How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee will discuss an economic development strategy when it meets this week.
The committee, or LEDAC, will meet via Zoom at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 10.
The meeting is open to the public.
The meeting will be held via Zoom: Meeting ID, 987 7563 7121; passcode, 079305. Dial by your location, +1 669 900 6833.
The meeting will get started with a Brown Act training led by City Clerk Kelly Buendia.
Chair Wilda Shock said LEDAC will continue its discussion of the Economic Development Strategic Plan 2017-2022 and its implementation. The full plan can be found here.
Shock said developing an arts and culture plan for the city of Lakeport to become a key component of the next strategic plan will begin with a discussion of art in the parks and other public spaces.
She said representatives of the Lake County Arts Council and the Lake County Rural Arts Initiative have been invited to join the conversation at this meeting.
City staff also will update the group on projects and activities, and there will be reports from committee members.
LEDAC advocates for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and acts as a conduit between the city and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs.
Members are Chair Wilda Shock and Vice Chair Denise Combs, Maureen Brasier, Bonnie Darling, Candy De Los Santos, Melissa Fulton, Pam Harpster, Andy Lucas, Alicia Russell, Laura Sammel and Amanda Xu, with Bill Eaton as an ex officio member. City staff who are members include City Manager Kevin Ingram and Community Development Director Jenni Byers.
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 committee, or LEDAC, will meet via Zoom at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 10.
The meeting is open to the public.
The meeting will be held via Zoom: Meeting ID, 987 7563 7121; passcode, 079305. Dial by your location, +1 669 900 6833.
The meeting will get started with a Brown Act training led by City Clerk Kelly Buendia.
Chair Wilda Shock said LEDAC will continue its discussion of the Economic Development Strategic Plan 2017-2022 and its implementation. The full plan can be found here.
Shock said developing an arts and culture plan for the city of Lakeport to become a key component of the next strategic plan will begin with a discussion of art in the parks and other public spaces.
She said representatives of the Lake County Arts Council and the Lake County Rural Arts Initiative have been invited to join the conversation at this meeting.
City staff also will update the group on projects and activities, and there will be reports from committee members.
LEDAC advocates for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and acts as a conduit between the city and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs.
Members are Chair Wilda Shock and Vice Chair Denise Combs, Maureen Brasier, Bonnie Darling, Candy De Los Santos, Melissa Fulton, Pam Harpster, Andy Lucas, Alicia Russell, Laura Sammel and Amanda Xu, with Bill Eaton as an ex officio member. City staff who are members include City Manager Kevin Ingram and Community Development Director Jenni Byers.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
In the past week, California has nearly tripled its goal for vaccinating education workers, with more than 200,000 teachers, school staff and child care workers vaccinated, far exceeding the state’s target of administering 75,000 vaccines per week.
The state began dedicating 10 percent of its vaccine supply to education workers on March 1.
“This is welcome news for teachers, students and parents as more and more schools reopen safely across the state,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “We will continue working with our local partners to accelerate this effort in communities across the state so that all school staff have access to a vaccine within weeks.”
California was among the first states to authorize vaccines for education workers, with vaccine prioritization a core component of the Safe Schools for All Plan since December.
Prior to the governor’s 10-percent commitment, 35 counties were actively vaccinating education workers.
Last week, through accelerated county-led efforts and supplemental state efforts, more than 200,000 education workers in all 58 counties were vaccinated.
Across California, 10.5 million vaccinations have been administered. More than one in 10 Californians over the age of 16 (3.35 million) are fully vaccinated and more than one in four (1.7 million) people 65 and over are fully vaccinated.
The governor last week signed a $6.6 billion package to safely get students back in school, which provides additional funding to support safety measures for in-person instruction and expanded learning opportunities.
The package also codifies several successful state initiatives, including the governor’s commitment, beginning March 1, to dedicate 10 percent of the state’s vaccine supply to education workers – such as teachers, paraprofessionals, school bus drivers, child care workers and site-based administrators.
The state outlined its plan to execute on the governor’s commitment last month.
For more information about safe returns to in-person instruction, please visit www.schools.covid19.ca.gov.
The state began dedicating 10 percent of its vaccine supply to education workers on March 1.
“This is welcome news for teachers, students and parents as more and more schools reopen safely across the state,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “We will continue working with our local partners to accelerate this effort in communities across the state so that all school staff have access to a vaccine within weeks.”
California was among the first states to authorize vaccines for education workers, with vaccine prioritization a core component of the Safe Schools for All Plan since December.
Prior to the governor’s 10-percent commitment, 35 counties were actively vaccinating education workers.
Last week, through accelerated county-led efforts and supplemental state efforts, more than 200,000 education workers in all 58 counties were vaccinated.
Across California, 10.5 million vaccinations have been administered. More than one in 10 Californians over the age of 16 (3.35 million) are fully vaccinated and more than one in four (1.7 million) people 65 and over are fully vaccinated.
The governor last week signed a $6.6 billion package to safely get students back in school, which provides additional funding to support safety measures for in-person instruction and expanded learning opportunities.
The package also codifies several successful state initiatives, including the governor’s commitment, beginning March 1, to dedicate 10 percent of the state’s vaccine supply to education workers – such as teachers, paraprofessionals, school bus drivers, child care workers and site-based administrators.
The state outlined its plan to execute on the governor’s commitment last month.
For more information about safe returns to in-person instruction, please visit www.schools.covid19.ca.gov.
The Employment Development Department has provided the latest data on California unemployment claims activity since the pandemic began, along with updates on actions under way to speed up payment and strengthen customer service, curb fraud, and assist victims of identity theft.
Since March 2020, the department has processed 20.7 million claims and paid a total of $126 billion in unemployment benefits – an amount that exceeds five times the number of claims filed during the worst year of the Great Recession.
Approximately one-third of these payments are part of the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, program implemented by Congress last year – a federal program for people who are not eligible for state unemployment insurance benefits.
About two-thirds include state Unemployment Insurance benefits, benefits under Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or PEUC, extension or the Federal-State Extended Duration extension, which provides up to 20 weeks of extra benefits for people who used all their regular Unemployment Insurance or PEUC benefits.
Last week, the department completed adding up to 11 weeks of benefits to PUA or PEUC claims, finishing the work by the Department's commitment to complete Phase Two by March 7. Phase One of this rollout was finished in January.
Approximately 185,000 claimants included in Phase Two have all now been given the opportunity to certify and receive these benefits if eligible. These extended benefits can help the more than 1.5 million Californians who would have otherwise lost benefits after the federal CARES Act ended on Dec. 27, 2020.
Call center staff complete specialty training to strengthen customer service
Since the onset of the pandemic, EDD has seen an unprecedented rise in calls to its contact center.
Last week, the department graduated 260 top-level call center staff specially trained to research and resolve complex claims, answer questions, and help claimants.
In total, 3,436 EDD agents are helping answer claimant calls and the average wait time to talk with a representative once in the queue is about 40 minutes.
In addition, the department recently expanded translations of its English and Spanish Form 1099-G fact sheets to include Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean and Armenian. These guides provide claimants important information about the annual tax season process of receiving
Form 1099-Gs from EDD.
Agency seeks to help claimants avoid unnecessary delays in benefit payments
EDD has expanded the availability of information to help claimants who must certify their eligibility for benefits every two weeks in order to get payments.
Claimants will see expanded information available when they go to complete their next certification. This new language assists the claimant with how to avoid common mistakes in the application process.
The department will continue to release additional educational materials to help people who are confused by the certification questions in light of the unique challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic. EDD provides “Step by Step Instructions” and the “Understanding the Continued Claim Certification Questions” on the website for helpful tips on certifying.
Curbing fraud using new tools and systems
Last year, California was hit hard by fraud from international and national crime syndicates – particularly those targeting the Federal PUA program, which did not require income or employment verification and allowed claimants to backdate claims to February 2020.
In response, California launched a new identity verification system, ID.me, to reduce fraud at the front end of the application process. The department said it also thwarted scammers by no longer backdating PUA claims automatically.
The department has also invested in new fraud prevention technology and investigative tools to assist the process of preventing and catching acts of fraud.
EDD provides resources for Californians at the Help Fight Fraud webpage.
Between March 2020 and January 2021, the department said its fraud screening measures and new security protections prevented up to $60 billion in payments to fraudulent claims.
Helping victims of identity theft
The department set up a designated phone line and online reporting system for anyone who gets a 1099-G form with an inaccurate report of benefits and believes identity theft was involved. Information to help fraud victims is posted here.
Anyone who receives a 1099-G from the EDD that is not accurate because of suspected identity theft should report this as fraud by going to Ask EDD, selecting “Form 1099G” and then choosing “Report Fraud.” EDD will investigate and issue a corrected 1099-G as appropriate.
The IRS has made clear that taxpayers who are unable to obtain a timely, corrected 1099-G should still file an accurate tax return, reporting only the income they received.
Resources for identity theft victims are also available by reporting the crime to the Federal Trade Commission and IRS.
Since March 2020, the department has processed 20.7 million claims and paid a total of $126 billion in unemployment benefits – an amount that exceeds five times the number of claims filed during the worst year of the Great Recession.
Approximately one-third of these payments are part of the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, program implemented by Congress last year – a federal program for people who are not eligible for state unemployment insurance benefits.
About two-thirds include state Unemployment Insurance benefits, benefits under Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or PEUC, extension or the Federal-State Extended Duration extension, which provides up to 20 weeks of extra benefits for people who used all their regular Unemployment Insurance or PEUC benefits.
Last week, the department completed adding up to 11 weeks of benefits to PUA or PEUC claims, finishing the work by the Department's commitment to complete Phase Two by March 7. Phase One of this rollout was finished in January.
Approximately 185,000 claimants included in Phase Two have all now been given the opportunity to certify and receive these benefits if eligible. These extended benefits can help the more than 1.5 million Californians who would have otherwise lost benefits after the federal CARES Act ended on Dec. 27, 2020.
Call center staff complete specialty training to strengthen customer service
Since the onset of the pandemic, EDD has seen an unprecedented rise in calls to its contact center.
Last week, the department graduated 260 top-level call center staff specially trained to research and resolve complex claims, answer questions, and help claimants.
In total, 3,436 EDD agents are helping answer claimant calls and the average wait time to talk with a representative once in the queue is about 40 minutes.
In addition, the department recently expanded translations of its English and Spanish Form 1099-G fact sheets to include Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean and Armenian. These guides provide claimants important information about the annual tax season process of receiving
Form 1099-Gs from EDD.
Agency seeks to help claimants avoid unnecessary delays in benefit payments
EDD has expanded the availability of information to help claimants who must certify their eligibility for benefits every two weeks in order to get payments.
Claimants will see expanded information available when they go to complete their next certification. This new language assists the claimant with how to avoid common mistakes in the application process.
The department will continue to release additional educational materials to help people who are confused by the certification questions in light of the unique challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic. EDD provides “Step by Step Instructions” and the “Understanding the Continued Claim Certification Questions” on the website for helpful tips on certifying.
Curbing fraud using new tools and systems
Last year, California was hit hard by fraud from international and national crime syndicates – particularly those targeting the Federal PUA program, which did not require income or employment verification and allowed claimants to backdate claims to February 2020.
In response, California launched a new identity verification system, ID.me, to reduce fraud at the front end of the application process. The department said it also thwarted scammers by no longer backdating PUA claims automatically.
The department has also invested in new fraud prevention technology and investigative tools to assist the process of preventing and catching acts of fraud.
EDD provides resources for Californians at the Help Fight Fraud webpage.
Between March 2020 and January 2021, the department said its fraud screening measures and new security protections prevented up to $60 billion in payments to fraudulent claims.
Helping victims of identity theft
The department set up a designated phone line and online reporting system for anyone who gets a 1099-G form with an inaccurate report of benefits and believes identity theft was involved. Information to help fraud victims is posted here.
Anyone who receives a 1099-G from the EDD that is not accurate because of suspected identity theft should report this as fraud by going to Ask EDD, selecting “Form 1099G” and then choosing “Report Fraud.” EDD will investigate and issue a corrected 1099-G as appropriate.
The IRS has made clear that taxpayers who are unable to obtain a timely, corrected 1099-G should still file an accurate tax return, reporting only the income they received.
Resources for identity theft victims are also available by reporting the crime to the Federal Trade Commission and IRS.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Sacramento man died Sunday afternoon in a motorcycle wreck near Middletown.
Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified the man who died as John Michael Walker, 61.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said the crash occurred at approximately 12:49 p.m. Sunday on Butts Canyon Road, west of the Napa County line.
The CHP said Walker was riding a 2000 Honda RC51 motorcycle westbound at around 55 to 60 miles per hour when, for reasons still under investigation, he lost control of the motorcycle while negotiating a sweeping curve in the roadway.
The motorcycle overturned onto its left side and began traveling in a northeasterly direction toward a metal guardrail, the CHP said.
The CHP’s report said the Honda hit the guardrail, rotated and ejected Walker.
Medical personnel arrived on scene and despite life-saving efforts, Walker succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the report.
The CHP said Walker was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.
Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected as factors in the wreck, the CHP 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.
Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified the man who died as John Michael Walker, 61.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said the crash occurred at approximately 12:49 p.m. Sunday on Butts Canyon Road, west of the Napa County line.
The CHP said Walker was riding a 2000 Honda RC51 motorcycle westbound at around 55 to 60 miles per hour when, for reasons still under investigation, he lost control of the motorcycle while negotiating a sweeping curve in the roadway.
The motorcycle overturned onto its left side and began traveling in a northeasterly direction toward a metal guardrail, the CHP said.
The CHP’s report said the Honda hit the guardrail, rotated and ejected Walker.
Medical personnel arrived on scene and despite life-saving efforts, Walker succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the report.
The CHP said Walker was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.
Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected as factors in the wreck, the CHP said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors will hear the latest this week on the program that aims to prevent destructive mussels from infesting Clear Lake and will consider a proposal to extend a contract for using the former juvenile hall as a temporary support shelter for the county’s homeless residents.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 9, and will be available to the public virtually only.
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 at 9 a.m. The meeting ID is 979 6189 2774, password 193726. The meeting also can be accessed via on tap mobile at +16699006833,,97961892774#,,,,*193726#.
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.
Chromebook devices are also available at the Lakeport and Clearlake Library branches, which will open early on Tuesday. Chromebooks can be checked out for three hours for use on the library premises and contactless pickup is available. The Lakeport Library Branch can be reached at 707-263-8817, and Clearlake at 707-994-5115.
WiFi is accessible in the parking lot of each County Library Branch, so residents can park at these locations to use WiFi on borrowed or personal devices, by connecting to the “Lake County Library” network (no password) anytime from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
While the board chambers remain closed, outdoor viewing and participation are also available during each meeting on the Third Street side of the courthouse building.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item please 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 11:15 a.m., Lake County Water Resources will give the supervisors an update on the Lake County Quagga Mussel Prevention Program.
Noting that Clear Lake recently was voted the nation’s best bass fishing lake and has been routinely acknowledged within the top five best bass fishing lakes across the country routinely over the last decade, and that record-breaking fish have been caught in the lake, Water Resources Director Scott De Leon said in his written report to the board that the visitation pressure from outside the county and state lines is higher than ever before.
“Lake County Water Vessel Inspection Ordinance 2936 protects all Lake County water bodies from infestation by Dreissenid mussels, and it’s important to provide the County and the Board of Supervisors with a review and update of this program specifically how it functions and how it’s funded, and what the plans are for this program going into the future,” De Leon said.
Also on Tuesday, in an untimed item, the board will consider a request to extend the use of the county’s former juvenile hall facility for a temporary support shelter targeting Lake County’s chronically homeless population through June 30.
Oroville-based Elijah House has been operating the facility since last year. The last amendment to the contract expires on March 31.
In other timed items, at 9:06 p.m. Dr. Gary Pace will update the board on COVID-19, at 10:15 a.m. the board will receive a presentation on the Big Valley Groundwater Basin Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and implementation and at 10:45 a.m. they will get a report from the Clearlake Environmental Research Center.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.2: Approve County of Lake COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Worksite Protocol.
5.3: Approve agreements between the county of Lake and a) Majestic Landscaping and b) Fire Wise Landscaping for hazardous vegetation abatement and authorize the chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign the agreements.
5.4: Approve authorization of destruction of records.
5.5: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.6: 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.
5.7: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, (a) waive the competitive bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.2, based on the determination that competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county; and (b) authorize Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing Agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $30,000 to Rockwell Solutions for the purchase of a Vaughan 40 HP Chopper Pump for Lift Station #19.
5.8: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, (a) waive the competitive bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.2, based on the determination that competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county; and (b) authorize Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $125,000 to Bogie’s Pump Systems for the purchase of a Fairbanks Morse 350 HP pump for Lift Station #1.
5.9: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, (a) waive the competitive bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.2, based on the determination that competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county; and (b) authorize Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $69,000 to Bogie’s Pump Systems for the purchase of a HOMA 167 ABS pump for Lift Station #4.
5.10: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.11: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
5.12: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.13: Approve the continuation of a local emergency In Lake County in response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.14: (a) Approve bid for the purchase of Motorola radios and; (b) approve authorization to issue a purchase order to Command Communications in the amount of $182,812.
5.15 : Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2020-133 to amend the adopted budget for FY 20-21 by authorizing a short term loan from the Sheriff/Rural and Small Counties budget 2206 to provide interim financing in order to process payment for equipment purchased for the mobile refrigerated unit in the Sheriff/Local Law Enforcement budget 2221.
5.16: (a) Approve acceptance of donations from Lake County Tribal Health ($6,700), Adventist Health Clearlake ($2,205) and Sutter Health Lakeport ($750) for the purchase of AEDs; and (b) adopt resolution to allocate unanticipated revenue for the purchase of AEDs for use by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
5.17: Approve contract between county of Lake and Prentice Long for public authority labor negotiations in the amount of $30,000 from Feb. 1, 2021, to Jan. 31, 2022, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.18: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, adopt resolution allowing the county of Lake Watershed Protection District to apply for a Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program Grant Funds in the amount of $450,000 from the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.
6.3, 9:45 a.m.: (a) Consideration of presentation from Illumination Technologies California, and (b) direction to staff to review existing county sites for use as tower locations.
6.4, 10:15 a.m.: Consideration of presentation of Big Valley Groundwater Basin Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and implementation.
6.5, 10:45 a.m.: Consideration of Report from the Clearlake Environmental Research Center.
6.6, 11:15 a.m.: Consideration of presentation of the Lake County Quagga Mussel Prevention Program update.
6.7, 12 p.m.: Consideration of Lake County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee’s recommendation to support the 33rd Annual Clear Lake Team Bass Tournament, in the amount of $2,000.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of a special meeting date change from March 30 to the board’s annual meeting calendar.
7.3: Consideration of request to extend the use of the county juvenile hall facility for a temporary support shelter targeting Lake County’s chronically homeless population through June 30, 2021.
7.4: Consideration of appointment to the Lake Pillsbury Fire Protection District Board.
7.5: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Western Region Town Hall.
7.6: Consideration of Change Order No. 1 for Lampson Field Airport Runway 10-28 Asphalt Slurry Seal Rehabilitation AIP No. 3-06-0117-019-2018, Bid No. 19-11 for a decrease of $15,892.89 and a revised contract amount of $989,817.11.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 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 sec. 54956.9(d)(1): California Native Plant Society v. County of Lake, et al.
8.3: Employee disciplinary appeal (Gov Code sec 54957): Appeal No. 2021- 01.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 9, and will be available to the public virtually only.
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 at 9 a.m. The meeting ID is 979 6189 2774, password 193726. The meeting also can be accessed via on tap mobile at +16699006833,,97961892774#,,,,*193726#.
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.
Chromebook devices are also available at the Lakeport and Clearlake Library branches, which will open early on Tuesday. Chromebooks can be checked out for three hours for use on the library premises and contactless pickup is available. The Lakeport Library Branch can be reached at 707-263-8817, and Clearlake at 707-994-5115.
WiFi is accessible in the parking lot of each County Library Branch, so residents can park at these locations to use WiFi on borrowed or personal devices, by connecting to the “Lake County Library” network (no password) anytime from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
While the board chambers remain closed, outdoor viewing and participation are also available during each meeting on the Third Street side of the courthouse building.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item please 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 11:15 a.m., Lake County Water Resources will give the supervisors an update on the Lake County Quagga Mussel Prevention Program.
Noting that Clear Lake recently was voted the nation’s best bass fishing lake and has been routinely acknowledged within the top five best bass fishing lakes across the country routinely over the last decade, and that record-breaking fish have been caught in the lake, Water Resources Director Scott De Leon said in his written report to the board that the visitation pressure from outside the county and state lines is higher than ever before.
“Lake County Water Vessel Inspection Ordinance 2936 protects all Lake County water bodies from infestation by Dreissenid mussels, and it’s important to provide the County and the Board of Supervisors with a review and update of this program specifically how it functions and how it’s funded, and what the plans are for this program going into the future,” De Leon said.
Also on Tuesday, in an untimed item, the board will consider a request to extend the use of the county’s former juvenile hall facility for a temporary support shelter targeting Lake County’s chronically homeless population through June 30.
Oroville-based Elijah House has been operating the facility since last year. The last amendment to the contract expires on March 31.
In other timed items, at 9:06 p.m. Dr. Gary Pace will update the board on COVID-19, at 10:15 a.m. the board will receive a presentation on the Big Valley Groundwater Basin Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and implementation and at 10:45 a.m. they will get a report from the Clearlake Environmental Research Center.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.2: Approve County of Lake COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Worksite Protocol.
5.3: Approve agreements between the county of Lake and a) Majestic Landscaping and b) Fire Wise Landscaping for hazardous vegetation abatement and authorize the chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign the agreements.
5.4: Approve authorization of destruction of records.
5.5: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.6: 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.
5.7: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, (a) waive the competitive bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.2, based on the determination that competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county; and (b) authorize Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing Agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $30,000 to Rockwell Solutions for the purchase of a Vaughan 40 HP Chopper Pump for Lift Station #19.
5.8: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, (a) waive the competitive bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.2, based on the determination that competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county; and (b) authorize Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $125,000 to Bogie’s Pump Systems for the purchase of a Fairbanks Morse 350 HP pump for Lift Station #1.
5.9: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, (a) waive the competitive bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.2, based on the determination that competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county; and (b) authorize Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $69,000 to Bogie’s Pump Systems for the purchase of a HOMA 167 ABS pump for Lift Station #4.
5.10: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.11: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
5.12: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.13: Approve the continuation of a local emergency In Lake County in response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.14: (a) Approve bid for the purchase of Motorola radios and; (b) approve authorization to issue a purchase order to Command Communications in the amount of $182,812.
5.15 : Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2020-133 to amend the adopted budget for FY 20-21 by authorizing a short term loan from the Sheriff/Rural and Small Counties budget 2206 to provide interim financing in order to process payment for equipment purchased for the mobile refrigerated unit in the Sheriff/Local Law Enforcement budget 2221.
5.16: (a) Approve acceptance of donations from Lake County Tribal Health ($6,700), Adventist Health Clearlake ($2,205) and Sutter Health Lakeport ($750) for the purchase of AEDs; and (b) adopt resolution to allocate unanticipated revenue for the purchase of AEDs for use by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
5.17: Approve contract between county of Lake and Prentice Long for public authority labor negotiations in the amount of $30,000 from Feb. 1, 2021, to Jan. 31, 2022, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.18: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, adopt resolution allowing the county of Lake Watershed Protection District to apply for a Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program Grant Funds in the amount of $450,000 from the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.
6.3, 9:45 a.m.: (a) Consideration of presentation from Illumination Technologies California, and (b) direction to staff to review existing county sites for use as tower locations.
6.4, 10:15 a.m.: Consideration of presentation of Big Valley Groundwater Basin Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and implementation.
6.5, 10:45 a.m.: Consideration of Report from the Clearlake Environmental Research Center.
6.6, 11:15 a.m.: Consideration of presentation of the Lake County Quagga Mussel Prevention Program update.
6.7, 12 p.m.: Consideration of Lake County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee’s recommendation to support the 33rd Annual Clear Lake Team Bass Tournament, in the amount of $2,000.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of a special meeting date change from March 30 to the board’s annual meeting calendar.
7.3: Consideration of request to extend the use of the county juvenile hall facility for a temporary support shelter targeting Lake County’s chronically homeless population through June 30, 2021.
7.4: Consideration of appointment to the Lake Pillsbury Fire Protection District Board.
7.5: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Western Region Town Hall.
7.6: Consideration of Change Order No. 1 for Lampson Field Airport Runway 10-28 Asphalt Slurry Seal Rehabilitation AIP No. 3-06-0117-019-2018, Bid No. 19-11 for a decrease of $15,892.89 and a revised contract amount of $989,817.11.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 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 sec. 54956.9(d)(1): California Native Plant Society v. County of Lake, et al.
8.3: Employee disciplinary appeal (Gov Code sec 54957): Appeal No. 2021- 01.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Veterans Court is seeking veteran mentors for its participants.
Launched in 2015, Lake County Veterans Court seeks to offer specialized support for veterans who find themselves in the criminal justice system.
The program is overseen by a committee of representatives from the District Attorney’s Office, Lake County Superior Court, the county’s indigent defense contract, San Francisco VA Medical Center and the Lake County Probation Department, among others.
Defense attorney Angela Carter, who is part of the oversight of the program, said participants have strict requirements – she compared it to “probation on steroids” – and the results over the years have included some phenomenal success stories.
She said veterans court is mostly a post-sentencing program for veterans with a proven nexus between their offense and their service-related injuries and who have been sentenced by the court to do the veterans court program in lieu of or in addition to their regular sentence.
“Our vets have found needed rehab, got needed medical care, obtained service animals, reunited with their families, found jobs, enrolled in school and vocational programs and even bought their first homes,” she said.
As valuable as the program is, it has faced challenges during the pandemic, Carter said.
She said the pandemic has forced many of the court’s needed services, including veterans court, to be done in a virtual format.
Moving forward, Carter said they are looking for vets who live in or near Lake County to serve as mentors to veterans court participants.
There will be an online training and after that the time commitment is “minimal but meaningful,” she said.
For more information or to volunteer, call Carter at 707-245-4727.
Launched in 2015, Lake County Veterans Court seeks to offer specialized support for veterans who find themselves in the criminal justice system.
The program is overseen by a committee of representatives from the District Attorney’s Office, Lake County Superior Court, the county’s indigent defense contract, San Francisco VA Medical Center and the Lake County Probation Department, among others.
Defense attorney Angela Carter, who is part of the oversight of the program, said participants have strict requirements – she compared it to “probation on steroids” – and the results over the years have included some phenomenal success stories.
She said veterans court is mostly a post-sentencing program for veterans with a proven nexus between their offense and their service-related injuries and who have been sentenced by the court to do the veterans court program in lieu of or in addition to their regular sentence.
“Our vets have found needed rehab, got needed medical care, obtained service animals, reunited with their families, found jobs, enrolled in school and vocational programs and even bought their first homes,” she said.
As valuable as the program is, it has faced challenges during the pandemic, Carter said.
She said the pandemic has forced many of the court’s needed services, including veterans court, to be done in a virtual format.
Moving forward, Carter said they are looking for vets who live in or near Lake County to serve as mentors to veterans court participants.
There will be an online training and after that the time commitment is “minimal but meaningful,” she said.
For more information or to volunteer, call Carter at 707-245-4727.