Resident alleges community development relied on informal policies during cannabis ordinance process
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Summary
A local resident alleged that Lake County community development staff have used informal, uncodified policies to guide decisions in the cannabis ordinance process and cited instances where staff consulted a former director and raised staffing and transparency concerns.
A Hillsborough Family Farm representative told the Board of Supervisors that the county's community development department (CDD) has repeatedly relied on internal, uncodified policies when handling the cannabis ordinance process and other public matters, potentially bypassing required transparency and legal authority.
Kyle Lewong said CDD staff consulted a former director for regulatory interpretation and claimed internal policy has been used in place of formal ordinance language, citing a Dec. 11 planning commission incident and reporting on prior agenda items. He argued that when staff rely on informal guidance it can create a legal gray area and compromise neutrality in quasi‑judicial processes.
Lewong also raised examples he said showed a pattern — including the use of body‑worn cameras in inspections and statements by a director invoking employment concerns during a commission meeting — and called the behavior a leadership issue rather than a minor procedural lapse.
The resident requested greater transparency and accountability from CDD. The public comment record does not include a response from county staff or a formal investigation outcome in this meeting's public input segment.
Provenance: Based on public comment by Kyle Lewong of Hillsborough Family Farm.