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SACRAMENTO — The Assembly Revenue & Taxation Committee on Monday gave unanimous, bipartisan support to legislation authored by Assemblymembers Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) that offers several creative funding opportunities to help prevent state parks from being closed.
Assembly Bill 1589, also known as the California State Parks Stewardship Act of 2012, addresses short and long-term needs for California State Parks in order to achieve substantial budget savings without wide-scale park closures.
The bill includes an option for taxpayers to designate all or a portion of their state income tax refund towards purchase of an annual state parks pass.
“Today, our bipartisan effort to save state parks took an important step forward,” said Huffman, who represents the 6th Assembly District, which encompasses southern Sonoma County and all of Marin County. “It’s important that as we continue to make technical improvements to the bill, we are getting unanimous votes in committee, and members of both parties continue asking to be added as co-authors. I’m also grateful that State Controller John Chiang registered his support and is working with us to make sure key revenue elements of the bill are administratively feasible.”
“The parks closures disproportionately impact rural California, and nowhere is that more true than on the North Coast,” said Chesbro, who represents the First Assembly District. “One of the key elements I wanted included in AB 1589 is the opportunity for Californians to purchase an annual parks pass with their tax refunds. This tool will increase revenue for the parks system with no impact to the general fund and more California families will get out and enjoy our state parks.”
AB 1589 includes the following additional provisions:
- Encourages formation of a state compact that guarantees an ongoing level of state funding for operations and maintenance of state parks.
- Creates a State Park Enterprise Fund to be used for construction and installation of modern revenue and fee collection equipment and technologies to increase park visitation and revenues.
- Produces a California State Park environmental license plate which individual vehicle owners could purchase and have the fees go towards support of state parks.
- Requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to be more transparent on how it evaluates and selects specific parks for closure, and places a cap of 25 state park units on the number of park closures allowed from 2012 to 2016 without legislative approval.
AB 1589 is also joint-authored by Assemblymembers Roger Dickinson, Mike Gatto and Kevin Jeffries.
The bill proceeds to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further consideration.
Devastating wildfires threaten California every year, and to ensure Californians are ready, Gov. Jerry Brown declared May 6-12, 2012, as “Wildfire Awareness Week.”
Cal Fire is taking advantage of Wildfire Awareness Week to remind residents of the dangers from wildfires and the simple steps they can take to prepare for them.
“Despite a rainy March, this year’s overall precipitation is below average,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. “As a result of the dry winter, the number of wildfires that Cal Fire firefighters have responded to is nearly three times that of last year.”
According to the state’s final snow survey on May 1, the statewide snowpack water content is only 40 percent of normal.
From January to April, Cal Fire crews have responded to over 800 wildfires, nearly two and half times the number in 2011 when there were approximately 300. This year’s number of wildfires is above the five-year average as well, where the average is over 600 wildfires.
During Wildfire Awareness Week, Cal Fire is reminding Californians that when it comes to wildfires, remember “Ready, Set, Go!” Being ready for a wildfire starts by maintaining 100 feet of defensible space and hardening homes with fire resistant building materials.
“Before we get into the peak of fire season, residents should prepare themselves, their families and their homes for wildfires,” said Chief Pimlott. “Defensible Space and fire resistant building materials really gives a home the best chance of surviving a wildfire.”
Cal Fire relaunched its wildfire preparedness Web site, www.ReadyForWildfire.org , with added features and steps to assist homeowners in preparing for wildfires.
The site offers tips for residents to make their homes more resistant to wildfires and to ensure that their families are ready to evacuate early and safely when a wildfire strikes.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Two county residents were injured on Monday when they were involved in a crash near Kelseyville.
Amber Erickson, 25, of Kelseyville and Robert Quammen, 52, of Lucerne, were involved in the wreck, which occurred on Highway 281 east of Inca Way, according to the California Highway Patrol. A time for the crash was not given.
Quammen, driving a Ford van, and Erickson, who was driving a Nissan Frontier, were both traveling eastbound on Highway 281, or Soda Bay Road, the CHP said.
Quammen, who was ahead of Erickson, drove through some cardboard box debris in the eastbound lane and pulled to the right shoulder and stopped. The CHP said Quammen's van was partially blocking the eastbound lane by about 4 to 5 feet.
Erickson also had driven through the debris, but the CHP report said she didn't see Quammen stopped on the shoulder and partially blocking the lane.
Erickson struck the left rear of Quammen's van, according to the report.
The CHP said Erickson suffered moderate injuries and was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake. Quammen sustained minor injuries and was not transported.
The collision is still under investigation, according to the CHP, which said that alcohol and drugs did not appear to have been contributing factors.
The CHP said both Erickson and Quammen were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.
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COBB, Calif. – A Cobb man who was arrested late last week for killing his girlfriend died Sunday night in the jail, with the cause still under investigation.
James Michael Carpy, 44, had been arrested Friday night and held on $1 million bail following the discovery of the body of his 33-year-old girlfriend in the Hogan Hill Lane home they shared on Cobb, as Lake County News has reported.
Sources close to the investigation said he may have committed suicide.
Messages Lake County News left with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office administration Sunday night and Monday were not returned.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said the District Attorney’s Office is investigating Carpy’s death.
“The sheriff’s department called us last night and asked us if we could send an investigator over to conduct an investigation and we did so,” Hinchcliff said Monday morning.
Hinchcliff said two District Attorney’s Office investigators responded to the jail Sunday night.
He said he could not release any details about Carpy’s cause of death, deferring that to the sheriff’s office.
“The investigation is ongoing,” Hinchcliff said.
Lake County News will post additional information as it becomes available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – With fire season close at hand, county residents can learn how to protect their homes and communities in an annual event set for this coming weekend.
Lake County’s third annual Wildfire Safety Expo will be held on Saturday, May 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kelseyville Lumber Home Improvement Center, 3555 N. Main St. in Kelseyville.
Presented by the Lake County Fire Safe Council, this free community event will provide information to homeowners to help them prepare for a wildfire.
Partners for this event include the Kelseyville, Lake County, Lake Pillsbury, Lakeport, Northshore, and South Lake Fire Protection districts; the Lake County Fire Chiefs’ Association; Cal Fire; the Bureau of Land Management; and U. S. Forest Service.
A vendor fair will focus on fuel reduction methods, fire-resistant building materials, home fire safety information, and fire safe landscaping tips. Home fire protection products also will be demonstrated.
Representatives from Lake County’s Animal Care and Control will answer homeowners’ questions and provide information on the Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection (L.E.A.P.) program.
The Master Gardeners and Pacific Gas & Electric also will be there with tips on fire safe landscaping. Information for the National Fire Protection Association's Firewise Communities program will also be available.
“We hope to provide helpful information so citizens will be better prepared in the event of wildfire,” said project coordinator Linda Juntunen. “Along with fire safety information, there will be activities that we think both adults and children will enjoy.”
Smokey Bear and Sparky the Fire Dog will be on hand for the kids, children’s games, and drawings for free prizes will be held throughout the day. Firefighting training demonstrations will be conducted, and present day and antique fire equipment will be on display.
“This event is for Lake County residents and will provide ‘one stop shopping’ for homeowners to take responsibility for their own safety and protection during the upcoming fire season. One of our themes is ‘Help them (firefighters) help you.’ Make it possible for the fire agencies to protect your homes safely and effectively” said Jeff Tunnell, fire mitigation and education specialist for the Bureau of Land Management.
Take responsibility by learning how to protect your home and create the defensible space. Be fire wise and fire safe this season – attend the Wildfire Safety Expo.
Contact Linda Juntunen, project coordinator, at 707-263-4180, Extension 106, for additional information.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A fire at a resort destroyed a guest’s cabin and burned close to 10 acres of vegetation on Sunday afternoon.
The fire was reported at the Wilbur Hot Springs resort, located at Wilbur Springs near Bear Creek, which is close to the Lake and Colusa County border.
Northshore Fire Deputy Chief Pat Brown said firefighters from his agency were dispatched to the fire at 2:20 p.m. Sunday.
Brown said Northshore Fire and the Williams Fire Department, which have a mutual aid agreement, were the first agencies to respond.
Northshore Fire initially sent a water tender and an engine, Brown said. When firefighters got to the scene, more resources were requested.
He said Northshore Fire sent another engine, with one coming from Kelseyville as well.
Cal Fire, Colusa County and city fire departments, and Capay Valley also sent firefighters and equipment, Brown said.
Cal Fire’s Copter 104 worked the fire from the air, he said.
Brown said the fire burned one cabin, threatened two others, and went up a steep hillside, burning heavy brush.
The fire was contained Sunday night, with radio reports indicating firefighters were being released from the scene at around 7 p.m. and after.
Brown said Cal Fire had two engines and two handcrews remaining on scene and mopping up the fire area overnight.
Two more Cal Fire engines were scheduled to come in Monday morning for mop up, and Brown said Cal Fire also planned to check the fire area from the air on Monday.
The fire’s cause remained under investigation Sunday night, but Brown said investigators were leaning toward a finding that involved a possible electrical issue in the burned cabin.
One injury – a heat related issue – was reported and handled at the scene, Brown said.
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