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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
Following three years of severe drought, California recently experienced a winter of extreme wet weather.
Being able to endure the next severe drought is dependent upon making smart, preemptive water management decisions during non-drought years.
In support of Action 26.3 in California’s Water Resilience Portfolio, the California Water Commission is developing proposed strategies to protect communities and fish and wildlife in the event of drought, and is seeking public input at three virtual public workshops.
Workshop dates are:
• Wednesday, July 19, noon to 3 p.m. Register here.
• Tuesday, July 25, 2 to 5 p.m. Register here.
• Thursday, July 27, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Register here.
At the workshops, participants will be asked to share drought impacts, discuss drought response, and provide feedback on four preliminary strategies:
• Increase capacity and information needed to manage drought;
• Scale up groundwater recharge;
• Conduct watershed-level planning to reduce ecosystem impacts of drought;
• Better position communities to respond to drought emergencies.
“Small, rural communities and the environment are often hit the hardest during a drought,” said Commissioner Sandi Matsumoto, who also serves as director of the California Water Program at The Nature Conservancy. “In many places, water for fish and wildlife species is already severely limited in non-drought years. During periods of drought, water for the environment is even more drastically constrained.”
In addition to attending a workshop, the commission encourages you to share your opinion in a drought strategies survey here.
The survey will be open through July 12, 2023. For more information on the Commission’s work on drought, please visit: cwc.ca.gov/Water-Resilience-Portfolio.
The nine-member California Water Commission uses its public forum to explore water management issues from multiple perspectives and to formulate recommendations to advise the director of the California Department of Water Resources, and as appropriate, the California Natural Resources Agency, the governor and Legislature on ways to improve water planning and management in response to California’s changing hydrology.
For more information regarding the California Water Commission visit cwc.ca.gov.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
NAPA COUNTY, Calif. — On Sunday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) recognized Gilbert Rangel, Jr. as the 2023 American Dream Award recipient for Lake County.
The American Dream Award is presented to California’s Fourth District residents who have come to the United States and made outstanding contributions to our communities.
“The contributions of people like Gilbert Rangel have made Lake County better and more inclusive for all who want to live in our region,” said Thompson. “Throughout his time in Lake County, he has worked to connect our communities and ensure that Spanish speakers received key information about wildfires. His dedication to Lake County and the immigrant community makes clear he is deserving of this award, and I am proud to recognize him with this honor.”
Rangel grew up in his family’s home in Guadalajara, Mexico. His life has been a constant migration between California and Mexico, during which he has made significant contributions to his communities.
He began his career in San Joaquin County in migrant student educational services before being appointed by the office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to aid in the development of AmeriCorps in California.
He continued his work under Gov. Jerry Brown and was then recruited by the Lake County Office of Education to implement a local AmeriCorps program.
Rangel serves as a Board Member for the Kelseyville Unified School District and as an advisor to the Middletown Arts Center.
Hel founded his company, Equilingual, in 2021 with the mission of achieving equity through language and supporting communications between local organizations and the Spanish speaking community.
The American Dream Award honors immigrants who have excelled professionally, through entrepreneurship and innovation, in the arts and culture, or through community service.
In addition to Rangel being honored in Lake County, the full list of recipients from California’s Fourth District includes Rolando Herrera, Napa County; Madhulika Singh, Solano County; Jack Ding, Sonoma County; and Dr. Anita Oberholster, Yolo County.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 11, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 942 6308 0400, pass code 487260. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,94263080400#,,,,*487260#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
In an untimed item, the board will consider sending a letter to Congressman Mike Thompson regarding a possible resolution in Pacific GAs and Electric’s proposed decommissioning of the Scott Dam.
In a memo to the board, County Administrative Officer Susan Parker wrote, “Your Board has consistently and steadfastly raised concerns over the potential adverse effects of the decommissioning and removal of Scott Dam proposed by PG&E. United States Congressman Mike Thompson recently approached County representatives to assist in furthering discussions related to PG&E's proposed decommissioning plan and has also encouraged County Supervisors and leadership to meet and share areas of priority for mitigation and restoration measures with other interested parties, should decommissioning and dam removal prove inevitable.”
The board will consider a letter to Thompson which, Parker noted, reiterates opposition to the decommissioning and describes “anticipated categories of need, should dam removal occur.”
Parker said the board’s approval of the letter “will assist the County in future communications with Congressman Thompson and other interested parties as it relates to this issue.”
In an item timed for 11 a.m., the board will receive a presentation from the Lake County Health Services Department on the progress and future plans for the implementation of the California Advancing and Innovative Medi-Cal, or Cal-AIM, initiative.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation honoring Brian Sumpter for his 40 years of devotion and service to the county of Lake.
5.2: Approve extension to PEG professional services agreement for videography of MACs.
5.3: Approve long distance travel for Deputy Director Jessica Leishman and Senior Officer Hailey Downhour to attend the Level 1 Equine Investigations Academy in Durango, Colorado from Aug. 21 to 26, 2023.
5.4: Approve the continuation of the proclamation declaring a shelter crisis due to the current need for sheltering for those experiencing homelessness during the weather and temperature patterns that the county of Lake has been experiencing.
5.5: Approve continuation of proclamation declaring a Clear Lake Hitch emergency.
5.6: Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to pervasive tree mortality.
5.7: Approve continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions not available.
5.8: Approve continuation of a local emergency by the Lake County Sheriff/OES director for the January 2023 Atmospheric River Event.
5.9: Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to low elevation snow and extreme cold.
5.10: Approve agreement between county of Lake and June Wilson-Clarkin, LMFT for specialty mental health services in the amount of $30,000.00 for fiscal year 2023-24 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.11: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Sutter Center for psychiatry for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations in the amount of $50,000 for fiscal year 2022-23 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.12: Approve agreement Between county of Lake and Vista Pacifica Enterprises Inc. for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services in the amount of $200,000 for fiscal year 2023-24 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.13: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between county of Lake and Crestwood Behavioral Health for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services with no change to the contract maximum for fiscal years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.14: Adopt resolution authorizing cancellation of reserve accounts in the amount of $3,167,543 to provide sufficient cash flow and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.15: Approve agreement between County of Lake and Hardeep Singh, MD to perform substance use disorder treatment medical director responsibilities on behalf of Lake County Behavioral Health Services in the amount of $124,800 for fiscal year 2023-24 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.16: Approve Board of Supervisors minutes for June 27, 2023.
5.17: Approve the plans and specifications for the Eastlake Sanitary Landfill Expansion Project, and authorize the Public Services director to advertise for bids.
5.18: Approve the purchase of a 2023 Ford F-150 for the Buildings and Grounds Division of the Public Services Department and authorize the Public Services director to sign a purchase order not to exceed $44,000 to Folsom Lake Ford of Folsom, California.
5.19: Approve contract between county of Lake and People Services Inc. for yard maintenance, in the amount of $9,656.87 per fiscal year from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.20: a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to County Ordinance 3109 Section 28.2 due to 38.2(3), not in the public interest as competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county; and, b) approve contract between county of Lake and Five Pasco Brothers Inc. c/o Omarshall, Inc. for lease agreement, in the amount of $49,440.00 per fiscal year from Nov. 1, 2023, to June 30, 2028, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.21: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, approve budget transfer allocating money from object code 23.80 to 62.74.
5.22: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, adopt resolution revising the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Adopted Budget of the county of Lake by canceling reserves in Fund 255 NW Regional Sewer System O&M Reserve Designation, in the amount of $150,000 to make appropriations in the Budget Unit 8355, Object Code 785.30-00 Utilities to pay for sewer utility costs.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation honoring Brian Sumpter for his 40 years of devotion and service to the county of Lake.
6.3, 10 a.m.: Public hearing: Sitting concurrently as Clearlake Keys CSA No. 1, No. 2, No. 6, No. 13, No. 20, No. 21 — Board of Supervisors, Kelseyville County Waterworks District No. 3 and Lake County Sanitation District — Board of Directors, 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; (d) resolution of delinquent sewer fees for lake county sanitation district.
6.4, 10:30 a.m.: Sitting as the Board of Directors, Lake County Watershed Protection District, consideration of a new agricultural well located In the Big Valley Groundwater Basin at 2999 Soda Bay Road, APN: 008-010-24.
6.5, 11 a.m.: Presentation of the progress and future plans of Lake County Health Services Department’s Implementation of the California Advancing and Innovative Medi-Cal (Cal-AIM) Initiative.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of sending letter to Congressman Thompson regarding possible resolution in PG&E’s proposed decommissioning of Potter Valley Dam.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b) (1): Interviews for Behavioral Health director; appointment of Behavioral Health director.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – FERC Project No. 77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
8.3: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b) (1): Interviews for Public Health officer; appointment of Public Health officer.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
The Business Walk Program is designed to familiarize the business community with the city and other resources available to them.
For over 10 years, city staff and members of the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee, or LEDAC, have contacted local owners and managers, providing them with the opportunity to speak with representatives about issues of concern.
The intent of the program is to reassure businesses of the city’s commitment of support and to gather information about concerns and issues that pose barriers to their success.
The businesses surveyed included retail, business and personal services, motor/transport, food and beverage, lodging, nonprofit agencies and other categories.
Last fall, 16 teams of city staff, LEDAC members and community volunteers, totaling 29 individuals, surveyed 115 businesses in 16 areas of the city. Findings from the visits and the surveys were presented to the City Council this spring.
The city’s economic development strategic plan identified annual in-person visits as an important element in the support and retention of existing local businesses.
Conducted annually, the walks were put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic and were resumed to engage with the business community.
The greatest challenges to the businesses were identified as lack of qualified staff, issues associated with homelessness, theft and shoplifting, and concerns regarding parking, streets and paving.
Observations from the personal contacts noted that established businesses were bouncing back more quickly from the COVID-19 pandemic than were newer businesses; succession planning was often cited as a challenge when family or associates are not interested in assuming responsibility when an owner is ready to retire.
Concerns about the homeless population loitering and intimidating customers were expressed to teams covering the downtown areas.
Parking problems have declined in importance since the last survey in 2019, possibly due to reductions in traffic during the pandemic and to the recent introduction of two-hour parking limits with enforcement.
Concerns about paving and sidewalks on South Main Street will be addressed in the coming months with grant funds received by the city.
Owners and managers were asked to identify what they enjoy the most about operating a business in Lakeport with a strong majority responding they like the community, the people, their customers, the small town environment, and their location.
Over two-thirds of the businesses have been in operation for over five years.
Challenges identified in 2022 were similar to those noted in 2019, pre-pandemic: 1) lack of qualified staff; 2) government regulations; 3) lack of business; and 4) competition from other businesses and other areas.
Over 70% of the businesses anticipate making no changes in the next three years, while another twenty percent are considering expansion in their current location.
The teams learned that, overall, businesses in Lakeport rate the city as “a great environment for business life,” consider it “laid back, friendly, cooperative and clean,” and see opportunities for growth through community interaction and events.
The teams distributed printed materials about the city’s business loan program, opportunities for employment, and the Guide to Doing Business in Lakeport brochure, available here.
The Business Walk program is scheduled for this fall. Teams will be recruited and survey questions will be reviewed.
The process begins with an orientation session and luncheon hosted by the city and another luncheon at the conclusion, with an opportunity for discussion and input before the survey results are compiled and reported to the City Council. The community is informed of the program through news releases, the city’s website and social media platforms.
For more information about the Business Walk program, contact Lakeport City Manager Kevin Ingram at