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During the hourlong meeting, the council hosted a swearing-in and awards ceremony for new and promoted Clearlake Police officers, and presented proclamations declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The meeting included a brief update by staff regarding progress on the Cache fire recovery process.
The fire began Aug. 18 in the city limits, burning more than 80 acres and destroying 138 structures — 57 of them homes.
City Manager Alan Flora said a few weeks ago staff met with representatives of the state Office of Emergency Services, the State Water Board, California Department of Water Resource, California Conservation Corps and Lake County Water Resources due to concerns about stormwater mitigation measures that had been put into place in the fire area.
He said the city, state and county representatives walked the entire fire site, determined a number of solutions and those additional improvements have all been installed.
He said state Sen. Mike McGuire toured the site with the city last Friday and talked about issues like water supply.
Finance Director Kelcey Young said staff has been working on getting right of entry forms from property owners in order for the debris removal process to move forward.
She said the city — along with the state Office of Emergency Services and North Coast Opportunities — held a workshop on Monday on the cleanup process, with about 15 households attending.
In addition, the city has received 41 rights of entry, “which is excellent,” Young said.
There are still four property owners the city is trying to contact via phone and email, Young said. Later in the discussion, Councilman Russ Cremer said he had a list of property owners he’s compiled as part of his efforts to raise recovery funds and he offered to share that list with Young.
Young said property owners who want to have debris removed should contact the city. Information is available on the city’s Cache fire resources page.
The city submitted the 41 complete right of entry forms to Cal OES on Thursday, Young said.
She explained that those without insurance are still eligible to have debris from their homes and properties removed.
Cal OES is in the process of selecting the contractor who will conduct the debris removal, with Young estimating that the removal process could begin in early November.
Flora said Cal OES has done a great job, largely with the influence of Sen. McGuire. He also recognized City Clerk/Administrative Services Director Melissa Swanson for her efforts in getting the rights of entry forms processed.
He said that because of the anticipated impact on rainfall into the Cache Creek watershed — and with the amount of burned vehicles in the fire area — there is an effort to prioritize the Cache fire cleanup ahead of other larger fires in the state.
Councilman Russ Perdock asked staff if the city has heard anything from its members of Congress about possible federal help.
Flora said a federal declaration for the state’s wildfires has already happened and it’s unclear what disasters are included.
While the Cache fire is not mentioned in that declaration, Flora said they’ve gotten some indication from the state that it may be rolled into that larger federal declaration.
Also on Thursday, the council voted unanimously to purchase a 5,000-square-foot vacant lot at 6388 Vallejo Ave. to be used as part of the future development of the retail center at the former Pearce Field.
The lot is currently surrounded by city-owned property, Flora said. It’s also in proximity to property the city has agreed to sell for a hotel development.
The property’s current owners, who inherited it from their parents, offered it to the city. Flora said the city agreed to purchase it for $15,000, and to cover the $5,000 closing costs.
Cremer moved to approve the purchase, Perdock seconded and the council voted 5-0.
In other business, the council voted unanimously to authorize the implementation and use of teleconference accessibility to conduct public meetings pursuant to Assembly Bill 361.
Swanson said the bill allows the city to continue to hold meetings remotely through the end of 2023 as long as it makes at least one of three findings, including:
— state or local officials have imposed or recommended measures to promote social distancing;
— the legislative body is holding a meeting for the purpose of determining whether as a result of the emergency, meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees;
— and by majority vote, the legislative body determined that as a result of the emergency, meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees.
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The City of Clearlake Animal Association also is seeking fosters for the animals waiting to be adopted.
Another way to help is through donations. A wish list has been posted at Amazon and on Chewy. For those who wish to shop local and drop off items, call 707-273-9440 to schedule a delivery or donate at the association’s Facebook page.
Call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website.
‘Andy’
“Andy” is a male pit bull terrier mix with a short gray and white coat.
He is dog No. 5150.
‘Bear’
“Bear” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a short brown coat.
He has been neutered.
He is dog No. 3476.
‘Bella’
“Bella” is a female pit bull mix with a short brindle coat.
She is dog No. 5080.
‘Blue Eyed Jack’
“Blue Eyed Jack” is a male German shepherd mix.
He is dog No. 5046.
‘Edgar’
“Edgar” is a male American Staffordshire terrier mix with a short black and cream coat.
He is dog No. 5189.
‘Mara’
“Mara” is a female Rottweiler mix.
She has a short black and tan coat.
He is house-trained.
She is dog No. 4628.
‘Mitzy’
“Mitzy” is a female shepherd mix with a medium-length black and white coat.
She is dog No. 4648.
‘Sassy’
“Sassy” is a female American bully mix with a short black coat.
She has been spayed.
She is dog No. 4602.
‘Tanisha’
“Tanisha” is a female shepherd mix with a short orange and white coat.
She is dog No. 4647.
‘Terry’
“Terry” is a male Dutch shepherd mix with a smooth brindle coat.
He is dog No. 4880.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 332 by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa).
“Today we take an important step toward protecting our state from the kinds of wildfires that have been so destructive over the past few years,” Dodd said, thanking Newsom for signing the bill into law.
SB passed the Assembly and Senate with unanimous, bipartisan support in September before being signed by the governor on Wednesday.
Dodd said SB 332 is meant to help prevent future loss of life and property by expanding the use of prescribed burning to control combustible fuels.
“We know control burning is one of the best ways to reduce combustible fuels in our tinder-dry forest. My bill, SB 332, will expand our use of this proven tool and make our state safer as we face ever-worsening conditions caused by drought and climate change. To do that we must raise the legal standard for seeking state suppression costs, requiring a showing of gross negligence rather than simple negligence,” Dodd said in a statement released Wednesday evening, within hours of the bill’s signing.
Newsom signed the legislation just over a week after he signed a complementary bill, AB 642 by Assembly member Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), which — among other things — calls for the creation of a prescribed fire training center, the appointment of a cultural burning liaison to serve on the State Board of Fire Services and development of Cal Fire’s prescribed burning crews, as Lake County News has reported.
Prescribed burning is the controlled application of fire to the land to reduce wildfire hazards, clear downed trees, control plant diseases and improve wildlife habitats.
It is conducted by trained professionals — called “burn bosses” — and is one of the most cost-effective tools to manage wildfire.
California’s tribes used the practice for centuries and, more recently, it was used by ranchers to keep landscapes more open. However, the state and federal governments began to discourage the practice by private landowners.
Recently, with so much of California beset by larger and more damaging wildland fires, the importance of the practice has once again begun to be recognized, with more landowners and agencies seeking to use it.
Rarely have prescribed burns caused unintended damage. However, Lenya Quinn-Davidson, fire adviser for the University of California Cooperative Extension and director of Northern California Prescribed Fire Council, told Lake County News that concern over being billed for wildfire suppression costs has hampered the practice’s use.
Dodd’s office said the liability concern’s impact on prescribed burns has caused a buildup in forests of brush and unhealthy trees, which is why SB 332 changed the legal standard for seeking state suppression costs.
“The passage of SB 332 is monumental,” said Quinn-Davidson. “Those of us who work on prescribed fire have felt the need for these changes for years, but we never thought we’d see them happen. We are so thankful to Sen. Dodd for his vision and leadership, which will effect real, positive change around prescribed burning and fire resiliency in California.”
Quinn-Davidson said the bill had the support of a broad coalition of groups, from ranchers to conservationists and tribal governments.
The bill builds on legislation Dodd advocated to create a $20 million insurance pilot program to encourage prescribed burning.
SB 170, the Budget Act of 2021, was signed Sept. 23. It included a $20 million prescribed fire claim fund in the state budget.
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This competitive grant is designed to incentivize partnerships between Behavioral Health and educational agencies, for the purpose of increasing access to mental health services in locations easily accessible to students and their families.
Importantly, this grant will support the mental health needs of Lake County students now returning to in-person school after over a year of shelter-in-place isolation.
Behavioral Health and LCOE have enjoyed a strong working relationship, serving youth in the community for many years. The organizations recognize how critical it is to identify and address mental health issues early on.
Mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders can begin early in childhood. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in six children aged 2-8 years (17.4%) have a diagnosed condition.
Poverty is also a well-established risk factor for a variety of health issues, including mental health conditions. Overall, about 32% of children in Lake County live in poverty, and in the communities of Clearlake and Lower Lake, this percentage jumps to 48% and 51%, respectively. This is dramatically higher than the State average of 25%.
The Mental Health Student Services Act grant is designed to provide support services that include, at a minimum, mental health services on school campuses, suicide prevention services, drop-out prevention services, placement assistance and service plans for students in need of ongoing services.
The grant also includes outreach to high-risk youth, including foster youth, youth who identify as LGBTQ, and youth who have been expelled or suspended from school.
Behavioral Health and LCOE designed a proposal that would include additional mental health staff who will collaborate with teachers and other school staff to provide services and increase access to mental health interventions.
Grant activities will begin in October, and will continue through 2026.