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State Controller Betty T. Yee has published 2018 self-reported payroll data for California special districts on the Government Compensation in California Web site.

The data cover 159,337 positions and a total of more than $8.93 billion in 2018 wages and nearly $2.47 billion in health and retirement costs for 3,074 special districts.

Special districts are government entities created by a local community to meet a specific need. Data for 2018 show nearly half of the top 10 districts by total wages are in health care, with the remainder a mix of utility, transit, water, fire and sanitation districts.

In Lake County, the top 10 districts, with total employees, wages, and retirement and health contributions, are as follows:

– Lake County Fire Protection District: 50 employees; total wages, $1,788,343; retirement and health contributions, $840,605
– Kelseyville Fire Protection District: 45 employees; total wages, $1,706,758; retirement and health contributions, $413,539.
– Northshore Fire Protection District Fire Protection : 56 employees; total wages, $1,557,823; retirement and health contributions, $483,319.
– Lakeport Fire Protection District: 43 employees; total wages, $1,247,475; retirement and health contributions, $370,686.
– Clearlake Oaks Water District: 24 employees; total wages, $934,828; retirement and health contributions, $264,625.
– Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District: 19 employees; total wages, $873,019 ; retirement and health contributions, $408,576.
– Lake County Vector Control District: 16 employees; total wages, $625,724; retirement and health contributions, $252,870.
– Konocti County Water District: 15 employees; total wages, $480,033; retirement and health contributions, $129,621.
– Cobb Area County Water District: 16 employees; total wages, $278,085; retirement and health contributions, $48,739.
– Lower Lake County Waterworks District No. 1: 13 employees; total wages, $260,340; retirement and health contributions, $67,238.

The top 10 individual salaries reported statewide all are in health care districts. In Lake County, eight of the top 10 highest paid individuals are in the firefighting profession.

They are as follows, with job title, district, pay, and retirement and health contributions listed:

1. Salaried firefighter, Lakeport Fire Protection District; total wages, $154,124; retirement and health contributions, $39,514.
2. General manager, Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District: total wages, $150,873; retirement and health contributions, $43,664.
3. District manager, Lake County Vector Control District: total wages, $147,496; retirement and health contributions, $51,181.
4. Fire chief, Lake County Fire Protection District: total wages, $147,461; retirement and health contributions, $63,990.
5. Salaried firefighter, Lakeport Fire Protection District: total wages, $144,958; retirement and health contributions, $37,965.
6. Captain/paramedic, Kelseyville Fire Protection District: total wages, $135,124; retirement and health contributions, $32,052.
7. Fire chief, Kelseyville Fire Protection District: total wages, $116,682; retirement and health contributions, $39,330.
8. Engineer/paramedic, Kelseyville Fire Protection District: total wages, $112,179; retirement and health contributions, $30,194.
9. Deputy chief, Northshore Fire Protection District: total wages, $103,353; retirement and health contributions, $36,215.
10. Engineer/paramedic, Kelseyville Fire Protection District; total wages, $101,546; retirement and health contributions, $17,829.

California law requires cities, counties, and special districts to annually report compensation data to the state controller.

The state controller also maintains and publishes state and California State University salary data.

A list of districts that did not file or filed incomplete reports is available here. Among them is the Lower Lake Cemetery District.

Users of the site can:

· View compensation levels on maps and search by region;

· Narrow results by name of the district or by job title; and

· Export raw data or custom reports.

Since the Government Compensation in California Web site launched in 2010, it has registered more than 11 million pageviews.

The site contains pay and benefit information on more than two million government jobs in California, as reported annually by each entity.

Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest on the highways, which makes impaired driving even more dangerous.

To help keep the roadways safe, the California Highway Patrol is joining forces with five other Western states with the slogan “No safe place for impaired drivers” to crack down on drunk and drugged driving for the coming holiday weekend.

In partnership with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the state patrols of Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington will work as a Western States Traffic Safety Coalition to place special emphasis on the enforcement of drug-impaired driving.

The states will jointly stress that driving under the influence means drugs as well as alcohol in their educational efforts.

“Whatever causes impairment makes you an unsafe driver,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “High visibility enforcement in these six states will help create a general deterrence and promote safer driving.”

In California, roads will be patrolled by all available CHP officers for the Maximum Enforcement Period, or MEP, from 6:01 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2.

During the 2018 Labor Day weekend MEP, 36 people were killed on California roads and 1,084 were arrested for DUI.

Since the legalization of recreational cannabis, the CHP has increased training efforts to detect impaired drivers. All CHP officers and sergeants have received additional impaired driving enforcement training.

California also has the highest number of drug recognition expert trained personnel in the nation. For the Labor Day MEP, DREs will be on duty throughout the state.

Many people think of Labor Day as the last weekend of summer and plan special trips. The CHP reminds all drivers: Do not drive if you are going to drink or use any other impairing substance. Always wear your seat belt. Avoid distractions behind the wheel. Be patient, especially when it comes to road congestion or construction.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of safety, service and security.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Planning Commission will hold a special meeting this week, during which it will consider an updated project to renovate the Bel Aire Apartments.

The commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

On Wednesday, the commission will consider Jonathan Bridges’ new architectural and design review to allow a redesign of the Bel Aire Apartments at 1125 N. Main St.

The 14-unit, 10,720-square-foot apartment complex, built in 1927, was damaged in a November fire, as Lake County News has reported.

The commission held an initial discussion on a previous version of Jonathan Bridges’ proposal on Aug. 14.

At that point, the project included replacing the two-story building’s flat roof with a pitched roof and removing or covering its art deco features – including its medallions and rosettes – and replacing them with modern trim.

Jonathan Bridges was not able to attend the Aug. 14 meeting but his father, Doug, was present for the discussion, explaining that they were offered the purchase of the building’s owners, who are underinsured and cannot afford to restore the building.

The commission members had questions about the lack of a landscaping plan for the project, the need to determine the building’s historical value and concerns about the loss of the art deco architecture, which city staff “does not reflect the time period or the historical appearance the City is working to preserve.”

Staff indicated they had worked to fast-track the project to both deal with a blighted structure and to restore the lost housing units.

Commissioner Michael Green said he considered the application incomplete and that there was a potential for historical status for the building, adding he loves art deco.

Commissioner Ken Wicks pointed out that a program in the general plan that refers to heritage sites requires that, prior to altering any structure with historical significant, the general plan is to be consulted. For structures that are more than 45 years old, they’re supposed to be reviewed with their historical value determined.

Wicks said art deco was an attempt to modernize Lakeport and bring in visitors from Cobb. As a result, various places around Lakeport became “art deco-ish.”

He said he did an informal survey of 26 people and found that 18 wanted to keep the building as art deco, three wanted to modernize it and three others had no opinion.

Later in the discussion, Wicks noted, “This is a good project and it’s got a lot of value.”

The Aug. 14 meeting ended with city staff planning to put the matter over for discussion in September, with requests for Bridges to have the building reviewed by a historical architect who would conduct archival and/or field research to determine the building’s structural value; to prepare a landscape plan for the site; and to review the structural integrity of the covered parking structures in the rear of the building.

Since then, Jonathan Bridges has submitted an updated version of his project that responds to the commission’s concerns. He also asked to be on the special meeting agenda because he cannot attend the regular commission meeting set for Sept. 11.

Bridges’ latest proposal for the building offers to raise the roofline of the new pitched roof so the art deco roofline can still be seen.

He also is planning to retain the art deco medallions – he suggests removing some of the medallions and rosettes from the side and rear of the building to replace those on the front of the building damaged or destroyed in the fire – and has submitted a landscaping plan.

In addition, staff said the city building official visited the site on Aug. 21 and determined that the covered parking areas have been maintained in a stable condition, with Bridges indicating he is willing to make any necessary improvement and paint the parking area to match the building.

According to the staff report, Bridges said he is reluctant to hire an architectural historian. “The applicant has stated the cost associated with repairing this building is close to being infeasible, and any additional costs could have the applicant abandon the reconstruction of this building.”

Staff is suggesting the commission support the revised project.

Also on the agenda for Wednesday’s special commission meeting is review of the initial study that includes a mitigated negative declaration for the Hartley Street Project.

Commissioners also will consider an application from O’Meara Brothers Brewery and Restaurant and Fossa’s Backhoe Service for a minor architectural and design review. The application seeks a 648-square-foot outdoor dining area and pergola along the east side of the building, with the zoning permit to allow outdoor dining and another application to grant a minor exception to the parking regulations for the restaurant, located at 901 Bevins St.

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.

082819 Lakeport Planning Commission special meeting packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Thursday the Clearlake City Council gave unanimous support to a proposed ordinance that update rules regarding public areas where smoking is prohibited in the city.

Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson presented the staff report to the council for Ordinance No. 233-2019.

The discussion begins at the 10:40 mark in the video above; the ordinance is on page 23 of the agenda packet published below.

Swanson explained that the council, at its July 25 meeting, directed staff to bring forward an ordinance for consideration that prohibits smoking within 25 feet of commercial building entrances and egresses, and public areas such as bus stops and shelters.

She said the Clearlake Municipal Code currently prohibits smoking in any city park.

The proposed ordinance amends the section of code relating to those smoking rules for parks in its entirety to add provisions to prohibit smoking – meaning inhaling or exhaling from any tobacco or cannabis product – within 25 feet of any outdoor dining areas, entrances and egress to places of employment, bus stops and shelters, ATMs, grocery stores, retail stores, bars and restaurants, Swanson said.

Based on council consensus at the July 25 meeting, Swanson said single family homes and multi-unit residences are exempted from this ordinance.

She said the proposed ordinance mandates posting of no smoking signs in areas where smoking is prohibited. Violations of the proposed ordinance are enforced under administrative penalties section of the municipal code.

Swanson said Mayor Russ Cremer met with staff and suggested a change to Item P of Section 5-22.2 on page four of the ordinance that relates to the definition of smoke.

Originally, that passages stated, ‘“Smoke” does not include the product of combustion of incense or similar products when used solely for olfactory purposes and does not contain tobacco or nicotine.” Swanson said Cremer asked to have “cannabis” added to the products that are not contained.

Swanson said the change was discussed with City Attorney Ryan Jones and there were no issues.

Following the brief presentation, there was no public or council comment, and Councilman Phil Harris moved to hold the first reading of the ordinance – as amended – and set a second reading and final adoption at the council’s regular meeting on Sept. 12.

Councilman Russ Perdock seconded Harris’ motion, which the council approved unanimously.

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.

082219 Clearlake City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Literacy Coalition invites individuals, friends and families who enjoy walking and running to participate in the 30th Vineyard Run for Literacy.

The event, which benefits the coalition’s efforts promoting literacy throughout Lake County, is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 13, with start and finish of the walk and runs at Steele Wines.

Sponsored by the Coalition, the 5k run/walk and 10K run will start at 9 a.m. from the winery located on Thomas Drive at Highway 29.

The coalition plans to give awards to top finishers in the runs and raffle prizes to participants. A commemorative T-shirt is available for an additional $15 fee for registrations received by Sept. 25.

Registration is available online or via forms at Steele Wines, at each of Lake County’s library branches, and at each of the Lake County branches of Westamerica Bank.

Early registration fees, through Sept. 30, are $25 per adult (age 19 and over) and $10 per child (ages 7 through 18). There is no fee for children through age 6. After the early registration deadline, the fee per adult increases to $35 and per child to $15.

Online registration at http://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Kelseyville/VineyardRunforLiteracy closes Oct. 10. There is also a minimal processing fee for the online sign-up.

Participants are encouraged to get sponsors, but it is not required. Each individual who brings $100 in sponsor contributions on race day will participate for free. Sponsor sheets may be downloaded at http://lclcoalition.wixsite.com/lclc. They may also be obtained by calling 707-263-7633.

“We are so proud the Vineyard Run is in its 30th year,” says Deb Ehrhardt, coalition president. “It takes place, rain or shine, in the beautiful scenic area near the winery. It’s a fun community event in conjunction with Steele Wines’ annual Harvest Festival, and it supports our Coalition and its work helping Lake County residents gain reading and writing skills they need.”

“This is such a fun event and one that I’ve participated in for many years,” added Nancy Hudson, the 2019 Vineyard Run race director. “I’m excited to be a part of the planning and preparation and look forward to seeing all the participants on event day."

For additional information about the nonprofit coalition and the Vineyard Run for Literacy, visit the coalition’s Web site at http://lclcoalition.wixsite.com/lclc or call 707-263-7633.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Upper Lake Ranger District is offering an opportunity for the public to participate in the environmental analysis process for the proposed Deer Valley meadow enhancement project.

The 45-acre project area is north of the community of Upper Lake near the Deer Valley Campground in Lake County.

The project aims to enhance the meadow at Deer Valley by eliminating the failed check dams, repairing the fence damaged by the Ranch fire, cutting down conifers that have encroached on the meadow, planting willows to stabilize stream banks and prescribed burning.

Forest officials request that interested individuals submit their comments by Friday, Sept. 10.

Details are available here.

Please contact Upper Lake District Hydrologist Hilda Kwan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-275-1413 for more information.