News

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Rain is set to continue this week and early next week as a new early spring storm system arrives over Northern California.

The National Weather Service’s Sacramento office said that a stronger weather system is set to impact interior Northern California, with periods of moderate to heavy precipitation Tuesday evening into Wednesday.

The forecast calls for up to 1 inch of rain in the southeast portion of the county, up to an inch and a half in the southwest and central county, and as much as 2 inches in the county’s northern mountain area.

A possible thunderstorm also is in the forecast for Wednesday in Lake County.

On Wednesday night, winds with speeds close to 30 miles per hour are expected, especially in the south county.

The Lake County forecast also calls for showers on Thursday before conditions clear on Friday and Saturday. Rain is then back in the forecast from Saturday night through Monday.

The rain is sending more runoff into Clear Lake, which is no longer in flood stage – which is above 9 feet Rumsey – but remains in “monitor” stage, which is above 8 feet Rumsey.

The US Geological Survey reported early Tuesday that the lake level hovered at just below 8.5 feet Rumsey.

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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week will honor its longtime Public Works director on his retirement, consider approval of the construction contract for a new city project and discuss a finance director appointment.

The council will host a reception at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 28, for retiring Public Works Director Doug Herren before the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

At the start of the meeting, the council will make a presentation honoring Herren for his work. The council also will honor retiring police dispatcher Wendy England, present a proclamation recognizing March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day and get a report on the Public, Education and Government Channel’s annual budget.

Main business items on the agenda include proposed contract with Granite Construction for the construction of the Burns Valley Civic Center Enhancement Project in the amount of $549,136 and authorize the city manager to approve up to 10 percent for additional unforeseen contract amendments.

Granite was the single bidder on the project, which is to be funded by $200,000 from the SB1 Local Partner Program with the remainder to come from Series A Bond funds, according to Herren’s report.

“The project will provide pedestrian improvements by including high-visibility crosswalks, retro-reflective signs and striping, rapid-flashing beacons and other pedestrian/bicyclist improvements,” along with the addition of sidewalks and a bike route along Olympic Drive from Pine Street to Lakeshore Drive, extending around the corner along the east side of Lakeshore Drive from Olympic Drive to the end of the City Hall property, Herren’s report said.

The council also will consider an agreement with the Lake County Tourism Improvement District for administrative services related to collection of assessments from lodging establishments within the city of Clearlake.

The district is now approved to receive a 1.5-percent assessment from each lodging business.

In other business the council will hold the first reading of an ordinance to amend Subdivision 3-4.5 (a)(8) of the Clearlake Municipal Code regarding exceptions to competitive bidding requirements for goods and services obtained under a cooperative purchasing agreement or program of another government agency.

The council is expected to read the proposed ordinance by title only and set a second reading for the April 11 meeting.

Staff also is asking the council to consider a resolution certifying the appointment of a finance director, Jill Martin.

Citing a “critically needed position,” the staff is requesting an exception from CalPERS to the 180-day waiting period after retirement for an individual in the system to work for another CalPERS employer.

On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the Feb. 21 and 28, and March 14 and 21 meetings; consideration of updates to the Public Works superintendent and police captain job descriptions and the management benefit plan, Resolution Nos. 2019-12, 2019-13 and 2019-14; and rescind urgency ordinance amending Chapter 18, Article 18-5.1000 regarding residential housing standards for manufactured and mobile homes.

After the open session of the meeting, the council will have a closed session to discuss negotiations for property at 14130 Tuli Lane; negotiations regarding a 26-acre property owned by the city west of Highway 53, between Highway 53 and Old Highway 53, and the extension of 18th Avenue; existing litigation against Pacific Gas and Electric; and labor negotiations with the Clearlake Management/Confidential Employees, Clearlake Police Officers Association; Clearlake Municipal Employees Association and Clearlake Middle Management Association.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – At its meeting last Tuesday the Lakeport City Council approved changes to a citywide solar project and gave the OK to a purchase for new software for the Community Development Department.

Community Development Director Kevin Ingram took to the council at its March 19 meeting the proposed contract change order with ENGIE Services to complete the citywide solar and energy efficiency retrofit project.

The $4,480,417 contract between the city and ENGIE Services was approved in April, Ingram said. He asked for, and received, the council’s approval for a contract change order totaling $86,900, which brings the revised contract cost to $4,567,317. The project is covered by bond funds.

The scope of the work ranges from the construction of several new solar arrays, to new HVAC systems and new LED lighting fixtures downtown and in city parks.

“We have made some significant progress on many of these projects,” he said, from the new HVAC units being installed – including at City Hall this past Friday – and solar arrays at city facilities including the corporation yard.

As with any large project, “We get into little finds and things,” which Ingram said led to the contract change order.

The contract change order covered three main items, Ingram said. They included switching plans from placing a solar array in the city hall parking lot and replacing it with a “significantly larger” array at the former Bank of America building at 500 N. Main St., which the bank recently donated to the city. That portion of the contract change order won’t actually cost anything.

Second, the change order covers tree removal at the city’s wastewater plant, at a cost of $60,000, and third, another HVAC unit that needed to be replaced at the corporation and sewer yard, estimated to cost $26,900.

Councilman George Spurr questioned why the tree removal was a cost overrun. City Manager Margaret Silveira said the contract said the city was to remove them, while the city had thought it was work supposed to be done by the company.

In order to absorb some of that cost, Silveira said ENGIE is going to give the city a much larger solar array at the Bank of America building for the same cost as they were going to do the smaller array at City Hall.

Ingram added that the larger solar array should offer the city significant energy cost savings.

Councilwoman Mireya Turner moved to approve the change order, with multiple seconds offered by other council members and a final vote of 5-0.

Ingram also received approval from the council to sign a licensing agreement with Dude Solutions for the purchase of SmartGov permit management software for the Community Development Department. The software costs $55,929.25.

His written report explained that for the past 15 years or more the Lakeport Building Division has been utilizing the software licensing services of BlackBear for the management and tracking of building-related permits.

The system is no longer supported and he said it’s been his department’s goal to update its permit tracking system “and integrate other division permit issuance and tracking needs into one system along with the long-term goal to allow for online permit submittal in the future.”

Ingram said the change is much to the chagrin of the city’s building official, who is very happy with it. But with it no longer being supported and not allowing for online permit issuance, they need to make the change.

He said SmartGov has acquired the rights to the legacy BlackBear software products, which allows for a more streamlined software integration process in addition to reducing any loss of legacy department data. The SmartGov software is also compatible with the Tyler Systems software, used by the city’s Finance Department.

Other benefits include the integration of business licensing permitting software and allows for the future integration of planning and code enforcement permit issuance and tracking, according to Ingram’s report.

The purchase already had been budgeted but came in “a little bit higher than we originally anticipated,” which is why the purchase was brought back to the council, Ingram said.

Spurr asked if city staff had made outreach to anyone using the software. Ingram said yes, that the city of Clearlake uses it and they took a field trip down to see how it works. The building officials also had talked to another city in the area that uses it.

Ingram said the company will send out a staffer to help with training, and there also online education and help.

Councilwoman Stacey Mattina moved to approve the purchase, which was seconded by Turner and approved 5-0.

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.

031919 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Three standout members of Upper Lake High School’s Academic Decathlon team have won medals at the California Academic Decathlon competition.

Jeff Fannon, Annalise Smith and Sarah Williams medaled in the individual speech category at the state competition, which took place over the weekend in Sacramento.

This year’s theme was, “The 1960s: A Transformational Decade,” with 68 teams and 595 students participating.

Upper Lake competed in the Division 3 category.

Students compete in three levels: honors, 3.75 to 4.0 grade point average; scholastic, 3.0 to 3.74 GPA; and varsity category, 2.99 GPA or below.

The top scores in each of the levels for speech was 1,000 points.

Williams tied for first place with 1,000 points in the scholastic level, Fannon placed second with 970 points in varsity and Smith tied for third place with 985 points in honors.

Smith’s speech was particularly poignant, as it described her brother Kellen’s recovery from a vehicle crash last year.

Williams also won a medal for being Upper Lake’s high point scorer, with 5,969.10 points.

Upper Lake is coached by Anna Sabalone, Angel Hayenga and Christal Coatney.

In addition to Fannon, Smith and Williams, team members include William Cromwell, Jasmine Haro, Jenaya Horne, Jisel Horne, Joslyn Huntley, Deeya Kalan, Jessica Lee, Emily McKelvey, Kehlani McKelvey, Diana Mendoza-Razo, Katlyn Minnis, Robert Porterfield, Hugh Ramos, Isabel Sanchez, Seneca Snow, Maria Tinoco and Amantae Wyman.

Willits High School, which also participated in Lake County’s Academic Decathlon competition, brought home medals as well, competing in Division 2.

In the varsity level for economics, Grady Williams won a first-place medal with 660 points, while Mikayla Blake tied for third place with 580 points.

In the essay competition, Williams won first place for the varsity level with 916 points, and Blake won a first place medal for varsity competitors in the interview.

Willits’ top-scoring student was Savanna Hofmaister, an honors level competitor, who had 7,534 points.

Willits is coached by Mary Colvig. The rest of the team includes Amy Andrade, Jacob Arms, Tyler Bailey, Joscelyn Beebe, Jaeva Cash, Spencer Copperfield, Brieana Evans, MaKenzie Hansen, Elizabeth Henning, Karen Hernandez, Teophil Labus, McKenna McNelley, Mara Moratti, Ariel Reyes, Logan Simms, Micah Stamps, Lillian Turner, Emerald Water and Ian Watson.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Board of Supervisors will get the vote count on the creation of zones of benefit to address wildland fire prevention.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 26, 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.

At 9:30 a.m., the board will hold a protest hearing for the proposed creation of zones of benefit for the Clear Lake Riviera, Buckingham, Riviera West and Riviera Heights.

In January, the board adopted four resolutions of intent to create the benefit zones within County Service Area No. 23.

It’s a pilot program presented by Supervisor Rob Brown to protect county roadways from wildfire damage.

“The proposed zones of benefit seek to establish a proactive approach for enhanced road maintenance in the form of preventative measures to protect the roads from the ravages of wildfire damage, the consequent impacts of that damage, and the extraordinary costs associated with road replacement and disaster-related repairs,” according to County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson’s report to the board.

Huchingson added, “Since adoption of these resolutions of intent, staff has carried out a mail ballot election, as required by Proposition 218, of the registered voters in each of the four areas since it is up to the will of said voters to determine if this pilot program will proceed.”

Residents who want to oppose the benefit zones will be able to register their protests at the hearing.

Also on Tuesday, In an untimed item, the board will consider a possible limited moratorium relating to the acceptance of pre-applications and applications for commercial cannabis cultivation use permits to allow for the expeditious processing of applications that already have been submitted.

That moratorium also would allow for the review of possible changes to the zoning ordinance to more efficiently coordinate the processing of such permits, according to county staff.

In other business, the board will hold a second reading of an ordinance to amend Chapter 21 of the Lake County Zoning Ordinance to remove the requirement for commercial cannabis applicants to be enrolled with the Regional Water Quality Control Board as of Oct. 1, 2019, and to remove the requirement for a conditional certificate of recognition – known as self-certification – of compliance with Article 72 in order to apply for early activation of use. That item is untimed.

Another untimed item is the second reading of an ordinance regarding hazardous vegetation abatement.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1: Adopt proclamation designating March 29, 2019 as Vietnam Veterans Day.

5.2: Authorize the advanced salary step for Jim Emenegger, Elections Assistant II, extra help, at step 6, effective immediately.

5.3: Adopt resolution amending Resolution 2019-23 Declaring the Board of Supervisors intent to sell property not required for public use, located at 8695 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville, California (APN 009-002-430), Pursuant to Government Code Section 25520 Et Seq.

5.4: Approve waiver of the 900 hour limitation for Animal Control employees Gabirelle Reil and Collette Hall.

5.5: Approve long distance travel for Dr. Erin Gustafson, Denise Pomeroy, Iyesha Miller and Dean Eichelmann to Anniston, Alabama from April 14 to 18 to attend the 2019 Health Care Coalition Response Leadership Course.

5.6: Approve long distance travel for Denise Pomeroy to Hartford, CT from April 29 to May to attend the annual Wellville Gathering .

5.7: (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 purchase of PA-3220 firewalls and associated support and services from ePlus Technology Inc. in the amount of $63,703.65 and authorize IT director to issue purchase order.

5.8: Approve advanced step appointment of Beverly Dodgen, weighmaster, at fourth step, effective immediately.

5.9: Adopt resolution supporting the creation of a statewide commission on recycling markets.

5.10: Approve Amendment No. 3 to equipment repair and service contract between the county of Lake and Peterson Tractor Co. in the amount of $50,000 for a revised not-to-exceed amount of $275,000, and authorize the chair to sign.

5.11: Approve plans and specifications for the FMAG HMGP Culvert Replacement No. 1 Project; Bid No. 19-01, Project No: FMAG-HMGP Pilot # 5093-1-1R; Construction Estimate $493,000, and authorize the Public Works director / assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids.

5.12: Approve plans and specifications for the FMAG HMGP Culvert Replacement No. 2 Project; Bid No. 19-02, Project No: FMAG-HMGP Pilot # 5112-1-1R; construction estimate $347,000, and authorize the Public Works director / assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids.

TIMED ITEMS

6.2, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating March 29, 2019 as Vietnam Veterans Day.

6.3, 9:15 a.m.: This item is continued to April 23 at 9:20 a.m., public bid opening, consideration of bids to purchase the property located at 8695 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville California (APN 009-002-430).

6.4, 9:30 a..m: Protest hearing, (a) proposed creation of zone of benefit Clearlake Riviera within CSA No. 23, (b) proposed creation of zone of benefit Buckingham within CSA No. 23, (c) proposed creation of zone of benefit Riviera West within CSA No. 23, (d) proposed creation of zone of benefit Riviera Heights; and (e) tabulation of ballots for said proposed assessment.

6.5, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of proposed amendments (GPAP 16-05) to the Housing Element of the Lake County General Plan, clarifying programs and policies based on correspondence with the State Department of Housing and Community Development.

UNTIMED ITEMS

7.2: Consideration of amendment to paid emergency leave policy.

7.3: Second reading, consideration of an ordinance amendment, AM 19-01 to amend Chapter 21 of the Lake County Zoning Ordinance to remove the requirement for commercial cannabis applicants to be enrolled with the Regional Water Quality Control Board as of Oct. 1, 2019, and to remove the requirement for a conditional certificate of recognition (self certification) of compliance with Article 72 in order to apply for early activation of use.

7.4: Second reading, consideration of an ordinance adding Article VIII to Chapter 13 of the Lake County Code regarding hazardous vegetation abatement.

7.5: Discussion and consideration of a possible limited moratorium relating to the acceptance of pre-applications and applications for commercial cannabis cultivation use permits to allow for the expeditious processing of applications already submitted and to allow for review of possible changes to the zoning ordinance to more efficiently coordinate the processing of such permits.

7.6: Consideration of agreement between the county of Lake and Foothill Associates for Proposition 68 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program support services.

7.7: Consideration of (a) amendment two to agreement between the county of Lake and Lake County Waste Solutions Inc. for solid waste handling and recycling services; and (b) amendment two to agreement between the county of Lake and South Lake Refuse Co. LLC for solid waste handling and recycling services.

7.8: Consideration of (a) a change to the days and hours of operation at the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum and (b) a change to the hours of operation at the Gibson Museum in Middletown.

CLOSED SESSION

8.1: Public employee evaluations title: Interim Public Health officer.

8.2: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): (a) Appointment of Public Health officer.

8.3: Employee disciplinary appeal (EDA 19-01) Pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54957.

8.4: Employee disciplinary appeal (EDA 19-02) Pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54957.

8.5: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1): County of Lake, et al. v. PG&E, et al.

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. – California’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in February, but Lake County has seen a late-winter improvement and national numbers also edged down.

The California Employment Development Department’s latest jobs report said California’s unemployment rate remained at 4.2 percent. The state’s February 2018 unemployment rate was 4.3 percent. The unemployment rate is derived from a federal survey of 5,100 California households.

Lake County’s February jobless rate was 6.1 percent, compared to 6.6 percent in January but up from the 5.8 percent rate in February 2018.

On the national level, unemployment was at 3.8 percent in February, down from 4 percent in January and 4.1 percent the previous year.

The U.S. unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage point to 3.8 percent, and the nation’s employers added 20,000 nonfarm payroll jobs.

The report said California’s employers added 14,600 nonfarm payroll jobs in February, and the state has now gained a total of 3,133,100 jobs since the economic expansion began in February 2010.

Nonfarm payroll jobs in California totaled 17,322,700 in February, according to a survey of 80,000 California businesses that measures jobs in the economy. The year-over change from February 2018 to February 2019 shows an increase of 222,500 jobs, up 1.3 percent.

The federal household survey, done with a smaller sample than the survey of employers, showed an increase in the number of employed Californians over the month and the year, according to the report.

That survey estimated the number of Californians holding jobs in February was 18,758,000, an increase of 17,800 from January and up 318,000 from the employment total in February of last year.

The report also said the number of unemployed Californians was 824,200 in February – an increase of 6,600 over the month and down by 13,500 compared with February of last year.

Industry details across the state showed the following:

– Six of 11 industry sectors added a total of 30,900 jobs in February. Professional and business services reported the largest increase with a gain of 12,500 jobs. Also adding jobs over the month were leisure and hospitality, trade, transportation and utilities, educational and health services, government and information.

– Five of California industries reported job losses over the month, with construction reporting the largest decrease with a loss of 7,700 jobs while manufacturing had a loss of 5,400 jobs. Other sectors losing jobs over the month were financial activities, other services, and mining and logging.

– In a year-over-year comparison, February 2018 to February 2019, nonfarm payroll employment in California increased by 222,500 jobs, a 1.3-percent increase.

– Ten of California’s eleven industry sectors added a total of 227,700 jobs over the year. The largest job gains were in professional and business services, up 71,700 (a 2.7 percent increase) and educational and health services, up 65,200 jobs (a 2.4 percent increase). Other sectors adding jobs over the year were leisure and hospitality, government, trade, transportation and utilities, manufacturing, information, construction, other services, and mining and logging.

– The only industry that posted a year-over decline was financial activities with a job loss of 5,200.

Also in the report is the update on Unemployment Insurance claims. Approximately 389,449 people received regular Unemployment Insurance benefits during the February survey week, compared with 376,402 in January and 396,030 in February of last year.

The state said that, at the same time, new claims for Unemployment Insurance were 34,593 in February, compared with 51,544 in January and 31,291 in February of last year.

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.