A California Highway Patrol motor officer conducts speed enforcement. Photo courtesy of CHP. Speed and aggressive driving continue to be a major concern on California roadways, and the California Highway Patrol is receiving additional resources to combat these dangerous driving behaviors statewide.
The Speed Prevention, Education and Enforcement Deterrence, or SPEED, grant, through the California Office of Traffic Safety, aims to reduce the number of fatal and injury crashes related to speed by funding additional CHP enforcement patrols and public awareness campaigns throughout California through Sept. 30, 2023.
Speed is a factor in approximately 40% of all fatal and injury crashes in California.
Between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020, there were 26,256 speed-related crashes that killed 290 people and injured 38,157 others.
“Reducing dangerous driving behaviors continues to be a high priority for the CHP,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “The SPEED grant provides the necessary funding to bolster resources and combat this growing trend of reckless and inexcusable driving behavior.”
From Jan. 1, 2020, through Sept. 20, 2021, the CHP used federal funding in a similar grant program to implement educational and enforcement efforts to combat dangerous driving behaviors by conducting enhanced speed enforcement operations on state routes.
During this time, the CHP issued nearly 50,000 citations to motorists exceeding 100 miles per hour, collaborated with allied law enforcement agencies and posted anti-speeding and aggressive driving behavior messages on social media.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A woman died Saturday night in a solo-vehicle wreck along Highway 53.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified Corissa Marie Ramirez, 35, with addresses in Clearlake Oaks and Kelseyville, as the crash victim.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said the crash occurred at 11:35 p.m. Saturday.
Ramirez was driving a 1990 Toyota 4Runner northbound on Highway 53, approximately seven tenths of a mile south of the Highway 20 intersection — known as the “Y” — near Clearlake Oaks at an unknown speed, the CHP said.
For reasons yet to be determined, the CHP said Ramirez drove off the east road edge of Highway 53 and lost control of the Toyota.
The CHP report said the vehicle traveled back onto the roadway, crossed over the northbound and southbound lanes of traffic, rolled off the west road edge of Highway 53, and continued overturning down an embankment.
As the vehicle overturned, Ramirez — who the CHP said was not wearing her seat belt — was ejected from the vehicle.
When emergency personnel arrived at the scene, Ramirez was declared deceased, the CHP said.
The CHP said Monday that it was not yet known if drugs or alcohol contributed to the cause of the wreck.
The crash’s cause remains under investigation, the CHP said.
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. — The Clearlake City Council on Thursday approved a proposal in which the city will loan funds to a developer to complete road and storm drainage improvements on 36th Avenue.
In an unanimous vote, the council authorized City Manager Alan Flora to develop and execute the loan agreement for the work. Councilman Russell Perdock recused himself from the discussion due to the involvement of a family member.
Flora’s written report to the council explained that in 2020 the city negotiated a deal with Lexington Construction in order to incentivize the development of market rate housing in the city.
He said the deal provided 18 former redevelopment agency lots to Lexington at a reduced rate of $1,000 each.
In return, Lexington agreed to build new single-family homes and construct a new road and storm drainage improvements in the area, including paving a portion of 36th Avenue, between Eureka Avenue and Phillips Avenue.
However, as Flora would explain to the council, things didn’t go as planned.
“This project has not been a very good example of a project but we are where we are,” he said.
Flora said Lexington suffered from a number of personal and professional setbacks, including the divorce of the couple that owned the company, and as a result it’s been a struggle to keep the project moving.
Ultimately, while the project was started, the developer’s problems led to it being abandoned, Flora said.
The city has the opportunity under the agreement to “claw back” the property if the work isn’t complete. However, Flora said that’s a messy scenario he wants to avoid if possible.
Flora said the developer’s wife received the properties in the divorce and she’s brought to the table a new development team that has been working to try to get this project back on track.
He said they’re working to complete two houses which hadn’t been built to the original plans and setbacks, which required lot line adjustments and relocating a sewer line over which one of the houses had been built.
Those two houses are for sale and have active offers, Flora said.
With concerns that the market has changed and the original plan may not be feasible, Flora said the developer may want to build the additional houses and rent them instead of selling them.
Some road work also has been done, but the developer has approached the city on multiple occasions to see if the city can help complete the larger project, Flora said.
Flora said he feels bad for neighbors who have had to navigate this situation for several years.
The proposal is for the city to provide up to $300,000 to the developer for construction of the new roadway, storm drainage improvements and any remaining utility work necessary to complete the road.
Flora’s written report explains that the funds would not be transferred directly to the developer but invoiced by and paid directly to the contractors by the city. The loan would be secured by a loan agreement with a 3% interest rate and full payment due within 24 months, with further security to be provided by property liens and/or personal guarantees from the developer.
He said the funding for the loan will be provided from the city’s housing fund and would not impact the general fund. Flora said he believed that was an allowable use of the housing funds.
“On one hand I really don’t like bringing this to you but we need housing and that infrastructure really needs to be done,” said Flora, whose written report said that it had taken “two years to nearly complete two homes and see a measurable impact on the roadway.”
Councilwoman Joyce Overton said the road in that area needs to be fixed and has been horrible for years. She said she was OK with the plan as long as the city could secure it as best they could.
Mayor Dirk Slooten asked if the city could put liens on the other 16 homes when they’re finally built. Flora said they want to put a lien on as many of the houses when they’re built as they can.
He also said the developer expects the work to be completed within 18 months.
“It’s a messy situation,” said Councilman Russ Cremer, adding he wanted to secure the loan with the land. “We have to get it done.”
Flora said the matter had culminated the previous week and he wanted to get the discussion before council, but that he hadn’t yet written up a proposed agreement. He asked for direction from the council on how they wanted to proceed.
Cremer moved to authorize Flora to develop and execute a loan agreement for the project, with Overton seconding. The council voted in support of the motion 4-0, with Perdock abstaining.
Council approves agreement for visitor center, treasurer appointment
In other business on Thursday, council members approved an agreement between the city of Clearlake, Lake County Economic Development Corp. and Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce for use of the Clearlake Visitor Center facility.
Flora said 10 years ago the city entered into an agreement, which ended in September, for the use of the building at 14295 Lakeshore Drive, and it’s time to do a new agreement.
He said they have been talking for some time with the Lake County Economic Development Corp., or Lake EDC, about Lake EDC having more of a presence in Clearlake.
Lake EDC has received funding to establish a small business development center in Lake County for the first time in several decades and Flora said the goal is to have services provided in the city. Lake EDC has an office in Lakeport City Hall now.
Flora said his original hope was to have Lake EDC and chamber approve the agreement first, but that it turned out it was going to the council first. As such, he asked for clearance to snake small changes to the agreement if needed.
The council voted 5-0 to approve the agreement and allow Flora to make any necessary minor adjustments to the document.
The council also considered the long-vacant city treasurer’s post and once again appointed Flora to fill the position, with the council directing staff to work on putting it on the 2024 ballot to change it from an elected to a staff position.
The meeting also included thanks to the volunteers who helped present the 13th annual Hall-Oween, adoption of a resolution authorizing the application and adopting the plan for $875,000 from the Permanent Local Housing Allocation Program, and approval of a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprise Inc. for 30 body worn cameras and digital evidence management.
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. — The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss the effort to recruit a new Public Health officer and a proposal for a mentor program that could help keep the job filled.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 959 8172 9679, pass code 624933. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,95981729679#,,,,*624933#.
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.
At 1 p.m., the board will get the Public Health officer recruitment update from staff and consider a proposal to create a Public Health officer mentor program.
The written report to the board from County Administrative Officer Susan Parker said the county contracted with recruiter Mosaic Public Partners, which opened a recruitment on Aug. 8. Despite nationwide advertising, there was only one candidate who did not meet the minimum qualifications.
Despite Mosaic identifying more than 110 potential candidates across California, none of them have expressed interest in the job, Parker said.
However, in the midst of the recruitment effort, Parker said the county has connected with Dr. Noemi Doohan, the former Mendocino County Public Health officer, now working in Santa Barbara.
Parker said Doohan isn’t interested in the job but she “shared valuable insight into the challenges in recruiting for the role and suggestions on how to improve the attractiveness of the position in the medical community but also on how to ensure the long-term success and viability of whomever serves as the next Public Health Officer.”
Parker said Doohan said “public health doctors are afraid of the political nature of these positions, especially in counties where there has been turnover in the position. She communicated that the prevailing thought in the medical community is that Public Health Officers are frequently terminated by elected boards, not for misconduct or poor performance, but for the political aspects of decisions related to public health.”
Doohan has told the county that public health officer positions can be attractive to physicians if proper support is offered. “In her view, proper support includes not only administrative support, but mentoring for those new to the public arena, as well as education for various county officials on how to best utilize all that a Public Health Officer can do for a county.
Parker added, “Dr. Doohan shares this perspective because, as the new Public Health Officer for Mendocino County, she was provided a mentor who was invaluable to her in navigating the new role — especially in the early days of the pandemic. She added that before she accepted the position, ‘no one would take the job’ in Mendocino County and it was the mentorship arrangement that convinced her to accept it.”
County staff is recommending a mentorship program in which it would pay Doohan a consulting rate of $250 per hour for three to six months, with a not-to-exceed amount of $25,000. This structure is similar to the one made available to Doohan in Mendocino County.
Parker said Doohan would have Lake County access to her substantial network of public health colleagues, “but wants to ensure that any candidate from her network will be successful and have good support,” thus the proposed mentorship program.
The board on Tuesday also is scheduled to have a closed session to interview Public Health officer candidates and potentially make an appointment.
Also on Tuesday, the board will present proclamations in honor of Native American Heritage Month, set for 9:07 a.m., and the Military Funeral Honors Team at 9:09 a.m.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation designating the month of November 2022 as Native American Heritage Month.
5.2: Approve submission of request for funding through the U.S. Department of the Treasury for Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund funding in the amount of $3,060,750.78 split evenly between fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
5.3: Adopt resolution approving the amended memorandum of understanding between county of Lake and Lake County Resource Conservation District for management of goat’s rue in Lake County for FY 2021-2023 in the amount of $25,427.50.
5.4: Adopt resolution approving amended Agreement #20-1108-000-SG with California Department of Food and Agriculture for Noxious Weed Program for the period of May 1, 2021 through March 31, 2023 in the amount of $32,000.
5.5: Approve Amendment No. 2 to the agreement between county of Lake and Resource Development Associates for consultation and support in the Community Program Planning process and the evaluation of the Whole Person Care Grant Project in the amount of $269,053.75 for fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.6: Adopt resolution appointing directors of certain special district boards in lieu of holding a general district election on Nov. 8, 2022.
5.7: Adopt resolution approving the franchise agreement assignment from South Lake Refuse Company LLC to Waste Connections Inc.
5.8: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.3, as it is not in the public interest due to the determination that competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit, and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Mountain G. Enterprises Inc. for consulting services related to the development of a hazardous tree removal project for the purpose of submitting an application to the state for grant funds, and authorize the chair to sign the agreement.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:07 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of November 2022 as Native American Heritage Month.
6.3, 9:08 a.m.: a) Consideration of proclamation commending the Military Funeral Honors Team of Lake County; and b) consideration of participating in Operation Greenlight.
6.4, 9:09 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation commending the Military Funeral Honors Team of Lake County for their endless and thankless support of our military veterans and their families.
6.5, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from Oct. 18, 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).
6.6, 9:45 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of appeal of Planning Commission's denial of major use permit (UP 20-90) and initial study (IS 20-109) for 1.18 acres of mixed-light cannabis cultivation. Applicant: Cresta Properties LLC, 6267 Kelsey Creek Drive and 6245 Gold Dust Drive, Kelseyville (APNs 007-013-22 and -23).
6.7, 10:30 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from Oct. 25, consideration of proposed rezone (RZ 22-01) and general plan amendment (GPA 22-01). Applicant Is Valerie Peng. Project located at 11377 Highway 29, Lower Lake (APN: 049-300-02).
6.8, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.: Break.
6.9, 1 p.m.: a) Consideration of Public Health officer recruitment update; and b) consideration of the Lake County Public Health Officer Mentor Program.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of the following Advisory Board Appointment: Spring Valley CSA No. 2 Advisory Board.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): Interviews for Public Health officer; appointment of Public Health officer.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 5456.9(d)(1) – City of Clearlake v. County of Lake, et al.
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.
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.
Every year, thousands of adults are seriously injured or killed statewide in vehicle crashes caused by distracted drivers — crashes that are 100% preventable.
To help combat this issue, the California Highway Patrol is launching a statewide “Distracted Driving Education for Adult Drivers” traffic safety program.
During the yearlong education and enforcement campaign that will run through September 2023, the CHP will conduct at least 80 enforcement operations targeting adult distracted drivers and 600 adult traffic safety presentations.
These efforts will complement the CHP’s program combating teen distracted driving.
With multiple modes of communication and instant entertainment at their fingertips, cellphone use is the biggest driver distraction.
From Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022, CHP officers issued approximately 57,446 citations for cellphone violations.
Last year, 9,733 people were injured and 96 people were killed in crashes in California caused by distracted driving.
“The CHP encourages drivers to make the conscious decision not to drive distracted every time they get behind the wheel,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “Every distraction affects a driver’s reaction time, and circumstances can change without notice. Ultimately, it is never worth the potentially devastating consequences.”
Some of the most common types of adult distracted driving includes texting, talking on a cellphone, eating, grooming, talking to passengers, operating a navigation system and adjusting the radio.
The heightened awareness and increased enforcement are designed to encourage adult drivers to recognize the dangers of distracted driving and reduce the number of people impacted by this reckless, preventable behavior.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has a kitten and several young adult cats waiting to be adopted.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online 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 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 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 2-year-old female domestic shorthair cat is in cat room kennel No. 73, ID No. LCAC-A-4090. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female domestic shorthair
This 2-year-old female domestic shorthair cat has a Siamese coat with reddish points and blue eyes.
Shelter staff said she came in as an injured stray. “When we met her, even in obvious distress, she was purring and happy to see us.”
After successful surgery to repair a rectal prolapse due to a large bladder stone, “she has continued to have a wonderful attitude and would make a lovely cuddle partner,” staff said, noting she is very sweet and talkative.
In her adoptive home, staff recommends she continue on a specific bladder health diet in order to prevent the possibility of future bladder stones.
She is in cat room kennel No. 73, ID No. LCAC-A-4090.
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.
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