MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Forest officials have elevated the fire danger level on the Mendocino National Forest to “very high.”
This danger level means that fires will start easily, spread rapidly and increase quickly in intensity.
To maximize the effectiveness of initial response, forest officials said they strategize how they preposition resources in anticipation of shifts in weather and fuel conditions across California.
With the forecast showing a chance of thunderstorms this week, Mendocino National Forest fire officials are ordering additional engines and crews to be available locally in case new fires start.
“Our primary wildfire response strategy for 2020 is aggressive initial attack and rapid containment to minimize the number of large wildfires. The most important thing people can do to help during the 2020 fire year is to prevent wildfires,” said Fire Management Officer Curtis Coots.
Fewer human-caused fires will help protect communities and also preserve firefighting resources.
Remember that fire restrictions are in effect across the forest. Campfires are allowed in developed campgrounds and wilderness only.
Please check here for complete details on campfire restrictions.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – While the pandemic continues, the latest state unemployment report shows that jobless rates are dropping in Lake County and across California as a whole.
The Employment Development Department reported that Lake County’s June unemployment rate was 14.2 percent, down from a final revised rate of 15.5 percent for May and 16.7 percent in April.
California’s unemployment rate improved to 14.9 percent in June – down from 16.4 percent in April and May – as the state’s employers added a record 558,200 jobs, according to the report.
These improvements follow the previous record gain of 134,200 jobs in May and record losses in the months preceding that, in a data series that dates back to 1990.
California has now regained more than a quarter – or 26.4 percent – of the 2,625,500 nonfarm jobs lost during March and April as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Employment Development Department said.
And, despite the fact that California’s rate is going down, the Employment Development Department noted that it is still far higher than the 12.3 percent it was during the height of the Great Recession in March, October and November 2010.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the nation’s unemployment rate for June was 11.1 percent, down from 13.3 percent in May and 14.7 percent in April.
In June, Lake County had a civilian labor force totaling 25,800 individuals, with 3,660 individuals unemployed, compared to a labor force of 25,480 and 3,950 unemployed in May.
Total nonfarm jobs in Lake County were up in June by 3.4 percent over May but down 20.7 percent compared to the previous June, while farm jobs dropped -3.4 percent from May and 32.9 percent in a year-over comparison.
Total nonfarm subcategories that showed job growth over May were professional and business services, 25 percent; information, 20 percent; leisure and hospitality, 19.7 percent, and manufacturing, 15 percent.
Subcategories that showed job loss in Lake County when compared to May included federal government, -5.3 percent, and educational and health services, -1.7 percent.
Lake County’s 14.9-percent jobless rate ranked it No. 40 of California’s 58 counties.
Neighboring county jobless rates and ranks for June are Colusa, 18.3 percent, No. 54; Glenn, 12.9 percent, No. 26; Mendocino, 12.3 percent, No. 19; Napa, 12.5 percent, No. 20; Sonoma, 11.5 percent, No. 12; and Yolo, 10.6 percent, No. 5.
The pandemic has, in some cases, flipped traditional statewide rankings in which Bay Area counties have had the lowest jobless rates.
That continued in June, with Lassen County holding on for the second month to the No. 1 ranking statewide for lowest unemployment, with 9.5 percent. Rounding out the top five are Trinity County, 9.8 percent; Modoc and Marin tied at 10 percent; and Yolo, 5 percent.
The highest unemployment in the state was recorded in Imperial County, 27.3 percent. Other counties in the bottom five include Mono, 24.7 percent; Alpine, 19.6 percent; Los Angeles, 19.5 percent; and Colusa, 18.3 percent.
Statewide numbers and trends
The Employment Development Department said the number of Californians holding jobs in June was 16,117,000, an increase of 653,300 from May, but down 2,451,900 from the employment total in June of last year.
The number of unemployed Californians was 2,831,000 in June, a decrease of 212,100 over the month, but up by 2,050,000 compared with June of last year, the report said.
The report showed that the industry sectors that were most affected by the shutdown due to the pandemic tended to have the largest job gains in June.
The state said that total nonfarm jobs in California’s 11 major industries totaled 15,671,400 in June – a net gain of 558,200 jobs from May. This followed a revised gain of 134,200 jobs in May.
Total nonfarm jobs decreased by 1,740,600 jobs – a 10 percent decrease – from June 2019 to June 2020 compared to the U.S. annual loss of 12,957,000 jobs, an 8.6-percent decrease, the state said.
The number of jobs in the agriculture industry decreased by 8,500 jobs from May to 313,100, with the Employment Development Department noting that the agricultural industry has lost 113,000 farm jobs since June 2019.
Nine of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs last month, led by leisure and hospitality with 292,500 new jobs; the Employment Development Department said that was the largest job gain due to growth in accommodation and food services, which benefited from statewide reopenings of bars and dine-in restaurants. The sector has regained more than one-third of its job losses from March and April.
The Employment Development Department also reported that, percentage-wise, the construction industry has had the largest rebound since the historic losses in March and April, recovering 68 percent of jobs lost within the sector.
Government had the largest decline in June, with a loss of 36,300 jobs in state and local government educational services.
In other employment-related news, the Employment Development Department said there were 2,778,771 people certifying for Unemployment Insurance benefits during the June 2020 sample week, compared to 2,154,692 people in May 2020 and 307,704 people in June 2019.
The state said that, concurrently, 284,300 initial claims were processed in the June 2020 sample week, which was a month-over increase of 80,712 claims from May 2020 and a year-over increase of 239,732 claims from June 2019.
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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week is scheduled to consider a resolution to sell a county-owned property to the Lake Transit Agency for its new transit hub.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 21.
The supervisors will meet in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, for a hybrid meeting format which also will include the opportunity for community members to continue to participate virtually.
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, please join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link at 9 a.m. The meeting ID is 954 2874 7464, password 431002.
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 9:02 a.m., the board will get its regular update on COVID-19 from Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace.
At 10 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing to consider a resolution declaring property owned by the county of Lake on South Center Drive as surplus and authorizing the sale of the land to Lake Transit Authority for $200,000.
On Jan. 14, the board adopted a resolution to sell the property to Lake Transit for its planned transit hub. At the same time, the board approved a letter in support of a grant application the agency submitted to the state.
In April, the California State Transportation Agency awarded Lake Transit Authority $12,994,000 from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program for the final design and construction of the regional transit center located in the City of Clearlake at the site described previously.
In addition, the grant funding covers the purchase of four hydrogen fuel-cell buses and associated infrastructure.
At 10:30 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing, continued from July 7, for the consideration and approval of the Guenoc Valley Mixed Use Planned Development Project.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve (a) ratification of county administrative officer's action to send letters to tenants of the Harbor Village Artist Cottages to offer relief of rent during the COVID-19 Health Emergency; (b) ratification of county administrative officer's action to send a letter to the tenant of the courthouse coffee kiosk to offer relief of rent during the COVID-19 Health Emergency; and (c) authorization for county administrative officer to evaluate future needs of tenants on a continuing basis to offer rent relief when necessary.
5.2: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Cobb Area County Water District for Community Development Block Grant Project Fund Utilization under Agreement 18-CDBG-12872 between the county of Lake and Department of Housing and Community Development.
5.3: Adopt Resolution Approving County of Lake Health Services Department to submit a renewal application and certification statement for the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Grant with the State of California, Department of Public Health for Fiscal Year 2020 through 2021, in the amount of $298,367.23 and authorizing the board chair to sign said certification, and Health Services director to sign application.
5.4: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, per Ordinance No. 2406, Purchasing Code 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve agreement between the county of Lake and A&P Helicopters for Fiscal Year 2020/21 in the amount of $100,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.5: Approve (a) purchase of vehicle equipment from Precision Wireless in the amount of $67,148.97 and installation costs in the amount of $30,024.33 from the Sheriff/Pursuit Replacement Budget Unit 2217, Object Code 28.30; and (b) authorize the sheriff/coroner or his designee to issue purchase orders for said purchases.
5.6: Approve contract between county of Lake and North Coast Opportunities Inc. for the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program in the amount of $167,162 from April 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.7: Approve fourth 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, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.8: Approve the distribution of excess proceeds in the amount of $365,125.41 from Tax Defaulted Land Sale #155 held on June 9, 2017 (Group 2) (per R&T §4675).
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:02 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, sitting concurrently as Clearlake Keys CSA No. 1, No. 2, No. 6, No. 7, No. 13, No. 16, No. 18, No. 20, No. 21 and No. 22, Kelseyville County Waterworks District No. 3 and Lake County Sanitation District, consideration of (a) resolution confirming collections of annual lighting fees; (b) resolution confirming collections of delinquent water fees; (c) resolution confirming collections of delinquent water and sewer fees; and (d) resolution of delinquent sewer fees for Lake County Sanitation District.
6.4, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of resolution declaring certain real property owned by the county of Lake as surplus and authorizing the sale and disposition of portions of said property for the benefit of the public, and (b) authorize the county administrative officer to execute the vacant land purchase agreement with the Lake Transit Authority for a sale price of $200,000 and to carry out all necessary actions to complete the sale.
6.5, 10:30 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from July 7, consider and approve Guenoc Valley Mixed Use Planned Development Project (AM 18-04; DA 18-01, GPAP 18-01; RZ 18-01 & RZ 20-01; GPD 18-01; SD 18-01, SD 20-01, UP 18-49 and UP 20-02).
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Discussion and consideration of microenterprise home kitchen operations.
7.3: Consideration of updates to return to work protocol.
7.4: Consideration of letter of opposition to SB 474 (Stern).
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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council will consider requests from staff this week to approve an agreement for a state alcohol enforcement grant and the purchase of four generators to prepare the city for public safety power shutoffs.
The meeting will take place via webinar beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 21.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here or join by phone by calling toll-free 877-309-2074 or 213-929-4221. The access code is 887-783-896; 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, July 21.
Please 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, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen will ask the council to review and adopt a resolution accepting grant funding and joining into partnership with the State of California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control as part of the city being awarded a state grant.
Rasmussen said the Lakeport Police Department, in partnership with the Clearlake Police Department, applied for grant funding to conduct enforcement and training relative to the presence of alcoholic beverages.
The application secured $24,975 of grant funding for the implementation of “minor decoy” and “shoulder tap” programs and for the conducting of Informed Merchants Preventing AlcoholRelated Crime Tendencies, or IMPACT, inspections, targeting both ABC-licensed premises and individuals who furnish alcoholic beverages to underage subjects.
“This project is targeted to reduce underage drinking and the resultant DUI driving injuries and fatalities, and/or property damage, reduce youth access to alcoholic beverages through education of licensee, enforcement intervention and the impressions of omnipresence of law enforcement in and around the cities of Lakeport and Clearlake,” Rasmussen wrote in his report.
Public Works Director Doug Grider also will seek the council’s approval of the purchase of four standby generators funded by the $300,000 Public Safety Power Shutoff Resiliency Allocation Grant the city has received from the state.
“The generators will replace the existing units at city hall, police department and corporation yard. These all have a history of mechanical issues and are generally undersized. A new unit will be installed at the Silveira Community Center,” Grider said.
Grider said the city received five bids, only one of which met the EPA Tier 4 certification for California Air Resources Board compliance suggested by the Lake County Air Quality Management District.
Grider said that bid came from Leete Generators in the amount of $263,536.
In other business, Assistant City Manager Kevin Ingram will ask the council to approve a professional service agreement with 4LEAF Inc. for the provision of supplemental building services in the amount not to exceed $25,000 and the council will be asked to nominate its voting delegates for the League of California Cities Annual Conference to be held Oct. 7 to 9.
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 July 8; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the Mendocino Complex fire; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the February 2019 storms; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the October 2019 public safety power shutoff; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the COVID-19 public health emergency; and endorsement of the California Economic Summit’s efforts urging the governor to develop a statewide broadband action policy.
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.
This male domestic short hair cat is in kennel No. 138, ID No. 13701. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Domestic short hair cat
This male domestic short hair cat has a brown tabby coat.
He has been neutered.
He is in kennel No. 138, ID No. 13701.
This male brown tabby kitten is in kennel No. 147A, ID No. 13779. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Brown tabby kitten
This male brown tabby kitten has a medium-length coat and gold eyes.
He has been neutered.
He is in kennel No. 147A, ID No. 13779.
This female kitten is in kennel No. 147B, ID No. 13780. Photo courtesy of Lake County Animal Care and Control. Tortie kitten
This female kitten has a medium-length tortie coat and gold eyes.
She has been spayed. She is in kennel No. 147B, ID No. 13780.
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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A sample of mosquitoes collected in Lake County tested positive for West Nile virus, officials said Saturday.
The Lake County Vector Control District said the mosquitoes, Culex tarsalis (western encephalitis mosquito), were collected near Middletown on July 14.
“Detecting West Nile virus is typical for July in Lake County,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District.
“Many of us are spending more time at home and in our yards this summer, and during the COVID-19 pandemic it’s easy to forget that West Nile virus is still here,” Scott said. “Thankfully, mosquitoes cannot transmit COVID-19.”
Lake County Vector Control District continues to provide mosquito control services to the community.
If residents need help with a mosquito problem, please call the district from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, or request service online anytime at http://lcvcd.org/request-service/ .
The district also provides free mosquito-eating fish for swimming pools or spas that are not being maintained, and for backyard ponds, water features and animal watering troughs.
“Mosquitoes develop in water, so you can protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites by dumping out standing water,” Scott said. “Take a walk around your yard today and look for places that might hold water like buckets, toys, and boats and dump out any water you find. If you have a pond, livestock watering trough, or water feature that can’t be drained, then contact the district and we can provide free mosquito-eating fish to prevent mosquitoes from growing there.”
The district encourages residents to reduce their risk of contracting West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases by:
– Dumping or draining standing water to prevent mosquitoes. Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle. – Defending yourself. Use repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Follow the label directions. – Avoiding the outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.
So far this year, West Nile virus activity has been detected in one mosquito sample in Lake County.
Statewide, 20 California counties have detected WNV this year, mainly in mosquitoes.
As of July 17, two human cases of West Nile virus illness have been reported in California residents this year.
Residents with questions or who would like help with a mosquito problem, including reporting a neglected pool or spa, or have an in-ground yellowjacket nest on their property that they want treated should contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770 or visit the district website at www.lcvcd.org .
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