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LAKEPORT, Calif. – City staff updated the Lakeport City Council at its last meeting about operational changes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The staff gave the overview to the council at its April 21 meeting.
At that meeting, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace had been due to give the council an update, but City Manager Margaret Silveira said he was unable to attend due to a time conflict.
Silveira said the city needs to do everything it can to sustain businesses. “We will survive.”
She said the state has extended the time period up to a year for businesses to pay sales tax. “We just wish them all well.”
Silveria invited businesses to contact the staff and the city to ask about what help is available. Lake County Economic Development Corp. also is a repository for a lot of information.
Finance Director said he’s been trying to figure out what the future is going to look like for the city on the financial side, and that day he met with a sales tax consultant.
To get a picture, they are considering broad assumptions, and Walker said everything is still really uncertain. The plan is to get a budget in front of the council by June, as is normal. He said staff will bring forward an operating budget with some projections on revenues going forward.
Walker recommended suspending discretionary spending in the 2020 budget. As time passes, they will get a better idea of what the revenue is doing.
Regarding the sales tax issue, “Anything that’s going to help the local business is going to help the city,” he said, adding, “It’s simply a cash flow impact.”
Public Works Director Doug Grider said there has been a lot of talk about the COVID-19 testing of raw sewage that Lake County Special Districts has been involved in doing.
He said that testing isn’t yet going on in the city sewer system. Grider said the city initially didn’t have the necessary equipment to do the sampling. However, they have now acquired and installed it.
The issue now, he said, is, “The laboratory that does that test is overwhelmed.” Grider said the city is on a waiting list while the laboratory expands its testing capacity.
At that point, Grider said the new Library Park seawall was nearly complete, but the project had been impacted by supply chain issues. He said a few issues were left to finish the railing.
He said that the sidewalk project is moving along with new concrete scheduled to be poured this week.
Grider said that to reduce the potential for virus exposure, staff has been split. They are doing minor maintenance and addressing other work as needed.
Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said his department has had to implement a major change in operations, implementing restrictions on travel and training, and community policing as they currently know it.
He said they are adapting on a regular basis to protect the community. That includes rolling out a new online reporting system built by Lt. Dale Stoebe.
They’re also conducting all outreach online. “That seems to be working well because all of our social media was so well established before this happened,” Rasmussen said.
As of that date, Rasmussen said the police department had 376 contacts – either educational or enforcement – regarding the shelter in place order, had checked the security of 590 businesses and completed 37 hours of foot patrol.
He said the department had, at that point, had only 28 criminal investigations since the shelter in place order went into effect on March 19, a 55-percent reduction, and had only eight arrests, a 70-percent reduction. Officer-involved contacts were up by 18 percent.
In mid-March, new policies restricted police from being able to book certain crimes into the Lake County Jail. Then, on April 9, the Judicial Council of California instituted a no-bail policy which Rasmussen said created other safety concerns.
As examples, he cited a high intoxicated drunk driver that they can’t book but have to babysit and a wanted parolee at large with felony violations of failing to register as a sex offender. In the latter case, the parolee had an ankle monitor placed on him before he was released.
Rasmussen said the no bail changes will be in effect for 90 days after the governor’s declared state of emergency is over.
“Although crime in Lakeport is currently down, it’s not going to stay that way,” said Rasmussen, noting there will be many individuals they won’t be able to book into the jail.
He said they had a parolee from another county earlier that day who was in violation of a felony domestic violence restraining order. His county of origin didn’t want to deal with him.
As far as the homeless, they are being directed to the Hope Harbor warming shelter at the former Record-Bee building, 2150 S. Main St., Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said the shelter is having good success helping some people, but others are being ejected for serious rule violations, assaults on staff, and possession of heroin or other drug violations, and are back on the streets.
He said 32 individuals have been banned from the shelter, the only one operating for the homeless in the county right now. “There’s a strain with that,” said Rasmussen.
Rasmussen said many community members don’t understand that police can’t force the homeless to move from one public place to another unless it’s a place like Library Park, which has restrictions.
He also noted the additional police training demands due to COVID-19. All of the training is being done online, with 150 hours overall completed by that time.
Rasmussen said they’re staying very connected with all local, state and federal agencies.
He said the situation has introduced change “like we’ve never seen.”
Rasmussen added, “Law enforcement doesn’t necessarily like change, but they are good at it,” nothing they can almost turn on a dime and keep going.
The chief also thanked the community for its support.
Kelly Buendia, the city’s human resources director and city clerk, said the primary concern has been employee safety and administering personal protective equipment for staff.
She has been working to help department heads with staffing schedules, and they are implementing social distancing measures, telecommuting where possible.
Buendia said she also worked with staff to launch virtual and telephonic meetings for the council and committees.
Assistant City Manager Kevin Ingram said the city’s emergency operations center phone line remains available at 707-263-5683, with call volume.
He said the business assistance environment is changing rapidly, and the best strategy is to put businesses in contact with the Lake County Economic Development Corp.
Ingram said he, Silveira and Walker are following up with the Community Development Block Grant program, which may offer the city $70,000 in relation to the pandemic.
He said work also is still moving forward on two key projects, including the second phase of the Martin Street affordable housing development and the request for proposals for the lakefront park project which is being funded by the state.
“We’re doing our best to keep those things moving despite short staff and a little bit of uncertainty,” said Ingram.
Councilman Kenny Parlet said at the meeting that it looks like some really good things could come out of the pandemic in the long run.
He pointed to developments with telecommuting and said it looks like the economy could emerge in good shape – and that they could be better off in a different way. He said he was very encouraged – and even excited – and believed others should be as well.
In other business, at the April 21 meeting, Mayor George Spurr presented a proclamation declaring April 19 to 25 as National Volunteer Week in the city, and the council delayed approving a resolution adopting the Eleventh Street Corridor Multimodal Engineered Feasibility Study.
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 staff gave the overview to the council at its April 21 meeting.
At that meeting, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace had been due to give the council an update, but City Manager Margaret Silveira said he was unable to attend due to a time conflict.
Silveira said the city needs to do everything it can to sustain businesses. “We will survive.”
She said the state has extended the time period up to a year for businesses to pay sales tax. “We just wish them all well.”
Silveria invited businesses to contact the staff and the city to ask about what help is available. Lake County Economic Development Corp. also is a repository for a lot of information.
Finance Director said he’s been trying to figure out what the future is going to look like for the city on the financial side, and that day he met with a sales tax consultant.
To get a picture, they are considering broad assumptions, and Walker said everything is still really uncertain. The plan is to get a budget in front of the council by June, as is normal. He said staff will bring forward an operating budget with some projections on revenues going forward.
Walker recommended suspending discretionary spending in the 2020 budget. As time passes, they will get a better idea of what the revenue is doing.
Regarding the sales tax issue, “Anything that’s going to help the local business is going to help the city,” he said, adding, “It’s simply a cash flow impact.”
Public Works Director Doug Grider said there has been a lot of talk about the COVID-19 testing of raw sewage that Lake County Special Districts has been involved in doing.
He said that testing isn’t yet going on in the city sewer system. Grider said the city initially didn’t have the necessary equipment to do the sampling. However, they have now acquired and installed it.
The issue now, he said, is, “The laboratory that does that test is overwhelmed.” Grider said the city is on a waiting list while the laboratory expands its testing capacity.
At that point, Grider said the new Library Park seawall was nearly complete, but the project had been impacted by supply chain issues. He said a few issues were left to finish the railing.
He said that the sidewalk project is moving along with new concrete scheduled to be poured this week.
Grider said that to reduce the potential for virus exposure, staff has been split. They are doing minor maintenance and addressing other work as needed.
Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said his department has had to implement a major change in operations, implementing restrictions on travel and training, and community policing as they currently know it.
He said they are adapting on a regular basis to protect the community. That includes rolling out a new online reporting system built by Lt. Dale Stoebe.
They’re also conducting all outreach online. “That seems to be working well because all of our social media was so well established before this happened,” Rasmussen said.
As of that date, Rasmussen said the police department had 376 contacts – either educational or enforcement – regarding the shelter in place order, had checked the security of 590 businesses and completed 37 hours of foot patrol.
He said the department had, at that point, had only 28 criminal investigations since the shelter in place order went into effect on March 19, a 55-percent reduction, and had only eight arrests, a 70-percent reduction. Officer-involved contacts were up by 18 percent.
In mid-March, new policies restricted police from being able to book certain crimes into the Lake County Jail. Then, on April 9, the Judicial Council of California instituted a no-bail policy which Rasmussen said created other safety concerns.
As examples, he cited a high intoxicated drunk driver that they can’t book but have to babysit and a wanted parolee at large with felony violations of failing to register as a sex offender. In the latter case, the parolee had an ankle monitor placed on him before he was released.
Rasmussen said the no bail changes will be in effect for 90 days after the governor’s declared state of emergency is over.
“Although crime in Lakeport is currently down, it’s not going to stay that way,” said Rasmussen, noting there will be many individuals they won’t be able to book into the jail.
He said they had a parolee from another county earlier that day who was in violation of a felony domestic violence restraining order. His county of origin didn’t want to deal with him.
As far as the homeless, they are being directed to the Hope Harbor warming shelter at the former Record-Bee building, 2150 S. Main St., Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said the shelter is having good success helping some people, but others are being ejected for serious rule violations, assaults on staff, and possession of heroin or other drug violations, and are back on the streets.
He said 32 individuals have been banned from the shelter, the only one operating for the homeless in the county right now. “There’s a strain with that,” said Rasmussen.
Rasmussen said many community members don’t understand that police can’t force the homeless to move from one public place to another unless it’s a place like Library Park, which has restrictions.
He also noted the additional police training demands due to COVID-19. All of the training is being done online, with 150 hours overall completed by that time.
Rasmussen said they’re staying very connected with all local, state and federal agencies.
He said the situation has introduced change “like we’ve never seen.”
Rasmussen added, “Law enforcement doesn’t necessarily like change, but they are good at it,” nothing they can almost turn on a dime and keep going.
The chief also thanked the community for its support.
Kelly Buendia, the city’s human resources director and city clerk, said the primary concern has been employee safety and administering personal protective equipment for staff.
She has been working to help department heads with staffing schedules, and they are implementing social distancing measures, telecommuting where possible.
Buendia said she also worked with staff to launch virtual and telephonic meetings for the council and committees.
Assistant City Manager Kevin Ingram said the city’s emergency operations center phone line remains available at 707-263-5683, with call volume.
He said the business assistance environment is changing rapidly, and the best strategy is to put businesses in contact with the Lake County Economic Development Corp.
Ingram said he, Silveira and Walker are following up with the Community Development Block Grant program, which may offer the city $70,000 in relation to the pandemic.
He said work also is still moving forward on two key projects, including the second phase of the Martin Street affordable housing development and the request for proposals for the lakefront park project which is being funded by the state.
“We’re doing our best to keep those things moving despite short staff and a little bit of uncertainty,” said Ingram.
Councilman Kenny Parlet said at the meeting that it looks like some really good things could come out of the pandemic in the long run.
He pointed to developments with telecommuting and said it looks like the economy could emerge in good shape – and that they could be better off in a different way. He said he was very encouraged – and even excited – and believed others should be as well.
In other business, at the April 21 meeting, Mayor George Spurr presented a proclamation declaring April 19 to 25 as National Volunteer Week in the city, and the council delayed approving a resolution adopting the Eleventh Street Corridor Multimodal Engineered Feasibility Study.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Supervisors approve offering hazardous duty leave benefit to county workers, OK staff masking policy
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson presented the proposals for hazardous duty leave and facial masking to the board in two separate discussions at its April 21 meeting.
Huchingson said she and an ad hoc committee met with all of the department heads the previous week, and they “overwhelmingly conveyed” to staff that to offer hazardous duty leave below the value of emergency paid sick leave would be a disincentive.
As a result, the ad hoc committee recommended a limited, one-time benefit of 80 hours of hazardous duty leave be made available to essential employees, equal to the 80 hours of paid time non-essential employees are receiving while sheltering in place. The leave would need to complete the required forms that would be subject to approval.
On July 30, 2021, approved employees would be able to get 40 hours of payout for the unused balance, she said.
Huchingson said that if all eligible employees took that payout, it would account for 2 percent of the work time for a year. The total cost to the county would be $916,000, of which $363,000 would be general fund costs, with the remainder to be covered by the self-funded departments.
Alternatively, Huchingson said projected costs based on what is budgeted for 2019-2020 – which she said assumed all positions are filled despite the county’s ongoing vacancy rate of above 20 percent – would total $1,080,848, of which $413,791 would be general fund, with the remainder covered by the self-funded departments.
She said staff intended to use salary savings to cover the cost and will reevaluate at midyear during the 2020-21 fiscal year budget.
Huchingson said the cost of lost productivity resulting from the emergency paid leave at 80 hours each for non-essential employees during the shelter in place order – with approximately 200 employees requesting that leave to that date – was still being determined, as the shelter in place remained active and approvals were continuing.
Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said that, from the beginning, the goal has been to support staff who are still being requested to go to work.
“I feel like this is a necessary thing to provide to our staff,” said Sabatier, getting agreement from board Chair Moke Simon.
Supervisor Rob Brown said it’s among the toughest decisions they have to make. “I don’t know the easy answer. I really don’t,” he said.
“I’m not sold on the idea that we can afford it,” said Brown, explaining that this same board may have to look at laying people off rather than just cutting positions due to the economic issues related to the pandemic. “We’ll see who’s really essential at that point.”
Brown said the impacts of the pandemic are going to hit the county hard due to the ripple effect, referring to a recent survey that showed 28 local businesses are closed and may not reopen.
He said he had a hard time committing to almost $1 million in extra costs, not because it’s not for a good purpose but because he doesn’t believe they have the money.
Sabatier said they could cover it without even tapping into the county’s rainy day fund. He mentioned the money used to put into reserves from the sale last year of the Lucerne Hotel – which Huchingson had pushed because she said the county needed the money – and said the county had the money to cover the expense. He added it wouldn’t cause the county to have to cut positions.
Brown replied that he didn’t say, nor imply, that this issue alone was going to break the county. He said it’s a small portion of what is going to hit the county.
The other board members expressed their comfort with going forward with the potential additional expenditure.
Public Services Director Lars Ewing raised to the board his concern that the policy only covers permanent employees, not the county’s extra-help employees. He said he has more than a dozen extra help employees working in essential capacities.
Huchingson told the board that she’s had repeated conversations with Ewing about the topic. “It’s not forgotten,” she said, explaining that they were working on permanent employees at that point.
Sheriff Brian Martin said the issue was a direct response to what the federal government did weeks earlier when mandating two weeks of leave.
The board approved the leave policy 4-1, with Brown voting no, and gave Huchingson the authority to meet and confer with employee union groups.
New masking policy approved
The board followed that discussion by another in which it approved a temporary policy requiring county employees to wear face masks when working in public at county facilities.
“The policy is a very simple one,” said Huchingson.
With Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace having issued guidance on April 13 in which he strongly urged masking in public, Huchingson said the proposed policy was for county employees to wear masks in county facilities when they are working with the public. Masks will be provided to employees by the county. The policy remains in effect until the board ends it.
“This is a great lead-by-example type situation,” said Sabatier.
Huchingson said touchless hand sanitizer also has been placed in the courthouse.
Supervisor Tina Scott asked if they had masks. Huchingson said they have some expired N95 masks and other departments are in the process of acquiring new ones.
Huchingson said employees can wear whatever type of mask they want, they just have to cover their mouth and nose.
Ewing said his department has a process in place for getting masks as part of ordering cleaning supplies.
The board approved the masking policy 5-0.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak on Monday announced their respective states are joining California, Oregon and Washington in the Western States Pact – a working group of Western state governors with a shared vision for modifying stay at home orders and fighting COVID-19.
“I want to thank Colorado and Nevada for joining the Western States Pact,” said California Governor Newsom. “COVID-19 doesn’t follow state or national boundaries, and it will take every level of government, working together to get the upper hand on this virus.”
“Coloradans are working together to slow the spread of COVID-19 and have important information to share with and to gain from other states. I’m thrilled Colorado is joining the Western States Pact,” said Gov. Polis. “There’s no silver bullet that will solve this pandemic until there is a cure so we must have a multifaceted and bold approach in order to slow the spread of the virus, to keep our people safe and help our economy rebound.”
“I’m honored to have the State of Nevada join the Western States Pact and believe the sharing of critical information and best practices on how to mitigate the spread, protect the health and safety of our residents, and reopen responsibly will be invaluable as we chart our paths forward,” said Gov. Sisolak. “Millions of visitors from our fellow Western states travel to Nevada every year as a premier tourism destination, and this partnership will be vital to our immediate recovery and long-term economic comeback.”
Gov. Newsom, Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Washington Governor Jay Inslee recently announced they would be working together under a shared vision for gradually modifying their states’ stay at home orders and fighting COVID-19.
They listed three shared principles as foundational to the agreement:
– Our residents’ health comes first. As home to nearly one in five Americans and gateway to the rest of the world, the West Coast has an outsized stake in controlling and ultimately defeating COVID-19.
– Health outcomes and science – not politics – will guide these decisions. Modifications to our states’ stay at home orders must be made based off our understanding of the total health impacts of COVID-19, including the direct impact of the disease on our communities; the health impact of measures introduced to control the spread in communities – particularly felt by those already experiencing social disadvantage prior to COVID-19; and our health care systems’ ability to ensure care for those who may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This effort will be guided by data. We need to see a decline in the rate of spread of the virus before large-scale reopening, and we will be working in coordination to identify the best metrics to guide this.
– Our states will only be effective by working together. Each state will work with its local leaders and communities within its borders to understand what’s happening on the ground and adhere to our agreed-upon approach.
As part of the Western States Pact, the governors commit to working together toward the following four goals:
– Protecting vulnerable populations at risk for severe disease if infected. This includes a concerted effort to prevent and fight outbreaks in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
– Ensuring an ability to care for those who may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This will require adequate hospital surge capacity and supplies of personal protective equipment.
– Mitigating the non-direct COVID-19 health impacts, particularly on disadvantaged communities.
Protecting the general public by ensuring any successful lifting of interventions includes the development of a system for testing, tracking and isolating. The states will work together to share best practices.
“I want to thank Colorado and Nevada for joining the Western States Pact,” said California Governor Newsom. “COVID-19 doesn’t follow state or national boundaries, and it will take every level of government, working together to get the upper hand on this virus.”
“Coloradans are working together to slow the spread of COVID-19 and have important information to share with and to gain from other states. I’m thrilled Colorado is joining the Western States Pact,” said Gov. Polis. “There’s no silver bullet that will solve this pandemic until there is a cure so we must have a multifaceted and bold approach in order to slow the spread of the virus, to keep our people safe and help our economy rebound.”
“I’m honored to have the State of Nevada join the Western States Pact and believe the sharing of critical information and best practices on how to mitigate the spread, protect the health and safety of our residents, and reopen responsibly will be invaluable as we chart our paths forward,” said Gov. Sisolak. “Millions of visitors from our fellow Western states travel to Nevada every year as a premier tourism destination, and this partnership will be vital to our immediate recovery and long-term economic comeback.”
Gov. Newsom, Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Washington Governor Jay Inslee recently announced they would be working together under a shared vision for gradually modifying their states’ stay at home orders and fighting COVID-19.
They listed three shared principles as foundational to the agreement:
– Our residents’ health comes first. As home to nearly one in five Americans and gateway to the rest of the world, the West Coast has an outsized stake in controlling and ultimately defeating COVID-19.
– Health outcomes and science – not politics – will guide these decisions. Modifications to our states’ stay at home orders must be made based off our understanding of the total health impacts of COVID-19, including the direct impact of the disease on our communities; the health impact of measures introduced to control the spread in communities – particularly felt by those already experiencing social disadvantage prior to COVID-19; and our health care systems’ ability to ensure care for those who may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This effort will be guided by data. We need to see a decline in the rate of spread of the virus before large-scale reopening, and we will be working in coordination to identify the best metrics to guide this.
– Our states will only be effective by working together. Each state will work with its local leaders and communities within its borders to understand what’s happening on the ground and adhere to our agreed-upon approach.
As part of the Western States Pact, the governors commit to working together toward the following four goals:
– Protecting vulnerable populations at risk for severe disease if infected. This includes a concerted effort to prevent and fight outbreaks in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
– Ensuring an ability to care for those who may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This will require adequate hospital surge capacity and supplies of personal protective equipment.
– Mitigating the non-direct COVID-19 health impacts, particularly on disadvantaged communities.
Protecting the general public by ensuring any successful lifting of interventions includes the development of a system for testing, tracking and isolating. The states will work together to share best practices.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Lake County Sheriff’s deputies arrested three local residents on Friday in connection to burglaries in Kelseyville and Lucerne.
Chelsea Leann Berry, 27, of Lakeport, Jason Donavon Harlan, 27, of Nice, and Monica Nicole Wright, 26, of Clearlake, were taken into custody on Friday morning, said Lt. Corey Paulich.
At 10:40 a.m. Friday Lake County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on Peninsula Drive in Kelseyville for a reported burglary, Paulich said.
Paulich said a witness reported seeing three subjects enter a residence and leave with a bag of items in a white Dodge with a damaged trunk.
While responding, the deputies saw a vehicle matching the description given by the witness driving on Soda Bay Road towards Lakeport. Paulich said the deputies conducted a vehicle stop at the Fast and Easy Market in Lakeport.
The deputies identified the three people in the vehicle as Berry, Harlan and Wright, and also recognized them as the individuals who had been captured on surveillance video committing a separate burglary earlier in the morning in Lucerne, Paulich said.
He said the deputies saw a suitcase in the vehicle that had a luggage tag with the address to the residence that had been burglarized on Peninsula Drive.
A records check showed Wright had an outstanding misdemeanor arrest warrant and Harlan was on felony probation for possession of stolen property, Paulich said.
Paulich said the three were interviewed about the burglaries. Berry and Wright admitted to participating in both burglaries, while Harlan denied being involved and said he had just been recently picked up by Berry.
Items from the Peninsula Drive and Lucerne burglary were located in the Dodge. The items were later identified by the owners and returned, Paulich said.
The deputies also located methamphetamine and heroin inside the vehicle. Paulich said Berry was in possession of methamphetamine and Wright was found to be in possession of heroin during the booking process.
All three were transported to the Lake County Jail where they were booked, Paulich said.
Paulich said Berry was booked for burglary during a state of emergency, possession of stolen property, conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; Wright for burglary during a state of emergency, possession of stolen property, conspiracy and bringing a controlled substance into a correctional facility; and Harlan for burglary during a state of emergency, possession of stolen property, conspiracy and violation of probation.
Berry and Wright’s bail is set at $50,000 each and Harlan is on a no-bail hold for violation of his probation, Paulich said, adding that all three remained in custody on Monday.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – On Wednesday, Mendocino College Career Education instructors provided Adventist Health with 250 3D printed face shields to use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March, the college also delivered 240 N95 masks, and another 5,000 – including ear loop surgical, face shield, and N95 – were given directly from the Mendocino College Nursing Department.
“This is Mendocino College Career Education instructors and students in action, making a difference by responding to the immediate medical equipment needs of our community and our region,” said Dean of Career Education Dennis Aseltyne.
“We have been touched by the outpouring of support from our community for healthcare workers on the front lines. At a time when usual supply chain channels are disrupted, the team from Mendocino College has found a way to address a great need and help keep our staff safe through their creativity. This demonstrates that one does not have to be a front line healthcare
worker to help our community during this challenging time and that everyone can step up and find a way to help,” said Jason Wells, president for Adventist Health in Mendocino County, which operates Adventist Health Howard Memorial and Adventist Health Ukiah Valley.
Theatre Arts/Technical Director Steve Decker and Computer Science instructor David Pai have been running up to five different 3D printers daily for the past several weeks preparing the masks. Between the five machines, approximately 25 masks can be made daily.
Decker and Pai admit that due to the new technology, the machines require a lot of handholding, which can result in slower production at times.
“In times of crisis, we want to leverage technology to provide solutions to problems,” Pai said. “This was one way that we could leverage our 3D printing technology at the college to support our front-line medical workers in this crazy time.”
The type of 3D printing is called fuse deposition modeling, or FDM. FDM is a type of printing that melts the material and pushes it out a small nozzle where material is needed that cools to make the new part. It is much like a hot glue gun, but more controlled and produces little fumes.
The material used is called polylactic acid and is a biodegradable thermoplastic made from plant-based sources such as sugar cane.
“These masks are vital to our first responders on the frontline. It's been great seeing how a new emerging technology can help out,” said Decker.
The college offers a course in 3D Design and Printing (CSC175), where students learn not only the intricacies of FDM printing but also how to design their own parts for printing.
In addition to FDM printing, students also gain experience using a stereolithography printer.
The 3D print lab is available to all students who have previously completed CSC175.
Theatre Arts instructor and professional costume designer Kathy Dingman-Katz has also been busy making free masks for the community and filling requests as they come in.
Two of her former costume construction students are also supplying local nurses with masks.
For more information about Career Education programs at Mendocino College, visit www.mendocino.edu/ce .
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will again take up several items related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including a possible requirement for the public to wear masks when visiting county government facilities.
The board will meet virtually beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, 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 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
Because the meeting will be held virtually, members of the public are asked to submit comments on items toThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please note the agenda item number addressed.
In an untimed item, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson will take to the board a proposed urgency ordinance establishing temporary safety protocols for when county of Lake facilities reopen.
Specifically, the ordinance would require the public to wear masks when in county facilities under the same conditions in which county employees must wear masks as outlined in a temporary policy the board enacted on April 21.
The board also will consider a request to appoint a negotiating team for the sale of a portion of the surplused property located at 7175 S. Center Drive in Clearlake.
Last week, Lake Transit Agency received a $13 million grant for a new transit hub that it proposes to build at that site.
In other business, the board will get its weekly update on COVID-19 from Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace at 9:01 a.m.
At 10 a.m., staff is scheduled to update the board on community choice aggregation, which enables local jurisdictions to pool the electricity demand of participating communities' facilities to purchase and develop power on their behalf.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a resolution recommending that the county treasurer-tax collector immediately implement procedures to facilitate taxpayer applications for penalty waivers and payment plans for property taxes to assist county taxpayers during the ongoing pandemic.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt resolution approving amended Agreement No.18-0689-000-SA with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to provide reimbursement for Industrial Hemp Cultivation Program for agreement term April 30, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
5.2: Sitting as Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, authorize the air pollution control officer to sign the grant agreement, all other state program documents, grant recipient contracts, accept all AB617 Incentive Funds allocated for Lake County, and to implement the program.
5.3: Approve agreement between county of Lake and CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP for Audit Services for fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, Amendment No. 1 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.4: (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 North Valley Behavioral Health LLC for fiscal year 2019-20 to increase the contract maximum to $362,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.5: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings from March 3, 2020, March 27, 2020, and March 31, 2020.
5.6: Approve the continuation of local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.7: Adopt resolution to amend the budget for FY 2019-2020 by appropriating unanticipated revenue for Public Health Services and authorize the Health Services director to sign necessary documents to secure these funds .
5.8: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex Fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.9: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee Fire incident.
5.10: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.11: (a) Waive the competitive bidding process in accordance with County Code Section 2-38.2 because 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 SHN Engineers & Geologists Inc. for technical support services for Eastlake Sanitary Landfill 2020 waste discharge requirements and authorize the chair to sign; and (c) approve agreement between the county of Lake and SHN Engineers & Geologists Inc. for technical support services for Eastlake Sanitary Landfill 2020 Monitoring and Reporting Program and authorize the chair to sign.
5.12: (a) Waive the normal sealed bid process under Ordinance No. 2406, Section 38.4 for the purchase of a Central Garage pool vehicle; and (b) authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order through the statewide bid contract to Downtown Ford in the amount of $34,872.69.
5.13: Approve waiver of the 900 hour extra help limit for Facilities Maintenance Worker James Adam, Deputy Sheriff Michael Moore, Marine Patrol Deputy Sheriff’s Brenndon Bosse, Kevin Odom, Emil Devincenzi, Lloyd Wells and Dennis Ostini.
5.14: (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; (b) approve the customer price quote from AMS.NET for the purchase of VOIP phone and licensing for the sheriff’s facilities in the amount of $25,524.32 and authorize the sheriff/coroner and director of information technology to issue a purchase order.
5.15: (a) Approve agreement between the Lake County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Forest Service for FY 20/21 annual operating and financial plan in the amount of $11,000 for Pillsbury Patrol; (b) approve grant modification agreement in the amount of $52,420 for the purchase of equipment for the Goat Mountain joint repeater project, (c) adopt the resolution to allocate unanticipated revenue and authorize the sheriff and the chairman to sign.
5.16: Approve Waiver of the 900 hour limit for certain janitorial positions within the Department of Social Services.
5.17: (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 and services; and (b) approve the agreement between county of Lake and Clean Lakes Inc. for the Aquatic Vegetation Management Program for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 in the amount of $205,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Consideration of Update on COVID-19.
6.3, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transportation and disposal of fire debris for the Mendocino Complex fire.
6.4, 10 a.m.: Consideration of an update on community choice aggregation and direction to staff for future efforts.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors recommending that the county treasurer-tax collector immediately implement procedures to facilitate taxpayer applications for penalty waivers and payment plans for property taxes to assist county taxpayers during the ongoing pandemic.
7.3: Consideration of request to appoint negotiating team for the sale of a portion of the surplused property located at 7175 S. Center Drive, Clearlake, CA (APN: 010-043-52).
7.4: Consideration of (a) resolution authorizing cannabis equity grant funding; and (b) discussion of equity assessment and program development .
7.5: Consideration of an urgency ordinance establishing temporary safety protocols upon the reopening of county facilities to the public during the ongoing COVID-19 State of emergency.
7.6: Addendum, consideration of letter to the board of barbering and cosmetology requesting restrictions be lifted temporarily to allow local barbers and hairstylists to go into the homes of their clients to provide services during the COVID-19 crisis.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with real property negotiator pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.8: Property: APN: 010-043-052; 7175 S. Center Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422. Negotiating parties: Lake County Administrative Office and Lake County Transit Authority. Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment.
8.2: Conference with Legal Counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1): EEOC Charge of C. McCormick.
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 virtually beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, 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 and online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
Because the meeting will be held virtually, members of the public are asked to submit comments on items to
In an untimed item, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson will take to the board a proposed urgency ordinance establishing temporary safety protocols for when county of Lake facilities reopen.
Specifically, the ordinance would require the public to wear masks when in county facilities under the same conditions in which county employees must wear masks as outlined in a temporary policy the board enacted on April 21.
The board also will consider a request to appoint a negotiating team for the sale of a portion of the surplused property located at 7175 S. Center Drive in Clearlake.
Last week, Lake Transit Agency received a $13 million grant for a new transit hub that it proposes to build at that site.
In other business, the board will get its weekly update on COVID-19 from Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace at 9:01 a.m.
At 10 a.m., staff is scheduled to update the board on community choice aggregation, which enables local jurisdictions to pool the electricity demand of participating communities' facilities to purchase and develop power on their behalf.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a resolution recommending that the county treasurer-tax collector immediately implement procedures to facilitate taxpayer applications for penalty waivers and payment plans for property taxes to assist county taxpayers during the ongoing pandemic.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt resolution approving amended Agreement No.18-0689-000-SA with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to provide reimbursement for Industrial Hemp Cultivation Program for agreement term April 30, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
5.2: Sitting as Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, authorize the air pollution control officer to sign the grant agreement, all other state program documents, grant recipient contracts, accept all AB617 Incentive Funds allocated for Lake County, and to implement the program.
5.3: Approve agreement between county of Lake and CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP for Audit Services for fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, Amendment No. 1 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.4: (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 North Valley Behavioral Health LLC for fiscal year 2019-20 to increase the contract maximum to $362,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.5: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings from March 3, 2020, March 27, 2020, and March 31, 2020.
5.6: Approve the continuation of local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.7: Adopt resolution to amend the budget for FY 2019-2020 by appropriating unanticipated revenue for Public Health Services and authorize the Health Services director to sign necessary documents to secure these funds .
5.8: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex Fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.9: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee Fire incident.
5.10: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.11: (a) Waive the competitive bidding process in accordance with County Code Section 2-38.2 because 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 SHN Engineers & Geologists Inc. for technical support services for Eastlake Sanitary Landfill 2020 waste discharge requirements and authorize the chair to sign; and (c) approve agreement between the county of Lake and SHN Engineers & Geologists Inc. for technical support services for Eastlake Sanitary Landfill 2020 Monitoring and Reporting Program and authorize the chair to sign.
5.12: (a) Waive the normal sealed bid process under Ordinance No. 2406, Section 38.4 for the purchase of a Central Garage pool vehicle; and (b) authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order through the statewide bid contract to Downtown Ford in the amount of $34,872.69.
5.13: Approve waiver of the 900 hour extra help limit for Facilities Maintenance Worker James Adam, Deputy Sheriff Michael Moore, Marine Patrol Deputy Sheriff’s Brenndon Bosse, Kevin Odom, Emil Devincenzi, Lloyd Wells and Dennis Ostini.
5.14: (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; (b) approve the customer price quote from AMS.NET for the purchase of VOIP phone and licensing for the sheriff’s facilities in the amount of $25,524.32 and authorize the sheriff/coroner and director of information technology to issue a purchase order.
5.15: (a) Approve agreement between the Lake County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Forest Service for FY 20/21 annual operating and financial plan in the amount of $11,000 for Pillsbury Patrol; (b) approve grant modification agreement in the amount of $52,420 for the purchase of equipment for the Goat Mountain joint repeater project, (c) adopt the resolution to allocate unanticipated revenue and authorize the sheriff and the chairman to sign.
5.16: Approve Waiver of the 900 hour limit for certain janitorial positions within the Department of Social Services.
5.17: (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 and services; and (b) approve the agreement between county of Lake and Clean Lakes Inc. for the Aquatic Vegetation Management Program for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 in the amount of $205,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Consideration of Update on COVID-19.
6.3, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transportation and disposal of fire debris for the Mendocino Complex fire.
6.4, 10 a.m.: Consideration of an update on community choice aggregation and direction to staff for future efforts.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors recommending that the county treasurer-tax collector immediately implement procedures to facilitate taxpayer applications for penalty waivers and payment plans for property taxes to assist county taxpayers during the ongoing pandemic.
7.3: Consideration of request to appoint negotiating team for the sale of a portion of the surplused property located at 7175 S. Center Drive, Clearlake, CA (APN: 010-043-52).
7.4: Consideration of (a) resolution authorizing cannabis equity grant funding; and (b) discussion of equity assessment and program development .
7.5: Consideration of an urgency ordinance establishing temporary safety protocols upon the reopening of county facilities to the public during the ongoing COVID-19 State of emergency.
7.6: Addendum, consideration of letter to the board of barbering and cosmetology requesting restrictions be lifted temporarily to allow local barbers and hairstylists to go into the homes of their clients to provide services during the COVID-19 crisis.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with real property negotiator pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.8: Property: APN: 010-043-052; 7175 S. Center Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422. Negotiating parties: Lake County Administrative Office and Lake County Transit Authority. Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment.
8.2: Conference with Legal Counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1): EEOC Charge of C. McCormick.
Email Elizabeth Larson at