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CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council this week will discuss a local program that has been operating in the city distributing clean syringes and glass smoking pipes for drug use, and also will consider appointing a new planning commissioner.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel. Community members also can participate via Zoom or can attend in person.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4.
Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the mayor or a member of
staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the beginning of the meeting will not be included in the record.
The council will get Thursday’s meeting started by meeting one of the adoptable dogs from Clearlake Animal Control.
On Thursday, Police Chief Andrew White will seek direction regarding regulation of a syringe services and drug smoking supply distribution program in the city.
The Board of Supervisors is also set to discuss the program on Tuesday.
In White’s report to the council, which begins on page 40 of the council packet published below, he explains that late last year his agency sought feedback on a proposed renewal of the program authorization for Community Outreach Matters, or COM, in the city by the California Department of Public Health, or CDPH.
“Concerns raised by the community included the impact on our neighborhoods, issues regarding the sites, our youth, and an increase in discarded needles despite the intent to be an ‘exchange,’” White wrote. “This feedback was shared with the CDPH along with a request for the applicant to better address the disposal issues, reduce the distribution sites and engage with service providers like The Hope Center.”
He said the city also asked CDPH whether an environmental impact report was done pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
White said COM ultimately was not reauthorized by CDPH and ceased operation in April.
“A recent change in state law exempted these programs from environmental review, however, during the legislative process, a provision to exempt the providing of these services from being deemed a public nuisance was removed from the final legislation,” he said.
White said last week he learned that Any Positive Change was conducting syringe exchange operations in the city of Clearlake and that its operation expanded to include the distribution of glass smoking pipes for drugs, including methamphetamine.
He said city staff contacted CDPH to inquire regarding the status of Any Positive Change with respect to the city and learned that it is not a state syringe services program, but operates under authorization granted by the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
He said the city obtained the 2008 enabling resolution for a needle exchange from the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
“The authorization refers specifically to a clean needle and syringe exchange program. The resolution requires an annual report regarding the status of the program, including statistics on blood-borne infections associated with needle sharing activity and an opportunity for public comment, including from law enforcement, so that potential adverse impacts on the public welfare are addressed and mitigated,” he wrote.
White said the last update was presented in March 2016, and it focused on the needle exchange as well as naloxone, which is now widely carried by law enforcement personnel in Lake County for responding to drug overdoses.
The state has expanded the supplies made available for syringe exchange programs to include “glass pipes, foil and copper wire filters, among other materials” as a harm reduction service, White said, noting these items support the smoking of methamphetamine, crack cocaine and heroin. Those supplies may help people avoid drug injection.
White said Any Positive Change reported to the city that it received a large number of pipes at the end of fiscal year 2020-21 from the California Clearinghouse. They’ve reported the number of syringes they changed has dropped roughly in half but have not provided data on reduction of communicable diseases.
He recently posted an update about the situation on the police department’s Facebook page that reached more than 41,000 people and received more than 600 comments.
“There were a variety of concerns raised as well as information provided from proponents of the program regarding a community benefit. Resoundingly, significant concerns were expressed, including feedback from persons who have recovered from addiction, regarding the harms this expansion can cause. Numerous comments indicated a desire for community members to be able to voice their concerns at a City Council or Board of Supervisors meeting,” White wrote.
White reported that the owner of the Clearlake property where Any Positive Change had been conducting its operations in the city recently severed that relationship.
He’s asking for direction from the council, with options including not taking any action; directing staff to prepare an ordinance regarding syringe distribution programs with respect to public nuisance provisions and land use, noting several cities across the state have enacted complete bans for the programs; enacting a moratorium to provide time for further study; or enacting a regulatory framework.
In other council business, staff will offer an update on the ongoing Cache fire recovery.
Council members also will hold interviews and consider appointing a new planning commissioner for a term ending in March 2025.
Planning Commission Chair Kathryn Davis resigned in September.
The city received three timely applications, with one of the applicants later withdrawing. The two candidates who remain up for consideration are Jim Scholz and Thomas Burnett.
Also on Thursday, the council will consider possible action to staff regarding the state redistricting process and an appointment to the vacant marketing committee seat.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; approval of a temporary road closure for the annual Christmas drive — thru dinner; authorization to execute an amendment to the agreement with Adams Ashby Group to increase the not to exceed contract amount to $150,000, extend the contract to July 2022, and to further define the scope of services to include additional assistance in managing the city’s Community Development Block Grant and other state and federally funded grants; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and ratified by council action on March 19, 2020; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Aug. 18, 2021, and ratified by council action on Aug. 19, 2021; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Aug. 23, 2021, and ratified by council action on Sept. 16, 2021; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017; minutes of the October meetings; continuation of authorization to implement and utilize teleconference accessibility to conduct public meetings pursuant to Assembly Bill 361.
The council also will hold a closed session after the public portion of the meeting to discuss property negotiations for 6452 Francisco and 6461 Manzanita, and a lawsuit against the county of Lake and the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office.
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 council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel. Community members also can participate via Zoom or can attend in person.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4.
Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the mayor or a member of
staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the beginning of the meeting will not be included in the record.
The council will get Thursday’s meeting started by meeting one of the adoptable dogs from Clearlake Animal Control.
On Thursday, Police Chief Andrew White will seek direction regarding regulation of a syringe services and drug smoking supply distribution program in the city.
The Board of Supervisors is also set to discuss the program on Tuesday.
In White’s report to the council, which begins on page 40 of the council packet published below, he explains that late last year his agency sought feedback on a proposed renewal of the program authorization for Community Outreach Matters, or COM, in the city by the California Department of Public Health, or CDPH.
“Concerns raised by the community included the impact on our neighborhoods, issues regarding the sites, our youth, and an increase in discarded needles despite the intent to be an ‘exchange,’” White wrote. “This feedback was shared with the CDPH along with a request for the applicant to better address the disposal issues, reduce the distribution sites and engage with service providers like The Hope Center.”
He said the city also asked CDPH whether an environmental impact report was done pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
White said COM ultimately was not reauthorized by CDPH and ceased operation in April.
“A recent change in state law exempted these programs from environmental review, however, during the legislative process, a provision to exempt the providing of these services from being deemed a public nuisance was removed from the final legislation,” he said.
White said last week he learned that Any Positive Change was conducting syringe exchange operations in the city of Clearlake and that its operation expanded to include the distribution of glass smoking pipes for drugs, including methamphetamine.
He said city staff contacted CDPH to inquire regarding the status of Any Positive Change with respect to the city and learned that it is not a state syringe services program, but operates under authorization granted by the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
He said the city obtained the 2008 enabling resolution for a needle exchange from the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
“The authorization refers specifically to a clean needle and syringe exchange program. The resolution requires an annual report regarding the status of the program, including statistics on blood-borne infections associated with needle sharing activity and an opportunity for public comment, including from law enforcement, so that potential adverse impacts on the public welfare are addressed and mitigated,” he wrote.
White said the last update was presented in March 2016, and it focused on the needle exchange as well as naloxone, which is now widely carried by law enforcement personnel in Lake County for responding to drug overdoses.
The state has expanded the supplies made available for syringe exchange programs to include “glass pipes, foil and copper wire filters, among other materials” as a harm reduction service, White said, noting these items support the smoking of methamphetamine, crack cocaine and heroin. Those supplies may help people avoid drug injection.
White said Any Positive Change reported to the city that it received a large number of pipes at the end of fiscal year 2020-21 from the California Clearinghouse. They’ve reported the number of syringes they changed has dropped roughly in half but have not provided data on reduction of communicable diseases.
He recently posted an update about the situation on the police department’s Facebook page that reached more than 41,000 people and received more than 600 comments.
“There were a variety of concerns raised as well as information provided from proponents of the program regarding a community benefit. Resoundingly, significant concerns were expressed, including feedback from persons who have recovered from addiction, regarding the harms this expansion can cause. Numerous comments indicated a desire for community members to be able to voice their concerns at a City Council or Board of Supervisors meeting,” White wrote.
White reported that the owner of the Clearlake property where Any Positive Change had been conducting its operations in the city recently severed that relationship.
He’s asking for direction from the council, with options including not taking any action; directing staff to prepare an ordinance regarding syringe distribution programs with respect to public nuisance provisions and land use, noting several cities across the state have enacted complete bans for the programs; enacting a moratorium to provide time for further study; or enacting a regulatory framework.
In other council business, staff will offer an update on the ongoing Cache fire recovery.
Council members also will hold interviews and consider appointing a new planning commissioner for a term ending in March 2025.
Planning Commission Chair Kathryn Davis resigned in September.
The city received three timely applications, with one of the applicants later withdrawing. The two candidates who remain up for consideration are Jim Scholz and Thomas Burnett.
Also on Thursday, the council will consider possible action to staff regarding the state redistricting process and an appointment to the vacant marketing committee seat.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; approval of a temporary road closure for the annual Christmas drive — thru dinner; authorization to execute an amendment to the agreement with Adams Ashby Group to increase the not to exceed contract amount to $150,000, extend the contract to July 2022, and to further define the scope of services to include additional assistance in managing the city’s Community Development Block Grant and other state and federally funded grants; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and ratified by council action on March 19, 2020; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Aug. 18, 2021, and ratified by council action on Aug. 19, 2021; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Aug. 23, 2021, and ratified by council action on Sept. 16, 2021; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017; minutes of the October meetings; continuation of authorization to implement and utilize teleconference accessibility to conduct public meetings pursuant to Assembly Bill 361.
The council also will hold a closed session after the public portion of the meeting to discuss property negotiations for 6452 Francisco and 6461 Manzanita, and a lawsuit against the county of Lake and the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
110421 Clearlake City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Middletown Unified School District is accepting applications from community members interested in serving on the board of trustees.
The board has one vacancy which came about on Oct. 15 when Trustee LaTrease Walker tendered her immediate resignation to Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.
At a school board meeting on Oct. 13 during which community members confronted trustees about COVID-19 mandates, Walker — who was elected in 2018 — said she was resigning.
Walker’s term expires on Dec. 9, 2022.
The district reported that because the remainder of Walker’s term is longer than four months, protocol requires that the position be filled by election or provisional appointment. The board decided to make a provisional appointment to fill the seat.
An applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Middletown Unified School District Trustee Area 3, at least 18 years old and a registered voter in California.
The deadline to apply 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15. Candidates must submit a completed candidate information sheet to the district office at 20932 Big Canyon Road.
Applicants must be available for interviews with the board at a public meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17.
The district said the board expects to make the selection and seat the new board member that night.
To apply, get a candidate information sheet from the district office. For more information, contact superintendent’s assistant Janel Woodruff at 707-987-4100 orThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
A full description of board responsibilities and how to apply is here.
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 has one vacancy which came about on Oct. 15 when Trustee LaTrease Walker tendered her immediate resignation to Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.
At a school board meeting on Oct. 13 during which community members confronted trustees about COVID-19 mandates, Walker — who was elected in 2018 — said she was resigning.
Walker’s term expires on Dec. 9, 2022.
The district reported that because the remainder of Walker’s term is longer than four months, protocol requires that the position be filled by election or provisional appointment. The board decided to make a provisional appointment to fill the seat.
An applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Middletown Unified School District Trustee Area 3, at least 18 years old and a registered voter in California.
The deadline to apply 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15. Candidates must submit a completed candidate information sheet to the district office at 20932 Big Canyon Road.
Applicants must be available for interviews with the board at a public meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17.
The district said the board expects to make the selection and seat the new board member that night.
To apply, get a candidate information sheet from the district office. For more information, contact superintendent’s assistant Janel Woodruff at 707-987-4100 or
A full description of board responsibilities and how to apply is here.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
By some estimates, California’s alternate or gig work economy makes up to 40% of the state’s workforce.
Most of these project- and task-based work situations do not provide workers with job security, health and retirement benefits, or legal protections, yet little is known about how these working conditions affect workers’ health.
The California Labor Laboratory is a new initiative of UC San Francisco, UC Berkeley, and the California Department of Public Health to design and inform policies, programs and practices that advance worker well-being.
Funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the center will address the health of California workers in both traditional jobs and other employment arrangements, including gig workers, subcontractors, independent contractors, consultants, seasonal and temporary workers.
“The California Labor Lab is focused on understanding the implications for the health and welfare of workers even when workers are not afforded systematic protections that have come from traditional employment,” said Ed Yelin, Ph.D., the director of the new center and a professor with UCSF’s Institute of Health Policy Studies. “Alternative work arrangements have led to the diffusion of responsibility for the welfare of workers, with potentially harmful consequences for their health.”
The lab’s research includes a longitudinal study of 5,000 working-age Californians; an examination of gender and race/ethnicity disparities in working conditions in the service sector; and an education and prevention campaign to prevent silicosis, a lethal lung disease that afflicts an increasing number of stone industry workers who are exposed to silica dust.
In addition to researching the health impacts of alternative employment situations, the lab will develop interventions to help improve working conditions.
“Work has changed so much and it’s time to take an accounting of it, especially for these new forms of work,” said Cristina Banks, Ph.D., director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces at UC Berkeley, who will serve as associate director of outreach for the lab.
Policy and regulatory changes will be necessary, but Banks said she will also explore forms of protection and empowerment such as worker cooperatives and associations, and tangible tools and solutions for employers.
The pandemic, which undermined the social support system, has spurred many workers to assert their needs. In some states gig workers are organizing themselves into cooperatives so they can get some of the same legal protections and benefits as permanent employees.
“Workers want more, they want better, they want respect,” Banks said. “Before the pandemic, we had people accepting the terms and conditions by which they worked.”
Banks said she’s optimistic about the situation these employees face.
“Healthy workplaces benefit employers and employees alike — by increasing productivity and supporting well-being,” she said, “The way we do business, the way we hire people, the way we treat people, our economic model of getting the most out of an individual per unit of time, is a well-worn path I’d like to erase.”
Participating organizations include UCSF’s Institute for Health Policy Studies, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and School of Dentistry; UC Berkeley’s Center for Occupational & Environmental Health, Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces, Labor Center, and Labor Occupational Health Program; the state of California Department of Public Health; and consultants from UCLA, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Public Policy, and PolicyLink.
Rebecca Wolfson works for the University of California, San Francisco.
Most of these project- and task-based work situations do not provide workers with job security, health and retirement benefits, or legal protections, yet little is known about how these working conditions affect workers’ health.
The California Labor Laboratory is a new initiative of UC San Francisco, UC Berkeley, and the California Department of Public Health to design and inform policies, programs and practices that advance worker well-being.
Funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the center will address the health of California workers in both traditional jobs and other employment arrangements, including gig workers, subcontractors, independent contractors, consultants, seasonal and temporary workers.
“The California Labor Lab is focused on understanding the implications for the health and welfare of workers even when workers are not afforded systematic protections that have come from traditional employment,” said Ed Yelin, Ph.D., the director of the new center and a professor with UCSF’s Institute of Health Policy Studies. “Alternative work arrangements have led to the diffusion of responsibility for the welfare of workers, with potentially harmful consequences for their health.”
The lab’s research includes a longitudinal study of 5,000 working-age Californians; an examination of gender and race/ethnicity disparities in working conditions in the service sector; and an education and prevention campaign to prevent silicosis, a lethal lung disease that afflicts an increasing number of stone industry workers who are exposed to silica dust.
In addition to researching the health impacts of alternative employment situations, the lab will develop interventions to help improve working conditions.
“Work has changed so much and it’s time to take an accounting of it, especially for these new forms of work,” said Cristina Banks, Ph.D., director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces at UC Berkeley, who will serve as associate director of outreach for the lab.
Policy and regulatory changes will be necessary, but Banks said she will also explore forms of protection and empowerment such as worker cooperatives and associations, and tangible tools and solutions for employers.
The pandemic, which undermined the social support system, has spurred many workers to assert their needs. In some states gig workers are organizing themselves into cooperatives so they can get some of the same legal protections and benefits as permanent employees.
“Workers want more, they want better, they want respect,” Banks said. “Before the pandemic, we had people accepting the terms and conditions by which they worked.”
Banks said she’s optimistic about the situation these employees face.
“Healthy workplaces benefit employers and employees alike — by increasing productivity and supporting well-being,” she said, “The way we do business, the way we hire people, the way we treat people, our economic model of getting the most out of an individual per unit of time, is a well-worn path I’d like to erase.”
Participating organizations include UCSF’s Institute for Health Policy Studies, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and School of Dentistry; UC Berkeley’s Center for Occupational & Environmental Health, Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces, Labor Center, and Labor Occupational Health Program; the state of California Department of Public Health; and consultants from UCLA, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Public Policy, and PolicyLink.
Rebecca Wolfson works for the University of California, San Francisco.
NORTH COAST, Calif. — Every year since 1970, federal officials have designated a tree from one of the United States’ national forests to be showcased during the holiday season as the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree.
This year, this tremendous honor has been bestowed on the great state of California.
Affectionately known as “Sugar Bear,” the 84-foot white fir originated from the Six Rivers National Forest on the North Coast.
Sugar Bear is making its way across the state, visiting communities in all corners of the state, before it officially hits the road for our nation’s Capitol.
The US Capitol Tree will pull into the State Capitol this Wednesday where the state of California will host its official celebration of the US Capitol Christmas tree starting at noon. This festive event will be led by the North Coast Sen. Mike McGuire.
The event will be livestreamed at https://sd02.senate.ca.gov/video.
“We are proud to join with our tribal and federal partners to showcase the beauty of Northern California this Wednesday,” Sen. McGuire said. “We invite all Californians to take part in this festive event at the State Capitol or virtually to celebrate the US Capitol Christmas tree. We’ll be joined by some special guests including Santa Claus and Smokey Bear, there will be plenty of holiday cookies and of course — Christmas carols.”
California state officials will also be participating, including remarks by California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, Chairman John Elgin of the Lassic Band of the Wylacki-Wintoon Family Group will perform a blessing ceremony, Visit California’s President and CEO Caroline Beteta will provide remarks, students from both Del Norte and Humboldt County schools will present handmade ornaments and Sacramento State’s Vocal Jazz Choir will be on hand singing Christmas carols.
This year, this tremendous honor has been bestowed on the great state of California.
Affectionately known as “Sugar Bear,” the 84-foot white fir originated from the Six Rivers National Forest on the North Coast.
Sugar Bear is making its way across the state, visiting communities in all corners of the state, before it officially hits the road for our nation’s Capitol.
The US Capitol Tree will pull into the State Capitol this Wednesday where the state of California will host its official celebration of the US Capitol Christmas tree starting at noon. This festive event will be led by the North Coast Sen. Mike McGuire.
The event will be livestreamed at https://sd02.senate.ca.gov/video.
“We are proud to join with our tribal and federal partners to showcase the beauty of Northern California this Wednesday,” Sen. McGuire said. “We invite all Californians to take part in this festive event at the State Capitol or virtually to celebrate the US Capitol Christmas tree. We’ll be joined by some special guests including Santa Claus and Smokey Bear, there will be plenty of holiday cookies and of course — Christmas carols.”
California state officials will also be participating, including remarks by California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, Chairman John Elgin of the Lassic Band of the Wylacki-Wintoon Family Group will perform a blessing ceremony, Visit California’s President and CEO Caroline Beteta will provide remarks, students from both Del Norte and Humboldt County schools will present handmade ornaments and Sacramento State’s Vocal Jazz Choir will be on hand singing Christmas carols.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider approving an agreement to give a wage increase to In-Home Supportive Services workers, discuss a syringe exchange program that’s now distributing glass pipes for drug smoking and hold the third of its redistricting hearings.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, 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 946 8496 5839, pass code 310792. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,94684965839#,,,,*310792#.
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.
At 9:20 a.m., the supervisors, sitting as the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Board of Directors, will consider a memorandum of understanding between the authority and SEIU Local 2015 Union.
Social Services Director Crystal Markytan’s report to the board said the agreement will be in effect from the date of final ratification by all parties to Dec. 31, 2023. The union ratified it on Oct. 15.
Markytan said it will increase base wages by $0.65 an hour and provide $5,000 per year to be used by IHSS workers, through SEIU, for training and $5,000 per year to be used for cleaning and safety supplies.
At 10:15 a.m., the board will discuss the county’s syringe exchange program and consider either establishing an urgency ordinance to temporarily halt it or a resolution to establish new guidelines for it.
In his report to the board, Chair Bruno Sabatier said he’s bringing the matter forward after it was discovered that, in addition to syringes, the program also is providing glass pipes for use in smoking drugs such as methamphetamine.
While the language of state rules for syringe exchange programs suggest that it’s an allowable activity if it’s deemed necessary by a local or state health department for preventing the spread of communicable diseases, Sabatier said this specific program is not sanctioned by the state but the county under a resolution, and the county hasn’t given that approval.
“Our law enforcement was not told prior to initiating this new exchange and our Statement of Understanding has been breached by adding activities that are not specifically allowed in the Syringe Exchange Program locally. Therefore no public comment was received on this new outreach and expansion of the program,” Sabatier wrote in his report.
Due to what he called “the breach of trust between the county, law enforcement, and the program coordinators,” Sabatier is asking the board to consider two options.
One is an urgency ordinance to put a 45-day pause on the program in order to discuss with stakeholders how it might continue.
The second, in consideration of what Sabatier said was Public Health staff’s concern about pausing the program, is a resolution that would allow for the syringe exchange program to continue.
“In this Resolution, all jurisdictions, cities, and Tribal Land would need to provide approvals of their own for this program to be allowed in their jurisdictions,” he wrote.
The resolution also requests that any changes to the original 2009 Statement of Understanding needs to be approved by the board, and it specifically restricts the exchange of glassware such as meth pipes.
Both the resolution and the urgency ordinance request staff return to the board at a later time to provide an annual report “as well as strategies on how to proceed with the program to ensure that outcomes and trust of the program from the public, law enforcement, and the Board of Supervisors can be regained,” Sabatier wrote.
At 6 p.m., the board will convene an evening session to present the draft maps for new supervisorial districts. The maps can be found here.
In an untimed item, the board will consider amending an urgency ordinance requiring all persons, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, wear face coverings in county facilities.
The proposed changes including having the masking mandate remain in effect when the COVID-19 case rate exceeds 10 per 100,000 and when the testing positivity rate exceeds 8% and both indicators have remained at or above said rates for a minimum of seven days.
Other untimed items of note include establishment of the Financial Oversight Committee, appointment of two board members to serve on an ad hoc committee to work on enhancements to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard and consideration of timeliness of the Earthways Foundation’s appeal of its property tax bill for the Lucerne Hotel due to the county’s assessing it for $8.5 million.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for Aug. 17, Sept. 14 and Oct. 7.
5.2: Adopt resolution appointing directors of the Scotts Valley Water Conservation District Board in lieu of holding a general district election on Nov. 2, 2021.
5.3: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.4: Approve the 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.
5.5: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.6: Authorize the IT director to issue a purchase order to Zoom Video Communications Inc. for Zoom video conferencing licenses in the amount of $25,063.36.
5.7: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.8: Approve the continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions.
5.9: Approve the continuation of a local emergency in Lake County in Response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.10: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
5.11: Approve continuation of a local health emergency by the Lake County Health officer for the Cache fire.
5.12: Approve continuation of a local emergency by the Lake County sheriff/OES director for the Cache fire.
5.13: Approve purchase orders for the purchase of two ¾-ton pickup trucks for the Central Garage Fleet, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase order.
5.14: Approve memorandum of understanding between Social Services and Behavioral Health Services for CalWORKs mental health and substance abuse services in an amount that shall not exceed the California Department of Social Services allocation, from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.15: Approve contract between county of Lake and North Coast Opportunities Inc. for the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Children in foster care, in an amount that shall not exceed the California Department of Social Services allocation, From July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2024, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.16: Sitting as the board of directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District, adopt Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Program FY 2020/2021 application and funding agreement resolution and approve Water Resources director as signature authorization to execute agreement.
5.17: Sitting as the board of directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District, a) waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of the goods or services, and b) approve agreement with Ramboll Consulting Engineering Group for AEM Survey Services not to exceed $50,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.18: Approve Amendment No.1 of agreement with Luhdorff & Scalmanini, Consulting Engineers (LCSE) and Stantec Consulting Services for the professional consulting services for Big Valley Groundwater Basin (5-015) Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Lake County, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: a) Presentation of Big Valley Groundwater Basin Sustainable Groundwater Management Act progress and b) call to action for review, input, recommendation and approval of the proposed Sustainable Management Criteria for the draft Big Valley GSP as recommended by the Big Valley GSP Advisory Committee.
6.3, 9:20 a.m.: Sitting as board of directors, In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority, consideration of memorandum of understanding between In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority and SEIU Local 2015 Union.
6.4, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of a presentation by Sonoma Clean Power Chief Executive Officer Geof Syphers on a geothermal opportunity zone and invitation for Lake County to join.
6.5, 9:50 a.m.: Consideration of presentation by Caltrans regarding the Clean California Program and the Nov. 20 Bulky Item Free Dump Day in Lake County.
6.6, 10:15 a.m.: Consideration of either A) urgency ordinance establishing a moratorium on the syringe exchange program approved by Resolution 2008-42 for 45 days or B) resolution amending Resolution 2008-42 establishing new guidelines for the syringe exchange program.
6.7, 6 p.m.: Redistricting public hearing No. 3, draft maps presented.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of establishment of Financial Oversight Committee.
7.3: Consideration of ordinance amending Urgency Ordinance No. 3108 requiring all persons, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, wear face coverings in county facilities.
7.4: Consideration of proposed 2022 Board of Supervisors regular meeting calendar.
7.5: (a) Consideration first amendment to the agreement for professional services, epidemiologist services; and (b) consideration of appointment of two board members to serve on an ad hoc committee to work on enhancements to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard.
ASSESSMENT HEARING
8.1: Consideration of timeliness of Assessment Appeal 03-2020 through 10-2020 Earthways Foundation.
CLOSED SESSION
9.1: Public Employee Appointment Pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): (a) Interviews of Health Services director (b) appointment of Health Services director.
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, Nov. 2, 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 946 8496 5839, pass code 310792. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,94684965839#,,,,*310792#.
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.
At 9:20 a.m., the supervisors, sitting as the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Board of Directors, will consider a memorandum of understanding between the authority and SEIU Local 2015 Union.
Social Services Director Crystal Markytan’s report to the board said the agreement will be in effect from the date of final ratification by all parties to Dec. 31, 2023. The union ratified it on Oct. 15.
Markytan said it will increase base wages by $0.65 an hour and provide $5,000 per year to be used by IHSS workers, through SEIU, for training and $5,000 per year to be used for cleaning and safety supplies.
At 10:15 a.m., the board will discuss the county’s syringe exchange program and consider either establishing an urgency ordinance to temporarily halt it or a resolution to establish new guidelines for it.
In his report to the board, Chair Bruno Sabatier said he’s bringing the matter forward after it was discovered that, in addition to syringes, the program also is providing glass pipes for use in smoking drugs such as methamphetamine.
While the language of state rules for syringe exchange programs suggest that it’s an allowable activity if it’s deemed necessary by a local or state health department for preventing the spread of communicable diseases, Sabatier said this specific program is not sanctioned by the state but the county under a resolution, and the county hasn’t given that approval.
“Our law enforcement was not told prior to initiating this new exchange and our Statement of Understanding has been breached by adding activities that are not specifically allowed in the Syringe Exchange Program locally. Therefore no public comment was received on this new outreach and expansion of the program,” Sabatier wrote in his report.
Due to what he called “the breach of trust between the county, law enforcement, and the program coordinators,” Sabatier is asking the board to consider two options.
One is an urgency ordinance to put a 45-day pause on the program in order to discuss with stakeholders how it might continue.
The second, in consideration of what Sabatier said was Public Health staff’s concern about pausing the program, is a resolution that would allow for the syringe exchange program to continue.
“In this Resolution, all jurisdictions, cities, and Tribal Land would need to provide approvals of their own for this program to be allowed in their jurisdictions,” he wrote.
The resolution also requests that any changes to the original 2009 Statement of Understanding needs to be approved by the board, and it specifically restricts the exchange of glassware such as meth pipes.
Both the resolution and the urgency ordinance request staff return to the board at a later time to provide an annual report “as well as strategies on how to proceed with the program to ensure that outcomes and trust of the program from the public, law enforcement, and the Board of Supervisors can be regained,” Sabatier wrote.
At 6 p.m., the board will convene an evening session to present the draft maps for new supervisorial districts. The maps can be found here.
In an untimed item, the board will consider amending an urgency ordinance requiring all persons, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, wear face coverings in county facilities.
The proposed changes including having the masking mandate remain in effect when the COVID-19 case rate exceeds 10 per 100,000 and when the testing positivity rate exceeds 8% and both indicators have remained at or above said rates for a minimum of seven days.
Other untimed items of note include establishment of the Financial Oversight Committee, appointment of two board members to serve on an ad hoc committee to work on enhancements to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard and consideration of timeliness of the Earthways Foundation’s appeal of its property tax bill for the Lucerne Hotel due to the county’s assessing it for $8.5 million.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for Aug. 17, Sept. 14 and Oct. 7.
5.2: Adopt resolution appointing directors of the Scotts Valley Water Conservation District Board in lieu of holding a general district election on Nov. 2, 2021.
5.3: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.4: Approve the 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.
5.5: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.6: Authorize the IT director to issue a purchase order to Zoom Video Communications Inc. for Zoom video conferencing licenses in the amount of $25,063.36.
5.7: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.8: Approve the continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions.
5.9: Approve the continuation of a local emergency in Lake County in Response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.10: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
5.11: Approve continuation of a local health emergency by the Lake County Health officer for the Cache fire.
5.12: Approve continuation of a local emergency by the Lake County sheriff/OES director for the Cache fire.
5.13: Approve purchase orders for the purchase of two ¾-ton pickup trucks for the Central Garage Fleet, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase order.
5.14: Approve memorandum of understanding between Social Services and Behavioral Health Services for CalWORKs mental health and substance abuse services in an amount that shall not exceed the California Department of Social Services allocation, from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.15: Approve contract between county of Lake and North Coast Opportunities Inc. for the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Children in foster care, in an amount that shall not exceed the California Department of Social Services allocation, From July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2024, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.16: Sitting as the board of directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District, adopt Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Program FY 2020/2021 application and funding agreement resolution and approve Water Resources director as signature authorization to execute agreement.
5.17: Sitting as the board of directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District, a) waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of the goods or services, and b) approve agreement with Ramboll Consulting Engineering Group for AEM Survey Services not to exceed $50,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.18: Approve Amendment No.1 of agreement with Luhdorff & Scalmanini, Consulting Engineers (LCSE) and Stantec Consulting Services for the professional consulting services for Big Valley Groundwater Basin (5-015) Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Lake County, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: a) Presentation of Big Valley Groundwater Basin Sustainable Groundwater Management Act progress and b) call to action for review, input, recommendation and approval of the proposed Sustainable Management Criteria for the draft Big Valley GSP as recommended by the Big Valley GSP Advisory Committee.
6.3, 9:20 a.m.: Sitting as board of directors, In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority, consideration of memorandum of understanding between In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority and SEIU Local 2015 Union.
6.4, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of a presentation by Sonoma Clean Power Chief Executive Officer Geof Syphers on a geothermal opportunity zone and invitation for Lake County to join.
6.5, 9:50 a.m.: Consideration of presentation by Caltrans regarding the Clean California Program and the Nov. 20 Bulky Item Free Dump Day in Lake County.
6.6, 10:15 a.m.: Consideration of either A) urgency ordinance establishing a moratorium on the syringe exchange program approved by Resolution 2008-42 for 45 days or B) resolution amending Resolution 2008-42 establishing new guidelines for the syringe exchange program.
6.7, 6 p.m.: Redistricting public hearing No. 3, draft maps presented.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of establishment of Financial Oversight Committee.
7.3: Consideration of ordinance amending Urgency Ordinance No. 3108 requiring all persons, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, wear face coverings in county facilities.
7.4: Consideration of proposed 2022 Board of Supervisors regular meeting calendar.
7.5: (a) Consideration first amendment to the agreement for professional services, epidemiologist services; and (b) consideration of appointment of two board members to serve on an ad hoc committee to work on enhancements to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard.
ASSESSMENT HEARING
8.1: Consideration of timeliness of Assessment Appeal 03-2020 through 10-2020 Earthways Foundation.
CLOSED SESSION
9.1: Public Employee Appointment Pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): (a) Interviews of Health Services director (b) appointment of Health Services director.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council this week will honor the city’s retiring Public Works director, discuss scenarios produced by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, and consider a mutual aid agreement with the Lakeport Fire Protection District and a COVID-19 testing program for staff.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda can be found here.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. In accordance with updated guidelines from the state of California and revised Cal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards, persons who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are required to wear a face covering at this meeting.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email toThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . To give the City Clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that are read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council before the meeting.
At the start of the meeting, the council will present a proclamation to Public Works Director Doug Grider, who is retiring after 17 years of service to the city.
Under council business, City Manager Kevin Ingram will ask the council to consider giving direction to staff to prepare a response to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission either supporting or opposing proposed changes to Congressional, State Senate and State Assembly visualization maps.
The commission released the visualizations last week, and concerns over how Lake County could potentially be grouped with several other North Coast counties caused the Board of Supervisors to send a letter to the commission asking it to reconsider.
Also on Tuesday, in one of the last items Grider will take to the council as Public Works director, he will ask the council to approve an agreement for mutual aid between the city of Lakeport and the Lakeport Fire Protection District.
Grider’s report explains that the fire district and the city have been operating without a formal mutual aid agreement since the city fire department was annexed by the Lakeport Fire Protection District in 1999.
“Since 2000 the City of Lakeport and Lakeport Fire Protection District have worked together in times of natural disasters, fires, environmental emergencies and other times of need,” Grider wrote in his report. “In current times the need for small agencies to assist each other is paramount as budgets decrease, resources decrease and cost increase.”
By having a formal mutual aid agreement, both the city and the fire district will have met the current protocols for external agency assistance, Grider said.
In other business on Tuesday, Ingram and Administrative Services Director Kelly Buendia will present an item for the council to consider implementing a mandate for weekly COVID-19 testing for city employees.
A majority of council members at the Oct. 19 directed staff to bring the matter back for consideration.
Ingram and Buendia note in their report that testing isn’t currently mandated for the city’s employees by any federal, state or local authority, that the city hasn’t had any outbreaks among its staff and most city employees are vaccinated.
If council members want to mandate vaccinations, Ingram and Buendia are urging them to consider the cost of testing, availability of tests, ease of administration and overall staff morale. “If mandated, staff recommends that all employees receive testing since both vaccinated and unvaccinated alike can carry and spread the virus,” they wrote.
On the consent agenda — items usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the council’s regular meeting on Oct. 19 and the special meeting on Oct. 26; adoption of a resolution authorizing continued remote teleconference meetings of the Lakeport City Council and its legislative bodies pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e); and receipt and filing of the draft minutes from the Oct. 20 Measure Z Advisory Committee meeting.
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 council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda can be found here.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. In accordance with updated guidelines from the state of California and revised Cal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards, persons who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are required to wear a face covering at this meeting.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to
Indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that are read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council before the meeting.
At the start of the meeting, the council will present a proclamation to Public Works Director Doug Grider, who is retiring after 17 years of service to the city.
Under council business, City Manager Kevin Ingram will ask the council to consider giving direction to staff to prepare a response to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission either supporting or opposing proposed changes to Congressional, State Senate and State Assembly visualization maps.
The commission released the visualizations last week, and concerns over how Lake County could potentially be grouped with several other North Coast counties caused the Board of Supervisors to send a letter to the commission asking it to reconsider.
Also on Tuesday, in one of the last items Grider will take to the council as Public Works director, he will ask the council to approve an agreement for mutual aid between the city of Lakeport and the Lakeport Fire Protection District.
Grider’s report explains that the fire district and the city have been operating without a formal mutual aid agreement since the city fire department was annexed by the Lakeport Fire Protection District in 1999.
“Since 2000 the City of Lakeport and Lakeport Fire Protection District have worked together in times of natural disasters, fires, environmental emergencies and other times of need,” Grider wrote in his report. “In current times the need for small agencies to assist each other is paramount as budgets decrease, resources decrease and cost increase.”
By having a formal mutual aid agreement, both the city and the fire district will have met the current protocols for external agency assistance, Grider said.
In other business on Tuesday, Ingram and Administrative Services Director Kelly Buendia will present an item for the council to consider implementing a mandate for weekly COVID-19 testing for city employees.
A majority of council members at the Oct. 19 directed staff to bring the matter back for consideration.
Ingram and Buendia note in their report that testing isn’t currently mandated for the city’s employees by any federal, state or local authority, that the city hasn’t had any outbreaks among its staff and most city employees are vaccinated.
If council members want to mandate vaccinations, Ingram and Buendia are urging them to consider the cost of testing, availability of tests, ease of administration and overall staff morale. “If mandated, staff recommends that all employees receive testing since both vaccinated and unvaccinated alike can carry and spread the virus,” they wrote.
On the consent agenda — items usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the council’s regular meeting on Oct. 19 and the special meeting on Oct. 26; adoption of a resolution authorizing continued remote teleconference meetings of the Lakeport City Council and its legislative bodies pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e); and receipt and filing of the draft minutes from the Oct. 20 Measure Z Advisory Committee meeting.
Email Elizabeth Larson at