LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week will consider the analysis used for proposed new rates for Middletown sewer customers.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 945 1390 1976, pass code 304907. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,94513901976#,,,,*304907#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
In a discussion timed for 10:15 a.m., the board, sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, will consider a proposed resolution to receive, approve and adopt the financial planning, revenue requirements and rate setting analysis for Lake County Sanitation District’s Middletown sewer system.
In their report to the board, Special Districts Administrator Scott Harter and Special Districts Deputy Administrator Jesus Salmeron said that the rate structure hasn’t been adjusted since sewer rates were adopted in 1995 for the district.
“Rates were set to be analyzed when the Valley Fire occurred and the analysis and any proposed rate adjustment was postponed due to that and subsequent disasters. Early in 2021 district staff coordinated with the California Rural Water Association for a Financial Planning, Revenue Requirements, and Rate Setting Analysis to determine the financial health of the district and support a Proposition 218 compliant rate increase if need be,” the report said.
The report said rate adjustments are not being proposed as part of Tuesday’s discussion and action. Instead, the rates will be taken up during a public hearing on Dec. 6.
On Tuesday, the board is being asked to accept and approve the attached financial planning, revenue requirements, and rate setting analysis by adopting the attached resolution as a precursor to the public hearing.
In a sampling of rates, the analysis shows that the bimonthly rate for single family homes is proposed to go from $32.60 to $59.36 in 2022-23, $62.93 in 2023-24, $65.13 in 2024-25, $67.41 in 2025-26 and $69.77 in 2026-27.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve public defender contract amendment No. 8 between the county of Lake and Lake Indigent Defense LLP for the purpose of extending the term of the contract to March 31, 2023, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.2: Approve the agreement between the county of Lake and the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake for Animal Care and Control services on tribal lands and authorize the Animal Care and Control Director to sign the agreement.
5.3: Approve request to close Behavioral Health Services offices from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, for winter all staff training meeting.
5.4: Adopt resolution authorizing an amendment to the standard agreement between county of Lake and the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission for the period beginning upon contract execution through Sept. 30, 2026, and authorize the Behavioral Health director to sign the standard agreement amendment and the grant award claim form.
5.5: Approve amendment No. 1 to the participation agreement between county of Lake and the California Mental Health Services Authority to include modifications to Exhibit C — participant-specific committed funding and payment terms; and Exhibit D — participant contingency budget with no change to the contract maximum for fiscal years 2021-29 and authorize the board chair and department head to sign.
5.6: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2022-119 establishing position allocation for fiscal year 2022-2023, Budget Unit 2602 (Building & Safety).
5.7: Approve amendment to the purchase amount of a new 2023 Ford Explorer for the Building & Safety Division, from $25,000 to $50,000.
5.8: Approve equitable sharing agreement and certification between the county of Lake Sheriff's Office and the US Department of Justice; and authorize the sheriff and chairman to sign.
5.9: A) Approve the FY 2022 Emergency Management Performance Grant application in the amount of $141,465; B) authorize Sheriff Brian Martin to sign the grant subaward face sheet, the authorized agent document and the subrecipient grants management assessment form; C) authorize County Administrative Officer Susan Parker to act as the authorized agent on behalf of the county to sign the standard assurances and initial each page, the lobbying certification and the FFATA financial disclosure document and d) authorize the chairperson of the Board of Supervisors to sign the certification of the governing body resolution.
5.10: Approve contract between county of Lake and North Coast Opportunities Inc. for the Housing Support Program for the term of July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.11: Sitting as the Board of Directors of the Kelseyville County Waterworks District No. 3, approve budget transfer allocating money from object code 17.00 to 62.74.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:10 a.m.: Consideration of the Sept. 30, 2022, report of Lake County pooled investments.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of request for hearing in the matter of 8020 High Valley Road, Cobb (APN 011-040-26); The Cryptorights Foundation Inc., a California nonprofit corporation.
6.4, 9:45 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from Nov. 8, hearing of appeal of notice of violation and notice of nuisance and order to abate. Property owner: Thomas Carter. Location: 1622 Hunter Point Road., Upper Lake (APN 022-001-05).
6.5, 10:15 a.m.: Sitting as Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, consideration of proposed resolution to receive, approve and adopt the financial planning, revenue requirements and rate setting analysis for Lake County Sanitation District Middletown Sewer.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of agreement with Lake County PEG for professional videography services specifically for coverage of municipal advisory councils.
7.3: Consideration of appointment to the Geothermal Advisory Committee.
7.4: Consideration of Resolution No. 2022-118 adopting final budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 to increase revenues and appropriations in Budget Unit 4015 — Behavioral Health Services Department.
7.5: Consideration of a) request to waive competitive bidding according to Section 38.2(2); and b) agreement between county of Lake and New Life Health Authority dba New Life LLC for substance use disorder outpatient drug free services, intensive outpatient treatment services and narcotic treatment program services for fiscal year 2022-23 in the amount of $10,000,000.
7.6: Addendum, consideration of recognition of Department of Public Works Director Scott De Leon for the 2022 California County Engineer of the Year.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluation. Title: County Administrative Officer Susan Parker.
8.2: Public employee evaluation. Title: Health Services Director Jonathan Portney.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 5456.9(d)(1) — Flesch v. County of Lake.
8.4: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1) — Sabalone v. County of Lake.
8.5: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1) — City of Clearlake v. Testate & Intestate Successors of Bailey Lumbers Co., 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.
Applications are also available at the Lake County Courthouse, Clerk of the Board Office, Room 109, 255 North Forbes St., Lakeport.
If you have questions regarding a vacancy on one of these advisory boards, please contact the Clerk of the Board at 707-263-2368 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The following seats are available.
Animal Control Advisory Board: Seven vacancies — one each for supervisorial districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and two each for members at large.
Big Valley Groundwater Management Zone Commission: Seven vacancies, four agriculture users category, one member at large and two water district category.
Child Care Planning and Development Council: Seven vacancies — one consumer, two public agencies, two community representatives, one discretionary appointee and one child care provider.
Cobb Municipal Advisory Council: Six vacancies, five members at large and alternate.
Countywide Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: Five vacancies, one representative from each supervisorial district.
East Region 3 Town Hall: Five vacancies — one member from Spring Valley Property Owner's Association, one member from Clearlake Oaks Keys Property Owner's Association, one member of the Clearlake Oaks Business Association and two members at large.
Emergency Medical Care Committee: Eighteen vacancies — two hospitals (Sutter Lakeside and Adventist Health Clear Lake), one community college district, four consumer interested group, two emergency room affiliated-medical care coordinator, two emergency medical technician representatives, one private ambulance company, five fire departments and one paramedic representative.
Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee: Eleven vacancies — two fish and wildlife conservation, one land conservation, one agriculture, one education, one recreation, five general public (one from each supervisorial district).
Geothermal Advisory Committee: Five vacancies — one from Cobb Area Water District, two Anderson Springs community members and two Cobb community members.
Heritage Commission: Seven vacancies, one representative from each supervisorial district and two members at large.
In Home Support Services Public Authority Advisory Committee: Eleven vacancies — four senior consumers, one disabled community representative, two disabled community representatives, two senior community representatives and two providers.
Kelseyville Cemetery District: One vacancy — general membership (must live within the district boundaries and be registered to vote in Lake County).
Law Library Board of Trustees: One vacancy — one public member.
Library Advisory Board: Five vacancies — one representative from each supervisorial district.
Lower Lake Cemetery District: One vacancy — one general membership (must live within the district boundaries and be registered to vote in Lake County).
Lower Lake Waterworks District One Board of Directors: Two vacancies — public members (must live within the district boundaries and be registered to vote in Lake County).
Lucerne Area Town Hall: Five vacancies — members at large (must live within the area boundaries).
Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Advisory Board: Ten vacancies — general membership.
Mental Health Board: Two vacancies — one member at large and one consumer family member of a past/present consumer.
Middletown Cemetery District: Three vacancies — three general membership (must live within the district boundaries and be registered to vote in Lake County).
North Bay Cooperative Library Advisory Board: One vacancy — Lake County representative.
Resource Conservation District: Two vacancies — one district one member, one member at large.
Scott’s Valley Community Advisory Board: Five vacancies — five public members at large.
Upper Lake Cemetery District: Three vacancies — general membership (must live within the district boundaries and be registered to vote in Lake County).
Western Region Town Hall: Four vacancies — one public member-at-large, three public members from Upper Lake.
A California Highway Patrol Valley Division officer demonstrates the proper placement of a car seat. Photo courtesy of the CHP. The California Highway Patrol is continuing its efforts to ensure infants and children are safe while traveling California’s roadways with the “California Restraint Safety Education and Training VI,” or CARSEAT, campaign funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety.
This CARSEAT campaign, which runs through Sept. 20, 2023, focuses on reducing the number of injuries and deaths resulting from unrestrained and improperly restrained infants and children.
As part of the campaign, the CHP will host certification training for first responders to educate the public during child passenger safety seat inspections and community events.
These efforts will highlight the importance of properly using seat belts and child passenger restraints, and provide education related to the proper installation of child passenger safety seats.
California law requires all infants and children under 2 years of age ride in a rear-facing child car seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall.
Additionally, state law requires children under the age of 8 be properly restrained in an appropriate car seat or booster seat in the back seat of a vehicle.
While California law dictates minimum guidelines for keeping infants and children safe while riding in a vehicle, parents and caregivers are encouraged to continue to use their current child passenger safety seat up to the height and weight limits of the manufacturer’s guidelines. It is recommended all passengers ride in the back seat of a vehicle until age 13.
For further information about safety guidelines, please visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at www.nhtsa.gov.
“The CHP remains focused on educating parents and caregivers about the proper installation and safe use of child passenger safety seats,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “The best way to protect your child is to use a properly installed car seat or booster seat every trip, regardless of the distance.”
For more information regarding seat belts, seat belt regulations, child passenger safety, or to make an appointment for a free car seat installation, please contact your local CHP Area office at https://www.chp.ca.gov/find-an-office.
The Clear Lake Area office in Kelseyville can be reached at 707-279-0103.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has playful cats and kittens waiting for new homes.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm for information on visiting or adopting.
The following cats at the shelter have been cleared for adoption.
“Mom” is a 2-year-old female domestic shorthair cat in cat room kennel No. 3, ID No. LCAC-A-4080. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Mom’
“Mom” is a 2-year-old female domestic shorthair cat with an orange and white coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 3, ID No. LCAC-A-4080.
This 2-year-old female domestic shorthair cat is in cat room kennel No. 10, ID No. LCAC-A-3661. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female domestic shorthair
This 2-year-old female domestic shorthair cat has a gray tabby coat.
“She is an adult cat with some playful kitten tendencies when toys are brought out. She has a sweet little meow and likes to have playful chats with you,” shelter staff said.
She is in cat room kennel No. 10, ID No. LCAC-A-3661.
This 3-year-old male domestic shorthair cat is in cat room kennel No. 13, ID No. LCAC-A-4021. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male domestic shorthair
This 3-year-old male domestic shorthair cat has an orange tabby coat.
“This guy can be shy at first, but once he knows that you are all about the pets, he will roll right over and start his purr machine. He has a unique curly tail which he flicks around when curious,” shelter staff said.
He is in cat room kennel No. 13, ID No. LCAC-A-4021.
This 3-month-old female domestic shorthair kitten is in cat room kennel No. 36, ID No. LCAC-A-4085. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female domestic shorthair kitten
This 3-month-old female domestic shorthair kitten has a gray and white coat.
Staff said the kitten is outgoing and all about fun and games. “She loves to play with toys and enjoys cuddle time. She also enjoys playing with the other kittens and cats.”
She is in cat room kennel No. 36, ID No. LCAC-A-4085.
This 1-year-old male domestic longhair cat is in kennel No. 107, ID No. LCAC-A-4023. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Male domestic longhair cat
This 1-year-old male domestic longhair cat has a black and white coat.
“This guy had a hard start, but has a lot of love to give once he warms up to you,” shelter staff said.
Staff said he also loves brushing and shows his appreciation with purring and head bumps.
He is in kennel No. 107, ID No. LCAC-A-4023.
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.
November is American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, a time to honor the nation’s tribal cultures and history.
The first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916, in New York. The event culminated an effort by Red Fox James, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, who rode across the nation on horseback seeking approval from 24 state governments to have a day to honor American Indians.
In 1990, more than seven decades later, then-President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating the month of November “National American Indian Heritage Month.”
Similar proclamations have been issued every year since 1994 to recognize what is now called “American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.”
In Lake County, the Board of Supervisors presented a proclamation for Native American Heritage Month at its Nov. 8 meeting.
The American Indian and Alaska Native population is one of the six major race categories defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
The following facts are possible thanks to responses to the U.S. Census Bureau’s surveys.
DID YOU KNOW?
3.7 million The nation's American Indian and Alaska Native population alone in 2020. This population group identifies as AIAN only and did not identify with any other race.
10.1 million The projected American Indian and Alaska Native population alone or in combination with other race groups on July 1, 2060, about 2.5% of the projected total U.S. population.
3,438 The American Indian and Alaska Native population alone or in combination with other race groups in Lake County, California, for 2021, or about 5% of the county’s entire population.
324 The number of distinct, federally recognized American Indian reservations in 2022, including federal reservations and off-reservation trust land.
574 The number of federally recognized Indian tribes in 2022.
7 The number of federally recognized Indian tribes in Lake County, California, in 2022. They are the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria, Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians of the Sulphur Bank Rancheria, Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, Koi Nation of Northern California, Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California, Robinson Rancheria and Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California.
120,944 The number of single-race American Indian and Alaska Native veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces in 2021.
Depression is a costly and debilitating condition that profoundly influences a person’s quality of life. In 2020, more than 21 million adults in the U.S. reported having at least one major depressive episode in the previous year. Depression symptoms increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now affect nearly 1 in 3 American adults.
There are also many disparities in access to depression treatment. Clinicians are less likely to recognize and treat depressive symptoms in certain groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, men, older adults and people with language barriers. These disparities may be driven by poor patient-physician communication about mental health, cultural differences in discussing depressive symptoms, stigma around mental illness and limited available treatment options.
Limited time to discuss mental health symptoms in depth in primary care settings may also contribute to the depression treatment gap. As a researcher and primary care physician focused on improving access to mental health treatment, I have seen many patients struggle to have their depressive symptoms recognized by their clinicians and access quality care. Depression screening often only occurs when a clinician suspects the patient may have depression or when the patient specifically requests mental health care.
But making depression screening a routine practice could help reduce treatment disparities. In January 2016, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force began recommending depression screening for all adults. In October 2022, given the mental health effects of the pandemic, it extended the recommendation to include screening all adolescents age 12 and up for depression and suicide risk during routine wellness checkups.
In our recent study, my team and I found that implementing universal, routine depression screening for adults in primary care is one way to make detection more equitable.
Depression and anxiety increased across the U.S. during the pandemic.
Depression screening in one large health system
The goal of our study was to evaluate whether the six primary care practices in the University of California, San Francisco health system had adopted routine depression screening for all their adult patients, and whether traditionally undertreated or untreated groups were being screened.
Medical assistants were asked to administer the screening test before patients saw their clinician. The clinician, after reviewing and discussing the results with the patient, could then arrange a follow-up appointment, prescribe a depression medication or submit a referral to a behavioral health specialist.
After two years, we analyzed data for 52,944 adult patients who had an appointment at one of the primary care clinics in that period. Screening rates were initially low – only 40.5% of patients were screened. Furthermore, men, older adults, racial and ethnic minorities, those with public health insurance, and those with language barriers were all less likely to be screened. For example, patients who spoke a Chinese language were almost half as likely to be screened as patients who spoke English.
However, with the UCSF health system’s coinciding focus on equity, screening rates increased to 88.8% by 2019. UCSF Health established a task force that met over the course of the project to discuss its progress, share best practices across primary care clinics and actively make adjustments to address screening disparities.
Overall, screening rates dramatically increased over those two years for all groups at risk of having their depression go unrecognized and untreated.
Improving depression care for all patients
Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide. It can affect a person’s ability to manage other chronic conditions, and can lead to worsened disability and earlier death.
Our research found that increasing universal screening efforts can help reach groups that are less likely to be screened and treated for depression. We ensured that screening tools were available in other languages, clinical staff were periodically trained, and screening was integrated with routine clinical tasks. We also made sure that our efforts were aligned with the UCSF health system’s priorities, quality improvement efforts and reimbursement policies to reduce the burden of implementation and ensure sustainability.
While depression screening is necessary, it is not sufficient on its own to decrease care disparities for depression. Additional research is needed to see whether improved screening will lead to increased treatment and care engagement among at-risk groups.
Our team’s next steps are to evaluate whether a positive screen led to initiation of treatment for depression, and whether all patient groups were equally likely to engage in treatment. Our hope is that the lessons we learned from implementing routine depression screening in our primary care practices can encourage other health care systems around the country to do the same, and help better serve diverse patient populations.
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