Memorandum
Date: September 9, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Ray Buenaventura, Chief Public Defender
Subject: Consideration of the First Amendment to Commercial Lease Agreement Between the County of Lake and Lakeport Plaza, LLC, for Office Space at 55 1st St, Lakeport
Executive Summary:
On December 3, 2024, the Lake County Board of Supervisors approved a Commercial Lease Agreement for 4,716 square feet of office space at 55 1st St, Lakeport, used by the Public Defender’s office. The original Lease (attached) provided for space split between the 2nd and 3rd floors of the building, and additionally provided for a Right of First Refusal, should additional space become available on the 2nd Floor; from the outset, the Public Defender’s Office’s hope was to ultimately occupy the entirety of the 2nd floor.
Administrative Office staff have been notified the balance of the 2nd floor space is now available (as of September 1, 2025). Public Defender staff transitioning to use of this space is anticipated to take 60-90 days; the Amendment, therefore, provides for a three-month period (i.e., September 1, 2025 to November 30, 2025) during which 6,119 total square feet will be leased.
The 2nd floor space, alone, is approximately 4,810 square feet, and sufficient to accommodate existing and anticipated Public Defender staffing requirements. Effective December 1, 2025, the County will lease only those 4,810 square feet of 2nd floor space.
Base Rent for space at 55 1st St. is $2.10/square foot (static for the full ten years, with no CPI or other increases). Additionally, a Flat Fee of $1.00/square foot is assessed to provide for Operating Expenses, which encompass electricity, sewer, trash, disposal, water service, elevator service, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) maintenance, pest control, basic landscaping and an alarm system. The Operating Expenses Flat Fee will be re-evaluated, and adjusted to reflect actual costs, at the start of years four (December 2028) and seven (December 2031) of the proposed Agreement.
For the period from December 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, monthly Base Rent and Flat Fee costs (for 4,716 square feet of office space) totaled $14,619.60 per month. From September 1, 2025, to November 30, 2025, monthly Base Rent and Flat Fee costs will total $18,968.90 per month. Effective December 1, 2025, monthly Base Rent and Flat Fee costs will total $14,911.00 per month.
Pending your Board’s approval, this Amendment Lease will immediately commence (retroactive to September 1, 2025). The Commercial Lease Agreement term will remain December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2034.
Staff recommends your Board approve the proposed Amendment to the Commercial Lease Agreement.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: __N/A____ Amount Budgeted: __N/A____ Additional Requested: _N/A____ Future Annual Cost: N/A____
Purchasing Considerations (check all that apply): ☒ Not applicable
☐ Fully Article X.- and/or Consultant Selection Policy-Compliant (describe process undertaken in “Executive Summary”)
☐ Section 2-38 Exemption from Competitive Bidding (rationale in “Executive Summary,” attach documentation, as needed)
☐ For Technology Purchases: Vetted and Supported by the Technology Governance Committee (“Yes,” if checked)
☐ Other (Please describe in Executive Summary)
Consistency with Vision 2028 (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☒ Well-being of Residents ☐ Public Safety ☐ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☐ Economic Development ☐ Infrastructure ☒ County Workforce
☐ Community Collaboration ☒ Business Process Efficiency ☐ Clear Lake
Recommended Action: Approve the First Amendment to Commercial Lease Agreement Between the County of Lake and Lakeport Plaza, LLC, for Office Space at 55 1st St, Lakeport