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LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Monday, Lakeport hosted its popular “National Night Out” event, drawing several hundred people to the downtown.
In past years the event has been held at various neighborhoods, but this year it took place in Library Park, across from City Hall.
National Night Out originally was scheduled for early August, but it was postponed due to the Mendocino Complex.
The community turned out Monday evening to meet local officials, hang out with neighbors and enjoy snacks in the park.
In the video above, see a synopsis of the event, hear from community members who participated as well as from Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen, who discussed this year’s effort and plans for next year.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office is providing a story map explaining how the Department of the Interior’s Interagency Burned Area Emergency Response, or BAER, team works to assess the damage on BLM and trust lands from the Ranch and River fires that formed the Mendocino Complex.
“More than 80,000 acres of our BLM-managed public lands have been burned during the Pawnee, County, River and Ranch fires this year, so tackling emergency rehabilitation on that scale can be daunting,” said Ukiah Field Manager Amanda James. “Being able to call upon the expertise of specialists like the BAER team to help assess the damage and develop options for moving forward is a huge help.”
The BAER team and Ukiah Field Office staff have worked together to assess damage, identify potential threats and prepare for post-fire events that can follow devastating wildfires.
Learn more about the BAER team’s efforts by reading its story map above.
The BLM will be making the interactive maps generated by the BAER team available to the public, along with the summary of its report. A public meeting will also be scheduled to explain the challenges faced by the impacted trail systems. Trails on the Cow Mountain Recreation Management Area have been heavily damaged by the River fire.
As stewards, the BLM manages public lands for the benefit of current and future generations, supporting conservation in our pursuit of its multiple-use mission.
For more information, please contact the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – County officials reported that followup testing at sites around Clear Lake have shown improved water conditions, with cyanotoxin levels from cyanobacteria falling below the “caution” level.
The most recent lab results received on Sept. 13 for the monitoring conducted on Sept. 4 for cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, detected results at six of the 18 sampling sites, but all six of these are below the caution threshold, based on the Monday report.
Water monitoring is done by Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Elem Indian Colony.
Officials said the latest results show a significant improvement from previous levels, and if this trend continues with the next sampling in two weeks, they will be able to remove all of the warning signs from the lake.
At this point, the county plans to continue posting previously affected sites with “caution” signs and reevaluate when the next sampling results are analyzed. Those sites are in the Oaks Arm of Clear Lake, the Clearlake Oaks shoreline, Elem shoreline and Cache Creek at Highway 53.
The posting recommendation is based on the potential health risks from the algae, which over the last few months has been blooming at varying levels in all three arms of the Lake – Upper Arm, Oaks Arm and Lower Arm.
Public Health follows state guidelines in waiting for minimum two sampling results at a lower level before changing signs; or two non-detectable results before removing signs. However, overall conditions are improving, with no warning or danger levels at this time.
The Redbud Park boat launch location, which was at a danger level from a sample taken on Aug. 7, still shows a detectable level, but below the caution threshold, and is close to a drinking water supply, officials said.
The Clearlake Oaks location is also close to a drinking water supply, but it is now “nondetectable.” The county said that sampling of drinking water completed Aug. 17 and Aug. 28 from these locations showed results below detection levels for microcystin.
Blue-green algae can pose health risks, particularly to children and pets. Officials urge people to choose safe activities when visiting the Oaks Arm and parts of the Lower Arm of Clear Lake and wherever blooms are visible. It is strongly recommended that people and their pets avoid contact with water and avoid swallowing lake water in an algae bloom area.
Get medical treatment immediately if you think that you, your pet, or livestock might have been poisoned by blue-green algae toxins. Be sure to alert the medical professional to the possible contact with blue-green algae and contact the county Public Health Department at 707-263-1090.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday signed a bill by State Sen. Mike McGuire that will preserve the votes of thousands of Californians at the ballot box.
Effective immediately, SB 759 establishes the process for election officials to notify voters when their vote by mail signature mismatches the one on file.
Specifically, this bill requires elections officials to notify voters of a mismatching signature at least eight days prior to the certification of an election, and give the voters an opportunity to verify their signature.
In California, according to the Secretary of State’s Office, more than 25,000 residents had their ballots thrown away and not counted in the November 2016 General Election cycle.
These mail ballots were thrown out because of a mismatching signature – the voter’s signature on their ballot did not match what was in their file.
While mismatching signatures can occur for a number of reasons, until now there has never been a law that mandates local election officials notify voters that their ballot will be tossed, or provide them with an opportunity to correct the mistake.
“The stakes could not be higher. Voters on all sides of the political aisle will be turning out in droves for the November election and this new law will ensure all votes count here in the Golden State on Nov. 6,” McGuire said. “We’ve been grateful to work with Secretary of State Alex Padilla, the ACLU and local election officials to see this important bill through.”
“A majority of California voters already cast vote-by-mail ballots each election,” said Secretary of State Padilla. “For many voters, signatures may change over time or disabilities may make it difficult to sign the ballot properly. SB 759 ensures that voters have a chance to remedy a signature mismatch on their mail ballot. Once again California is taking steps to improve the elections experience for voters. I thank Gov. Brown for signing this measure in time for the upcoming election and affirming voter’s fundamental right to have their ballots counted.”
According to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union last year, California ballots went uncounted because elections officials determined the voter’s signature on the vote by mail ballot didn’t match the voter’s signature on file.
To make matters worse, residents whose votes were not tallied did not get notified and had no way of correcting their action, let alone casting their ballot in an election.
There are a number of reasons why a signature may not match. For example:
– A person may have a disability;
– The voter’s ability may change or make it difficult to match the signature because of a shaky hand;
– A different member of the household – such as a spouse or a caretaker – may sign;
– A voter’s signatures can change or evolve over time;
– Or the person, such as someone whose second language is English, may be unaware that they have to sign their ballot the same way as it is on file, and sign in the characters of a non-English alphabet.
SB 759 was adopted with an urgency clause – which also received bipartisan support – to ensure it becomes law prior to this critical November election.
Effective immediately, SB 759 establishes the process for election officials to notify voters when their vote by mail signature mismatches the one on file.
Specifically, this bill requires elections officials to notify voters of a mismatching signature at least eight days prior to the certification of an election, and give the voters an opportunity to verify their signature.
In California, according to the Secretary of State’s Office, more than 25,000 residents had their ballots thrown away and not counted in the November 2016 General Election cycle.
These mail ballots were thrown out because of a mismatching signature – the voter’s signature on their ballot did not match what was in their file.
While mismatching signatures can occur for a number of reasons, until now there has never been a law that mandates local election officials notify voters that their ballot will be tossed, or provide them with an opportunity to correct the mistake.
“The stakes could not be higher. Voters on all sides of the political aisle will be turning out in droves for the November election and this new law will ensure all votes count here in the Golden State on Nov. 6,” McGuire said. “We’ve been grateful to work with Secretary of State Alex Padilla, the ACLU and local election officials to see this important bill through.”
“A majority of California voters already cast vote-by-mail ballots each election,” said Secretary of State Padilla. “For many voters, signatures may change over time or disabilities may make it difficult to sign the ballot properly. SB 759 ensures that voters have a chance to remedy a signature mismatch on their mail ballot. Once again California is taking steps to improve the elections experience for voters. I thank Gov. Brown for signing this measure in time for the upcoming election and affirming voter’s fundamental right to have their ballots counted.”
According to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union last year, California ballots went uncounted because elections officials determined the voter’s signature on the vote by mail ballot didn’t match the voter’s signature on file.
To make matters worse, residents whose votes were not tallied did not get notified and had no way of correcting their action, let alone casting their ballot in an election.
There are a number of reasons why a signature may not match. For example:
– A person may have a disability;
– The voter’s ability may change or make it difficult to match the signature because of a shaky hand;
– A different member of the household – such as a spouse or a caretaker – may sign;
– A voter’s signatures can change or evolve over time;
– Or the person, such as someone whose second language is English, may be unaware that they have to sign their ballot the same way as it is on file, and sign in the characters of a non-English alphabet.
SB 759 was adopted with an urgency clause – which also received bipartisan support – to ensure it becomes law prior to this critical November election.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – A Lake County man was arrested for a violent assault at the Graton Resort and Casino Saturday night.
Morgan Lewis Jr., 44, was taken into custody in connection to the incident, according to Sgt. Brandon Cutting of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.
Cutting said that at 11:30 p.m. Saturday deputies responded to the casino for a fight. When deputies arrived the fight had concluded but during the course of the investigation the deputies determined Lewis had been in an argument with several men when their SUV’s door struck his truck.
During that argument, Lewis’ girlfriend was pushed to the ground and Lewis was punched in the face by the men from the SUV, Cutting said. Neither Lewis nor his girlfriend requested prosecution for the assault as they were not sure exactly which person had assaulted them.
At the end of the investigation, nobody was arrested and the deputies left the casino parking lot, Cutting said.
Within 10 minutes deputies were called back to the casino regarding another altercation, according to Cutting.
When the deputies arrived they learned that Lewis saw one of the subjects he believed to have been involved in some portion of the earlier fight Cutting said.
Cutting said Lewis approached the man and shoved him backwards, causing the man to fall, hitting his head on the concrete sidewalk. The fall left the man unresponsive and unconscious.
An ambulance crew responded and transported the victim to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The victim, a 57-year-old Santa Rosa man, remained in the intensive care unit in critical condition on Monday, Cutting said.
Based on the felony assault with life-threatening injuries, sheriff’s detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit responded and ultimately arrested and booked Lewis into the Sonoma County Jail for felony assault causing great bodily injury, Cutting said.
Cutting said Lewis has since been released after posting a $35,000 bail bond.
If anyone witnessed one of these incidents at the Graton Casino Saturday night, they are encouraged to contact Det. Diehm at 707-565-2185.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – In response to financial concerns, the Board of Supervisors will consider the possibility of consolidating two county financial offices and also will discuss continuing ongoing emergency proclamations for fires and the atmospheric river storm of 2017.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, 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.
In an untimed item, the board will discuss a proposal from Board Chair Jim Steele regarding the consolidation of the auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector’s offices.
Noting that the Boards of Supervisors of several counties currently are allowed under California Government Code to consolidate their auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector’s offices, Steele’s written report to the board explains that he wants to discuss with the board the possibility of requesting state legislators take the necessary steps to add Lake County to the group of counties having the option for consolidating those financial offices.
At 10 a.m., the board will discuss a request from Lake Transit Authority regarding an update on the location plan study for a proposed new Lake Transit Hub on county-owned property in Clearlake.
In other business, in items timed for 9:10 a.m. to 9:14 a.m., the board will consider continuing proclamations of local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex Pawnee, Sulphur and Clayton fires, and the atmospheric river storm.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
6.1: Adopt proclamation declaring Sept. 28 as Native American Day in Lake County.
6.2: Approve Minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings held Aug. 21 and Aug. 28.
6.3: Adopt resolution fixing tax rates for local agencies, general obligation bonds and other voter approved indebtedness for Fiscal Year 2018-1.
6.4: Adopt resolution authorizing the county to participate in the one-time homeless mentally ill outreach and treatment funding opportunity available as a result of SB840 (Chapter 29, Statutes of 2018).
6.5: (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; (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Frank SmithWaters for patient rights advocacy for FY 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $45,000, and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
6.6: (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; (b) approve the agreement between county of Lake and Kings View Corp. for professional consulting services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a contract maximum amount of $76,740 and to authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
6.7: Approve plans and specifications for the Lower Lake Maintenance Facility Project, Bid No. 18-10; and authorize the Public Services director/assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids.
6.8: Approve amendment one to the agreement for engineering services for replacement of Clover Creek Bridge at First Street (14C-0015) in Lake County with Quincy Engineering Inc., in the amount not to exceed $420,907.51 (an increase of $58,978.41) and authorize the Chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
7.1, 9 a.m.: THERE WILL BE A REQUEST TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 at 10:15 A.M. - PUBLIC HEARING - Consideration of the final recommended budget for fiscal year 2018/2019 for the county of Lake and Special Districts Governed by the Board of Supervisors.
7.3, 9:06 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation declaring September 28, 2018, as Native American Day in Lake County.
7.4, 9:08 a.m.: Swearing-in of newly appointed Correctional Officer Amanda Moore.
7.5 9:10 A.M. - (a) Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires); and (b) update and discussion on the Mendocino Complex - River and Ranch fires response and recovery.
7.6, 9:11 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
7.7, 9:12 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the Sulphur fire incident.
7.8, 9:13 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to Clayton fire.
7.9, 9:14 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the atmospheric river storm.
7.10, 9:30 a.m.: THERE WILL BE A REQUEST TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO OCTOBER 23, 2018 at 10 A.M. (Continued from Aug. 21 and Aug. 7). Public hearing - consideration of resolution declaring the results of the majority protest proceedings and establishing the Lake County Tourism Improvement District “resolution of formation.”
7.11, 9:45 a.m.: Continued from Aug. 21, discussion and consideration of draft for right to geothermal exploration and development ordinance.
7.12, 10 a.m.: Discussion and consideration of Lake Transit Hub location plan study update.
UNTIMED ITEMS
8.2:: (a) Discussion of California Government Code Section 24304.2 enabling selected counties to consolidate, by ordinance, the two elected offices of Auditor-Controller (A-C) and T-TC into one elected office, Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector (A-C-T-TC), and possible request that legislation be drafted allowing Lake County said option; and (b) discussion of possible amendment to Treasurer-Tax Collector (T-TC) minimum education requirements by ordinance.
8.3: Consideration of permanent overnight vehicle use for District Attorney’s Office investigators.
CLOSED SESSION
9.1: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(2)(e)(3): California River Watch.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, 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.
In an untimed item, the board will discuss a proposal from Board Chair Jim Steele regarding the consolidation of the auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector’s offices.
Noting that the Boards of Supervisors of several counties currently are allowed under California Government Code to consolidate their auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector’s offices, Steele’s written report to the board explains that he wants to discuss with the board the possibility of requesting state legislators take the necessary steps to add Lake County to the group of counties having the option for consolidating those financial offices.
At 10 a.m., the board will discuss a request from Lake Transit Authority regarding an update on the location plan study for a proposed new Lake Transit Hub on county-owned property in Clearlake.
In other business, in items timed for 9:10 a.m. to 9:14 a.m., the board will consider continuing proclamations of local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex Pawnee, Sulphur and Clayton fires, and the atmospheric river storm.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
6.1: Adopt proclamation declaring Sept. 28 as Native American Day in Lake County.
6.2: Approve Minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings held Aug. 21 and Aug. 28.
6.3: Adopt resolution fixing tax rates for local agencies, general obligation bonds and other voter approved indebtedness for Fiscal Year 2018-1.
6.4: Adopt resolution authorizing the county to participate in the one-time homeless mentally ill outreach and treatment funding opportunity available as a result of SB840 (Chapter 29, Statutes of 2018).
6.5: (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; (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Frank SmithWaters for patient rights advocacy for FY 2018-19 for a contract maximum of $45,000, and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
6.6: (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; (b) approve the agreement between county of Lake and Kings View Corp. for professional consulting services for Fiscal Year 2018-19 for a contract maximum amount of $76,740 and to authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
6.7: Approve plans and specifications for the Lower Lake Maintenance Facility Project, Bid No. 18-10; and authorize the Public Services director/assistant purchasing agent to advertise for bids.
6.8: Approve amendment one to the agreement for engineering services for replacement of Clover Creek Bridge at First Street (14C-0015) in Lake County with Quincy Engineering Inc., in the amount not to exceed $420,907.51 (an increase of $58,978.41) and authorize the Chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
7.1, 9 a.m.: THERE WILL BE A REQUEST TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 at 10:15 A.M. - PUBLIC HEARING - Consideration of the final recommended budget for fiscal year 2018/2019 for the county of Lake and Special Districts Governed by the Board of Supervisors.
7.3, 9:06 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation declaring September 28, 2018, as Native American Day in Lake County.
7.4, 9:08 a.m.: Swearing-in of newly appointed Correctional Officer Amanda Moore.
7.5 9:10 A.M. - (a) Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires); and (b) update and discussion on the Mendocino Complex - River and Ranch fires response and recovery.
7.6, 9:11 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
7.7, 9:12 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the Sulphur fire incident.
7.8, 9:13 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to Clayton fire.
7.9, 9:14 a.m.: Consideration of continuing a proclamation of a local emergency due to the atmospheric river storm.
7.10, 9:30 a.m.: THERE WILL BE A REQUEST TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO OCTOBER 23, 2018 at 10 A.M. (Continued from Aug. 21 and Aug. 7). Public hearing - consideration of resolution declaring the results of the majority protest proceedings and establishing the Lake County Tourism Improvement District “resolution of formation.”
7.11, 9:45 a.m.: Continued from Aug. 21, discussion and consideration of draft for right to geothermal exploration and development ordinance.
7.12, 10 a.m.: Discussion and consideration of Lake Transit Hub location plan study update.
UNTIMED ITEMS
8.2:: (a) Discussion of California Government Code Section 24304.2 enabling selected counties to consolidate, by ordinance, the two elected offices of Auditor-Controller (A-C) and T-TC into one elected office, Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector (A-C-T-TC), and possible request that legislation be drafted allowing Lake County said option; and (b) discussion of possible amendment to Treasurer-Tax Collector (T-TC) minimum education requirements by ordinance.
8.3: Consideration of permanent overnight vehicle use for District Attorney’s Office investigators.
CLOSED SESSION
9.1: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(2)(e)(3): California River Watch.
Email Elizabeth Larson at