Memorandum
Date: August 11, 2026
To: The Honorable Brad Rasmussen, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Mireya Turner, Community Development Department Director
Shannon Walker-Smith, Deputy Community Development Administrator
Marcus Beltramo, Code Enforcement Manager
Subject: Consideration of Presentation of Community Development - Code Division Grant and Programs Update
Executive Summary:
The Community Development Department’s Code Enforcement Division has made substantial progress across multiple programs from July 2024 through mid-2026, driven in part by grant funding, targeted enforcement, and expanded interagency coordination.
The Illegal Dumping Program, funded by a $250,000 CalRecycle grant, successfully completed all grant activities, including six Free Dump Days, cleanup of 29 illegal dumping sites, and two major private property abatements. Over 50% of illegal dumping sites were voluntarily abated by property owners. In total, the program removed approximately 872 tons (OR 1.7 million pounds) of trash and metal, more than 900 tires, 247 mattresses, and 31 vehicles. Major abatements at Dry Creek Road and Lakeshore Boulevard removed significant accumulations of trash, debris, scrap metal, and vehicles after years of repeated Code Enforcement contact.
The COPTR Program, in its final year of funding, continues to drive impactful improvements on the Northshore through a partnership with the Sheriff’s Office. The program has managed 543 cases, closed 308, completed 24 abatements, and posted numerous red tags. Persistent issues involve social nuisances not yet addressed under Chapter 13, prompting ongoing policy updates. Targeted enforcement in specific neighborhoods, including Butte Street in Nice, has yielded visible compliance improvements. Despite successes, eight fire destroyed homes still require demolition, each costing approximately $50,000. COPTR funding sunsets at the end of FY 26 27, and sustained or expanded funding is recommended to maintain momentum.
The CDBG Mitigation Team Program, launched in October 2025, is addressing hazardous vegetation and substandard housing through education, self-abatement, and cross department coordination. A countywide Housing Condition Assessment found that 35.7% of surveyed residential parcels are substandard, with the highest needs in Clearlake Oaks, Kelseyville, Nice, Lower Lake, and Lucerne. About 75.5% of properties exhibited wildfire Zone Zero hazards, highlighting significant mitigation needs. The program has processed 557 cases and corrected 332 violations to date. Work is underway with the RHTF to explore a Pilot Housing Rehabilitation Grant Program and future mobile home replacement funding needs.
By the end of FY 26 27, no COPTR or general abatement funds will remain, creating an urgent need to establish a sustainable Nuisance Abatement Fund. In parallel, Chapter 13 is being updated with outside counsel to expand enforcement authority-covering red tag procedures, RV occupation, social nuisances, and illegal dumping-and to clarify pathways for additional legal remedies. Finally, several high-cost abatements posing major health and safety concerns will return to the Board in September for special funding or legal action due to extraordinary cost.
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Recommended Action: No recommended action.