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Residents criticize Lake County outreach and Community Development Department customer service
Summary
Residents and a local contractor told the board that notice and outreach for the general plan and local-area planning work have been inadequate and that the Community Development Department has been difficult to work with, discouraging contractors and the public from engaging.
Two public commenters told the Lake County Board that county planning and permitting functions are not engaging the public or local contractors effectively.
Lisa Benvitas, an Upper Lake resident, said she had not been aware of public input on the county's local area plan and general plan and urged supervisors to fund expanded outreach such as Facebook advertising and volunteer-supported efforts to reach people who do not normally attend public meetings. "I just think it's too important of a plan that's going to affect us until 2050," she said, arguing that insufficient outreach risks excluding those most affected.
Skyla Pillsberry, speaking for Family Farms, said local contractors tell prospective clients not to engage with the Community Development Department because the permitting and information process is "too hard." She called the issue a leadership problem and criticized delays and a lack of consistent information from county staff.
Board staff moved to accept online public comment and no formal responses or staff commitments to additional outreach were recorded during the public-comment period.
Why it matters: The general plan and local-area plans set long-term land-use and development rules; speakers said limited outreach could leave vulnerable or less-engaged residents out of significant decisions.
Next steps: No county commitment to additional outreach was recorded in the public-comment segment.
