LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will get an update from the county Public Health officer on COVID-19, discuss possible actions regarding work provisions in relation to the illness and consider whether or not to continue Friday closures of county offices to the public.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 10, 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.
At 9:10 a.m., Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace will go before the board to give an update on COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
In appearances last week before the city councils for Clearlake and Lakeport, Pace said there so far are no confirmed cases of the illness in Lake County, and he is urging community members to take basic precautions – such as washing hands, and avoiding work or school if sick – to stay healthy.
At 9:15 a.m., the board will consider a temporary policy for telework or additional leave provisions for employees due to COVID-19.
In an untimed item, the board will consider whether to continue alternative work hours to allow county offices in and around the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport to remain closed to the public on Fridays.
The board first approved the measure on Aug. 28, 2018, and has since amended the original resolution three times to continue the practice.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson’s report to the board said that vacancy rates – one of the issues cited for taking the action – remain high. At the time of the original resolution, vacancy was 20 percent countywide. It’s now 19 percent, with 198 permanent positions presently unfilled.
Huchingson said department heads “have noted seeing great benefits from the protected time provided by reduced public hours.”
At the same time, Huchingson said the board heard during a recent economic development workshop that Friday closures have been inconvenient for some members of the public.
“We are in the business of providing services to the public, and addressing office hours at each six-month interval offers your Board the opportunity to receive public comment, and weigh whether providing uninterrupted time for staff on Fridays remains the best means to serve the public in a timely manner,” Huchingson wrote.
In another untimed item, the council also will consider an Ag Department ordinance for industrial hemp regulations.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve change in appointment of two supervisors to serve on a committee with two city council members from Clearlake and from Lakeport to develop, propose and demand solutions to PG&E-imposed public safety power shutoffs.
5.2: Approve geothermal consultant contract with Harold W. Bertholf, Inc. (Bertholf) and authorize chair to sign.
5.3: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Crestwood Behavioral Health for adult residential support services and specialty mental health services for fiscal year 2019-20 for an increase of $400,000.00 and a new contract amount of $1,200,000.00 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.4: Approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Bitfocus Inc. for Clarity/Decipher Housing Management Information System for fiscal year 2019-20 for a contract maximum of $25,930.25 and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.
5.5: Approve correction to a typographical error contained in the minutes from the Board of Supervisors meeting from April 16, 2019, revising the vote for Item 6.5 to 4 Ayes and 1 recused.
5.6: (a) Approve waiver of the 900-hour extra help limitation for extra help district attorney investigator aides Robert McPherson and Billy Newsom; (b) Approve waiver of the 900-hour extra help limitation for extra help information support tech I, Ryan Clair, and (c) approve waiver of the 900-hour extra help limitation for extra help legal secretary, Myriam Ivette Herrera.
5.7: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
5.8: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.9: Approve two late travel claims and authorize the auditor to process payment of $37.00 for social worker Celeste Feldman.
5.10: Adopt resolution authorizing the transfer of assets, liabilities and fund equity in Fund 282, CSA #22 Mt. Hannah Water to Cobb Area County Water District per LAFCO File #2017-0001.
5.11: Adopt resolution authorizing the transfer of assets, liabilities and fund equity in fund 278, Starview Water CSA #18 to Cobb Area County Water District Per LAFCO File #2017-0001.
5.12: (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 agreement between the county of Lake and Bid4assets Inc. for the period of March 10, 2020, through March 10, 2025, for tax default public auction services for an amount not to exceed $262,500; and authorize the chair to sign.
5.13: (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 agreement between county of Lake and Harmony Research, for FY 19/20 for professional research services related to tax default land sales in the amount of $35,875.
5.14: Approve to waive 900-hour limit for extra help quagga mussel coordinator Edward (Marty) Jones.
5.15: Approve letter of support to Senator Jim Nielsen for a $15 million one-time allocation in the 2020-21 California State Budget to fund a North State Public Safety Training Center in Yuba City, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 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.
6.3, 9:10 a.m.: Consideration of update on the coronavirus.
6.4, 9:15 a.m.: Addendum, consideration of (a) temporary policy for telework, and (b) temporary additional leave provisions for employees due to COVID-19.
6.5, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, appeal to Board of Supervisors, AB 19-05 for Major Use Permit UP 18-39 (Smith/Hosfelt appeal).
6.6, 10 a.m.: Sitting as Lake County Housing Commission, approve administrative plan for 2020, authorize the chair to sign HUD Form HUD-50077-CR (Annual Civil Rights Certification and Board Resolution) to submit to HUD prior to April 17, 2020, deadline.
6.7, 10:15 a.m.: Discussion and Consideration of inspections done by the Building and Safety Division and by local fire departments.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of Ag Department ordinance for industrial hemp regulations.
7.3: Consideration of appointment of temporary representatives to meet for unrepresented management employees regarding salary and benefits.
7.4: Consideration of the following appointments: East Region Town Hall.
7.5: Consideration of Change Order No. 1 with Coleman Environmental Engineering, Inc. for FEMA FMAG Culvert Replacement No. 1 & No. 2, Federal Project No.'s FMAG DR 5093-1-1R & FMAG DR 5112-1-1R, Bid No. 19-01, for an increase of $6,750.00 and a revised contract amount of $656,247.50, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.6: Consideration of Change Order No. 2 with Coleman Environmental Engineering Inc. for FEMA FMAG Culvert Replacement No. 1 & No. 2, Federal Project No.'s FMAG DR 5093-1-1R & FMAG DR 5112-1-1R, Bid No. 19-01, For a decrease of $10,947.17 and a revised contract amount of $645,300.33, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.7: Consideration of a Resolution Amending Resolution No. 2018-118 establishing temporary alternative office hours for county offices located in and surrounding the Lake County Courthouse or alternative direction to staff.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with labor negotiator: (a) chief negotiator: M. Long; County Negotiators: C. Huchingson and P. Samac; and (b) employee organizations: LCDDAA, LCDSA, LCCOA, LCEA, LCSEA and LCSMA.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1): Heart Consciousness Church v. County of Lake.
8.3: Conference with (a) temporary representatives designated to meet with county department heads regarding salary and benefits and (b) unrepresented management employees.
8.4: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(3) threat of litigation – city of Clearlake.
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Supervisors to discuss COVID-19, Friday office closures
- Elizabeth Larson
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