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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this will discuss more issues related to power shutoffs and honor a local fire district.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

Items on the agenda include untimed discussions related to the public safety power shutoffs and emergencies.

The board will discuss possible changes to policy as it relates to county employees and their work situations during times of disaster, power shutoffs and other related events.

There also will be consideration of appointment of two supervisors to serve on a committee with two city council members from Clearlake and from Lakeport to develop, propose and demand solutions to Pacific Gas and Electric-imposed public safety power shutoffs.

In an item scheduled for 9:10 a.m., the board will present a proclamation recognizing the South Lake County Fire Protection District for 50 years of ambulance.

The full agenda is below.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1: Adopt proclamation recognizing the South Lake County Fire Protection District for 50 years of ambulance.

5.2: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Management Connections for temporary clerical/analyst and appraiser aide personnel in the Assessor-Recorder's Office in an amount not to exceed $180,000 and authorize the chair to sign.

5.3: Approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Paragons LLC for the coordination of activities involved with the No Place Like Home and SB2 Grants for Fiscal Year 2019-20 in the amount of $50,000 and authorize the chair to sign.

5.4: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the Lake County Wrap Program, Foster Care Program and Intensive Services Foster Care Program for Fiscal Year 2019-20 for a contract maximum of $850,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

5.5: Authorize CSAC-EIA to assign Carl Warren & Co. as Lake County’s third party claims administrator.

5.6: Approve budget transfer and new capital asset in the amount of $32,186 for the purchase of a 2019 Ram Promaster van and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.7: (Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors) adopt resolution accepting the relocation of sewer facilities in Middletown Project, Bid 18-23, as complete and authorize the Special District administrator to sign the notice of completion.

5.8: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the atmospheric river event of 2019.

5.9: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).

5.10: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.

5.11: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Clayton fire. not available not available

5.12: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the atmospheric river storm of 2017.

5.13: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Sulphur fire incident.

5.14: a) Adopt Resolution Amending Resolution No. 2019-127 Establishing Temporary Position Allocations For Fiscal Year 2019-2020, Budget Unit No. 1671, Buildings And Grounds; and b) authorize the Public Services director to appoint Dave Hendricks as interim facilities maintenance superintendent at Step 1, retroactive to Oct. 03, 2019.

5.15: Accept the irrevocable offer of dedication for roadway and public utility purposes - unnamed access road off Highway 29, 1 mile Westerly of Kits Corner – Rich-Ted Trucking (Siri) / Neasham lot line adjustment.

5.16: Approve the commercial lease between the county of Lake and Skypark Properties LLC, for property at 900 Airport Blvd, Lakeport, to be used as a pilots lounge for a three year term at $1,000.00 per month; and authorize the chair to sign the lease.

5.17: Approve long distance travel for Lake County Water Resources Invasive Species Coordinator Angela De Palma-Dow to attend and present at the 39th Annual International Symposium of the North America Lake Management Society in Burlington, Vermont, from Nov. 11 to 15, 2019.

TIMED ITEMS

6.2, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation recognizing the South Lake County Fire Protection District for 50 years of ambulance service.

6.3, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transportation, and disposal of fire debris for the Mendocino Complex fire.

6.4, 9:20 a.m.: Public hearing (THIS ITEM WILL BE CONTINUED TO THE NOVEMBER 19, 2019 MEETING) consideration of a resolution amending the master fee schedule for departmental services rendered by the county.

UNTIMED ITEMS

7.2: Continued from the Oct. 22, 2019, meeting: Discussion and consideration of letter of intent to sell 7175 South Center Drive, Clearlake to Lake Transit Authority.

7.3: Addendum: Discussion of possible changes to policy as it relates to our employees and their work situation during times of disaster, public safety power shutoffs and other related events.

7.4: Consideration of appointment of two supervisors to serve on a committee with two city council members from Clearlake and from Lakeport to develop, propose and demand solutions to PG&E-imposed public safety power shutoffs.

7.5: Consideration of (a) board appointment of delegate and alternate to the Rural County Representatives Board of Directors for 2020; (b) board appointment of delegate and alternate to Golden State Finance Authority Board of Directors for 2020; and (c) board appointment of delegate and alternate to the Rural Counties Representatives of California Environmental Services Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors for 2020.

7.6: Discussion and consideration of area plan updates.

7.7: Consideration of a resolution amending Resolution No. 2019-70, Adopting a Policy for the Collection of Taxes Due Pursuant to the Lake County Cannabis Cultivation Tax Ordinance.

7.8: Consideration of an ordinance amending specified sections of Chapter 13 of the Lake County Code relating to administrative fines for violations of county code relating to the failure to obtain cannabis cultivation permits.

7.9: Consideration of Change Order No. One for Three SB1 Rehabilitation Improvement Projects, Bid No. 19-10, for a decrease of $5,334.02 and a revised contract amount of $560,718.23.

7.10: Consideration of (a) purchase of four fully equipped 2020 Ford Transit 150 PTV Jail Transport Vans from Redwood Ford from the Sheriff/Pursuit Vehicle Replacement Budget Unit 2217, Object Code 62.72 and (b) authorize the sheriff/coroner or his designee to issue a purchase order to Redwood Ford in the amount of $258,176.

CLOSED SESSION

8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(2), (e) (3): Claim of Robinson.

8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(2), (e) (5): One potential case.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Association of Realtors reported that September real estate sales in Lake County were up nearly 25 percent from sales in September 2018.

There were 76 sales of single-family residences in September compared to 61 sales in September 2018.

Month-to-month sales dropped by 5 percent. August had 80 sales, the association reported.

Median sales prices performed the opposite of the number of sales. Month to month the median sales price increased 5.8 percent going from $259,500 in August to $274,500 in September.

The year to year median sales price dropped from $281,500 in September 2018 accounting for a 2.5 percent change.

“Interest rates are nearly at the best they have been in three years,” said Lake County Association of Realtors President Mary Benson. “With prices remaining relatively flat more buyers are able to qualify to purchase a home and realize the dream of homeownership.”

On the financing side of the business cash buyers purchased 25 percent of the sold homes, conventional loans 46.25 percent and FHA 7.5 percent. VA loans accounted for 7.5 percent of the sales and USDA loans 2.5 percent.

On a statewide basis the California Association of Realtors, or CAR, reported that the median sales price in California for September was $605,680, down 1.9 percent from August and up 4.7 percent from September 2018.

Existing, single-family home sales totaled 404,030 in September on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, down 0.5 percent from August and up 5.8 percent from September 2018.

The 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rate averaged 3.61 percent in September, down from 4.63 percent in September 2018, according to Freddie Mac. The five-year, adjustable mortgage interest rate was an average of 3.38 percent, compared to 3.68 percent in September 2018.

LAKE COUNTY NUMBERS AT A GLANCE

September 2019
Median price: $274,500
Units sold: 76
Median days to sell: 57

August 2019
Median price: $252,500
Units sold: 80
Median days to sell: 46

September 2018
Median price: $281,500
Units sold: 61
Median days to sell: 58

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Every year, drivers 65 years of age and older look to the California Highway Patrol for assistance in maintaining or improving their ability to drive safely.

In response, the CHP provides the Age Well, Drive Smart program to equip senior drivers with the necessary tools to remain safe and confident on the road.

The Age Well, Drive Smart program covers various topics ranging from California driving laws, safe driving practices, and the effects of aging on a person’s ability to drive safely.

It is not uncommon for senior drivers to be unaware or deny changes in their physical or mental conditions which negatively affect their ability to drive safely.

Therefore, the Age Well, Drive Smart program was designed with a self-assessment component to assist senior drivers with identifying these changes and providing possible corrective options.

“The Age Well, Drive Smart program is an excellent course that helps address the many changes that affect our ability to drive as we all become senior drivers one day,” said Clear Lake Area CHP Commander Lt. Randy England. “We are happy to see that this has become a well-attended course, serving to educate our seniors so they are better drivers and our Lake County roads are safe.”

The Clear Lake Area CHP will be hosting the next Age Well, Drive Smart class on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11, from 9 to 11 a.m.

The class will be held at the Middletown Senior Center, 21256 Washington St.

This class is an excellent opportunity for senior drivers to refresh their knowledge of California driving laws, evaluate their driving abilities and improve their driving skills.

If you or a family member would like to attend the Age Well, Drive Smart class, please contact the Middletown Senior Center at 707-987-3113 for reservations, space for these classes is
Limited.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club invites the community to celebrate the splendor of fall flowers at its annual mum show.

The show will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, at the Lakeport Yacht Club, next to the Fifth Street boat ramp in Lakeport.

The event is free and open to the public.

The theme for this year's show is “Mum Masquerade.” The arrangements will be created around this theme.

Organizers said the buds on the chrysanthemum plants are bursting with color and want to show off their beauty.

Growing mums is an all-year process. There are many varieties: incurve, reflex, decorative, pompom, single, semi-double, anemone, spoons, quill, spiders, brush and thistle, exotic or unclassified, gnomes, cascades and garden cushion.

The Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Garden Club, or CLTTGC, has held judged chrysanthemum shows for many years.

Now members create a non-judged show – just for the pure joy of enjoying these beautiful flowers with all the varieties and share them with our community.

The flowers are presented in the form of floral arrangements and single stems. Last year they had more than 100 guests attending to view more than 50 arrangements.

The show is sponsored by the Kabatin-Red Bud Arrangers of CLTTGC. Shirley Estrem is the project manager, coordinating placement and classification, and Barbara Swanson is advising the Red Bud arrangers in assembling their “mum” creations.

Refreshments of cookies and cider will be available for your pleasure as you enjoy the show.

The CLTTGC is affiliated with the Mendo-Lake District and the California Garden Clubs Inc.

For more information visit www.clttgc.org or call Debra at 707-263-0889.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The hypnotic poetry of Clear Lake has a way of sustaining the soul with its dramatic moods, colors and water-patterns.

True, this lake has its problems, but just being near the oldest lake in North America, and the largest lake wholly within California has a way of filling the senses.

Its rich and lively freshwater scent tells you that this lake attracts enormous numbers of waterfowl and holds a tremendous quantity and variety of fish.

Several varieties of grebes, geese, mergansers, bald eagles, golden eagles and more find the lake attractive.

With rugged mountains as a backdrop, the scene is set for a grand day of exploring at the lake's shores.

American coots, those plump duck-like birds about the size of a chicken are paddling about this morning.

The coots' discerning features of dark gray plumage and white bill ringed with black confirm that they are indeed coots, and not the pied-billed grebes with which I seem to confuse them.

Coots, relative of the rail, are otherwise distinguished by their habits of diving and dining on plant-life fresh from the lake, and can also be seen foraging along the shoreline.

They dine on a variety of worms, bugs, fish and even other bird's eggs from time-to- time.

Coots also make use of aquatic plants and stems to build their floating platform-like nests which both the male and female construct together.

During nesting season the males can be quite aggressive, punting intruders with their lobed toes while defending their territory.

Different than ducks, coots do not have webbed feet, and instead possess clown-like oversized feet that help them maneuver muddy flats. When they take flight they need to dash across the water before lifting off.

To make up for their awkward appearance during flight, coots can boast about their swimming and diving skills, since they excel at these underwater maneuvers.

Something else to look for: Coots have a habit of bobbing their heads back and forth while swimming – some call it a “funky chicken” look.

These hardy birds are seen almost all over North America, especially during the winter months when they flock to marshes, ponds and lakes.

Be sure to listen for their unusual croaks and grunts while bird-watching on Clear Lake.

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, freelance writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.”

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has several new dogs, including little terriers and a big dog who lost her owner.

Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of American Staffordshire Terrier, Brussels Griffon, chow chow, Labrador Retriever, pit bull, wirehaired terrier and Yorkshire Terrier.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

‘Brighton’

“Brighton” is a female Labrador Retriever who was brought to the shelter after her owner recently died.

She is estimated to be between 5 and 7 years of age, has a short black coat and weighs about 90 pounds.

Brighton is friendly and in need of a new, loving home. Friends of her late owner are having her groomed so she is ready for her new family.

She is in kennel No. 28, ID No. 13171.

'Honey'

“Honey” is a female Labrador Retriever-chow chow mix with a short black coat.

She has been spayed.

She's in kennel No. 22, ID No. 13146.

Pit bull terrier

This male pit bull terrier has a shot gray and white coat.

He is in kennel No. 24, ID No. 13172.

‘Gracie’

“Gracie” is a female Yorkshire Terrier with a long black and brown coat.

She is in kennel No. 25, ID No. 13150.

‘Scrappy’

“Scrappy” is a female wirehaired terrier with a coarse tan coat.

She is in kennel No. 27a, ID No. 13174.

‘Scruffy’

“Scruffy” is a female Brussels Griffon with a medium-length tan coat.

She is in kennel No. 27b, ID No. 13175.

‘Corn’

“Corn” is a male American Staffordshire Terrier with a short red coat.

He has been neutered.

He’s in kennel No. 29, ID No. 12967.

‘Max’

“Max” is a male pit bull terrier with a short tan and white coat.

He has been neutered.

Max is in kennel No. 31, ID No. 13173.

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.