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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — After less than four months on the job, Lake County’s Public Health officer has resigned.
The Board of Supervisors came out of a Tuesday afternoon closed session to announce that it had accepted the resignation of Public Health Officer Dr. Erik McLaughlin, MD, MPH, effective immediately.
McLaughlin’s tenure is the shortest of any permanently appointed Public Health officer in Lake County in 20 years.
The supervisors hired him on Feb. 15 and he started the job on March 1, succeeding Dr. Gary Pace.
Pace announced his resignation in February 2021 to return to private practice but had continued to offer Public Health officer services on a part-time basis during the recruitment of his successor.
“When Dr. McLaughlin began work with Lake County on March 1, we were truly excited by the possibilities his unique combination of experiences and dedication to working with underserved communities offered,” said Board Chair Eddie Crandell in a statement released by the County Administrative Office later on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, this role did not end up being a long-term fit. Our board is committed to ensuring Lake County residents have strong support as we navigate the next steps of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, and we wish Dr. McLaughlin well in his future endeavors,” Crandell said in the statement.
State law requires counties to have health officers to enforce local health orders and ordinances, and state regulations and statutes relating to public health.
In response to Lake County News’ inquiry about who is to hold the job in the wake of McLaughlin’s departure, Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein said in an email, “More will be announced in the coming days.”
McLaughlin’s three-and-a-half-month-long tenure followed a 12-month recruitment that cost the county approximately $33,800, based on the consultant contract and amendment.
The recruitment flyer said, “The Public Health Department is fortunate to have a very supportive Board of Supervisors and an engaged County Administrative Officer, which has been critical in the County’s ability to be mighty in the face of COVID-19 pandemic.”
However, in April, Carol Huchingson, the county administrative officer, abruptly retired and was succeeded by her assistant, Susan Parker, in a quickly wrapped up recruitment that didn’t involve an outside contractor.
County shows initial support; closed door reviews increase
At the time of his hire, the county praised McLaughlin’s “progressive medical leadership,” consulting background, work as a county medical director in Arizona, and experience and study internationally, including in Australia and Great Britain.
In a statement released on McLaughlin’s hire, Crandell said that McLaughlin’s “two decades of continuous medical study, research and practice have uniquely prepared him to provide high quality Public Health leadership in Lake County. He brings both global insights and deep understanding of rural medicine.”
County officials also touted McLaughlin’s credentials as a board certified family medicine physician licensed in eight states.
However, what he wasn’t at that time was licensed to practice medicine in California, a fact the county largely glossed over.
Part of that was due to the fact that he received his medical degree in November 2005 from Saint Christopher’s College of Medicine in Dakar, Senegal, a school that is not included in a list of approved institutions by the Medical Board of California.
McLaughlin’s hire was contingent on the state granting him licensure, and that is what the Medical Board of California did on Feb. 24.
That’s despite the fact that other medical boards across the country and abroad had denied such licensure to some of the school’s graduates due to issues unearthed in late 2005 in Great Britain that led to the school being deemed unacceptable for registration and not recognized by that country’s General Medical Council.
During a Tuesday morning update from the Health Services Department, which in the past has featured input from McLaughlin on health issues such as COVID-19, McLaughlin was not present. Instead, it was led by Director Jonathan Portney, who only briefly mentioned COVID-19 — noting it’s still active in the community. Portney did not refer to McLaughlin during the discussion.
In past appearances before the board McLaughlin appeared by Zoom from his Las Vegas home, so it’s unclear if he at any point had spent any significant time in Lake County.
That’s because the county said McLaughlin — who the board hired at an 80% time base of 32 hours per week — would perform much of his work remotely “as is very common practice for medical professionals serving in Public Health leadership capacities.”
It’s been the accepted practice for the Board of Supervisors to conduct annual closed-door performance reviews with county department heads.
In McLaughlin’s case, he’d had five such reviews since he began work with the county.
The first was on March 8, the second on May 10, and then one each over the last three meetings — June 7, June 14 and again on Tuesday.
The Public Health officer is one of the highest-paid jobs in county government, at a range of $186,492 to $226,680 annually, according to the county’s job description.
However, thanks to the county’s millions of dollars in raises that are still being rolled out, that salary will rise to $194,016 to $235,840 annually as of July 1.
As of Tuesday night, the Public Health officer job was not posted as open on the county’s Human Resource’s webpage.
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 of Supervisors came out of a Tuesday afternoon closed session to announce that it had accepted the resignation of Public Health Officer Dr. Erik McLaughlin, MD, MPH, effective immediately.
McLaughlin’s tenure is the shortest of any permanently appointed Public Health officer in Lake County in 20 years.
The supervisors hired him on Feb. 15 and he started the job on March 1, succeeding Dr. Gary Pace.
Pace announced his resignation in February 2021 to return to private practice but had continued to offer Public Health officer services on a part-time basis during the recruitment of his successor.
“When Dr. McLaughlin began work with Lake County on March 1, we were truly excited by the possibilities his unique combination of experiences and dedication to working with underserved communities offered,” said Board Chair Eddie Crandell in a statement released by the County Administrative Office later on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, this role did not end up being a long-term fit. Our board is committed to ensuring Lake County residents have strong support as we navigate the next steps of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, and we wish Dr. McLaughlin well in his future endeavors,” Crandell said in the statement.
State law requires counties to have health officers to enforce local health orders and ordinances, and state regulations and statutes relating to public health.
In response to Lake County News’ inquiry about who is to hold the job in the wake of McLaughlin’s departure, Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein said in an email, “More will be announced in the coming days.”
McLaughlin’s three-and-a-half-month-long tenure followed a 12-month recruitment that cost the county approximately $33,800, based on the consultant contract and amendment.
The recruitment flyer said, “The Public Health Department is fortunate to have a very supportive Board of Supervisors and an engaged County Administrative Officer, which has been critical in the County’s ability to be mighty in the face of COVID-19 pandemic.”
However, in April, Carol Huchingson, the county administrative officer, abruptly retired and was succeeded by her assistant, Susan Parker, in a quickly wrapped up recruitment that didn’t involve an outside contractor.
County shows initial support; closed door reviews increase
At the time of his hire, the county praised McLaughlin’s “progressive medical leadership,” consulting background, work as a county medical director in Arizona, and experience and study internationally, including in Australia and Great Britain.
In a statement released on McLaughlin’s hire, Crandell said that McLaughlin’s “two decades of continuous medical study, research and practice have uniquely prepared him to provide high quality Public Health leadership in Lake County. He brings both global insights and deep understanding of rural medicine.”
County officials also touted McLaughlin’s credentials as a board certified family medicine physician licensed in eight states.
However, what he wasn’t at that time was licensed to practice medicine in California, a fact the county largely glossed over.
Part of that was due to the fact that he received his medical degree in November 2005 from Saint Christopher’s College of Medicine in Dakar, Senegal, a school that is not included in a list of approved institutions by the Medical Board of California.
McLaughlin’s hire was contingent on the state granting him licensure, and that is what the Medical Board of California did on Feb. 24.
That’s despite the fact that other medical boards across the country and abroad had denied such licensure to some of the school’s graduates due to issues unearthed in late 2005 in Great Britain that led to the school being deemed unacceptable for registration and not recognized by that country’s General Medical Council.
During a Tuesday morning update from the Health Services Department, which in the past has featured input from McLaughlin on health issues such as COVID-19, McLaughlin was not present. Instead, it was led by Director Jonathan Portney, who only briefly mentioned COVID-19 — noting it’s still active in the community. Portney did not refer to McLaughlin during the discussion.
In past appearances before the board McLaughlin appeared by Zoom from his Las Vegas home, so it’s unclear if he at any point had spent any significant time in Lake County.
That’s because the county said McLaughlin — who the board hired at an 80% time base of 32 hours per week — would perform much of his work remotely “as is very common practice for medical professionals serving in Public Health leadership capacities.”
It’s been the accepted practice for the Board of Supervisors to conduct annual closed-door performance reviews with county department heads.
In McLaughlin’s case, he’d had five such reviews since he began work with the county.
The first was on March 8, the second on May 10, and then one each over the last three meetings — June 7, June 14 and again on Tuesday.
The Public Health officer is one of the highest-paid jobs in county government, at a range of $186,492 to $226,680 annually, according to the county’s job description.
However, thanks to the county’s millions of dollars in raises that are still being rolled out, that salary will rise to $194,016 to $235,840 annually as of July 1.
As of Tuesday night, the Public Health officer job was not posted as open on the county’s Human Resource’s webpage.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Planning Commission will discuss several three cannabis projects this week, including one which is facing major opposition from neighbors.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 23, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The agenda is here.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The webinar ID is 984 3341 5169, the pass code is 845734.
Access the meeting via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,98433415169#,,,,*845734# or dial in at 669-900-6833.
The meeting also can be viewed on the county’s website or Facebook page.
At 9:20 a.m., the commission will hold a public hearing on a major use permit for Monte Cristo Vineyards LLC.
The project, located at 11230 and 11250 Cerrito Drive in Clearlake Oaks, proposes an outdoor canopy area of 958,320 square feet, or 22 acres.
Numerous letters against the project, which would be located next to a small neighborhood, have been submitted to the county, citing a wide range of concerns, including adequate water supply, public safety, traffic impacts, wildfire hazards and lack of outreach from the project owner, among other issues.
Neighbors also have submitted a petition to the county asking that the project’s major use permit not be approved.
A request for a continuance has been submitted for another project, Bottle Rock Farms, located at 900 and 10030 Bottle Rock Road, Kelseyville.
The full agenda follows.
AGENDA
Consideration of the adoption of Assembly Bill 361 findings authorizing teleconference meetings during a state of emergency.
Approval of minutes from the May 12, 2022, and May 26, 2022, Planning Commission meetings.
9:05 a.m.: Continued from April 28, 2022, request for continuance to July 14, 2022: Public hearing on consideration of major use permit (UP 19-42) and a mitigated negative declaration (19-61).: The applicant, Bottle Rock Farms FJA Trust is proposing two acres of medicinal commercial cannabis canopy area and two acres of adult-use commercial cannabis canopy, for a total of four acres of outdoor canopy area. The project includes one 4,750 square foot processing building and a 1,000 square foot immature plant area. The project is located at 9900 and 10030 Bottle Rock Road, Kelseyville, CA; and further described as APNs: 011-057-22 and 011-057-23.
9:10 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of major use permit (UP 20-47) and that a determination has been made that this project required a mitigated negative declaration to consider the adoption of an Initial Study IS 20-59. The applicant, Emerald Mountain Farms Inc. (Norman Grimm) is proposing two A-Type 3 outdoor cultivation licenses with a total canopy area of 68,562 square feet, and A-Type 13 distributor transport only, self-distribution. The proposed project is located at 1850 Ogulin Canyon Road, Clearlake, CA 95422; further described as APN’s: 010-053-03 and 010-011-01.
9:15 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of major use permit (UP 21-06) and that a determination has been made that this project required a mitigated negative declaration to consider the adoption of an and to adoption of an initial study (IS 21-06). The applicant, Akwaaba LLC is proposing a major use permit two A-Type 3 “medium outdoor” licenses with a total combined outdoor canopy area of 73,560 square feet, and an A-Type 2B “small mixed-light” license with a total combined mixed-light canopy area of 9,720 square feet. The project is located at 11795 North Drive, Clearlake Park, CA; further described as APN’s: 010-019-15 and 010-019-10.
9:20 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of major use permit (UP 21-14) and that a determination has been made that this project required a mitigated negative declaration to consider the adoption of an initial study (IS 21-15). The applicant, Monte Cristo Vineyards LLC is requesting a major use permit for 22 A-Type 3 “medium outdoor” licenses, with a combined outdoor canopy area of 958,320 square feet. The project is located at 11230 and 11250 Cerrito Drive; Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423; further described as APN’s: 006-007-17, 006-007-23, and 006-007-30.
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 meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 23, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The agenda is here.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The webinar ID is 984 3341 5169, the pass code is 845734.
Access the meeting via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,98433415169#,,,,*845734# or dial in at 669-900-6833.
The meeting also can be viewed on the county’s website or Facebook page.
At 9:20 a.m., the commission will hold a public hearing on a major use permit for Monte Cristo Vineyards LLC.
The project, located at 11230 and 11250 Cerrito Drive in Clearlake Oaks, proposes an outdoor canopy area of 958,320 square feet, or 22 acres.
Numerous letters against the project, which would be located next to a small neighborhood, have been submitted to the county, citing a wide range of concerns, including adequate water supply, public safety, traffic impacts, wildfire hazards and lack of outreach from the project owner, among other issues.
Neighbors also have submitted a petition to the county asking that the project’s major use permit not be approved.
A request for a continuance has been submitted for another project, Bottle Rock Farms, located at 900 and 10030 Bottle Rock Road, Kelseyville.
The full agenda follows.
AGENDA
Consideration of the adoption of Assembly Bill 361 findings authorizing teleconference meetings during a state of emergency.
Approval of minutes from the May 12, 2022, and May 26, 2022, Planning Commission meetings.
9:05 a.m.: Continued from April 28, 2022, request for continuance to July 14, 2022: Public hearing on consideration of major use permit (UP 19-42) and a mitigated negative declaration (19-61).: The applicant, Bottle Rock Farms FJA Trust is proposing two acres of medicinal commercial cannabis canopy area and two acres of adult-use commercial cannabis canopy, for a total of four acres of outdoor canopy area. The project includes one 4,750 square foot processing building and a 1,000 square foot immature plant area. The project is located at 9900 and 10030 Bottle Rock Road, Kelseyville, CA; and further described as APNs: 011-057-22 and 011-057-23.
9:10 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of major use permit (UP 20-47) and that a determination has been made that this project required a mitigated negative declaration to consider the adoption of an Initial Study IS 20-59. The applicant, Emerald Mountain Farms Inc. (Norman Grimm) is proposing two A-Type 3 outdoor cultivation licenses with a total canopy area of 68,562 square feet, and A-Type 13 distributor transport only, self-distribution. The proposed project is located at 1850 Ogulin Canyon Road, Clearlake, CA 95422; further described as APN’s: 010-053-03 and 010-011-01.
9:15 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of major use permit (UP 21-06) and that a determination has been made that this project required a mitigated negative declaration to consider the adoption of an and to adoption of an initial study (IS 21-06). The applicant, Akwaaba LLC is proposing a major use permit two A-Type 3 “medium outdoor” licenses with a total combined outdoor canopy area of 73,560 square feet, and an A-Type 2B “small mixed-light” license with a total combined mixed-light canopy area of 9,720 square feet. The project is located at 11795 North Drive, Clearlake Park, CA; further described as APN’s: 010-019-15 and 010-019-10.
9:20 a.m.: Public hearing on consideration of major use permit (UP 21-14) and that a determination has been made that this project required a mitigated negative declaration to consider the adoption of an initial study (IS 21-15). The applicant, Monte Cristo Vineyards LLC is requesting a major use permit for 22 A-Type 3 “medium outdoor” licenses, with a combined outdoor canopy area of 958,320 square feet. The project is located at 11230 and 11250 Cerrito Drive; Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423; further described as APN’s: 006-007-17, 006-007-23, and 006-007-30.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
In preparation for the upcoming wildfire season, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, has completed the transition to peak staffing across California and continues to report progress on key fuels reduction and forest health projects.
Peak staffing ensures all Cal Fire stations are open and staffed 24 hours per day; response capabilities are enhanced; all aircraft are prepositioned and staffed; and crews are staffed, trained, and working.
According to current estimates, Cal Fire has achieved 110,925 acres treated in preparation for the upcoming wildfire season, which exceeds its goal of treating 100,000 acres by 2025.
“Although conditions have varied geographically throughout the state, weather conditions, fuel loads, and the number of fire incidents have guided the Department’s thorough response and overall preparedness moving into the summer months,” said Chief Joe Tyler, Cal Fire director and fire chief. “Even as we ramp up our preparations for wildfires that are now occurring year-round, we continue to accelerate forest health and fire prevention projects throughout the state, launching more than 603 wildfire resilience projects from last year’s budget, ranging from fuel breaks to prescribed burns to fuel reduction.”
“California is taking aggressive action to protect communities and make our forests more resilient,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “There is much work to do, but in addition to our fire suppression efforts, we are laser-focused on scaling up investments and work to tackle this challenge head-on.”
Early augmentation funding, approved in partnership with the Legislature last year, has allowed Cal Fire to:
• Staff 136 engines in the northern region (an increase of 64) and 126 engines in the southern region, an increase of 16 (earlier than in years past);
• 12 exclusive-use aircraft are available statewide today, with four additional by July 1, which is on top of CAL FIRE’s existing aerial fleet of more than 62 aircraft;
• 16 additional hand crews are operational now as a result of the budget augmentation for fire prevention and emergency response.
Meanwhile, the data that has been validated so far show that Cal Fire and its grant recipients have conducted fuels treatment and fire prevention work on more than 110,900 acres in the 2020-2021 fiscal year, which exceeds its 2025 100,000-acre goal ahead of schedule.
Additional data continues to be reported to and validated by Cal Fire.
Cal Fire is not alone in this endeavor. It is one of 22 state departments implementing California’s $1.5 billion wildfire resilience program.
As of June 2022, within less than a year, the program has already committed $1.1 billion and has launched more than 833 projects, which includes the Cal Fire projects and funding. Many of these projects finished within a few months of receiving funding. For more information, refer to the Wildfire Resilience Program.
As Cal Fire has worked to increase fuels reduction efforts, it has directed significant efforts at increasing defensible space compliance, home hardening and forest health. All of these initiatives are critical components of Cal Fire’s wildfire resilience strategy.
Peak staffing ensures all Cal Fire stations are open and staffed 24 hours per day; response capabilities are enhanced; all aircraft are prepositioned and staffed; and crews are staffed, trained, and working.
According to current estimates, Cal Fire has achieved 110,925 acres treated in preparation for the upcoming wildfire season, which exceeds its goal of treating 100,000 acres by 2025.
“Although conditions have varied geographically throughout the state, weather conditions, fuel loads, and the number of fire incidents have guided the Department’s thorough response and overall preparedness moving into the summer months,” said Chief Joe Tyler, Cal Fire director and fire chief. “Even as we ramp up our preparations for wildfires that are now occurring year-round, we continue to accelerate forest health and fire prevention projects throughout the state, launching more than 603 wildfire resilience projects from last year’s budget, ranging from fuel breaks to prescribed burns to fuel reduction.”
“California is taking aggressive action to protect communities and make our forests more resilient,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “There is much work to do, but in addition to our fire suppression efforts, we are laser-focused on scaling up investments and work to tackle this challenge head-on.”
Early augmentation funding, approved in partnership with the Legislature last year, has allowed Cal Fire to:
• Staff 136 engines in the northern region (an increase of 64) and 126 engines in the southern region, an increase of 16 (earlier than in years past);
• 12 exclusive-use aircraft are available statewide today, with four additional by July 1, which is on top of CAL FIRE’s existing aerial fleet of more than 62 aircraft;
• 16 additional hand crews are operational now as a result of the budget augmentation for fire prevention and emergency response.
Meanwhile, the data that has been validated so far show that Cal Fire and its grant recipients have conducted fuels treatment and fire prevention work on more than 110,900 acres in the 2020-2021 fiscal year, which exceeds its 2025 100,000-acre goal ahead of schedule.
Additional data continues to be reported to and validated by Cal Fire.
Cal Fire is not alone in this endeavor. It is one of 22 state departments implementing California’s $1.5 billion wildfire resilience program.
As of June 2022, within less than a year, the program has already committed $1.1 billion and has launched more than 833 projects, which includes the Cal Fire projects and funding. Many of these projects finished within a few months of receiving funding. For more information, refer to the Wildfire Resilience Program.
As Cal Fire has worked to increase fuels reduction efforts, it has directed significant efforts at increasing defensible space compliance, home hardening and forest health. All of these initiatives are critical components of Cal Fire’s wildfire resilience strategy.
On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of senators, led by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), introduced the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05), who represents Lake County in the House of Representatives, said the bill will make a difference in addressing gun violence.
“The United States faces an epidemic of gun violence, between the constant mass shootings and the everyday gun violence that is not often covered by the media. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will do the most important thing any gun violence prevention bill will do: save lives,” Thompson said.
“While this bill does not go as far as the bills passed by the House, including my Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Protecting Our Kids Act, we must take progress wherever we can find it. This bill represents a significant step towards combating gun violence prevention and passing this bill will put measures in place to keep guns out of dangerous hands, invest in mental health resources and community violence intervention programs, fund school safety programs, enhance background checks for people under 21, and crack down on gun trafficking,” he said.
“As Congress considers this bill, I will never give up on other critical gun violence prevention priorities like background checks, nationwide red flag laws, safe storage provisions, and other policies which will save lives and are overwhelmingly supported by the American people,” he said.
Thompson added, “When the Senate passes this bill later this week, the House must be ready to expeditiously take it up and send it to President Biden’s desk to help save lives and keep our communities safe.”
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act provides:
Support for state crisis intervention orders (also known as red flag laws)
Creates a new $750 million funding pot that will be available to states for the creation and administration of laws that help ensure firearms are kept out of the hands of individuals that a court has determined to be a significant danger to themselves or others, and other purposes such as mental health courts, drug courts, veterans courts, and extreme risk protection orders that have sufficient due process.
Protections for victims of domestic violence
Adds convicted domestic violence abusers in dating relationships to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Creates a process for removal from NICS five years after the completion of the sentence, only if there are no intervening prohibited crimes or other similar offenses.
Clarified definition of ‘federally licensed firearms dealer’
Cracks down on criminals who illegally evade licensing requirements and clarifies which sellers need to register, conduct background checks, and keep appropriate records.
Under 21 enhanced review process
• Requires an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records, including checks with state databases and local law enforcement, for buyers under 21 years of age.
• NICS will have up to three business days to conduct the initial enhanced search. If that search reveals a possible disqualifying record, NICS will have an extended window of no more than 10 business days total to complete the investigation.
• Provides additional funding to the FBI to administer new process checks in NICS and grants to help states upgrade criminal and mental health records therein.
Penalties for ‘straw purchasing’
Creates federal straw purchasing and trafficking criminal offenses, allowing prosecutors to target dangerous illegal gunrunners.
Violence interruption funding
Provides $250 million in funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives.
Investment in children and family mental health services
• Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic: Expands the existing Medicaid CCBHC demonstration program to all states to increase access to community based behavioral health services.
• School-based mental health: Helps states to implement, enhance, and expand school-based health programs under Medicaid through updated guidance, technical assistance, and state planning grants.
• Gold standard in mental health coverage for children: Improves oversight of states’ implementation of Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit, the country’s gold standard in children’s health coverage, to strengthen children’s access to comprehensive mental health care services.
• Telemental health services for children: Requires CMS to provide guidance to states on how they can increase access to behavioral health services through telehealth under Medicaid and CHIP.
• Teleconsults for pediatricians and mental health specialists: Provides $80 million in grants to support pediatric primary care providers to rapidly access mental health specialists’ expertise in guiding the treatment of their patients.
• Training for pediatric providers: Appropriates $60 million over five years for training in mental health for primary care clinicians who treat children and youth.
• Community and first responder mental health training: Appropriates $120 million over four years to prepare and train community members and first responders on how to appropriately and safely respond to individuals with mental disorders.
• Support for states to expand mental health services: Provides $250 million for states, DC, and territories to enhance comprehensive community mental health services.
• Building awareness of and access to services for mental health: Appropriates $240 million over four years for programs that increase awareness of mental health issues among school-aged youth, provide training for school personnel and other adults who interact with school-aged youth to detect and respond to mental health issues, and connect school-aged youth who may have behavioral health issues and their families to needed services.
• School-based trauma support: Includes a set aside of $28 million for grants to support trauma care in school settings.
• Support after traumatic events: Appropriates $40 million over four years to improve treatment and services for children, adolescents, and families who have experienced traumatic events.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline/9-8-8: Appropriates $150 million to support implementation of the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that provides 24/7, free and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
Increased funding for schools
• School based mental health services and staff: Provides $500 million through the School Based Mental Health Services Grant Program to increase the number of qualified mental health service providers that provide school based mental health services to students in school districts with demonstrated need.
• Training and pipeline development for school based mental health staff: Provides $500 million in funding to the School Based Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Grant. This money will help train and diversify the pipeline of school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists.
• Improving conditions for student learning: Provides $1 billion in funding through Title IV-A to support a variety of activities to improve conditions for student learning, including developing positive school climates through evidence-based practices.
• Out of school programs: Provides $50 million in funding to the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which funds extracurricular, after school and summer programs, with a focus of new funding to target programs for older youth.
• School safety: Provides $300 million in funding through the STOP School Violence Act to institute safety measures in and around schools, support school violence prevention efforts and provide training to school personnel and students. Codifies the SchoolSafety.gov clearinghouse, which provides evidence-based resources to improve school safety. Prohibits use of funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to train or equip any person with dangerous weapons in schools.
Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05), who represents Lake County in the House of Representatives, said the bill will make a difference in addressing gun violence.
“The United States faces an epidemic of gun violence, between the constant mass shootings and the everyday gun violence that is not often covered by the media. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will do the most important thing any gun violence prevention bill will do: save lives,” Thompson said.
“While this bill does not go as far as the bills passed by the House, including my Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Protecting Our Kids Act, we must take progress wherever we can find it. This bill represents a significant step towards combating gun violence prevention and passing this bill will put measures in place to keep guns out of dangerous hands, invest in mental health resources and community violence intervention programs, fund school safety programs, enhance background checks for people under 21, and crack down on gun trafficking,” he said.
“As Congress considers this bill, I will never give up on other critical gun violence prevention priorities like background checks, nationwide red flag laws, safe storage provisions, and other policies which will save lives and are overwhelmingly supported by the American people,” he said.
Thompson added, “When the Senate passes this bill later this week, the House must be ready to expeditiously take it up and send it to President Biden’s desk to help save lives and keep our communities safe.”
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act provides:
Support for state crisis intervention orders (also known as red flag laws)
Creates a new $750 million funding pot that will be available to states for the creation and administration of laws that help ensure firearms are kept out of the hands of individuals that a court has determined to be a significant danger to themselves or others, and other purposes such as mental health courts, drug courts, veterans courts, and extreme risk protection orders that have sufficient due process.
Protections for victims of domestic violence
Adds convicted domestic violence abusers in dating relationships to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Creates a process for removal from NICS five years after the completion of the sentence, only if there are no intervening prohibited crimes or other similar offenses.
Clarified definition of ‘federally licensed firearms dealer’
Cracks down on criminals who illegally evade licensing requirements and clarifies which sellers need to register, conduct background checks, and keep appropriate records.
Under 21 enhanced review process
• Requires an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records, including checks with state databases and local law enforcement, for buyers under 21 years of age.
• NICS will have up to three business days to conduct the initial enhanced search. If that search reveals a possible disqualifying record, NICS will have an extended window of no more than 10 business days total to complete the investigation.
• Provides additional funding to the FBI to administer new process checks in NICS and grants to help states upgrade criminal and mental health records therein.
Penalties for ‘straw purchasing’
Creates federal straw purchasing and trafficking criminal offenses, allowing prosecutors to target dangerous illegal gunrunners.
Violence interruption funding
Provides $250 million in funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives.
Investment in children and family mental health services
• Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic: Expands the existing Medicaid CCBHC demonstration program to all states to increase access to community based behavioral health services.
• School-based mental health: Helps states to implement, enhance, and expand school-based health programs under Medicaid through updated guidance, technical assistance, and state planning grants.
• Gold standard in mental health coverage for children: Improves oversight of states’ implementation of Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit, the country’s gold standard in children’s health coverage, to strengthen children’s access to comprehensive mental health care services.
• Telemental health services for children: Requires CMS to provide guidance to states on how they can increase access to behavioral health services through telehealth under Medicaid and CHIP.
• Teleconsults for pediatricians and mental health specialists: Provides $80 million in grants to support pediatric primary care providers to rapidly access mental health specialists’ expertise in guiding the treatment of their patients.
• Training for pediatric providers: Appropriates $60 million over five years for training in mental health for primary care clinicians who treat children and youth.
• Community and first responder mental health training: Appropriates $120 million over four years to prepare and train community members and first responders on how to appropriately and safely respond to individuals with mental disorders.
• Support for states to expand mental health services: Provides $250 million for states, DC, and territories to enhance comprehensive community mental health services.
• Building awareness of and access to services for mental health: Appropriates $240 million over four years for programs that increase awareness of mental health issues among school-aged youth, provide training for school personnel and other adults who interact with school-aged youth to detect and respond to mental health issues, and connect school-aged youth who may have behavioral health issues and their families to needed services.
• School-based trauma support: Includes a set aside of $28 million for grants to support trauma care in school settings.
• Support after traumatic events: Appropriates $40 million over four years to improve treatment and services for children, adolescents, and families who have experienced traumatic events.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline/9-8-8: Appropriates $150 million to support implementation of the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that provides 24/7, free and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
Increased funding for schools
• School based mental health services and staff: Provides $500 million through the School Based Mental Health Services Grant Program to increase the number of qualified mental health service providers that provide school based mental health services to students in school districts with demonstrated need.
• Training and pipeline development for school based mental health staff: Provides $500 million in funding to the School Based Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Grant. This money will help train and diversify the pipeline of school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists.
• Improving conditions for student learning: Provides $1 billion in funding through Title IV-A to support a variety of activities to improve conditions for student learning, including developing positive school climates through evidence-based practices.
• Out of school programs: Provides $50 million in funding to the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which funds extracurricular, after school and summer programs, with a focus of new funding to target programs for older youth.
• School safety: Provides $300 million in funding through the STOP School Violence Act to institute safety measures in and around schools, support school violence prevention efforts and provide training to school personnel and students. Codifies the SchoolSafety.gov clearinghouse, which provides evidence-based resources to improve school safety. Prohibits use of funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to train or equip any person with dangerous weapons in schools.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council last week approved another ambitious and larger-than-normal fiscal year budget that includes the creation of a new division to organize and drive events in the community.
Finance Director Kelcey Young said the new recreation and events division will be under the city’s Administrative Services Department.
The city’s goal is that the new division will be self-funded within two years. The initial startup costs will be covered in part by the general fund, with additional grant funds and event sponsorship, Young said.
She said the division will oversee concerts in the park, the city’s popular soap box derby, youth activities and holiday events.
City Clerk-Administrative Services Director Melissa Swanson told Lake County News that while there was a reference in city records to a recreation division in the city in the early 1990s, she believes the new division is “definitely something new, especially for what we have planned.”
Swanson told the council on Thursday that the new division’s goals include enhancing the quality of life for city residents, creating a happy and healthy community, connecting through art and culture, engaging with people of all ages, abilities, cultures and interests, and promoting Clearlake’s unique identity and community cohesion.
She said the division supports the council’s strategic goals of improving the quality of life in Clearlake with improved public facilities, improving the city’s image, ensuring the fiscal sustainability of the city and supporting economic development.
Swanson said creating the division includes several milestones in the first year, including the adoption of the 2022-23 budget and division creation — which the council did later on Thursday — and in September, the creation of policies and procedures, partner agreements and memorandums of understanding, community engagement and an impact fee study.
Other milestones include evaluating events and programs for 2023-24, council adoption of the impact fee, sponsorships and grants, and fundraising opportunities to be determined by December, and in March a new spring break camp, creation of the 2023-24 program book and expanding community engagement.
Swanson said there isn’t time to do a summer camp for this year, but the city wants to plan them for future years. In the meantime, they want to do the April spring break camp.
She said that if the division is successful, the city will need to increase staffing. They also want to prepare for the recreation center that the city will build.
Program goals include bringing youth and sports programs to the city, along with performing and cultural arts, and therapeutic recreation geared toward those who are differently abled, Swanson said.
Swanson said the division’s first year would include youth programs such as the spring break camp and a partnership with Konocti Unified School District, and for adults, a cornhole tournament and low-impact exercise programs at Austin Park and the senior community center.
Year one events will include the summer concert series, the soap box derby car workshop, movies in the park, the soap box derby, trunk or treat/movies in the park/City Hall-oween, breakfast with Santa, the Christmas parade, Bunny Brunch and Earth Day clean up.
Swanson said the city is working on partnership and sponsorship opportunities with Konocti Unified, PEG TV, the Rotary Club of Clear Lake, the Highlands Senior Service Center, and nonprofits and businesses.
Mayor Dirk Slooten said he saw collaboration opportunities with Adventist Health and Woodland Community College, noting that the Clearlake Planning Commission was part of the process of creating the idea.
Swanson said the city has reached out to Adventist Health and is working to solidify a partnership.
As part of its Thursday meeting, the council also approved new personnel classifications, including that of the new recreation and events coordinator.
The coordinator will assist in creating recreation programs for all ages, oversee city-owned facilities and properties, and organize city-sponsored events and assist the community with the process of using city facilities for special events, Swanson reported. The salary range is $4,194.53 to $5,098.48.
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.
Finance Director Kelcey Young said the new recreation and events division will be under the city’s Administrative Services Department.
The city’s goal is that the new division will be self-funded within two years. The initial startup costs will be covered in part by the general fund, with additional grant funds and event sponsorship, Young said.
She said the division will oversee concerts in the park, the city’s popular soap box derby, youth activities and holiday events.
City Clerk-Administrative Services Director Melissa Swanson told Lake County News that while there was a reference in city records to a recreation division in the city in the early 1990s, she believes the new division is “definitely something new, especially for what we have planned.”
Swanson told the council on Thursday that the new division’s goals include enhancing the quality of life for city residents, creating a happy and healthy community, connecting through art and culture, engaging with people of all ages, abilities, cultures and interests, and promoting Clearlake’s unique identity and community cohesion.
She said the division supports the council’s strategic goals of improving the quality of life in Clearlake with improved public facilities, improving the city’s image, ensuring the fiscal sustainability of the city and supporting economic development.
Swanson said creating the division includes several milestones in the first year, including the adoption of the 2022-23 budget and division creation — which the council did later on Thursday — and in September, the creation of policies and procedures, partner agreements and memorandums of understanding, community engagement and an impact fee study.
Other milestones include evaluating events and programs for 2023-24, council adoption of the impact fee, sponsorships and grants, and fundraising opportunities to be determined by December, and in March a new spring break camp, creation of the 2023-24 program book and expanding community engagement.
Swanson said there isn’t time to do a summer camp for this year, but the city wants to plan them for future years. In the meantime, they want to do the April spring break camp.
She said that if the division is successful, the city will need to increase staffing. They also want to prepare for the recreation center that the city will build.
Program goals include bringing youth and sports programs to the city, along with performing and cultural arts, and therapeutic recreation geared toward those who are differently abled, Swanson said.
Swanson said the division’s first year would include youth programs such as the spring break camp and a partnership with Konocti Unified School District, and for adults, a cornhole tournament and low-impact exercise programs at Austin Park and the senior community center.
Year one events will include the summer concert series, the soap box derby car workshop, movies in the park, the soap box derby, trunk or treat/movies in the park/City Hall-oween, breakfast with Santa, the Christmas parade, Bunny Brunch and Earth Day clean up.
Swanson said the city is working on partnership and sponsorship opportunities with Konocti Unified, PEG TV, the Rotary Club of Clear Lake, the Highlands Senior Service Center, and nonprofits and businesses.
Mayor Dirk Slooten said he saw collaboration opportunities with Adventist Health and Woodland Community College, noting that the Clearlake Planning Commission was part of the process of creating the idea.
Swanson said the city has reached out to Adventist Health and is working to solidify a partnership.
As part of its Thursday meeting, the council also approved new personnel classifications, including that of the new recreation and events coordinator.
The coordinator will assist in creating recreation programs for all ages, oversee city-owned facilities and properties, and organize city-sponsored events and assist the community with the process of using city facilities for special events, Swanson reported. The salary range is $4,194.53 to $5,098.48.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — After several cool days, Lake County will see temperatures nearing the century mark through the weekend.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for a large swath of Northern California, including several of Lake’s neighboring counties, due to a forecast of temperatures closing in on 110 degrees over the next several days.
However, as of Monday, Lake County wasn’t included in that advisory area, as temperatures for the coming week are forecast to top out in the high 90s.
The forecast said the heat risk will climb to near heat advisory levels across portions of Lake County on Tuesday and Wednesday, but advisory issuance wasn’t anticipated as of Monday.
The National Weather Service synopsis on the long term forecast said high pressure building across Northern California is responsible for the increasingly hot interior temperatures anticipated through mid-week.
The Lake County forecast calls for daytime highs topping out in the mid to high 90s through Sunday, with nighttime temperatures into the low 60s.
Calm winds also are expected from Tuesday evening through Thursday evening.
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 National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for a large swath of Northern California, including several of Lake’s neighboring counties, due to a forecast of temperatures closing in on 110 degrees over the next several days.
However, as of Monday, Lake County wasn’t included in that advisory area, as temperatures for the coming week are forecast to top out in the high 90s.
The forecast said the heat risk will climb to near heat advisory levels across portions of Lake County on Tuesday and Wednesday, but advisory issuance wasn’t anticipated as of Monday.
The National Weather Service synopsis on the long term forecast said high pressure building across Northern California is responsible for the increasingly hot interior temperatures anticipated through mid-week.
The Lake County forecast calls for daytime highs topping out in the mid to high 90s through Sunday, with nighttime temperatures into the low 60s.
Calm winds also are expected from Tuesday evening through Thursday evening.
Email Elizabeth Larson at