LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss priorities for grant funding and present several proclamations.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 6, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 958 4898 4239, passcode 065514. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,95848984239#,,,,*065514# US.
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 passcode information above.
In an untimed item, the board will consider confirming the highest priority projects for submittal for the Community Project Funding Program, including the Lakeport Armory facility repurposing and expansion for wildfire training, the Full Circle Effluent Pipeline Preliminary Design Report update, and pedestrian traffic and street improvements.
The board will present proclamations for Public Health Week, Child Abuse Prevention Month, Alcohol Awareness Month and Bird Appreciation Month in Lake County.
In an item on the consent agenda, the board will consider approving a resolution urging the California Citizens Redistricting Commission to keep Lake, Napa County and Sonoma counties within the same United States Congressional District.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve request for qualifications for newspaper of general circulation.
5.2: Approve letter opposing SB 271.
5.3: Adopt proclamation designating April 2021 as Bird Appreciation Month in Lake County.
5.4: Approve letter supporting the proposed Assembly Bill 14 – Internet for All Act of 2021 (Aguiar-Curry) and authorizing chair to sign.
5.5: Adopt resolution urging the California Citizens Redistricting Commission to keep Lake County, Napa County and Sonoma county within the same United States Congressional District.
5.6: Approve Agreement No. 21-73-06-0256 with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services for period July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, for the amount of $114,610.
5.7: 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 goods or services; and (b) approve the first amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Lake County Office of Education - Safe Schools Healthy Students Program for School-Based Specialty Mental Health Services in the amount of $205,000 for Fiscal Year 2020-21 and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.
5.8: (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 goods or services; and (b) approve the first amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Remi Vista Inc. in the amount of $15,000 for Specialty Mental Health Services for Fiscal Year 2020-21 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.9: Adopt proclamation designating April 2021 as Alcohol Awareness Month.
5.10: Adopt proclamation designating April 2021 Child Abuse Prevention Month.
5.11: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings on Sept. 16, 2020, March 16, 2021 and March 23, 2021.
5.12: Adopt proclamation designating Public Health Week April 5 to 11, 2021.
5.13: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.14: Approve the continuation of resolution ratifying the declaration of 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.
5.15: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.16: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee Fire incident.
5.17: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.18: Approve the continuation of a local emergency in Lake County in response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.19: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District, (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.4, Cooperative Purchases, (b) approve purchase of a 2021 Chevy 3500 Double Cab truck and authorize the Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue and sign a purchase order not to exceed $90,000 to Elk Grove Auto/Winner Chevrolet.
5.20: Approve Amendment No. 4 to the tower and ground space agreement with AT&T and US Cellular and authorize the chair to sign.
5.21: (a) Approve purchase of one (1) 2021 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 4x4 from Matt Mazzei Chevrolet in the amount of $37,958.49 from the Sheriff/Pursuit Replacement Budget Unit 2217, Object Code 62.72 and (b) authorize the sheriff or his designee to sign the purchase order.
5.22: Approve updated program guidelines for the County of Lake Homebuyer Acquisition Assistance Program and Housing Rehabilitation Program.
5.23: Approve third amendment to lease agreement between county of Lake and Gary Sada and Sheila Sada for $86,332.68, from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, for the property located at 926 S. Forbes St. in Lakeport.
5.24: Approve waiver of the 900 hour limit for certain janitorial positions within the Department of Social Services.
5.25: Approve fifth amendment to the lease agreement between county of Lake and Ewing and Associates for the Child Welfare Services parking lot located on South Forbes Street in Lakeport, for the amount of $4,800 from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.
6.3, 9:45 a.m.: Consideration of the County of Lake COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Worksite Protocol.
6.4, 10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating Public Health Week April 5 to 11, 2021.
6.5, 10:05 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating April 2021 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
6.6, 10:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating April 2021 as Alcohol Awareness Month.
6.7, 10:15 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating April 2021 as Bird Appreciation Month in Lake County.
6.8, 10:20 a.m.: Consideration of resolution of the Board of Supervisors of the county of Lake, state of California confirming the prior transfer from the former Lake County Redevelopment Agency to the Lake County Housing agency of certain real property liens, and authorizing assignments of deeds of trust to reflect that transfer.
6.9, 10:30 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County Housing Commission Board of Directors, consider request from the Rural Communities Housing Development Corp. to divest security and previous development interest in real property in consideration of a new agreement to develop affordable housing at 6853 Collier Avenue, Nice, California (APN: 031-053-220-000).
6.10, 3 p.m.: Discussion and Consideration of zoning ordinance amendment to Article 21-27 regarding the transition of applications impacted by the Farmland Protection Zone.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of discussion of plans and preparation for April 16 board governance workshop.
7.3: Consideration of resolutions of the Board of Supervisors of the county of Lake, state of California confirming the highest priority projects for submittal for the Community Project Funding Program: (a) Lakeport Armory facility repurposing and expansion for wildfire training; (b) Full Circle Effluent Pipeline Preliminary Design Report update; (c) pedestrian traffic and street improvements.
7.4: Consideration of award of proposal for the professional consulting services for Big Valley Groundwater Basin (5-015) Groundwater Sustainability Plan Lake County, CA. RFP No. 21-02, to Luhdorff & Scalmanini, Consulting Engineers and Stantec Consulting Services in the amount of $1,328,485.39 and authorize the chair to sign.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1) -Center for Biological Diversity v. County of Lake, et al.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1) – California Native Plant Society v. County of Lake, et al.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(1) – Citizens for Environmental Protection and Responsible Planning, et al. v. County of Lake, et al.
8.4: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to Litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(2) (e)(4) – One potential case.
8.5: Public employee evaluation: Animal Control director.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will present several proclamations for the month of April and get a report about the city’s utilities operations.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 6.
The meeting will be by teleconference only. The city council chambers will not be open to the public.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here 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 This 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 prior to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6.
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 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 prior to the meeting.
On Tuesday, the council will present proclamations designating April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month and Fair Housing Month in the city of Lakeport.
In council business, Utilities Superintendent Paul Harris will present an overview of the utilities operations.
Finance Director Nick Walker also will present amendments to the fiscal year 2020-21 city budget as recommended by staff for the council’s approval.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances, minutes of the regular council meeting on March 16 and a proposed resolution adopting a records retention schedule, and authorizing destruction of certain City records and rescinding Resolution No. 2746 (2020).
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The California Highway Patrol, California Office of Traffic Safety and Impact Teen Drivers are working together this April to remind Californians of the dangers of not giving the road their full attention when behind the wheel as part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 3,142 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2019 nationwide.
That same year in California, there were at least 18,698 crashes from distracted driving that resulted in 108 deaths and more than 13,500 injuries.
“Driving safely requires your full attention,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “Distractions put you and others on the road at risk. Together, with our traffic safety partners, enforcement, and the cooperation of the motoring public, we can save lives and eliminate this dangerous behavior on California’s roadways.”
Distractions are not limited to cellular phones. Other electronics, children, pets, and eating or drinking while driving can also divert attention and result in a crash.
Breaking distracted driving laws becomes more serious this year. Beginning July 1, a violation for using a handheld cellular phone or texting while driving will result in a fine and also add a point to the driver’s record for each violation occurring within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense.
“Distracted driving is a serious issue that is 100 percent preventable,” California Office of Traffic Safety Director Barbara Rooney said. “That text, phone call, or social post is never more important than the task of driving.”
As part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the first week of April is California Teen Safe Driving Week.
Throughout the week, CHP and Impact Teen Drivers will place an increased emphasis on informing California’s newest drivers about the dangers and consequences of reckless and distracted driving.
“Parents, your kids have been watching you drive since they were in a forward-facing car seat,” Kelly Browning, Ph.D., executive director of ITD, said. “Your driving habits will become their driving habits – be the driver you want your kids to be.”
Brightly dyed eggs are customary at modern Easter celebrations, but the practice of decorating eggs has roots in ancient times. These eggs were colored by the author's granddaughter. Photo by Esther Oertel. MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – I was born into a family of very creative souls, and at no time during the year was this on more collective display than when we colored eggs for Easter.
We didn’t have much – there were no extravagant Easter presents and no Easter Sunday ham – but we went all out when it came to decorating eggs.
Old newspapers were spread to protect our rustic kitchen table and supplies were laid out - dozens of cups of dye, wax crayons, egg dippers, colored tissue paper and the like – and then we got to work. It was an hours-long process, and the joy derived from that endeavor was epic.
My mother, my four siblings and I developed all kinds of techniques that were honed and perfected through the years, and we were always very proud of the result. At least six dozen artistically dyed eggs were ready for hiding on Easter morning by the time we were done.
This year I was able to decorate eggs with my granddaughter, a happy process. She’s 4 and a half and not quite ready for the complex egg-dying techniques of my childhood, but much joy was borne out of our experience. She was proud to take home a dozen brightly colored eggs to show her mother after our session.
The tradition of decorating eggs is an ancient one, going back at least 60,000 years, as evidenced by engraved ostrich eggs found in Africa.
Decorated eggs, as well as representations of eggs in gold and silver, were placed in the graves of the ancient Sumerians and Egyptians some 5,000 years ago.
In some early cultures, such as pre-dynastic Egypt, Mesopotamia and Crete, eggs symbolized death and rebirth, as well as kingship. It was a common symbol of fertility in others.
For early Christians, eggs represented the empty tomb of Jesus, from which they believed he was resurrected.
As Anne Jordan writes in her textbook, Christianity, “Easter eggs are used as a Christian symbol to represent the empty tomb. The outside of the egg looks dead but inside there is new life, which is going to break out. The Easter egg is a reminder that Jesus will rise from His tomb and bring new life.”
Some sources believe that the custom of the Easter, or Paschal, egg can be traced to the early Christians of Mesopotamia, eventually spreading from there to Eastern Europe and Siberia through the Orthodox Church and later into Europe through Catholic and Protestant churches.
Other scholars maintain that the tradition arose in Western Europe during the Middle Ages, when eggs were forbidden during Lent. They speculate that eggs became part of the Easter celebration when the Lenten fast was broken.
The tradition of dying eggs no doubt stems from ancient Christians who stained eggs red to symbolize the blood of Christ shed on the cross. This tradition of dying eggs red continues today in the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches.
A legend exists in Eastern Christianity about Mary Magdalene, a disciple of Christ, who is said to have brought cooked eggs to share with the other women at the tomb of Jesus. They are purported to have miraculously turned bright red when she saw the risen Christ.
In Judaism, a hard-boiled egg representing festival sacrifice is part of the Passover Seder plate, and there is speculation that early Christians may have added to that tradition with the use of red dye to represent the blood of Christ.
Interestingly, Sephardic Jews of Spain prepare a braised egg dish called huevos haminados, in which patterns are created on the eggs by dying them with onion skins, tea leaves or coffee.
Some say that the Passover custom of hunting for the afikomen (a half piece of matzo) may be the precursor to the tradition of an Easter egg hunt.
Whenever and wherever the custom of the Easter egg originated and however it evolved, eggs have been part of Easter celebrations since the earliest times.
Just in case you’ve got a lot of hard-boiled eggs on hand this Easter, today’s recipe, curried egg salad stuffed into pasta shells, will help you use them up. These are meant to be eaten out of hand and are quite portable, so will do well on a picnic or as a passed hors d’oeuvre. Walnuts and parsley add texture and freshness to the mixture. Enjoy!
Pasta shells with curried egg salad
16 or 20 large pasta shells 6 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and chopped 1/3 cup mayonnaise 2 – 3 teaspoons curry powder 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard ¼ cup finely chopped walnuts ¼ cup finely chopped parsley Salt and pepper to taste, if desired 1 large bowl filled with cold water and 2 tablespoons salad oil
Cook pasta in boiling, salted water until just tender, about 10 minutes. When cooked, remove with a slotted spoon to drain in a colander. Immerse pasta in cold water until completely cooled. Drain well and pat dry with paper towels if necessary.
Combine mayonnaise, curry powder and mustard. Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed. Mix eggs, nuts and parsley with dressing. Stuff egg mixture into shells. Garnish with additional parsley, if desired.
Recipe by Esther Oertel.
Esther Oertel is a writer and passionate home cook from a family of chefs. She grew up in a restaurant, where she began creating recipes from a young age. She’s taught culinary classes in a variety of venues in Lake County and previously wrote “The Veggie Girl” column for Lake County News. Most recently she’s taught culinary classes at Sur La Table in Santa Rosa. She lives in Middletown.
Purple mouse-ears. Photo by Kim Riley. Name: Mimulus douglasii Family: Mimulus (Monkeyflower) Common Names: Purple mouse-ears Colors: Pale pink to deep fuschia and purple
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The diminutive flower that packs a colorful punch and is often found on serpentine soils, mimulus douglasii (purple mouse-ears) is a species of monkeyflower known by the common names brownies and purple mouse-ears and is native to Lake County and the mountains and foothills of California and Oregon.
Purple mouse-ears attracts native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and is a lovely addition to border areas of your garden or farm if you have heavy clay soils; it can survive in dry (serpentine) soils as well as near wetlands or irrigation as long as the soils are nutrient-deficient.
While the flower itself has five petals, it is called purple mouse-ears for the 2 prominent upper lobes, much like a field mouse.
It’s preferred habitat is in soils composed primarily of serpentine, the slick-green rock found in many areas of Lake County. Although not as well known as the state flower California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), serpentine is actually the official California state rock.
In next week’s column, we’ll discuss serpentine-laden soils and the unique plant species found on them, but for this week, if you have the chance to explore right now and find small 1- to 2-inch plants with stunning colors and ears, chances are you’re looking at purple mouse-ears! They will typically be in bloom for a few more weeks.
Nurseries where you can purchase seeds: Unknown at this time.
Terre Logsdon is an environmentalist, composter, and advocate for agroecology solutions to farming. An avid fan and protector of California wildflowers, plants, natural resources, and the environment, she seeks collaborative solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. Kim Riley is retired, an avid hiker at Highland Springs, and has lived in Lake County since 1985. After 15 years of trail recovery and maintenance on the Highland Springs trails, she is now focused on native plants, including a native plant and pollinator garden on her property as well as promoting and preserving the beauty of the Highland Springs Recreation Area. Karen Sullivan has operated two nurseries to propagate and cultivate native plants and wildflowers, has lived in Kelseyville for the past 30 years, rides horses far and wide to see as many flowers as possible, and offers native plants and wildflowers for sale to the public. They are collaborating on a book, Highland Springs Recreation Area: A Field Guide, which will be published in the future. In the meanwhile, please visit https://www.facebook.com/HighlandSpringsNaturalists and https://www.facebook.com/HighlandSpringsRecreationArea.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has five dogs of different breeds ready for new homes.
Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of Akita, boxer, Miniature Pinscher, husky, shepherd and pit bull.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).
“Sophie” is a female boxer-pit bull mix in kennel No. 18, ID No. 14356. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Sophie’
“Sophie” is a female boxer-pit bull mix with a short red coat.
She is in kennel No. 18, ID No. 14356.
This young female Miniature Pinscher is in kennel No. 22, ID No. 14446. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Female Miniature Pinscher
This young female Miniature Pinscher has a short red coat.
She is in kennel No. 22, ID No. 14446.
“Apollo” is a male Akita mix in kennel No. 23, ID No. 14445. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Apollo’
“Apollo” is a male Akita mix with a short black and white coat.
He has been neutered.
He’s in kennel No. 23, ID No. 14445.
This young male husky-pit bull terrier mix is in kennel No. 24, ID No. 14437. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Husky-pit bull terrier
This young male husky-pit bull terrier mix has a short blue and white coat.
He’s in kennel No. 24, ID No. 14437.
“Husk” is a male shepherd mix in kennel No. 26, ID No. 14429. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. ‘Husk’
“Husk” is a male shepherd mix with a short black and brindle coat.
He is in kennel No. 26, ID No. 14429.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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