreissenid Mussel Prevention Plan, received in 2019), as opposed to any substantive concern or deficiency. A Formal Appeal was filed Thursday, July 24, 2025, with the Division of Boating and Waterways' Executive, Deputy Director, Ramona Fernandez; as of this writing, no response has been received. In large measure because of the work of our trained ramp monitors, introduction of Quagga and Zebra Mussels to Clear Lake has been mitigated, to date. Particularly with increased complexities associated with recent infestations of Golden Mussels in California waterbodies, remaining vigilant in is essential to the health of the ecosystem surrounding our County's defining geographic feature. You will be aware, California's Delta Region is likewise a bass fishing haven, and fisherman commonly travel between the two water bodies. Should monitoring for Quagga, Zebra and Golden Mussels be suspended, it may just be a matter of time before infestation occurs, due to introduction by vessels visiting Clear Lake. This is a significant threat, and loss of Clear Lake as a vibrant fishery and habitat would have dramatic implications for our County and the State. Once introduced, Dreissenid mussels significantly alter lake ecology by displacing native species, destroying native habitats and the species that depend on natural habitats, blocking water delivery, disrupting recreational and commercial fishing, undermining docks and all other structures in the water, impeding navigation and enjoyment of the country's waterways. These mussels have caused devastating impacts on municipal water systems, recreation and fisheries in other areas of the country; we must collectively remain vigilant (https://www.nomussels.com/). As previously stated, Lake County Watershed Protection District/Water Resources Department staff are already appealing this highly regrettable Division of Boating and Waterways decision. In addition to this action, staff recommends your Board consider three additional steps: 1) Authorize me, as Water Resources Director, and the County Administrative Officer to co-sign a Letter to Governor Newsom, State Senate President pro Tempore McGuire, and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, strongly encouraging them to intervene in the State's interest, and fund the Clear Lake Mussel Prevention Project; and/or Authorize a Letter from your Board. 2) Authorize Water Resources and County Administrative Office staff to partner with the County's State Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy Firm, Nielsen Merksamer, to support our Representatives in urging the Division of Boating and Waterways to reconsider their decision. 3) As of this writing, the Water Resources Department has approximately $13,000 in Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection Sticker Revenue, and an urgent increase of available funding is required, due to the Division of Boating and Waterways' decision. With your Board's approval, $266,445.86 in available Cannabis funds dedicated to Water Resources, Planning, Code Enforcement and similar purposes can likewise be utilized to continue ramp monitoring. Staff additionally recommend allocating $75,000 in Economic Development-focused Cannabis funds. The attached Resolution will execute the necessary amendments to your Board's Recommended Budget for FY 2025-26 by adjusting revenues in Budget Unit 1072, Cannabis, and 8109, Lake County Watershed Protection District. This will provide $341,445.86 in interim funding for continued monitoring until the Department can re-apply for grant funding in the Spring, should the Formal Appeal prove unsuccessful. Screening for Quagga, Zebra and Golden Mussels is essential to shielding gains made by recent County and State investments in the health of Clear Lake investments and providing the best possible future for all Lake County residents and visitors. Staff recommend your Board affirm continuation of the Formal Appeal process, and authorize the additional actions detailed above.

1) Affirm your Board's support for continuation of the Formal Appeal process associated with Lake County Watershed Protection District's "Clear Lake Mussel Prevention Project" Grant Application; 2) Authorize Pawan Upadhyay, Water Resources Director, and Susan Parker, County Administrative Officer, to co-sign a Letter to Governor Newsom, State Senate President pro Tempore McGuire, and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, strongly requesting they intervene in the State's interest, and fund the Clear Lake Mussel Prevention Project; and/or Authorize a Letter from your Board; 3) Authorize Water Resources and County Administrative Office staff to partner with the County's State Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy Firm, Nielsen Merksamer, to support our Representatives in urging the Division of Boating and Waterways to reconsider their decision; and 4) Adopt the Resolution Amending the Motion by the Board Approving the Recommended Budget for FY 2025-2026 by Adjusting Revenues in Budget Unit 1072 (Cannabis) and 8109 (Watershed Protection District)