LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday considered a list of projects eligible for COVID-related recovery funds from the federal government.
Assistant City Manager Nick Walker asked for the council to consider a spending plan for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and direct staff on next steps.
Walker said the city has been allocated funding totaling $1.2 million, and he presented a shortlist of four projects staff recommended because they fit into the funds’ most flexible category, revenue loss.
Those projects are South Main Street, from First Street to Lakeport Boulevard; renovations to the Silveira Community Center, which staff said still requires updates, in particular, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant restrooms; the planned recreation center; and water and sewer projects pulled from the city’s current rate study.
Walker said it’s a great opportunity to significantly fund one of those otherwise unfunded large capital projects.
Councilwoman Mireya Turner said it was a really good list of priorities that have been on city leaders’ minds for years and asked about prioritizing them.
City Manager Kevin Ingram said staff could crunch the numbers and see how far the funds would get them on the various projects. “We can bring that back for further action.”
Councilman Kenny Parlet said he liked the idea of getting something done and seeing cost estimates from staff. “Things change from month to month, quarter to quarter.”
Councilman Michael Froio offered his priorities, placing the South Main Street work in the No. 1 spot, followed by water and sewer projects, the Silveira Center’s upgrades and the recreation center.
Councilman Michael Green said he wanted to narrow the list of projects to just two, with the Silveira Center and roads being his two priorities.
Mayor Stacey Mattina said the heating and air conditioning system and the kitchen had been upgraded at the Silveira Center and asked what was left.
Ingram said the ADA bathrooms were the single largest piece that needed to be finished on the center. Mattina asked if any other funds were lined up for that purpose, and Ingram said no.
Turner said it would be helpful to get the more detailed numbers from staff, explaining she wanted to see cost comparisons for each of the projects.
While she noted that she favored the roads, Turner said she wanted to finish the Silveira Center so it could be used by the community.
Ingram said staff would bring back those pricing estimates for the Silveira Center and for some of the water and sewer projects.
Mattina said it also would be good to look at other funding opportunities for the city’s projects.
Ingram said the city had a little time and could spend some effort in looking at the project costs.
Walker’s written report explained that the funds have to be obligated by Dec. 31, 2024.
The council voted unanimously to support staff bringing back more detailed spending estimates for the list of projects.
In other business, the council approved a letter of support for the Lake Area Planning Council work regarding a rural regional energy network and accepted the annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal year 2020-21.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Editor’s note: This story contains graphic descriptions of the evidence in this case.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A judge on Monday threw out a plea agreement that would have placed a former Lakeport business owner on probation for child pornography possession, instead saying she intended to sentence him to state prison.
Judge Shanda Harry rejected the plea agreement during an afternoon sentencing hearing for Jeffery Scott Cramer, 60.
Cramer was arrested in May 2020 as the result of a Lake County Sheriff’s Office investigation.
Detectives served search warrants at his home and at the business he owned at the time, Main Street Bicycles, seizing digital devices and determining that social media accounts associated with Cramer had been used to upload child pornography on at least five occasions between August 2019 and February 2020.
The District Attorney’s Office filed the case in September of 2020, charging him with felony possession of child pornography and bringing obscene materials that depict a minor in a sex act into the state.
In March of 2021, Cramer entered a no contest plea to felony possession of child pornography. As part of a plea agreement that he reached with the District Attorney’s Office, the second charge was dropped, said District Attorney Susan Krones.
Krones, who took over the case after Deputy District Attorney Lisa O’Brien left her office, said that second charge was dismissed with a Harvey waiver, which allows the judge to consider the factual circumstances of that charge.
The agreement required Cramer to register for life as a sex offender. While on conviction the charge has sentencing guidelines of 16 months, two or three years in state prison, Krones said Cramer was going to get no prison time but was to serve up to three years’ probation with strict terms that, if they hadn’t been fulfilled, would have sent him to prison.
Since that plea agreement was reached, the state Legislature has reduced maximum probation time to two years, except in unusual cases, Krones said.
Asked why Cramer was offered that deal, Krones said, “He had a lot of support in the community and he also has no prior record whatsoever.” If he’d had any prior record, the offer wouldn’t have been made.
She said Cramer also immediately went into sex offender treatment counseling.
Judge explains her concerns, rejects plea agreement
Cramer’s sentencing has been continued numerous times since May 2021 but on Monday afternoon it appeared that the prosecution, defense and Judge Shanda Harry were ready to proceed.
Harry didn’t indicate immediately that she intended to reject the plea agreement. Instead, she offered a thorough explanation of her conclusions on the case, which she said involved reading a probation report that she thought was incomplete.
She said that wasn’t necessarily the fault of the Probation Department, because in such cases victims are difficult to contact. “You don’t always know who the victims are.”
Harry said she asked to see the materials that had been in Cramer’s possession, explaining that with only one or two exceptions, all were clearly children under age 12, with the judge estimating the children ranged in age from 9 to 11 years.
She said many of the images showed prepubescent girls in various stages of undress and all of them depicted girls in suggestive poses. Some more graphic pictures showed the girls’ genitalia.
With the images were a number of videos. “I wanted to be clear what these videos were of, because I think that’s significant,” Harry said.
Harry called those items “tribute videos,” in which Cramer filmed himself masturbating and then ejaculating on the images. He then uploaded those videos to porn sites, where they were distributed.
“This was not a passive exploration of pictures,” Harry said.
She said there have been claims made about the case that she hasn’t found credible, including that Cramer “went down a rabbit hole” and was led from one image to another. However, Harry pointed out that rather than just viewing them, he made his own tribute videos. “I find that claim to be somewhat disingenuous at best.”
Harry said a number of letters from friends and neighbors of Cramer’s had been submitted to the court, claiming he has good character.
“Many people who wrote the letters didn't seem to know what it was he was accused of exactly,” she said.
When these types of cases occur, a lot of people will come out and defend the accused, noting that that person is great otherwise, Harry said, adding that goes to the court’s analysis.
She agreed that Cramer has taken responsibility. “It’s easy to do once you’re caught.”
Harry said someone once told her that dangerous individuals in cases such as this one are friendly looking, and the type no one would expect. Cramer, she said, looks just like that.
The argument had been made that jail would be bad for Cramer’s physical and mental health, which Harry accepted. However, she said she accepted that argument for almost everyone.
The crime for which Cramer is charged has victims, said Harry, explaining the damage to the lives of the children shown in the images and videos. “Saying there are no victims is a misnomer.”
She added, “These items would not be created if there was not a consumer.”
Harry then announced she didn’t accept the plea deal as negotiated, explaining that she didn't find Cramer eligible for probation.
Instead, she intended to sentence him to two years in state prison, with other terms of the deal remaining in effect. “That is my sentence.”
Cramer’s attorney, Jane Gaskell of Santa Rosa, said the plea had been entered with the understanding that probation would be granted. As such, she asked for more time to talk to Cramer about next steps.
Gaskill also asked to withdraw the letters of support that had been submitted in order to remove them from the public record.
Harry granted both the request for more time and the removal of the letters, and set Cramer’s return to court for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15.
Following the court appearance, Krones told Lake County News that about 20 letters had been submitted in support of Cramer.
Neither she nor anyone in court on Monday identified any of the letter writers.
As for what could happen next, Krones said Cramer could withdraw his plea, at which point all of the original charges would be available, and go to a jury trial, risking the potential for a greater prison sentence.
Krones said he also can stay with the plea with the understanding that the judge is not going to grant probation and is likely going to sentence him to two years in prison.
“Basically, those are the options,” she said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said it is investigating a crash on Highway 20 that claimed the life of a Redding woman over the weekend.
The CHP did not release the 23-year-old crash victim’s name on Monday pending the notification of family.
The agency’s reports said that at 7:50 a.m. Sunday, the CHP’s Ukiah Communication Center received a call of a vehicle crash on Highway 20, east of Walker Ridge Road, involving a possible fatality.
Northshore Fire personnel responded to the scene and confirmed the driver had died of her injuries, the CHP said.
When CHP officers arrived on scene, they determined it was a solo-vehicle crash that occurred during the hours of darkness, several hours before it was reported.
The CHP said the driver was traveling westbound on Highway 20 in a 2009 Subaru Forester when, for unknown reasons, the Subaru veered to the right of the roadway.
The Subaru hit an embankment, crossed the roadway to the south and went down another embankment, into the creek bed and overturned several times, the CHP said.
The CHP said the driver was wearing her seat belt and remained in the driver’s seat where she succumbed to the injuries she sustained during the wreck.
The Subaru was equipped with front and side air bags which deployed as a result of the crash, the CHP said.
So far, the CHP said it is unknown if drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has identified a woman who died in a solo-vehicle wreck on Highway 20 over the weekend.
Lily Ann Richey, 23, of Redding died in the crash, said Lauren Berlinn, spokesperson for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office Richey’s 2009 Subaru Forester was found in a creek bed off Highway 20 east of Walker Ridge Road early Sunday.
The CHP said the crash happened several hours before Richey’s vehicle was found.
Based on what is known so far, investigators said Richey’s Forester veered to the right of the roadway, hit an embankment, crossed the highway to the south and went down another embankment and into the creek bed, overturning several times.
Richey was wearing her seat belt and the Subaru’s front and side air bags deployed, the CHP said.
The CHP office said Tuesday that no new information on the cause of the crash was available.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3.
Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the mayor or a member of staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the beginning of the meeting will not be included in the record.
At the start of the meeting, Police Chief Andrew White will swear in a new officer and present the annual police department report.
Under business, the council will consider offering a letter of support for the Lake Area Planning Council’s pursuit of a rural regional energy network, or RuralREN, program in Lake County.
City Manager Alan Flora’s report to the council explained that RuralRENs “are a solution for delivering energy efficiency programs envisioned in the early 2010s by the California Public Utilities Commission.”
He said the networks were created “as an innovative framework for local governments to design and administer energy efficiency programs and report directly to the commission. The goal was for the regional energy networks to create energy efficiency programs that would serve customers not otherwise served by the investor-owned utility programs.”
He said Lake APC, which will have staff at the meeting to give an update, is partnering with the seven other members of the Rural Hard to Reach Working group to submit a business plan to the CPUC for a new RuralREN. The business plan will be submitted by Feb. 15 and will seek funding from Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2031.
“The RuralREN is a direct response to the unique issues and urgent needs of rural California energy customers and will address energy equity in our communities by providing programs for residents, businesses, and public agencies,” Flora wrote in his report. “Opportunities for community investment will include hands-on career training and placement, incentives for energy efficiency projects, and localized lending. The RuralREN will provide the resources our communities need to play an equitable role in California’s transition to a clean energy economy.”
In other business, council members will consider confirming assessments totaling for city-funded abatements on six properties.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; the second reading of Ordinance No. 258-2022, approving a development agreement for Ogulin Canyon Holdings LLC to allow a cannabis operation located at 2185 Ogulin Canyon Road, Clearlake; waive the requirement for multiple proposals, and authorize the city manager to sign the contract/proposal provided by Weeks Drilling & Pump Co. to rehabilitate the agricultural well near the northeast corner of the Burns Valley Development property for future irrigation demand; minutes of the Dec. 8 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting; approval of a letter of support for the Berryessa Snow Mountain Expansion Act; authorize city manager to enter into a contract with Argonaut Constructors for the Burns Valley Development Project and authorize the city manager to approve up to 10% for additional unforeseen contract amendments; move to approve the amendment of contract with Resource Environmental for the waterpark demolition and authorize the city manager to approve up to 10% for additional unforeseen contract amendments.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week is expected to accept a resolution to postpone cannabis tax payments, and will get a report from an organization that advocates for rural counties and consider several committee and board appointments.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 992 8044 5927, pass code 645363. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,99280445927#,,,,*645363#.
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.
On the consent agenda, the board will consider a resolution — which is in response to requests from the cannabis industry at the board’s meeting last week — to postpone cannabis tax payments from Jan. 31 to May 15, suspend late payment penalties during the period of postponement and suspend tax rate increases based on the consumer price index until 2024.
Cannabis business owners said they need the help because they are struggling to stay afloat.
At 9:15 a.m., the board will get a presentation from Patrick Blacklock, president and chief executive officer of the Rural County Representatives of California, or RCRC.
In untimed items, the board will consider appointments to the Lake County Vector Control, Lower Lake Cemetery Board and Law Library Board.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: a) Approve memorandum of understanding by and between county of Mendocino and the Lake County Air Quality Management District for air pollution control officer duties, effective Feb. 1, 2022; and b) authorize the chair to sign a report of appointment increasing Air Pollution Control Officer Douglas Gearhart’s salary by 20% during this limited agreement.
5.2: Adopt resolution postponing cannabis tax payments to May 15, 2022, suspending late payment penalties during the period of postponement, and suspending tax rate increases pursuant to the consumer price index until 2024.
5.3: 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 Adventist Health St. Helena and Vallejo for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations for fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23 for a maximum compensation of $300,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.4: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes Jan. 4, 2022.
5.5: a) Approve purchase order for the purchase of a Ford Escape for the Community Development Department, and authorize the Community Development director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase order; and b) approve budget transfer to increase capital asset in the amount of $500 to facilitate the purchase of the Ford Escape and authorize the chair to sign.
5.6: Approve continuation of resolution authorizing teleconferenced meetings during a state of emergency.
5.7: Approve addendum to lease for commercial property located at 858 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport from Feb. 1, 2022, through Feb. 28, 2023, at $2,100 per month and authorize the chair to initial all pages of the addendum.
5.8: Approve continuation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer for the Cache fire.
5.9: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.10: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transport, and disposal of fire debris for the LNU Complex wildfire.
5.11: Approve the continuation of a local emergency in Lake County in response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.12: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.13: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.14: Approve the continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions.
5.15: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
5.16: Approve continuation of a local emergency by the Lake County Sheriff/OES director for the Cache fire.
5.17: Approve plans and specifications for the Cooper Creek at Witter Springs Road Bridge Replacement Project Bid No. 22-03, Federal Aid Project No. BRLO-5914(078).
5.18: Approve a purchase order for engineering services to complete a local road safety plan and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase order.
5.19: Authorize the closure of the Special Districts administration office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, for all staff training.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation by RCRC President and CEO Patrick Blacklock.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Lake County Vector Control, Lower Lake Cemetery Board, Law Library Trustee.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov code sec 54956.9(d)(1) — City of Clearlake v. County of Lake.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(4) — One potential case.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said it will conduct a full-length test of the warning sirens in several communities next week.
The test will take place beginning at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 7.
The test will involve the warning sirens in Middletown, Anderson Springs, Cobb, Loch Lomond, and Kelseyville Riviera, formerly known as the Clear Lake Riviera.
The test will last three minutes. In the event of an actual emergency, the warning siren is one way the community may be alerted to danger from wildfire, earthquake, or other hazards.
Ongoing monthly testing for the sirens will occur on the first Monday of each month at 11 a.m. The testing from March through January will be 30-second tests.
The February test each year is the full three-minute activation. Just before each test, messaging will be sent out through LakeCoAlerts and Nixle notifying residents in the area of the sirens of the test.
When the sirens are heard outside of a scheduled test, community members should take shelter, be vigilant, and look for further information and instructions from LakeCoAlerts and Nixle. The sirens may not be heard depending on topography, natural and human-made noise, if residents are indoors, or potentially too far aware from the sirens.
The Middletown, Anderson Springs, Cobb, and Loch Lomond sirens have been in place since 2018. These sirens are owned and maintained by the South Lake Fire Protection District.
Since these sirens have been installed, they have only undergone monthly 30 second tests to ensure their functionality.
Over the past year, many residents expressed a desire to have a full three-minute test conducted to ensure residents know what the siren will sound like in the event of an emergency.
In the summer of 2021, the Kelseyville Riviera Home Owners Association installed three warning sirens to provide another form of warning to their residents in the case of an emergency.
As these are new sirens, their functionality has not been tested. This will be the first test of the warning sirens in the Kelseyville Riviera. Should there be any issues, please contact the Kelseyville Riviera Home Owners Association at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The East Region Town Hall, or ERTH, will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 2.
The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, located at 15900 Moose Lodge Lane in Clearlake Oaks.
The meeting can be attended in person or via Zoom; the meeting ID is 935 8339 6020, the pass code is 448228.
On the agenda is a presentation from the Lake County Community Development Department, with Code Enforcement Manager Marcus Beltramo and interim Chief Building Official Jack Smalley to speak to the group.
There also will be updates on Spring Valley, Sonoma Clean Power geothermal, a consolidated lighting district in Clearlake Oaks, commercial cannabis cultivation permit applications for District 3, the Roadmap Task Force update, a report from Supervisor EJ Crandell and new business.
ERTH will next meet on Wednesday, March 2.
ERTH’s members include Denise Loustalot, Jim Burton, Tony Morris and Pamela Kicenski.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. In accordance with updated guidelines from the state of California and revised Cal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards, persons who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are required to wear a face covering at this meeting.
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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the city clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 1.
On Tuesday, the council will give a presentation on the Lake Area Planning Council’s efforts regarding the formation of a rural regional energy network, which will take advantage of available energy efficiency programs.
City Manager Kevin Ingram also will ask for the council to approve the mayor signing a letter supporting formation of the network.
Assistant City Manager Nick Walker will seek direction to formalize a spending plan for the council to review regarding Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Walker also will present the annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal year 2020-21.
On the consent agenda — items usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the council’s regular meeting on Jan. 18; adopt a resolution authorizing continued remote teleconference meetings of the Lakeport City Council and its legislative bodies pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e); adopt the proposed resolution to reaffirm the necessity of AB 1600 development impact fees; adopt the proposed ordinance adding Chapter 17.53 of the Lakeport Municipal Code regarding the water efficient landscape requirements; authorize the out of state travel as requested by the city manager for Council Member Turner to attend the National League of Cities’ Congressional City Conference to be held in Washington DC, March 14 to 16; receive and file the draft minutes of the Jan. 19 Measure Z Advisory Committee meeting; approve event application 2022-002, with staff recommendations, for the 2022 Memorial Day Parade; approve event application 2022-003, with staff recommendations, for the 2022 July Fourth Street Fair; approve event application 2022-004, with staff recommendations, for the 2022 Taste of Lake County event; approve event application 2022-005, with staff recommendations, for the 2022 Pumpkin and Dia de los Muertos Festival; approve event application 2022-006 fee waiver request, with staff recommendations, for the 2022 Trick or Treat Main Street event; and approve event application 2022-007, with staff recommendations, for the 2022 Dickens’ Festival.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Across the West, thousands of people are deciding what to do about homes that have been destroyed by wildfires in recent months. Those planning to rebuild will be looking for ways to make their new homes and neighborhoods as fire-resistant as possible.
As an architect, I can tell you that rebuilding the same number of structures and replacing belongings after December’s Boulder County, Colorado, fire alone will likely cost more than the estimated US$513 million in residential losses.
To protect these investments as fire risk grows, here are some key strategies that communities and anyone building in the wildland-urban interface need to consider. Research shows that every $1 spent on prevention can save at least $6 in emergency rescue and recovery later.
Know the risk and plan for it
Designing for resiliency starts with risk assessments, particularly for communities in the wildland-urban interface – areas at the edge of forests and grasslands that are typically at higher risk of wildfires. Nearly half of Colorado residents lived in these areas in 2017, according to the Colorado State Forest Service.
California has a statewide code for its wildland-urban interface areas that includes details such as how far trees and shrubs should be kept away from homes, and construction materials to use that can help protect homes within a fire hazard zone. Typically, builders must follow these codes to get permits for the construction of certain buildings and neighborhoods in the risk areas.
Not all states provide that guidance, though. Colorado lawmakers rejected recommendations for a statewide code in 2014, leaving wildland-urban interface decisions to each county. Some Colorado communities and counties, including Boulder County, do require fire mitigation measures in wildland-urban interface areas. The International Code Council and National Fire Protection Association publish wildland-urban interface fire codes that can be adjusted to local conditions.
In a fire spread by extreme winds like the Boulder County fire, even following code may not be enough to save homes, but following that guidance in many circumstances will better protect a community.
Creating defensible space
Creating resilience in the wildland-urban interface involves several layers of defense.
At the community level, forest management, including thinning forests around communities and clearing away brush that could fuel a fire, is an important aspect of fire risk reduction and has become a priority for the federal government.
Carefully planning how land is used in communities can lower the risk to homes and property. A site’s vegetation types, weather and wind patterns, and slope of the ground can all affect how a fire spreads. Planning also ensures firefighters have road access to reach homes in all weather and identifies water sources for firefighting.
At the neighborhood scale, fire experts recommend maintaining an open area around housing developments in wildland fire-risk areas that is clear of tall grass and dense trees. These buffer zones could include mowed recreation fields, shopping area parking lots or other features that can slow a fire’s spread.
Depending on the fire risk, each house should have a perimeter of defensible space extending out at least 30 feet and as much as 100 feet from the home. Within this area, landscapes should be maintained in a way that reduces the chances of a wildfire spreading to the house and adjacent structures. That means keeping trees and shrubs separated from structures like the house, barn or garage, as well as from other landscaping. It’s best to avoid more combustible landscaping like conifer trees, and grass should be mowed and kept free of debris, such as dead leaves and branches that could catch fire.
The closest 5 feet around a house should be totally free of trees and debris, bushes, wood mulch, furniture, barbecue pits and grills – basically anything that can be ignited by flames, embers or radiant heat. Decks, fences and other projections can be built with non-combustible material or wood treated with fire retardant.
How to make construction fire-resistant
The last line of defense to reduce flammability and fire spread is the design of the house and its construction.
A simple shape with few projections and indented corners has been shown to be more resilient because there are fewer areas that can catch debris.
Most codes and the insurance industry suggest the roof be made of fire-resistiveClass A materials, such as asphalt shingles or concrete tiles. The walls should be a continuous fire-rated construction from the foundation to the roof, and its assembly of materials, like wood studs, insulation, gypsum board and siding, should have undergone regulated testing. These assemblies of materials are rated based on the duration of time they can withstand fire.
Vulnerable openings like windows and doors should also have rated assemblies. And vents, if required for a particular climate, should be protected with fine mesh screens made of metal that can block most blowing embers.
Gutters and downspouts should be made of non-combustible materials – metal rather than vinyl – and be regularly cleaned or covered with a metal leaf guard. If possible, gutters can be eliminated with the addition of an underground drainage system to direct water away from the foundation and wall, but those systems also need maintenance.
These are all passive measures – they don’t need to be activated in an emergency, but they should be in place well before a fire event.
Researchers are also testing the performance of active systems for use in imminent threats, such as exterior sprinklers that don’t require electricity, large fire blankets that can cover a house, and fire-retardant foam that can be sprayed on structures.
With thorough risk assessment and several lines of defense, neighborhoods can be safer. But these strategies will have to be balanced with initial and long-term costs, realistic maintenance expectations and efforts to mitigate future anticipated threats. As storms become more intense and wildfires more frequent, we should be designing to reduce risk and our impact on the environment.
As a result of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, many school districts across the country are finding themselves short of teachers, who are quitting, getting sick or even dying.
Pay for substitute teachers averaged $17 an hour in May 2020, according to federal figures. Assuming a substitute worked as much as possible – seven hours a day for 180 school days – that’s $21,420 a year, which is about one-third of the national average pay for full-time teachers. It is also below the poverty line for households with three people. Because school breaks are short, people who are regular subs may not be able to pursue longer-term work.
As education administrators and scholars of school leadership, we see school districts across the U.S. adjusting their requirements, and their compensation, for substitute teachers – all in an effort to keep schools open despite large numbers of staff out sick.
Why are there substitute teachers?
With the rise of compulsory education in the U.S. in the early 20th century, and the subsequent emergence of collective bargaining agreements for public school teachers, schools began needing to hire substitute teachers. Contracts often gave teachers a specific number of sick or personal days off. School districts had to provide coverage when a regular teacher was out, either for a short period of illness or a longer time, such as a maternity leave.
In general, states set minimum requirements for substitutes. In Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Virginia and Wyoming, anyone with a high school diploma can be a sub, unless a specific school district has implemented a higher level of requirements. But most states require at least some college credits, and local school boards often set additional requirements, such as licensure in the subject where the person will work as a substitute teacher.
Subs are employed in a variety of ways, sometimes through collective bargaining agreements with school districts, including formal approval as employees with negotiated compensation and working conditions, or as independent contractors, or through external temporary staffing agencies. Their pay is typically determined by school districts. In general, short-term subs, who fill in for a teacher for a day or so at a time, are paid the least. Subs tend to get paid more if they work some number of days in a row, or if they are engaged to fill a longer-term absence. Pay also can increase depending on a sub’s educational level, license status or prior teaching experience.
Though the national average in 2020 – the most recent year for which data is available – was $17 an hour, actual pay varies widely by location. Districts in and around southeastern Maryland paid an average of $42.13 an hour in 2020. But school districts on Alabama’s Gulf Coast paid $8.35 an hour on average that same year.
In education, however, we have more often seen a reduction in required qualifications for a particular job, demanding a lower-level license or less prior experience. That’s happening, too, such as in Kansas, which temporarily eliminated the statewide requirement that subs have at least some college-level education.
However, our experience as school district leaders has shown us that attracting and keeping substitute teachers requires more than fair compensation.
Often, substitute teachers are viewed on the school system’s periphery rather than as an integral core. For instance, subs often are not included in district events such as professional learning opportunities or districtwide communications. Research has demonstrated that even though substitutes are necessary for the continuing function of schools, substitutes do not see the organization as valuing their contribution.
Some substitutes, such as retired teachers, may prefer to be more detached from general school operations. But other subs could interpret that distancing as a message that they are not really a part of the school culture. Principals and fellow teachers could welcome subs more directly, greeting them, visiting their classrooms, and making sure they know where to find a coat rack or a fridge for their lunch. Offering subs access to a break room and professional development also helps connect substitutes to the broader school community.
Opportunities for change
We also think it might be time for schools to consider alternatives to the current substitute teaching model.
Some districts pay regular teachers to cover for absent colleagues during planning or preparation periods. If this model is set up correctly, teachers substituting in other classrooms will have existing relationships with students and expertise in the subject matter needing to be taught.
Binghamton University, where we work, has developed a program called “Substitutes with a Purpose” in collaboration with regional educational leaders. This program sets up graduate students in education as substitute teachers, using that time to fulfill state requirements for in-classroom teaching.
We have found that this effort helps regional school districts address substitute shortages and helps university students earn money and fulfill academic requirements. It also provides an opportunity for these future teachers to become known in local schools, furthering their efforts to secure future full-time employment.
Lifting the borrowing costs consumers and businesses pay for loans has the effect of slowing economic activity, which in turn could curb inflation. But there are also concerns that it could put on the brakes too quickly. We asked Alexander Kurov, a finance professor at West Virginia University, and Marketa Wolfe, an economist at Skidmore College, to explain what the Fed is doing and what it means for you.
The Fed quickly cut rates to zero at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis in March 2020 in an attempt to soften the blow of the sharp recession that began that month as the U.S. went into lockdown. As a reminder of how bad things were back then, over 40 million workers – a quarter of the American workforce – filed for unemployment in the first few months of the pandemic, a staggering number with no precedent in the job market.
The Fed can ill afford to allow this to continue because if higher inflation becomes entrenched, it would damage the economy. And the longer it lasts, the harder – and more painful for consumers and businesses – it is going to be to bring it back to a more sustainable 2%.
So the Fed has to act quickly before it’s too late.
2. How does the Fed raise rates?
The Fed sets a target range for what is called the “federal funds rate.” This rate acts like a benchmark for all interest rates in the economy.
While the Fed’s statement didn’t specify a time when it plans to raise rates, Chair Jerome Powell said “the committee is of a mind to raise the federal funds rate at the March meeting, assuming that the conditions are appropriate for doing so. Analysts expect it to be a 0.25 percentage point increase. This would affect banks’ cost of borrowing, which in turn slowly filters throughout the economy as lenders charge more for loans on homes, cars, businesses, college tuition and anything else you might want to buy with debt. Banks would also gradually increase the interest they offer on deposits and savings accounts.
The Fed does not directly control all these other rates, and the exact path they will take is not completely predictable, but the overall trend will be up if the Fed keeps raising its target rate.
3. What does that mean for consumers and businesses?
Put simply, higher interest rates mean borrowers would need to pay more for the loans they get.
If the Fed lifts interest rates this year by 0.75 percentage point, as expected, this would translate into about US$45,000 in additional interest payments on a 30-year, $300,000 mortgage.
So if you want to borrow to start a business, pay for college, buy a car or do anything else, you should expect your borrowing costs to be higher later this year.
On the other hand, higher rates is good news for savers and investors, as their returns from activities like making deposits and buying bonds will go up.
4. And how will it affect the broader economy?
Higher interest rates would likely slow down business activity. While this can help reduce inflation, it also means lower economic growth.
The Fed always makes decisions based on what is happening in the economy and on how economic conditions are expected to change. And changes in the economy are often hard to predict.
The biggest unknown at this point is what will happen to inflation later this year. This is uncertain because inflation is driven by multiple factors, such as supply chain shortages and strong demand.
In addition, the labor force participation rate has still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and the economy is experiencing labor shortages, which could push wages and prices higher. If these COVID-19-related pressures don’t ease up soon, inflation could continue to stay high or continue to accelerate, which may force the Fed to increase interest rates faster than currently expected.
On the other hand, if economic or employment growth stalls, this will make it much harder for the Fed to raise rates without making things worse. The Fed will need to find the right balance between taming inflation and avoiding slowing down the economy too much.
Article updated to add GDP report and Powell comment.