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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Habematolel community center, 9460 Main St. in Upper Lake.
Community members also can attend via Zoom. The link is here.
The meeting ID is 982988 4555 1078, pass code is 988681. Dial by location: +1 669 900 6833.
The group will discuss matters related to a proposed workshop for the Middle Creek Flood Project.
They will set a date for the workshop, choose a workshop postcard form and discuss when to send the postcard mailing to community members.
Everyone is welcome to attend the special Wednesday meeting.
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- Written by: Craig Volden, University of Virginia and Alan E. Wiseman, Vanderbilt University
Americans dislike Congress, especially when it fails to act on pressing problems. They are then surprised by legislative accomplishments on climate change, gun control and maintaining competitiveness with China.
But Congress does much more on a daily basis than deal – or fail to deal – with high-profile issues.
We have spent more than a decade exploring the thousands of bills and hundreds of laws produced by members of Congress each year. We find that individual representatives and senators vary dramatically in how interested they are in lawmaking and how effectively they advance their proposals. And we see opportunities to build a better Congress.
We have devised and generated a “Legislative Effectiveness Score” for each member of the House and Senate for each two-year Congress for the past 50 years. These scores are based on 15 metrics, capturing how many bills each lawmaker sponsors, how far they progress toward law and how substantively significant they are. The scores are politically neutral, with members of both parties scoring higher upon advancing whatever policies they think are best.
Voters can use these scores to see how their political representatives have fared in this measure, perhaps finding them among the 23% of representatives or 19% of senators who were highly effective in the most recently completed Congress. And researchers use them to determine the factors that make lawmakers effective in Congress.
Based on our work, we have identified five ways that legislators, reformers and voters can help promote effective lawmaking in Congress.
1. Lawmakers can focus their legislative agendas on their interests, committee assignments and constituency needs
Members of Congress face many demands on their time. They are almost always campaigning or raising money for the next election. Their time on Capitol Hill is punctuated with committee meetings and calls to votes on the House or Senate floor.
Such pressures leave little time to formulate new policies, build coalitions and advance their proposals. Effective lawmakers do not have more time than others – they simply align these various activities toward a common goal of lawmaking.
Effective lawmakers introduce bills that combine their own interests and passions with the needs of their constituencies and their committee assignments.
Thus, time spent away from Washington, in their home states and districts, is focused on identifying the policy needs of their constituents and highlighting their policy successes; time in committee is spent making and refining their policy proposals; time milling around between votes is used to build coalitions.
For the effective lawmaker, all these different activities form a coherent whole.
2. Legislators can view lawmaking as a team sport
No member of Congress can accomplish anything by himself or herself. Effective lawmakers recognize this and build a successful team.
Our analysis found that effective lawmakers avoid the pitfall of hiring loyal campaign staffers to handle the legislative work of their offices. Starting on Day One, they hire – and subsequently retain – legislative staff who have extensive experience on Capitol Hill.
They then join with like-minded colleagues to take advantage of the added resources provided by legislative caucuses, such as additional staff support and independent policy analyses, apart from the help provided by party leadership.
Moreover, for effective lawmakers, their team is not limited to their political party. Those willing to co-sponsor bills written by members of the other party find more bipartisan support for their own efforts. Our analysis demonstrates that such bipartisan lawmakers are the most successful at advancing their bills through Congress.
3. Lawmakers can specialize and develop policy expertise
Members of Congress need to be generalists to vote knowledgeably on diverse policy topics on any given day. Many take that generalist view to their lawmaking portfolio, sponsoring legislation in each of the 21 major issue areas addressed by Congress.
But we find that the most effective lawmakers dedicate about half of their time, attention and legislative proposals to a single issue area. By becoming an acknowledged experts in issues of health or education or international affairs, for example, lawmakers become central to policy formulation in their area of interest.
4. Reforms can reinforce good lawmaking habits
Individual lawmakers in Congress could adopt any of the practices above to become more effective. But institutional reforms could help reinforce such good behaviors.
The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress has put forward dozens of reform proposals in the House of Representatives over the past three years. Based on our extensive research, we believe the proposals that would attract and retain experienced staff, promote bipartisanship or encourage the development of expertise through committee-centered lawmaking can increase the lawmaking effectiveness of Congress as a whole.
5. Voters can reward effective lawmaking
Without electoral rewards for effective lawmaking, members of Congress may focus on being show horses rather than legislative workhorses.
The role of voters starts with the initial selection of candidates. Voters might consider whether candidates demonstrate policy expertise and speak about the benefits of bipartisanship, for example. They might consider our analysis showing that effective state legislators and women tend to be more effective lawmakers in Congress, on average.
Among incumbents, voters do strongly prefer effective over ineffective lawmakers at reelection time. However, when voters lack credible information about how effective their representative is, it is much easier to vote simply based on partisanship or other considerations.
On the whole, Congress can function much better. Effective lawmakers from the past have shown the path forward. Our analysis of 50 years of data offers lessons that any representative or senator can adopt, as well as reforms and electoral pressures that can nudge them in the right direction.
Craig Volden, Professor of Public Policy and Politics, University of Virginia and Alan E. Wiseman, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Political Economy, Professor of Political Science and Law, Vanderbilt University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, 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 932 5597 2002, pass code 784271. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,93255972002#,,,,*784271#.
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.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item 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.
On the special meeting agenda is an untimed item for continued consideration of the board’s possible support of a behavioral health treatment facility for youth and grant opportunity update and a letter of support and authorize chair to sign.
At its Aug. 23 meeting the board had first considered a request for support from David Santos for the application of a grant through the California Department of Health Care Services’ Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program to build a behavioral health treatment facility for youth.
Santos said a nonprofit called Hope Health is being formed to construct a treatment facility and provide behavioral health services to rural youth.
While the board will consider offering a letter of support, staff is recommending against taking on any responsibility.
“Your Board requested that staff complete the due diligence required to analyze risk, staff capacity and other relevant factors to determine if the County should agree to become the lead fiscal agent on this grant application,” County Administrative Officer Susan Parker said in her memo to the board. “After careful review, the limited information available as to the transferability of the grant application, the lack of a draft Standard Agreement to review and the lack of staff capacity to assume grant management tasks resulted in the finding that the County should not consider assuming responsibilities of the lead fiscal agent for this application.”
Parker added, “However, staff does recognize the need for our rural youth to receive behavioral health services and support Hope Health's commitment to that goal.”
Also on Tuesday, on the board’s consent agenda is an item to appoint Dr. Karl A. Sporer as the Public Health Officer and approve the professional services contract for a term of six months for an amount not to exceed $6,000 a month for the term of the agreement and authorize chair to sign.
Parker’s report to the board explained that on June 28 the supervisors ratified the physician consultation services contract with Dr. Gary Pace to ensure that the ongoing public health mandates for services would continue to be performed. On Aug. 2, the board approved an amendment to extend the contract agreement to Aug. 31.
On Aug. 9, Dr. Pace submitted his formal notice stating that he had fulfilled his contractual obligations with the county of Lake and that he will no longer serve as the Public Health officer after Aug. 31, Parker reported.
“Upon receiving this formal notice, staff began exploring options to temporarily fill the Public Health Officer position while recruiting for a permanent replacement for the PHO vacancy,” Parker wrote. “After careful review, staff recommends appointing Karl A. Sporer, M.D. as the Public Health Officer for the County of Lake and approve the Professional Services Contract.”
In other business, the board will consider approving an agreement to obtain funding and technical assistance for the Broadband Fiber Network Design Project with the Golden State Connect Authority for an amount not to exceed $500,000, along with a letter of support for the local agency technical assistance grant.
Parker’s report said, “Lake County’s anticipated scope of work would include a feasibility study for broadband service ‘gaps’ to identify the unserved and underserved areas of the County not covered or partially covered by existing broadband service providers, with resulting high- and low-level network designs.”
In closed session, the board will hold interviews for the Community Development director and a performance evaluation for Behavioral Health Services Director Todd Metcalf.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt CalOES designation of applicant‘s agent resolution for non-state agencies and authorize the chair to sign.
5.2: Adopt Proclamation designating Aug. 31, 2022, as International Overdose Awareness Day.
5.3: Appoint Dr. Karl A. Sporer as the Public Health officer and approve the professional services contract for a term of six months for an amount not to exceed $6,000 a month for the term of the agreement and authorize chair to sign.
5.4: Adopt resolution amending Resolution 81-523 authorizing an amendment in petty cash fund for agriculture commission.
5.5: Adopt resolution approving Agreement No. 22-0294-0008-SF with California Department of Food and Agriculture to authorize execution of the Asian Citrus Psyllid Winter Trapping Program in the Amount of $10,243.00 beginning Oct. 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.
5.6: Approve Amendment No. 2 between the county of Lake and New Life Health Authority dba New Life LLC, for substance use disorder outpatient drug free services, intensive outpatient treatment services, and narcotic treatment program services for a new contract maximum of $1,688,184 for fiscal year 2021-22 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.7: Adopt resolution amending Resolution # 2021-115 adopting final budget for fiscal year 2021-22 to provide a temporary loan from Behavioral Health (fund 145) to Substance Use Disorder Services (Fund 141) and to cancel reserve designations in Substance Use Disorder Services (Fund 141).
5.8: Approve the following agreements: a) between the county of Lake and Leonard’s Hauling and Tractor, for nuisance abatement in an amount not to exceed $50,000, and nuisance abatement within the Road Map Task Force area, in an amount not to exceed $67,000, and authorize the chair to sign; b) between the county of Lake and Cook Construction and Engineering Partners for nuisance abatement in an amount not to exceed $50,000, and nuisance abatement within the Road Map Task Force area, in an amount not to exceed $67,000, and authorize the chair to sign; and c) between the county of Lake and 360 Junk Removal and Hauling, for nuisance abatement in an amount not to exceed $50,000, and nuisance abatement within the Road Map Task Force area, in an amount not to exceed $67,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.9: Approve school and special districts resolution requesting the Lake County Board of Supervisors’ approval of consolidation of each districts' election with the Nov. 8, 2022, General Election.
5.10: Approve long distance travel for Parks and Project Superintendent Brian Powers to Phoenix, Arizona to attend the National Recreation and Parks Association Annual Conference from Sept. 20 to 22, 2022.
5.11: Approve a purchase order for the purchase of a hamm vibratory roller for county road maintenance, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase order.
5.12: Approve purchase of 100 computers, from Dell, in the amount of $78,118.28, and authorize the Social Services director to sign a purchase order.
TIMED ITEMS
6.3, 9:07 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating Aug. 31, 2022, as International Overdose Awareness Day.
6.4, 9:30 a.m.: Hearing on account and proposed assessment for nuisance abatement at 11630 Beryl Way, Clearlake Oaks (APN 035-262-33); property owner: Aura A. Thomas.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of a) behavioral health treatment facility for youth and grant opportunity update and b) a letter of support and authorize chair to sign.
7.3: Consideration of a) resolution designating the chair of the Lake County Board of Supervisors and county administrative officer or designee to execute documents on behalf of the county of Lake to request and obtain funding and technical assistance for facilitating the Broadband Fiber Network Design Project with the Golden State Connect Authority for amount not to exceed $500,000; and b) a letter of support for the local agency technical assistance grant and authorize chair to sign.
7.4: (a) Consideration of an update regarding the Technology Governance Committee; (b) consideration of a board agenda memo template providing links to resources and requesting information on purchasing policy compliance.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): Interviews for Community Development director; appointment of Community Development director.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: Behavioral Health director .
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The California Employment Development Department, or EDD, reported that Lake County’s unemployment rate was down to 4.2% from 4.4% in June and 7.7% in July 2021.
Lake County experienced its lowest unemployment rate in the last 30 years in May, with 3.8%.
Total farm employment in Lake County in July was up by 7.2% in a year-over comparison, and total nonfarm jobs rose by a total of 3.4% over the year, the report showed.
California’s unemployment rate decreased to a new record low in July to 3.9%, down from 4.2% in June, as the state’s employers added 84,800 nonfarm payroll jobs to the economy, the EDD reported.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said nationwide unemployment in July was 3.5%, down from 3.6% in June and 5.4% in July 2021.
California’s July 2022 unemployment rate of 3.9 percent is the lowest ever on record in a data series that dates back to 1976, according to the report.
California payroll jobs totaled 17,618,100 in July 2022, up 84,800 from June 2022 and up 850,600 from July of last year.
The state has now regained 97.3% (2,685,100) of the 2,758,900 nonfarm jobs lost during March and April of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of July 2022, California’s private sector (non-government) has fully recovered from pandemic losses.
The EDD said July 2022 marked the 10th consecutive month of nonfarm job gains and the 13th consecutive month of losses in unemployment. Seventeen of the past 18 months showed month-over nonfarm job gains totaling 1.6 million jobs over that time period.
Lake County ranked No. 38 out of the state’s 58 counties for its July jobless rate.
Lake’s neighboring counties’ jobless rates and ranks in the latest report are Colusa, 7.9%, No. 57; Glenn, 4.7%, No. 43; Napa, 2.6%, No. 7; Sonoma, 2.6%, No. 7; and Yolo, 3.2%, No. 20.
The county with the lowest unemployment was San Mateo with 1.9%, while Imperial had the highest, with 14.2%.
Email Elizabeth Larson at