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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control said Monday that it is putting some of its programs temporarily on hold until further notice.
The agency said the decision specifically involves its community cat program and vaccination clinics.
“We'd like to thank the community for their understanding during this time,” Lake County Animal Care and Control said in a Facebook announcement.
Asked about the reasons for the decision, Lake County Animal Care and Control Director Jonathan Armas responded in an email, “I currently cannot comment on the situation placing the specified services on hold. I will provide an update as soon as possible.”
Armas added, “We are currently working to resume services as soon as possible. VIP Pet Care still provides vaccinations on a rotating schedule throughout the county. Spay/Neuter services are still offered at all local vet offices and the SPCA of Lake County has limited services as well.”
SPCA of Lake County provides spay/neuter and vaccination clinics. Visit the organization’s website for more information.
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 agency said the decision specifically involves its community cat program and vaccination clinics.
“We'd like to thank the community for their understanding during this time,” Lake County Animal Care and Control said in a Facebook announcement.
Asked about the reasons for the decision, Lake County Animal Care and Control Director Jonathan Armas responded in an email, “I currently cannot comment on the situation placing the specified services on hold. I will provide an update as soon as possible.”
Armas added, “We are currently working to resume services as soon as possible. VIP Pet Care still provides vaccinations on a rotating schedule throughout the county. Spay/Neuter services are still offered at all local vet offices and the SPCA of Lake County has limited services as well.”
SPCA of Lake County provides spay/neuter and vaccination clinics. Visit the organization’s website for more information.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a budget proposal to establish a $100 million funding opportunity to strengthen partnerships with California Native American tribes to achieve the state’s ambitious climate and conservation goals.
The proposed funding would support tribal initiatives that advance shared climate and biodiversity goals including research, development and implementation of traditional knowledge; workforce training, capacity building and technical support; and tribal nature-based climate conservation programs, among others.
“Too often, California Native American tribal communities are overlooked and suffer many of the worst impacts of climate change,” said Gov. Newsom. “The California way is not to hide from our past, but to embrace it with a commitment to build upon our values of inclusiveness and equity for everyone who calls this state home.”
The proposal has garnered praise from Assemblyman James C. Ramos (D-Highland), the first and only California Native American serving in the state’s Legislature.
“California has a tremendous amount of work ahead of us to meet our ambitious climate goals,” Ramos said. “Tribes have a connection to the land and have safeguarded the land for centuries. It makes sense to tap into valuable tribal knowledge for land and natural resource restoration. I applaud the governor’s announcement.”
In 2020, Gov. Newsom called for accelerated use of nature-based solutions to combat the climate crisis through Executive Order N-82-20.
The order called for a cohesive strategy to improve management of the state’s diverse landscapes to protect climate-vulnerable communities, safeguard biodiversity, achieve carbon neutrality, improve public health and safety, and expand economic opportunity.
Two major initiatives were launched as part of this strategy, a major new conservation goal and a first-ever strategy to expand climate-smart land management.
The state committed to conserve 30% of state lands and coastal waters by 2030, becoming a leader in an international effort referred to as “30X30.”
During public workshops for these initiatives, it was clear that California Native American tribes offered significant solutions and a willingness to partner with the state.
State agencies are finalizing a Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy that will identify the state’s priorities for managing our landscapes to meet California's ambitious climate goals.
“We heard loud and clear in our consultations with more than 70 different California Native American tribes a strong desire from tribal governments to play a leading role in restoration and conservation efforts that benefit Tribal communities and honor their connections to the lands and waters,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “Tribes also identified a need for capacity building resources to participate more centrally in California’s conservation and climate efforts. This proposed funding can make that collaboration possible.”
Under the Governor’s budget proposal, the California Natural Resources Agency, or CNRA, would manage the new tribal funding commitment.
Already this year in related programs, CNRA and its entities have awarded funds to tribes for a wide variety of projects including: The Ocean Protection Council through their Prop. 1 grant program funded $1,276,951 to the Wiyot Tribe for the purchase of 48 acres and restoration of their ancestral land that will also strengthen coastal resiliency in the Humboldt coastline.
And $772,602 in youth access grant funds to the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians and the Wiyot Tribe.
Gov. Newsom acknowledged that California Native peoples have lived interdependently with, and stewarded this environment since time immemorial, and that the state has a role in the violent disruption of that relationship.
“As we have heard over the last few days, removing California Native people and practices from the places they have lived and thrived in since time immemorial has had far-reaching negative impacts, including many of the climate challenges we are currently experiencing,” said Governor's Tribal Advisor Christina Snider. “This proposal, which anticipates a tribally-led and informed process, is a step in the right direction to begin to honor what California Native peoples have been through and respectfully defer to tribal communities as the first people of this place.”
By collaborating with tribes, state officials said they will be able to incorporate solutions driven by the first peoples of this state to build a more resilient, equitable, and thriving future for all Californians.
The proposed funding would support tribal initiatives that advance shared climate and biodiversity goals including research, development and implementation of traditional knowledge; workforce training, capacity building and technical support; and tribal nature-based climate conservation programs, among others.
“Too often, California Native American tribal communities are overlooked and suffer many of the worst impacts of climate change,” said Gov. Newsom. “The California way is not to hide from our past, but to embrace it with a commitment to build upon our values of inclusiveness and equity for everyone who calls this state home.”
The proposal has garnered praise from Assemblyman James C. Ramos (D-Highland), the first and only California Native American serving in the state’s Legislature.
“California has a tremendous amount of work ahead of us to meet our ambitious climate goals,” Ramos said. “Tribes have a connection to the land and have safeguarded the land for centuries. It makes sense to tap into valuable tribal knowledge for land and natural resource restoration. I applaud the governor’s announcement.”
In 2020, Gov. Newsom called for accelerated use of nature-based solutions to combat the climate crisis through Executive Order N-82-20.
The order called for a cohesive strategy to improve management of the state’s diverse landscapes to protect climate-vulnerable communities, safeguard biodiversity, achieve carbon neutrality, improve public health and safety, and expand economic opportunity.
Two major initiatives were launched as part of this strategy, a major new conservation goal and a first-ever strategy to expand climate-smart land management.
The state committed to conserve 30% of state lands and coastal waters by 2030, becoming a leader in an international effort referred to as “30X30.”
During public workshops for these initiatives, it was clear that California Native American tribes offered significant solutions and a willingness to partner with the state.
State agencies are finalizing a Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy that will identify the state’s priorities for managing our landscapes to meet California's ambitious climate goals.
“We heard loud and clear in our consultations with more than 70 different California Native American tribes a strong desire from tribal governments to play a leading role in restoration and conservation efforts that benefit Tribal communities and honor their connections to the lands and waters,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “Tribes also identified a need for capacity building resources to participate more centrally in California’s conservation and climate efforts. This proposed funding can make that collaboration possible.”
Under the Governor’s budget proposal, the California Natural Resources Agency, or CNRA, would manage the new tribal funding commitment.
Already this year in related programs, CNRA and its entities have awarded funds to tribes for a wide variety of projects including: The Ocean Protection Council through their Prop. 1 grant program funded $1,276,951 to the Wiyot Tribe for the purchase of 48 acres and restoration of their ancestral land that will also strengthen coastal resiliency in the Humboldt coastline.
And $772,602 in youth access grant funds to the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians and the Wiyot Tribe.
Gov. Newsom acknowledged that California Native peoples have lived interdependently with, and stewarded this environment since time immemorial, and that the state has a role in the violent disruption of that relationship.
“As we have heard over the last few days, removing California Native people and practices from the places they have lived and thrived in since time immemorial has had far-reaching negative impacts, including many of the climate challenges we are currently experiencing,” said Governor's Tribal Advisor Christina Snider. “This proposal, which anticipates a tribally-led and informed process, is a step in the right direction to begin to honor what California Native peoples have been through and respectfully defer to tribal communities as the first people of this place.”
By collaborating with tribes, state officials said they will be able to incorporate solutions driven by the first peoples of this state to build a more resilient, equitable, and thriving future for all Californians.
Some people are gifted with genes that pack the benefits of slumber into an efficient time window, keeping them peppy on only four or six hours of sleep a night, according to researchers at UC San Francisco.
In addition, the scientists said, these “elite sleepers” show psychological resilience and resistance to neurodegenerative conditions that may point the way to fending off neurological disease.
“There’s a dogma in the field that everyone needs eight hours of sleep, but our work to date confirms that the amount of sleep people need differs based on genetics,” said neurologist Louis Ptacek, MD, one of the senior authors on the study, which appears in iScience on March 15. “Think of it as analogous to height; there’s no perfect amount of height, each person is different. We’ve shown that the case is similar for sleep.”
For over a decade, Ptacek and co-senior author, Ying-Hui Fu, PhD, both members of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, have been studying people with Familial Natural Short Sleep, or FNSS, the ability to function fully on – and have a preference for – four to six hours of sleep a night.
They’ve shown that it runs in families and, thus far, have identified five genes across the genome that play a role in enabling this efficient sleep. There are still many more FNSS genes to find, the researchers said.
This study tested Fu’s hypothesis that elite sleep can be a shield against neurodegenerative disease. Her ideas contrast somewhat with current thinking that, for many people, lack of sleep can accelerate neurodegeneration.
The difference, Fu said, is that with FNSS, the brain accomplishes its sleep tasks in a shorter time. In other words, less time spent efficiently sleeping may not equate to a lack of sleep.
The team chose to look at mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease because that condition is so prevalent, said Fu. They bred mice that had both short-sleep genes and genes that predisposed them to Alzheimer’s and found that their brains developed much less of the hallmark aggregates associated with dementia.
To confirm their findings, they repeated the experiment using mice with a different short-sleep gene and another dementia gene and saw similar results.
Fu and Ptacek believe that similar investigations of other brain conditions would show the efficient-sleep genes conferring comparable protections. Improving peoples’ sleep could delay progression of disease across a whole spectrum of conditions, they said.
There’s a dogma in the field that everyone needs eight hours of sleep, but our work to date confirms that the amount of sleep people need differs based on genetics.
“Sleep problems are common in all diseases of the brain,” she said. “This makes sense because sleep is a complex activity. Many parts of your brain have to work together for you to fall asleep and to wake up. When these parts of the brain are damaged, it makes it harder to sleep or get quality sleep.”
Understanding the biological underpinnings of sleep regulation could identify drugs that will help ward off problems with sleep disorders. In addition, improving sleep in healthy people may sustain wellbeing and improve the quality of time we each have, the researchers said. But pursuing the many genes involved is a long game that they liken to putting together a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle.
“Every mutation we find is another piece,” said Ptacek. “Right now we’re working on the edges and the corners, to get to that place where it’s easier to put the pieces together and where the picture really starts to emerge.“
Despite the long road ahead, there’s already promise in some of the few genes they’ve identified. At least one of them can be targeted with existing drugs that might be repurposed. Their hope is that within the next decade, they’ll have helped facilitate new treatments that allow people with brain disorders to get a better night’s rest.
“This work opens the door to a new understanding of how to delay and possibly prevent a lot of diseases,” said Fu. “Our goal really is to help everyone live healthier and longer through getting optimum sleep.”
Authors: Additional authors on the study include Qing Dong, Nicholas W Gentry, Thomas McMahon, Maya Yamazaki, Lorena Benitez-Rivera, and Tammy Wang, all of UCSF and Li Gan of Weill Cornell Medicine.
Funding: This work was supported by NIH grants NS117929, NS072360 and NS104782 and the William Bowes Neurogenetics Fund.
Robin Marks writes for the University of California San Francisco.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Fire Protection District responded to two structure fires on Sunday, one of which is under investigation due to it resulting in a fatality.
Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White said the fatal fire occurred at Leisure Time Mobile Home Park.
He said it looked like a kitchen fire that got out of control.
A 72-year-old man died in the fire, White said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that next of kin had not yet been identified, so the man’s name could not be released.
Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta said the Leisure Time fire was dispatched at 10:14 a.m. Sunday in a fifth wheel trailer that was being used as a residence.
“We were on scene fairly quick,” he said.
During the fire’s dispatch, Sapeta said a possible entrapment was reported.
Firefighters arrived on scene and quickly knocked down the fire before finding the victim who had died inside, Sapeta said.
Sapeta said the fire was contained to the RV where it started.
He said the investigation is pending and not expected to be completed until later this week.
On Sunday evening, a fire was reported at a residence in the 3200 block of Old Highway 53 in Clearlake, Sapeta said.
He said the home’s residents had left hot ashes from the barbecue on the porch.
The fire did a fair amount of damage to the porch, and Sapeta said firefighters had to pull down half the ceiling to get to the rafters, where the fire had been burning for awhile.
Overall, Sapeta called it a “pretty amazing save,” with the structure not destroyed.
While earlier in the day there had been some tragedy, firefighters got a big win not just in saving the home in the second incident but helping to protect both the human inhabitants and their pets.
The home’s residents included two beautiful Rottweilers who Sapeta said were probably the friendliest dogs he’s met, and one of those dogs’ three puppies.
“All the puppies were saved with no resuscitation needed,” said Sapeta, noting the healthy Rottweiler-pit bull mix pups look like they’re going to grow up big — they already have paws the size of cupcakes.
Up until this weekend, the district hadn’t seen much fire action recently, Sapeta said. “It’s been quiet for us for almost three weeks.”
On Monday the district also responded as mutual aid to Clearlake Oaks for an RV fire that extended into a structure on Beryl Way, Sapeta said.
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.
Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White said the fatal fire occurred at Leisure Time Mobile Home Park.
He said it looked like a kitchen fire that got out of control.
A 72-year-old man died in the fire, White said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that next of kin had not yet been identified, so the man’s name could not be released.
Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta said the Leisure Time fire was dispatched at 10:14 a.m. Sunday in a fifth wheel trailer that was being used as a residence.
“We were on scene fairly quick,” he said.
During the fire’s dispatch, Sapeta said a possible entrapment was reported.
Firefighters arrived on scene and quickly knocked down the fire before finding the victim who had died inside, Sapeta said.
Sapeta said the fire was contained to the RV where it started.
He said the investigation is pending and not expected to be completed until later this week.
On Sunday evening, a fire was reported at a residence in the 3200 block of Old Highway 53 in Clearlake, Sapeta said.
He said the home’s residents had left hot ashes from the barbecue on the porch.
The fire did a fair amount of damage to the porch, and Sapeta said firefighters had to pull down half the ceiling to get to the rafters, where the fire had been burning for awhile.
Overall, Sapeta called it a “pretty amazing save,” with the structure not destroyed.
While earlier in the day there had been some tragedy, firefighters got a big win not just in saving the home in the second incident but helping to protect both the human inhabitants and their pets.
The home’s residents included two beautiful Rottweilers who Sapeta said were probably the friendliest dogs he’s met, and one of those dogs’ three puppies.
“All the puppies were saved with no resuscitation needed,” said Sapeta, noting the healthy Rottweiler-pit bull mix pups look like they’re going to grow up big — they already have paws the size of cupcakes.
Up until this weekend, the district hadn’t seen much fire action recently, Sapeta said. “It’s been quiet for us for almost three weeks.”
On Monday the district also responded as mutual aid to Clearlake Oaks for an RV fire that extended into a structure on Beryl Way, Sapeta said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors will take up the topic of recruiting a new administrative officer when it meets this week.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 22, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 989 1903 5810, pass code 995795. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,98919035810#,,,,*995795#.
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.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a recruitment strategy for county administrative officers.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson announced on Thursday that she will resign, effective April 29.
Huchingson said she is retiring after six years in the job.
In a new and untimed item, Animal Care and Control will introduce the pet of the week.
The board on Tuesday also will present a proclamation at 9:07 a.m. designating the month of March 2022 as March for Meals Month.
At 9:15 a.m., the board will host the presentation of the Employee Service Awards.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve the nomination of Supervisor Sabatier to serve on the Economic Mobility Leadership Network.
5.2: Approve revisions to Exhibit A of the Uniform and Clothing Purchase Policy.
5.3: Adopt proclamation designating March 22, 2022, as National Agriculture Day.
5.4: Approve Amendment No.1 to the FY 2021-22 agreement between county of Lake and Ever Well Health Systems for a new contract maximum of $101,700.00 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.5: Approve the extended use of county juvenile hall facility for a temporary support shelter targeting Lake County’s chronically homeless population through June 30, 2022.
5.6: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for March 1 and 11, 2022.
5.7: Approve continuation of resolution authorizing teleconference meetings during a state of emergency that continues to exist.
5.8: Adopt resolution approving the Amendment 2 to Agreement No. 18G30117 between the secretary of state and the county of Lake for voting systems replacement funds.
5.9: Approve Continuation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer for the Cache fire.
5.10: Approve continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.11: Approve continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transport, and disposal of fire debris for the LNU Complex wildfire.
5.12: Approve continuation of a local emergency in Lake County in response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.13: Approve continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.14: Approve continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions not available.
5.15: Approve continuation of a local emergency by the Lake County sheriff/OES director for the Cache fire.
5.16: Approve the purchase of two sport utility vehicles, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order through the statewide bid contract to Downtown Ford in the amount of $66,598.16.
5.17: Approve a purchase order for the purchase of a bottom dump trailer for county road maintenance in the amount of $64,954.75, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase order.
5.18: Authorize the chairman to sign the FY21 Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant certifications and assurances and financial capability questionnaire.
5.19: Adopt proclamation designating the month of March 2022 as March for Meals Month.
TIMED ITEMS
6.3, 9:07 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating March 22, 2022, as National Agriculture Day.
6.4, 9:08 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of March 2022 as March for Meals Month.
6.5, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation of Employee Service Awards.
6.6, 9:30 a.m.: Hearing on account and proposed assessment for 11450 E State Hwy 20, Clearlake Oaks.
UNTIMED ITEMS
Pet of the Week.
7.2: Consideration of recruitment strategy for county administrative officer.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluation: Social Services Department Director Crystal Markytan.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: Registrar of Voters Maria Valadez.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 22, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 989 1903 5810, pass code 995795. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,98919035810#,,,,*995795#.
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.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a recruitment strategy for county administrative officers.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson announced on Thursday that she will resign, effective April 29.
Huchingson said she is retiring after six years in the job.
In a new and untimed item, Animal Care and Control will introduce the pet of the week.
The board on Tuesday also will present a proclamation at 9:07 a.m. designating the month of March 2022 as March for Meals Month.
At 9:15 a.m., the board will host the presentation of the Employee Service Awards.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve the nomination of Supervisor Sabatier to serve on the Economic Mobility Leadership Network.
5.2: Approve revisions to Exhibit A of the Uniform and Clothing Purchase Policy.
5.3: Adopt proclamation designating March 22, 2022, as National Agriculture Day.
5.4: Approve Amendment No.1 to the FY 2021-22 agreement between county of Lake and Ever Well Health Systems for a new contract maximum of $101,700.00 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.5: Approve the extended use of county juvenile hall facility for a temporary support shelter targeting Lake County’s chronically homeless population through June 30, 2022.
5.6: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for March 1 and 11, 2022.
5.7: Approve continuation of resolution authorizing teleconference meetings during a state of emergency that continues to exist.
5.8: Adopt resolution approving the Amendment 2 to Agreement No. 18G30117 between the secretary of state and the county of Lake for voting systems replacement funds.
5.9: Approve Continuation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer for the Cache fire.
5.10: Approve continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.11: Approve continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transport, and disposal of fire debris for the LNU Complex wildfire.
5.12: Approve continuation of a local emergency in Lake County in response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.13: Approve continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.14: Approve continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions not available.
5.15: Approve continuation of a local emergency by the Lake County sheriff/OES director for the Cache fire.
5.16: Approve the purchase of two sport utility vehicles, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order through the statewide bid contract to Downtown Ford in the amount of $66,598.16.
5.17: Approve a purchase order for the purchase of a bottom dump trailer for county road maintenance in the amount of $64,954.75, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase order.
5.18: Authorize the chairman to sign the FY21 Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant certifications and assurances and financial capability questionnaire.
5.19: Adopt proclamation designating the month of March 2022 as March for Meals Month.
TIMED ITEMS
6.3, 9:07 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating March 22, 2022, as National Agriculture Day.
6.4, 9:08 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of March 2022 as March for Meals Month.
6.5, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation of Employee Service Awards.
6.6, 9:30 a.m.: Hearing on account and proposed assessment for 11450 E State Hwy 20, Clearlake Oaks.
UNTIMED ITEMS
Pet of the Week.
7.2: Consideration of recruitment strategy for county administrative officer.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluation: Social Services Department Director Crystal Markytan.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: Registrar of Voters Maria Valadez.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Bruno Sabatier is running for a second term as District 2 supervisor for the county of Lake.
The Lake County Registrar of Voters confirmed that Sabatier will run for his second term unopposed.
The election will be held on June 7, as part of the statewide primary.
Between 2015 and 2018, Sabatier served as a Clearlake City Council member, helping Clearlake progress on many of its issues.
During his first term, beginning in 2019, he said he has continued those efforts as a member of the Board of Supervisors by utilizing the strategies and successes that he has learned along the way.
He has not only represented District 2, but he said he continues to collaborate in order to provide and support initiatives in other districts as well.
The past four years have not come without its obstacles to overcome. Cannabis, COVID, drought, and a decrease in consequences toward petty crimes have been some of the major obstacles to deal with, he said.
Sabatier said he works to tackle problems head on and provides information to better understand the problem while also providing solutions on how to resolve or break through these obstacles.
For cannabis, Sabatier said he not only provided greater support for expanding the industry’s footprint within the county, but he also drafted resolutions enhancing the environmental review and neighbor notification process before obtaining an early activation.
In 2020, after reviewing the applications being processed and noticing their infringement on traditional and historical ag areas, he drafted the Farmland Protection Zone banning outdoor cannabis from the areas and clarifying future traditional farmland protections.
Following the rules set up for the industry is important to him as well, as he said he has worked with staff to shut down a couple of legal operations in his own district that were not in compliance after receiving complaints from the community.
Due to the drought and the increased number of water trucks, especially related to cannabis farms both legal and illegal, Sabatier drafted a resolution making water haulers accountable for delivering water illegally to any cannabis grows.
He also drafted a resolution requiring that all projects going before the Planning Commission provide a hydrology report considering the cumulative impacts to neighboring properties and that all applicants provide a proposed drought management plan for their projects.
During the onset of COVID-19, many Lake County businesses were forced to close. Sabatier drafted many letters for the board’s approval to send to the Governor’s Office requesting that businesses be released from the closures set in place.
When state contracts, assisting the county with COVID mitigation, were not forthcoming or were being breached, Sabatier said he reached out to the state and advocated for the resources that Lake County needed, eventually receiving what Lake County was promised during the pandemic.
With state criminal law reducing the convictions and consequences for petty crime, Sabatier said it has become apparent to him that code enforcement could provide assistance in cleaning up our communities where law enforcement’s capabilities had been reduced.
He has advocated for increased code enforcement staffing throughout his first term and proposed the Road Map Task Force in February 2021.
The task force was approved by the board and provided a $1 million budget to clean up the Clearlake Oaks area in District 3. Ensuring a safe and clean environment in our communities is paramount to Sabatier’s agenda for a better tomorrow.
Sabatier said he works with other supervisors to enable success. The Road Map Task Force is one example of wanting to see the county succeed in other areas, not just District 2.
With two dedicated law enforcement and two dedicated code enforcement officers, the quality of life in Clearlake Oaks has the potential to increase with efforts being made to entice investors to come and invest in vacant commercial lots and develop more opportunities for jobs and economic growth.
In District 4, he proposed to meet with Supervisor Tina Scott and other department heads to discuss the former juvenile hall facility being transitioned into an emergency homeless shelter. He said the new Elijah House has been critical to the county’s pandemic response with many who were homeless now having transitioned out of the shelter and into their own homes.
While providing support in other districts, Sabatier said his true passion still lies with the city of Clearlake, and he continues to enjoy strong relationships with the current council and city staff.
He is working with county groups such as the Rural Arts Initiative to bring in new murals and art sculptures in the city, and the Bureau of Land Management and Cal Fire to help protect the city from future fires.
Sabatier said he is always looking for ways to compliment the work being done by the city with his own initiatives. Currently, after receiving approval from the board, he is working on a new upgraded concrete skatepark for Austin Park.
So what’s next in the next four years? What are the key items that Sabatier wants to focus on?
When prompted with these questions, Sabatier responds with, “We need to build economic sustainability with the new revenues that we’ve created mixed with a safer and cleaner environment to bring in new investors.”
He wants to continue focusing on the success of the Road Map Task Force in hopes that in two years it will be carbon copied into another area of Lake County.
He plans to focus on food sustainability within the county as most of the agricultural crops are not grown for food purposes.
He wants to focus on the illegal cannabis market and make them accountable for their unfair business practice, evasion of taxes, and their environmental crimes.
If you’ve been following the Board of Supervisors meetings, you will know that Sabatier reads everything that is provided to him. Oftentimes, he will pull consent agenda items just to fix a dollar amount that didn’t match or to ask follow-up questions.
“I have worked hard these past three years to learn as much as I could as quickly as I could by being present and active. When reelected, you can expect the same level of work ethic that I have shown since day one,” he said.
Sabatier has many more ideas and plans for the upcoming years. If you’d like to hear more about them, you can reach him at 707-695-0834 or via email at