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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
Tens of thousands of Californians have lost their homes and businesses to wildfires in the last eight years.
After facing the traumatic and life-changing experience of losing their home, survivors have to begin the challenging task of rebuilding their homes and lives.
Sen. McGuire’s common sense piece of legislation, SB 455, will protect wildfire and other disaster survivors by keeping their home rebuilds on track and agreements with mortgage companies ironclad.
The bill would mandate that mortgage companies honor existing rebuild contracts even when mortgages are transferred or sold to another mortgage vendor, a common practice in the banking industry.
Leading up to this legislation, hundreds of families had started rebuilding their homes only to have the terms of their rebuild changed when their mortgage was sold and the new mortgage company didn’t honor the previously agreed upon rebuild contract.
“Ensuring existing rebuild agreements aren’t weakened or changed when mortgages are sold is just common sense. Disaster survivors already face tremendous challenges to recover and rebuild after a wildfire or earthquake, and SB 455 will give homeowners certainty and peace of mind when they rebuild their home and lives,” said McGuire. “Our legislation would make it illegal for this kind of hoodwink to ever take place again in California.”
In typical cases, survivors work closely with their mortgage company to negotiate the terms of their home rebuild and enter into a contract with a contractor to begin the rebuilding process. It’s a straightforward and seamless process for most.
But not for all:
• Some new mortgage companies have added additional terms to existing rebuild agreements such as requiring more inspections, significantly delaying the rebuild for months, even when the previous company had agreed to terms.
• An underinsured homeowner and their original mortgage company signed off on the rebuild of a smaller house, but the new mortgage company wouldn’t honor the agreement. The new company refused to release all of the remaining funds because the rebuild was different than the lost home.
• Other survivors have been forced to liquidate pensions and use hard-earned savings to finish rebuilding their home when their insurance funds are withheld by the mortgage company.
SB 455 will make sure that any agreements made between homeowners and their mortgage company on the rebuilding of their home after a disaster are ironclad and honored by any new mortgage company.
SB 455 passed the Senate with bipartisan support and is now headed to the Assembly.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
The new website — reported to be one of the most comprehensive state gun safety websites in the nation — also features multilingual resources to help Californians prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from gun violence.
The website launch coincides with National Gun Violence Awareness Month, and comes on the heels of “Wear Orange Weekend,” which honors the 40,000 people who lose their lives to gun violence and the thousands more who are shot and wounded every year.
“California is taking aggressive and relentless action to end the unbearable tragedy of gun violence. While other states remain complacent in the face of recurring, gut-wrenching tragedy, California is making it easier than ever to access commonsense tools like Gun Violence Restraining Orders to protect our communities,” said Newsom.
To further promote equitable access to this tool, all of the resources have been translated into the eight most commonly spoken languages in California: English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), Vietnamese, Tagalog/Filipino, Korean and Armenian.
The new website is part of an $11 million statewide campaign announced last year, administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, to raise awareness, educate the public and explain the steps required to obtain a gun violence restraining order.
In California, gun violence restraining orders were used to prevent 58 threatened mass shootings between 2016 and 2019 and have shown immense promise in reducing suicides.
A gun violence restraining order, or GVRO, is a temporary action taken by a local court when someone is at risk or causing harm to themselves or others.
The individual in crisis subject to the order cannot purchase or possess firearms or ammunition while the order is in place.
These temporary orders empower Californians to intervene, while protecting the rights of individuals in crisis, and are not considered punishment under the law. Californians can learn more about who can file an application for a gun violence restraining order, how to file and access other resources available at GunSafety.ca.gov.
Last year, the governor signed legislation allowing Californians to sue those making, selling, transporting or distributing illegal assault weapons and ghost guns — guns made at home to avoid tracing — for damages of at least $10,000 per weapon involved.
The governor also signed legislation allowing the state, local governments, and Californians to sue irresponsible gun makers.
Newsom’s office said California’s gun safety laws work.
In 2021, California was ranked as the #1 state for gun safety by the Giffords Law Center, and the state saw a 37% lower gun death rate than the national average.
According to the CDC, California’s gun death rate was the 44th lowest in the nation, with 8.5 gun deaths per 100,000 people — compared to 13.7 deaths per 100,000 nationally, 28.6 in Mississippi, 20.7 in Oklahoma, and 14.2 in Texas.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, 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 916 6355 7399, pass code 414368. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,91663557399#,,,,*414368#.
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.
At 9:10 a.m., the board will present a proclamation designating the month of June 2023 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Lake County and direct staff to display the pride flag for the month of June at the Lake County Courthouse.
At 1 p.m., the board will get a presentation by the Cobb Municipal Advisory Council.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation designating the month of June 2023 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Lake County.
5.2: Approve Amendment No. 3 to the agreement between county of Lake and Sierra Vista Hospital for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations for fiscal years 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 with no change to the contract maximum and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.3: Approve agreement between county of Lake and the California Mental Health Services Authority for remote clinical supervision services in the amount of $50,000.00 for FYs 2023-24 and 2024-25 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.4: a) Adopt resolution of the Board of Supervisors of the county of Lake in support of the CSAC “At Home” Plan; and b) approve letter of support of the At Home Plan that Includes a comprehensive approach to effectively and equitability addressing homelessness in California and authorize the chair to sign.
5.5: Approve request of Child Support Services director to participate in the 9/80 alternative work schedule.
5.6: Approve request to hire welfare fraud investigator Victor Rico at advanced step five.
5.7: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the facility space license agreement with T-Mobile West LLC for continued occupancy of space on the courthouse roof, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.8: Approve to waive the 900 hour extra help limit for staff in the sheriff’s department.
5.9: Approve budget transfers from the Sheriff/Coroner budget 2201 to both the Sheriff/Dispatch budget 2202 and the Sheriff/Jail budget 2301.
5.10: Authorize the closure of all Social Services facilities for staff enrichment, appreciation and team building on Thursday, June 22, from the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
5.11: Approve contract between county of Lake and Lake County Pumpers for septic services, in the amount of $49,000.00 per fiscal year from April 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.12: a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to County Ordinance 3109 Section 2-38 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 to lease agreement between county of Lake and OMarshall Inc. for the property Located at 16170 Main Street in Lower Lake, in the amount of $85,836 per fiscal year from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.13: a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to County Ordinance 3109 Section 2-38 due to 38.2(3), not in the public interest as competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county; and, b) approve second amendment to lease agreement between county of Lake and Charles Sawyer and Nancy Sawyer for the property located at 9055 Highway 53 in Lower Lake, in the amount of $140,377.68 per fiscal year from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.14: 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 capital improvement reserves in the amount of $10,000 for Lands End/South Lakeport Sewer to make appropriations in Budget Unit 8351, Object Code 783.23-80 to pay for sewer treatment costs.
5.15: a) Waive the competitive bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.2, based on the unique nature of the goods; (b) approve agreement between the county of Lake and Megabyte Systems Inc. for FY 2023-24 MPTS property tax system maintenance, online business property filing license/support and the transient occupancy tax licensing/support in the amount of $224,965.00 and authorize the chair to sign; (c) approve addendum to provide tax sale maintenance/support in the amount of $25,000.00; (d) approve web services addendum to the agreement between the county of Lake and Megabyte Systems Inc. for FY 2023-24 online tax bills and e-payment processing services, in the amount of $6,463.00 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.16: a) Waive the competitive bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.2, based on the unique nature of the goods; (b) approve agreement for payment processing professional services between county of Lake and RT Lawrence Corp; and authorize the chair to sign.
5.17: a) Waive the Formal Bidding Process Pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.2 as competitive bidding would produce no economic benefit to the county; (b) approve agreement between county of Lake and GC Services pursuant to State of California Master Agreement 2018-14, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:07 a.m.: Pet of the Week.
6.3, 9:08 a.m.: New and noteworthy at the Library.
6.4, 9:10 a.m.: a) Presentation of proclamation designating the month of June 2023 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Lake County; and (b) direction to staff to display the pride flag for the month of June at the Lake County Courthouse.
6.5, 9:15 a.m.: a) Consideration of proposed resolution authorizing Proposition 64 Public Health & Safety Grant Program Funding (Cohort 3); and (b) consideration of Agreement No. BSCC 937-22 by and between the Board of State and Community Corrections and the county of Lake in the amount of $2,996,546, for cannabis code enforcement and comprehensive “WRAP” program services, and authorize the chair to sign.
6.6, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of Lakeport Fire Protection District letter of support for the USDA Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program.
6.7, 11 a.m.: Consideration of California Cannabis Authority membership compliance software.
6.8, 1 p.m.: Presentation by the Cobb Municipal Advisory Council.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of composition and activation of the Food Policy Council.
7.3: Consideration of ordinance Amending Section 2-3A.2, Compensation of the Board of Supervisors, and Section 2-3B, Trial and Grand Jurors, of Article 1, Chapter 2 of the Lake County Code.
7.4: Consideration of appointment to the North Coast Opportunities Governing Board.
7.5: Consideration of the following Advisory Board Appointment: Lower Lake Waterworks District.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – FERC Project No. 77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1) – Two potential cases.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda can be found here.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. Masks are highly encouraged where 6-foot distancing cannot be maintained.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to
The main item on the agenda is a budget workshop for the recommended fiscal year 2023-24 budget.
The council also will receive a report on the position summary included in the proposed 2023-24 budget and provide direction to staff as needed.
On the consent agenda — items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are warrants, ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on May 16; approval of application 2023-017, with staff recommendations, for the 2023 Fourth of July Craft Faire; approval of application 2023-018, with staff recommendations, for the 2023 Old Time
Machines Car Show; receipt and filing of the draft minutes of the MZAC special meeting of May 23, 2023.
Email Elizabeth Larson at