LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors is set to discuss the county’s concerns about the proposed removal of the Scott Dam, which created Lake Pillsbury, and along with it will consider sending letters to the governor and to the Trump Administration seeking assistance in stopping the dam’s decommissioning.

The‌ ‌board will meet beginning ‌at‌ ‌9‌ ‌a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, 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 865 3354 4962, ‌pass code 726865.‌ ‌The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,86533544962#,,,,*726865#. The meeting can also be accessed via phone at 669 900 6833.

At 1:30 p.m. the supervisors will consider sending comments to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. in response to the company’s application for surrender of license and application for non-project use of project lands relating to the Scott Dam.

The construction in 1922 of the dam, located on the Eel River in Lake County and within the Mendocino National Forest, created Lake Pillsbury. It’s one of two dams included in PG&E’s Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.

On Jan. 31, PG&E released its draft license surrender application, with the comment period to close on March 3.

The staff report for the discussion said the county’s proposed letter “addresses considerations regarding the comment period timeline and potential impacts to Lake County, including implications for fire suppression capabilities, property values, and county revenue streams.”

The county says its opposes decommissioning of Scott Dam, in part, because PG&E has not
outlined mitigation measures that would be put in place to address environmental and
safety concerns raised by the county.

As part of the Tuesday discussion, the board also will consider two letters — one to Gov. Gavin Newsom and one to the Trump Administration.

The letter to the governor notes that despite Newsom signing an executive order last month to maximize storage of excess flows due to winter storms, “We are highly concerned that the State of California has shown support for decommissioning Scott Dam, rather than serving in a neutral role and weighing the network of risks.”

The board says in its letter that there is a contradiction between the executive order and the state’s apparent support for the dam’s removal, adding, “loss of Scott Dam would
markedly reduce storage of water from future winter storms, whereas your Order directs State
Agencies to maximize storage of excess flows.”

The letter also points out, “Two of the three largest wildfires in California occurred in the Lake Pillsbury area; the water stored behind Scott Dam was pivotal to keeping the fire from moving towards more developed areas. You will recall, 2018’s Mendocino Complex was a staggering 459,123 acres and 2020’s August Complex, which was lightning-vs. human-caused, consumed 1,032,648 acres.”

The supervisors ask for more time to meet with the Governor’s Office “to more fully express our concerns surrounding the effects of the proposed Scott Dam decommissioning. This includes concerns regarding fire resilience, wildlife, water availability, economic impact from the loss of property, sales, and Transient Occupancy Taxes, and much more. Lake County has not been heard, and costs to keep Lake County whole in the face of potential future loss of Scott Dam have been minimized and misrepresented by other parties.”

The letter adds, “California can do better, and we hope you will agree our water needs are just as important as other Counties’ water needs,” a reference to downstream interests, particularly those in Sonoma County, which have apparently been given greater priority in the matter than Lake County’s.

Along with that letter, the board will consider another letter to federal agencies regarding the Scott Dam decommissioning in relation to recent executive orders from President Donald Trump.

In that letter, the board outlines concerns about the dam removal, explaining, “Decommissioning of the dam would put regional agriculture, fire protection, water availability, and our tourism economy at great risk.”

In addition, the supervisors’ letter points out that if the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission were to approve the dam’s decommissioning and removal, that would contradict Trump executive orders that speak to prioritizing human need, maximizing water deliveries and energy generation.

That letter concludes by saying, “Secure water supply and protection of people and private property from catastrophic wildfires are matters of great national consequence and priority. Thank you for joining Lake County, and fulfilling the intent of President Trump’s Executive Orders, in opposing hurried and irresponsible Decommissioning of Scott Dam.”

Also on Tuesday, in an untimed item, the board will consider a letter of support to reauthorize the Older Americans Act and return federal funding to the Area Agency on Aging of Lake and Mendocino County. The funding is critical for the county’s senior center.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1: Adopt resolution approving agreement No. 24-0680-013-SF with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for the European Grapevine Moth Detection Program for $14,287 for the period of Jan. 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025.

5.2: Approve reissuance of property tax refund check from FY 22/23 in the amount of $292.94 issued to Francine Passalacqua.

5.3: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for Jan. 14, 2025, and Jan. 28, 2025.

5.4: Approve request to close Health Services offices all day on August 14, 2025, Oct. 22, 2025, and Nov. 13, 2025, for essential all-staff training.

5.5: Second reading of an ordinance amending Article IX of Chapter 9 of the Lake County Code pertaining to permitting and operation of medical transportation services.

5.6: Approve the plans and specifications for the Hammond Park Improvement Project and authorize the Public Services Director to advertise for bids.

5.7: Adopt amended resolution approving the Lake County Sheriff's Office to apply for State of California Department of Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Vehicle grant funds.

5.8: (a) Approve modified agreement between the Lake County Sheriff's Department and U.S. Forest Service for the 2025 annual operating and financial plan, in the amount of $28,792 for Pillsbury Patrol; $2,000 for dispatch services; and $30,000 for controlled substance operations, and (b) authorize the Sheriff and the chair to sign.

5.9: (a) Approve the FY 2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant application in the amount of $136,604; (b) authorize Sheriff Luke Bingham to sign the grant subaward face sheet, the authorized agent document, and the subrecipient grants management assessment form; (c) authorize County Administrative Officer Susan Parker to act as the authorized agent on behalf of the county to sign the standard assurances and initial each page, the lobbying certification, and the FFATA financial disclosure document; and (d) authorize the chairperson of the Board of Supervisors to sign the certification of the governing body resolution.

5.10: (a) Approve letter of agreement between the Lake County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in the amount of $125,000 for the period of October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025; (b) authorize the Sheriff to sign the agreement; and (c) authorize the chair to sign workplace certifications and grant assurances.

5.11: Adopt resolution approving the standard agreement No. 24-5020 between the county of Lake and the California Department of Social Services for the Resource Family Approval Program complaint investigations and authorizing the director to sign the standard agreement.

5.12: Sitting as Lake County Sanitation District, Board of Directors, approve purchase of a 400 kW Cat generator from Peterson Cat for Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $232,265.78 and authorize the Special Districts administrator to sign the purchase order.

5.13: Authorize the closure of the Special Districts Administration Office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 28, 2025.

5.14: Approve budget transfer in the amount of $25,000 allocating funds from capital line item Aquatech Sewer Cleaner Truck to 1-ton utility truck (UA3) and authorize the chair to sign.

5.15: Sitting as the Board of Directors Lake County Watershed Protection District, approve revised engineering services agreement for staff augmentation services between the Lake County Watershed Protection District and Coastland Civil Engineering, LLP, and authorize the chair to sign the agreement.

TIMED ITEMS

6.2, 9:03 a.m.: Pet of the Week.

6.3, 9:10 a.m.: (a) Consideration of update on 2024 activities of the Lake County Community Risk Reduction Authority (LCCRRA); and (b) presentation on the invasive Mediterranean oak borer from LCCRRA partner, the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center (CLERC).

6.4, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of introduction of new staff of the Lake County Resource Conservation District and annual update to the Board of Supervisors.

6.5, 11 a.m.: (a) Consideration of priorities for FY 2026 Community Project Funding; and (b) discussion and direction to staff on which priorities to further pursue for potential submittal to Congressman Thompson.

6.6, 1 p.m.: Consideration of initiating discussions with the City of Clearlake delegation to discuss potential changes to the governance model for LACOSAN.

6.7, 1:30 p.m.: (a) Consideration of comments to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. in response to their draft application for surrender of license and application for non-project use of project lands; (b) consideration of a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom highlighting considerations regarding Scott Dam decommissioning in consideration of Executive Order N-16-25; and (c) consideration of a letter to federal agencies regarding Scott Dam decommissioning in relation to recent executive orders from President Donald Trump.

UNTIMED ITEMS

7.2: Consideration of the Administration/Human Resources and Public Services departments to implement an intern program in fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26.

7.3: Consideration of Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between county of Lake and Manzanita House for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services for fiscal years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 in the amount of $728,000.

7.4: Consideration of Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between county of Lake and Aurora Behavioral Health for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations for FY 2024-25 in the amount of $800,000.

7.5: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Animal Care and Control Advisory Board, Area Wide Planning Council, East Region Town Hall, Glenbrook Cemetery District.

7.6: Consideration of delegation to the Blue Ribbon Committee for Rehabilitation of Clearlake.

7.7: Consideration of Cannabis Ordinance Task Force appointment.

7.8: Consideration of Section 19.3 of the “Board of Supervisors, County of Lake, CA Policies and Procedures Manual,” multi-factor authentication (MFA) policy.

7.9: Consideration of Change Order No. 1 to the construction contract between Lake County and Stewart Engineering, Inc. for the construction of the 14C-0099 Bartlett Creek Bridge (Bartlett Springs Road) replacement project (Federal Project No. BRLO-5914(111)) in the amount of $7,922.29 and authorize the chair to execute Change Order No. 1, Bid No. 23-02.

7.10: Consideration of Change Order No. 3 to the construction contract between Lake County and Stewart Engineering, Inc. for the construction of 14C-0048 Cache Creek Bridge (Chalk Mountain Road) replacement project (Federal Project No. BRLO-5914(094)) in the amount of $51,245 and authorize the chair to execute Change Order No. 3, Bid No. 23-34.

7.11: Consideration of letter of support to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA) and return federal funding to the Area Agency on Aging of Lake and Mendocino County (AAA).

ASSESSMENT APPEAL HEARINGS

8.1: Consideration of stipulations for the following assessment appeals: (a) No. 11-2023 Descalzo; (b) 12-2023 DaVita; and (c) 13-2023 Anderson.

8.2: Consideration of request by the Assessor's Office to continue the following assessment appeal applications: (a) 05-2023 Wendy Jameson; and (b) 09-2023 Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.

8.3: Consideration of request by the appellant to continue the following assessment appeal application: No. 02-2024 through 09-2024 Donica, LLC.

8.4: Consideration of withdrawal for the following assessment appeal applications: (a) No. 73-2022 McMullen; and (b) 06-2023 Blakely Hull.

CLOSED SESSION

9.1: Public employee evaluation: Health Services Director Anthony Arton.

9.2: Public employee evaluation: Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart.

9.3: Public employee evaluation, title: Animal Control Director Gregory Wilkins.

9.4: Conference with labor negotiator: (a) Chief Negotiator: C. Torrez; County negotiators: S. Parker, S. Carter, C. Moreno, P. Samac, and D. Rico; and (b) Employee Organizations: LCDDAA, LCDSA, LCCOA, LCEA, LCSEA and LCSMA.

9.5: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.

9.6: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – Portney v. County of Lake, et. al.

9.7: Sitting as the Board of Directors of the Lake County IHSS Public Authority: Conference with (a) Chief Negotiator M. Long, County Negotiator R. Dillman Parsons, A. Schimansky; and (b) Employee Organization: California United Homecare Workers Union Local 4034.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.