Point Arena in hot water over code enforcement, alleged favoritism

Point Arena, the tiny coastal town known for gorgeous scenery and oversized political fights, is now the focus of a recent Mendocino County grand jury finding alleging the city of 445 residents lacks effective code enforcement and takes uneven and unfair actions.

“Local officials have given preferential treatment to City Council members,” the report states.

According to the report, the city did nothing to stop one City Council member from living in a structure that lacked a sewer or septic system and another from operating a biodiesel business without a business license.

On the other hand, the city did act against a property owner who violated the city code by allowing someone to reside in a commercial building, the report states.

The report did not name the council members who allegedly received favorable treatment, but Mendocino County officials confirmed that Deborah Heatherstone was the council member living without a standard septic system. She and her partner were illegally composting human waste near a stream, according to Mendocino County environmental health officials. Mayor Jim Koogle was the person with the biodiesel filling station, according to a YouTube video he posted online.

Neither could be reached for comment Thursday.

Heatherstone eventually was cited by environmental health officials and charged by the district attorney’s office with violating state and county health regulations.

She pled guilty to a misdemeanor public nuisance charge, according to Mendocino County District Attorney spokesman Mike Geniella.

Richard Shoemaker, Point Arena city manager since October, said the city council has been working since early last year on enhancing what is a largely nonexistent code enforcement program.

The city’s seven-member staff does not include a code enforcement officer, relying instead on other city staff and the contracted city attorney to address code violations.

Shoemaker said he’s contacted county officials about the proposed contract for code enforcement services.

With no code enforcement officer, former Mayor Lauren Sinnott said she’s not surprised residents are treated unequally.

“The only way something comes to light is if someone complains,” she said, and the filing of a complaint depends on whether the person does or doesn’t like the alleged offender.

Sinnott knows a thing or two about likes and dislikes in Point Arena. She was one of four council member recalled in 2011 over disputes in the community over a variety of issues including development, marijuana and morality. Her home was vandalized with toilet paper during the recall.

The city also has had trouble finding candidates to run and had others leave council mid-term. Since last fall, three council members have resigned. One, Trevor Sanders, was arrested in 2014 on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and drunken driving after ramming his SUV into other cars outside a Point Arena bar.

Sinnott said many people discover that the job is more difficult and takes more time than expected, since with few town employees council members effectively become staff - for about $100 a month.

You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 462-6473 or glenda.anderson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MendoReporter.