LAKEPORT, Calif. — Four people were injured, one of them seriously, during a Sunday vehicle crash.
The wreck occurred on Highway 29 near Highland Springs Road, said Sgt. Joel Skeen of the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake office.
Skeen said Jennifer Taylor was driving a 2017 Ford Fusion northbound on Highway 29, approaching Highland Springs Road, as George Kieffer was driving his 2005 Ford F-250 westbound in that same area.
He said both vehicles entered the intersection and hit in a broadside collision.
A passenger in the Ford Fusion sustained major injuries and was flown to UC Davis Medical Center, Skeen said.
Both Taylor and Kieffer, as well as a passenger riding with Kieffer, sustained minor injuries and were transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Skeen said.
Skeen said all of the vehicles’ occupants were wearing seat belts and no drugs or alcohol were suspected.
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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — A community meeting this month will look at the opioid crisis in Lake County and solutions for addressing it.
Overdose Lifeline Inc., in collaboration with the city of Lakeport and the Lakeport Police Department, will host the event from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the Soper Reese Theatre, 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport.
The event is free and open to the public. Dinner and beverages will be provided by the Lakeport Unified School District.
Overdose Lifeline Inc. is a nonprofit leader in addressing the opioid epidemic through harm reduction and educational programming.
Justin Phillips, founder of Overdose Lifeline, Inc., will be present along with staff from Lake County Behavioral Health Services and law enforcement representatives to provide information on substance use disorder services available locally.
A panel will answer questions regarding the opioid crisis and how it affects Lake County residents.
Organizers said Phillips will provide valuable insights on substance use disorder, overdose and harm reduction techniques.
The goal is to provide education and resources to those affected by the opioid crisis in Lake County.
“This multiagency involvement underscores our commitment to addressing not only the immediate concerns regarding substance use in Lake County, but also providing ongoing education and reducing the stigma attached to substance use disorder,” the city said.
During the week leading up to the main event, representatives from Overdose Lifeline Inc. will visit local schools to engage with students and educators.
The presenters and sponsors encourage everyone in the community to attend the event and participate in the collective effort to combat the opioid crisis.
“Together we can make a positive impact on the well-being of our community,” city officials said.
For additional information, contact Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen at 707-263-5491, Extension 101.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport Planning Commission will hold its first meeting of the year this week and consider a project to allow for a new bridge over Forbes Creek as part of a housing development.
The commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. Masks are highly encouraged where 6-foot distancing cannot be maintained.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here; the meeting ID is 814 1135 4347, pass code is 847985.
To join by phone, dial 1-669-444-9171; for one tap mobile, 16694449171,,81411354347#,,,,*847985#.
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 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
The commission will start off the meeting with electing its officers for the new year.
The main item on the agenda is consideration of an application from Peter Schellinger and Waterstone Residential for an environmental review that would allow for the installation of an emergency vehicular access bridge spanning across Forbes Creek connecting Wrigley Street to Craig Avenue.
The project is located at 1297 Craig Ave.
Schellinger is proposing the Parkside Residential Project, which includes apartments and small homes on a portion of the 96-lot Schellinger Subdivision that was approved in three phases in 2005 next to Westside Community Park.
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.
Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling for new legislation expanding criminal penalties, bolstering police and prosecutor tools to combat theft and take down professional criminals who profit from smash and grabs, retail theft, and car burglaries.
The governor’s legislative framework calls for the creation of new laws and expanding criminal penalties to crack down on professional thieves — those who profit from stealing goods for resale — bolstering law enforcement’s ability to arrest suspects, creating a new crime addressing organized auto burglary committed to resell stolen property, eliminating the sunset provision for the organized retail crime statute, and exploring increased penalties for high-volume resellers of stolen goods.
“Building on California’s existing laws and record public safety investments, I’m calling for new legislation to expand criminal penalties for those profiting on retail theft and auto burglaries. These laws will make California safer and bolster police and prosecutor tools to arrest and hold professional criminals accountable,” Newsom said.
Proposals within the framework include:
1) CRACKING DOWN ON PROFESSIONAL THIEVES: Creates new penalties targeting those engaged in retail theft to resell, and those that resell the stolen property — increasing felony penalties and prison time.
2) INCREASING ENFORCEMENT TOOLS: Bolsters existing law to ensure police can arrest suspects of retail theft, even if they didn't witness a crime in progress.
3) AGGREGATING THEFT AMOUNTS: Clarifies that the penal code allows law enforcement to combine the value of multiple thefts — even across different victims — to reach the threshold for grand theft.
4) FIGHTING AUTO BURGLARY: Creates new penalties for professional auto burglary, increasing penalties for the possession of items stolen from a vehicle with intent to resell, regardless of whether the vehicle was locked.
5) ELIMINATING ORC SUNSET PROVISION: Eliminates the sunset date for the organized retail crime statute. The law, which has been effectively used by CHP and others in the Organized Retail Crime Task Force, is set to expire on January 1, 2026.
6) INCREASING PENALTIES FOR RESELLERS: Explores strengthening the law to increase penalties for large-scale resellers of stolen goods.
The Tuesday announcement builds on the Governor’s Real Public Safety Plan — which focuses on strengthening local law enforcement response, ensuring perpetrators are held accountable, and getting guns and drugs off our streets.
In 2023, the governor announced the largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime in California history, an annual 310% increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, and special operations across the state to fight crime and improve public safety.
Since 2019, the state has invested $1.1 billion to fight crime and improve public safety.
California law provides existing robust tools for law enforcement and prosecutors to arrest and charge suspects involved in organized retail crime — including up to three years of jail time for organized retail theft.
The state has the 10th lowest threshold nationally for prosecutors to charge suspects with a felony, $950. Forty other states — including Texas ($2,500), Alabama ($1,500), and Mississippi ($1,000) — require higher dollar amounts for suspects to be charged with a felony.
“California is safer when law enforcement and prosecutors have more tools to arrest suspects and hold them accountable. This framework will close loopholes criminals have exploited and increase felony penalties for smash and grabs, retail theft, and auto burglaries. I look forward to working with the governor and the Legislature to get this done,” said President of the California State Sheriffs’ Association Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux.
“Organized retail theft is a serious crime that not only costs businesses, retailers, and consumers, but puts workers and the public at risk,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The California Department of Justice is committed to tackling these crimes head-on. We appreciate the Governor's leadership, and will continue working with his office and our legislative partners to eradicate organized retail crime.”
“While we must always create pathways for restorative justice and redemption, we must also hold people accountable as they violate the rights of others. With the epidemic of retail theft and robberies in our communities, we must provide prosecutors the necessary tools to address a plague of lawlessness that is threatening our very way of life,” said Senate Public Safety Chair Senator Aisha Wahab.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Planning Commission this week will start off the year by deciding whether to allow a cannabis project next to the historic Kelsey Creek School.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The webinar ID is 834 4717 0315, the pass code is 986758.
Access the meeting via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,83447170315#,,,,*986758# or dial in at 669-900-6833.
The meeting also can be viewed on the county’s website or Facebook page.
In an untimed public hearing, the commission will consider staff’s recommendation to approve a major use permit and mitigated negative declaration for Higher Ground Farms, proposed by John Oliver, based in Las Vegas.
Oliver wants to cultivate 22,000 square feet of cannabis canopy inside eight greenhouses and is seeking a Type 13 cannabis distributor transport only, self-distributor license for the project, located at 3545 Finley East Road, Kelseyville, on property owned by Leo Cortina of Ukiah.
The project sits next to the Kelsey Creek Schoolhouse, which has been in its current location since 1882. The property it sits on is owned by the Kelseyville Unified School District.
Initially used as a school, it has also been used as a community center and event site. It’s currently being restored by the Lucerne Area Revitalization Association as part of a 50-year agreement with the school district.
The association, founded by Lake County News owners Elizabeth Larson and John Jensen, along with the school district and many community members have filed numerous objections with the county over the Higher Ground Farms project since it was first circulated last summer, citing its negative impact on the school site, which the association and school district intend to use for community and school events.
The full agenda follows.
AGENDA
Approve minutes from the Dec. 14, 2023, Planning Commission meeting.
6a: Public hearing: Presentation from county counsel regarding policies regarding gratuities.
6b: Public hearing: Consideration of proposed major use permit (UP 20-71), and mitigated negative declaration (IS 20-86), for cultivation of 130,680 square feet of outdoor cannabis canopy; 36,000-sf of greenhouse commercial cannabis canopy; and one distributor transport only, self-distribution license. Applicant: Cruz Family Farms LLC, located at 8300 Old Dirt Road, Kelseyville (APN: 007-023-05).
6c: Public hearing: Consideration of proposed major use permit (UP 20-40), and mitigated negative declaration (IS 20-50), for cultivation of 22,000 square feet of cannabis canopy inside eight greenhouses within a fenced 47,040 square foot enclosure; and one Type 13 cannabis distributor transport only, self-distributor license. Applicant: Higher Ground Farms/John Oliver, located at 3545 Finley East Road, Kelseyville (APN: 008-026-07).
7a: Election of chair and vice chair of the Lake County Planning Commission.
Humans are racing to harness the ocean’s vast potential to power global economic growth. Worldwide, ocean-based industries such as fishing, shipping and energy production generate at least US$1.5 trillion in economic activity each year and support 31 million jobs. This value has been increasing exponentially over the past 50 years and is expected to double by 2030.
Transparency in monitoring this “blue acceleration” is crucial to prevent environmental degradation, overexploitation of fisheries and marine resources, and lawless behavior such as illegal fishing and human trafficking. Open information also will make countries better able to manage vital ocean resources effectively. But the sheer size of the ocean has made tracking industrial activities at a broad scale impractical – until now.
A newly published study in the journal Nature combines satellite images, vessel GPS data and artificial intelligence to reveal human industrial activities across the ocean over a five-year period. Researchers at Global Fishing Watch, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency of human activity at sea, led this study, in collaboration with me and our colleagues at Duke University, University of California, Santa Barbara and SkyTruth.
We found that a remarkable amount of activity occurs outside of public monitoring systems. Our new map and data provide the most comprehensive public picture available of industrial uses of the ocean.
Operating in the dark
Our research builds on existing technology to provide a much more complete picture than has been available until now.
For example, many vessels carry a device called an automatic identification system, or AIS, that automatically broadcasts the vessel’s identity, position, course and speed. These devices communicate with other AIS devices nearby to improve situational awareness and reduce the chances of vessel collisions at sea. They also transmit to shore-based transponders and satellites, which can be used to monitor vessel traffic and fishing activity.
However, AIS systems have blind spots. Not all vessels are required to use them, certain regions have poor AIS reception, and vessels engaged in illegal activities may disable AIS devices or tamper with location broadcasts. To avoid these problems, some governments require fishing vessels to use proprietary vessel monitoring systems, but the associated vessel location data is usually confidential.
Some offshore structures, such as oil platforms and wind turbines, also use AIS to guide service vessels, monitor nearby vessel traffic and improve navigational safety. However, location data for offshore structures are often incomplete, outdated or kept confidential for bureaucratic or commercial reasons.
Shining a light on activity at sea
We filled these gaps by using artificial intelligence models to identify fishing vessels, nonfishing vessels and fixed infrastructure in 2 million gigabytes of satellite-based radar images and optical images taken across the ocean between 2017 and 2021. We also matched these results to 53 billion AIS vessel position reports to determine which vessels were publicly trackable at the time of the image.
Remarkably, we found that about 75% of the fishing vessels we detected were missing from public AIS monitoring systems, with much of that activity taking place around Africa and South Asia. These previously invisible vessels radically changed our knowledge about the scale, scope and location of fishing activity.
For example, public AIS data wrongly suggests that Asia and Europe have comparable amounts of fishing within their borders. Our mapping reveals that Asia dominates: For every 10 fishing vessels we found on the water, seven were in Asia while only one was in Europe. Similarly, AIS data shows about 10 times more fishing on the European side of the Mediterranean compared with the African side – but our map shows that fishing activity is roughly equal across the two areas.
For other vessels, which are mostly transport- and energy-related, about 25% were missing from public AIS monitoring systems. Many missing vessels were in locations with poor AIS reception, so it is possible that they broadcast their locations but satellites did not pick up the transmission.
We also identified about 28,000 offshore structures – mostly oil platforms and wind turbines, but also piers, bridges, power lines, aquaculture farms and other human-made structures. Offshore oil infrastructure grew modestly over the five-year period, while the number of wind turbines more than doubled globally, with development mostly confined to northern Europe and China. We estimate that the number of wind turbines in the ocean likely surpassed the number of oil structures by the end of 2020.
Supporting real-world efforts
This data is freely available through the Global Fishing Watch data portal and will be maintained, updated and expanded over time there. We anticipate several areas where the information will be most useful for on-the-ground monitoring:
– Fishing in data-poor regions: Shipboard monitoring systems are too expensive to deploy widely in many places. Fishery managers in developing countries can use our data to monitor pressure on local stocks.
– Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing: Industrial fishing vessels sometimes operate in places where they should not be, such as small-scale and traditional fishing grounds and marine protected areas. Our data can help enforcement agencies identify illegal activities and target patrol efforts.
– Sanction-busting trade: Our data can shed light on maritime activities that may breach international economic sanctions. For example, United Nations sanctions prohibit North Korea from exporting seafood products or selling its fishing rights to other countries. Previous work found more than 900 undisclosed fishing vessels of Chinese origin in the eastern waters of North Korea, in violation of U.N. sanctions.
We found that the western waters of North Korea had far more undisclosed fishing, likely also of foreign origin. This previously unmapped activity peaked each year in May, when China bans fishing in its own waters, and abruptly fell in 2020 when North Korea closed its borders because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
– Climate change mitigation and adaptation: Our data can help quantify the scale of greenhouse gas emissions from vessel traffic and offshore energy development. This information is important for enforcing climate change mitigation programs, such as the European Union’s emissions trading scheme.
– Offshore energy impacts: Our map shows not only where offshore energy development is happening but also how vessel traffic interacts with wind turbines and oil and gas platforms. This information can shed light on the environmental footprint of building, maintaining and using these structures. It can also help to pinpoint sources of oil spills and other marine pollution.
Healthy oceans underpin human well-being in a myriad of ways. We expect that this research will support evidence-based decision-making and help to make ocean management more fair, effective and sustainable.
Fernando Paolo, senior machine learning engineer at Global Fishing Watch; David Kroodsma, director of research and innovation at Global Fishing Watch; and Patrick Halpin, Professor of Marine Geospatial Ecology at Duke University, contributed to this article.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — The Middletown Area Town Hall, or MATH, will gather this week to hear from the District 1 supervisorial candidates and elect the MATH Board for the new year.
MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, in the Middletown Community Meeting Room/Library at 21256 Washington St., Middletown. The meeting is open to the public.
To join the meeting via Zoom click on this link; the meeting ID is 832 1989 2440. Call in at 669-900-6833.
A forum for the candidates in the District 1 supervisorial race will be held beginning at 7:02 p.m. Lake County News Editor and Publisher Elizabeth Larson will moderate.
Candidates are Bren Boyd, a chef and proprietor; John Hess, who serves on the Lake County Planning Commission; Sean Millerick, a small-business owner who serves as vice president of the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District Board; rancher and business owner Helen Owen; and small business owner and winemaker Bryan Pritchard.
At 8:30 p.m. MATH will hold its annual board election.
Candidates running for the 2024 to 2026 term for the MATH Board include incumbent Bill Waite, Nanette DeDonato, 2023 alternate Julia Bono and Lisa Kaplan.
Each candidate will have three minutes to speak. Voting will be by written ballot collected and counted by the MATH secretary. Alternates will be nominated and elected immediately following the election.
Once the board is elected, its members will nominate and elect the officer positions of president, vice president and secretary.
All elected candidates must complete the application for BOS appointment.
MATH’s next meeting will take place on Feb. 8.
The MATH Board includes Chair Monica Rosenthal, Vice Chair Todd Fiora, Secretary Ken Gonzalez, Rosemary Córdova and Bill Waite, and alternates Julia Bono and Tom Darms.
MATH — established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 — is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.
For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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.
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting of 2024, with updates and elections for its leadership.
The committee, or LEDAC, will meet via Zoom from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The meeting ID is 842 2886 1335, pass code is 594383 or join by phone, 1 669 900 6833.
The meeting is open to the public.
Chair Wilda Shock said there will be reports from organizations and agencies, and elections will be conducted for chair, vice chair and secretary.
The group also will discuss the annual business walk and plan for the presentation to the City Council, and get updates on the status of Vista Point shopping center, seaplanes, programs and activities for 2024.
LEDAC’s next meeting will be March 13.
LEDAC advocates for a strong and positive Lakeport business community and acts as a conduit between the city and the community for communicating the goals, activities and progress of Lakeport’s economic and business programs.
Members are Chair Wilda Shock, Vice Chair Denise Combs and Secretary JoAnn Saccato, along with Bonnie Darling, Jeff Davis, Candy De Los Santos, Bill Eaton, Monica Flores, Pam Harpster, Laura McAndrews Sammel, Bob Santana and Tim Stephens. City staff who are members include City Manager Kevin Ingram and Community Development Department representatives.
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. — A new Clearlake housing development is among 10 projects across California that have received funding as part of the Excess Land for Affordable Housing program.
On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the funding of 975 affordable homes as part of those 10 funded projects.
Clearlake CIC, LP received $10 million for the development of Clearlake Apartments, an 80-unit affordable housing project in the city of Clearlake.
The project has been awarded more than $3 million in federal CDBG — Disaster Recovery Multifamily Housing Program funding by the city of Clearlake through the California Department of Housing and Community Development, or HCD.
The project aims to develop 80 units that will be affordable to households with earnings between 30% and 60% area median income.
Additionally, up to 20 units will be reserved for individuals or families with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
The project, located on 15.5-acre property at 15837 18th Ave., also will include a community building, playground and basketball half-court.
The property was part of a land swap completed two years ago between the county and the state. The deal involved Lake County trading the 18th Avenue property to the state for affordable housing and, in return, receiving the former National Guard Armory next to the Lake County Jail in Lakeport.
The armory is being renovated to house the headquarters of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
By identifying and utilizing excess state properties, Newsom’s office said California is on track to deliver approximately 5,550 housing units on excess state land, which will help an estimated 13,600 individuals.
“From day one of my administration, we have taken unprecedented action to tackle the housing crisis, one of the most pressing challenges facing our state,” Newsom said in a statement released about the program. “We’re using every available tool, including the conversion of excess state property into affordable housing to build more, faster. Cities and counties should follow the state’s lead and review their own inventory of excess land to catalyze the construction of more affordable housing throughout the state.”
In this funding round, HCD is allocating more than $63 million from the Excess Sites Local Government Matching Grants, or LGMG, program for the development of new affordable housing, Newsom’s office reported.
These investments will, in turn, match more than $80 million in collaborative funding committed by cities, counties, and public housing authorities where the new projects are located, the state said.
“The Excess Sites program allows for a unique collaboration with our local government partners, to build affordable housing on underutilized sites and optimize limited fiscal resources through matching grants,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “These sites largely have easy access to transit and proximity to critical amenities, providing Californians with housing stability and connecting them to opportunity.”
Newsom issued an executive order in 2019 calling on HCD and the Department of General Services to address the state’s affordable housing crisis by identifying underutilized state-owned sites for the development of affordable housing, taking into account factors such as proximity to job centers, amenities, and public transit.
Excess sites projects, by virtue of being on state land, are subject to a simpler and more streamlined approval process than projects on locally controlled land. Newsom’s office said this expedites the approval process and avoids the exhaustive maneuvers used by some groups and local officials to prevent projects from moving forward.
To support and accelerate implementation of the governor’s excess sites order, HCD established LGMG to provide grant-based funding to match certain local government funding for selected developers to support predevelopment and development of affordable housing on excess state sites.
Newsom’s office said this collaboration between the state and local governments helps to expedite the delivery of affordable housing across the state to meet the goal of developing 2.5 million new homes by 2030, with one million homes being affordable for lower income levels.
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. — With the director of Lake County Water Resources and Public Works planning to retire this summer, the Board of Supervisors’ first meeting of the year includes a discussion on next steps for recruitment and how to structure the departments.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 875 8314 6224, pass code 275445. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,87583146224#,,,,*275445#.
In an untimed item, the supervisors will discuss what measures to take to find new leadership for Water Resources and Public Works now that Scott De Leon has announced his plans to retire as of June 30.
A staff memo to the board from county administrative staff said that De Leon notified the board on Dec. 5 of his plans to retire.
“Some restructuring of County Departments may be necessary, as it has been challenging to recruit an individual with both Public Works and Water Resources leadership experience to fill a joint role,” the memo explained.
The memo said De Leon is recommending reclassifying the vacant deputy Water Resources Director position as Water Resources director, and separate this position from the Public Works Department.
As recently, Water Resources has been a freestanding department.
“Should your Board choose to separate these Departments, it seems intuitive the Water Resources Director would supervise technical and program staff (Water Resources subject matter experts, those heading groundwater, invasive species, stormwater and other programs),” the memo said.
Staff said De Leon recommended continuing shared fiscal/administrative positions to serve both Departments.
They are seeking direction from the board on what option to take.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve continuation of emergency proclamation declaring a shelter crisis in the county of Lake.
5.2: Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to low elevation snow and extreme cold.
5.3: Approve continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions.
5.4: Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to pervasive tree mortality.
5.5: Approve continuation of proclamation declaring a Clear Lake hitch emergency.
5.6: Adopt proclamation designating the month of January 2024 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Lake County.
5.7: Approve long distance travel for Supervisor E.J. Crandell from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, 2024, to Santa Fe, New Mexico for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Farm Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory Committee meeting as an appointed member of the committee.
5.8: Approve reissuance of property tax refund check from FY 14/15 in the amount of $363.42 issued to Catherine Orloff Trustee.
5.9: Adopt resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors deferring implementation of the changes made to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5008 by Senate Bill 43 (2023-2024 Reg Session).
5.10: Approve request to hire extra-help OAIII, Denise Danae Bowen, at Advanced Step 4.
5.11: Approve agreement between Human Resources and ExamWorks LLC to provide professional services to arrange and facilitate medical assessment services including independent medical examinations and peer review services with an amount not to exceed $25,000 per fiscal year for a five-year term, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.12: Adopt resolution of intention and set a time for public hearing on February 6, 2024, at 9:25 a.m. to name existing unnamed roadway in the county of Lake.
5.13: Adopt Resolution Amending Position Allocations for FY 23-24, Budget Unit 1908 - Engineering and Inspection, to fund the assistant engineer senior position.
5.14: Adopt resolution setting rate of pay for election officers for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election.
5.15: Approve late travel claims for the period July 30, 2023, to Aug. 2, 2023, and July 23, 2023 to July 28, 2023 for Correctional Deputy Sara Vierra.
5.16: Approve first amendment to contract between county of Lake and Lake Family Resource Center for differential response services, in the amount of $112,000 from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024 and $134,200 per fiscal year from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.17: Approve first amendment to contract between county of Lake and California Department of Social Services for quality assurance case review, in the amount of $130,434 per fiscal year from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.18: Sitting as the Board of Directors for the Lake County Watershed Protection District, a) approve the purchase and sale agreement with Christine Reck for property within the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project in the amount of $650,000.00 and b) authorize the chair of the board of directors to sign the purchase and sale agreement.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Election of chair of the Board of Supervisors and vice chair of the Board of Supervisors for 2024 (outgoing chair conducts election).
6.2, 9:02 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County Board of Equalization, election of chair and vice chair of the Lake County Local Board of Equalization for 2024.
6.3, 9:03 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County In-Home Supportive Services, election of chair and vice-chair of the Lake County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Board of Directors for 2024.
6.4, 9:06 a.m.: Public input.
6.5, 9:07 a.m.: Pet of the Week.
6.6, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of January 2024 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Lake County.
6.7, 9:45 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from Dec. 12, 2023, consideration of an ordinance amending the purchasing ordinance: Article X of Chapter Two of the Lake County Code to include increased purchasing limits, additional definitions, modify a requirement for exemptions from competitive bidding and additional procedures for informal and formal bidding.
6.8, 10 a.m.: Consideration of presentation on the California Tribal TANF Partnership.
6.9, 10:30 a.m.: Consideration of resolution requesting extension of Community Development Block Grant Microenterprise Program.
6.10, 10:45 a.m.: Public hearing, a) consideration of resolution making findings necessary to authorize an energy services contract for design, installation, and commissioning of energy conservation facilities serving the Lake County Courthouse Campus; and b) consideration of agreement with staten solar corporation for design, installation, and commissioning of energy conservation facilities serving the Lake County Courthouse Campus.
6.11, 11:15 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District, Board of Directors, a) consideration of presentation on proposed project with SCI Consulting Group; and b) consideration of contract agreement with SCI Consulting Group to conduct a water quality outreach study and assessment evaluation in an amount not to exceed $100,000 and authorize the Water Resources director to sign the agreement .
6.12, 1 p.m.: Presentation and consideration of the housing work plan and proposed Lake County Housing Trust Fund.
6.13, 1:30 p.m.: Consideration and discussion of quotation with High Level Enterprises Inc. for the design and build of a medical mobile vaccination clinic, for an amount not to exceed $407,200, and authorize department head to sign.
6.14, 2 p.m.: Consideration and discussion of an agreement with black dog DESIGNS and Camoin Associates for economic development design services, for an amount not to exceed $44,289.97, and authorize the chair to sign.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of letter of commitment to Cal Fire for a grant application to provide funding for the LiDAR derivatives from the recent North Coast LiDAR Acquisition project and authorize the chair to sign.
7.3: Consideration of appointment of county supervisor as non-voting member of Commercial Cannabis Ordinance Task Force.
7.4: Consideration of presentation and overview of the Cannabis Equity Program.
7.5: Consideration of a Letter of Support for AB 817 (Pacheco), which proposes changes to the Ralph M. Brown Act to enable indefinite use of two-way teleconferencing by members of non-decision-making advisory bodies.
7.6: Discussion of structural considerations surrounding the Water Resources and Public Works Departments, and consideration of direction to staff to initiate recruitment for relevant leadership roles.
7.7: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, reappoint Cameron Reeves to the LCAQMD Hearing Board pursuant to Health and Safety Code.
7.8: Consideration of 2024 committee assignments for members of the Board of Supervisors.
7.9: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Central Region Town Hall, Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee, Lake County Ag Advisory Committee, Lower Lake Cemetery, District Lower Lake Waterworks District One Board of Directors, Scotts Valley Community Advisory Board, Western Region Town Hall.
7.10: Consideration of request for appointment of members to the Building Board of Appeals in Compliance with 2022 California Building Code, Appendix B.
7.11: Consideration of board direction regarding size and member categories for the General Plan Advisory Committee.
7.12: Consideration to: (a) Waive the competitive bidding procedures pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-39.2 and Section 1.C.2 of the county's consultant selection policy; and (b) approve amendment one to retention agreement between Friedman & Springwater LLP and the county of Lake increasing the contract amount by $15,000, not to exceed $40,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
7.13: Consideration of letter of support for Public Health Officer Noemi Doohan, MD, PhD, MPH, as an applicant for the 2024 American Academy of Family Medicine’s (AAFP) Public Health Award.
7.14: Consideration of long distance travel for Chief Probation Officer Wendy Mondfrans to attend the American Probation and Parole Association Executive Summit in Seattle, Washington in February 2024.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to Litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1) – One potential case.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – FERC Project No. 77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9 (d)(1): Earthways Foundation, Inc. v. County of Lake, et al.
8.4: Conference with labor negotiator: (a) County negotiators: S. Parker, S Carter, P. Samac and Crystal Markytan; and (b) Employee Organization: LCEA and Management Employees.
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. — California is starting off 2024 with rain but not much snow, which could create issues for water supply as the year progresses.
The first manual measurement of California’s snowpack took place on Tuesday.
It shows a snowpack that’s a fraction of what it was at this time last year, which is raising concern for water supply and fire risk.
As of Saturday night, the California Department of Water Resources’ statewide snow water content report showed that the snowpack is at 33% of normal.
That breaks down as 37% for the Northern Sierra, 33% for the Central Sierra and 25% for the Southern Sierra.
At this time last year, the Northern Sierra was 145% of normal, the Central Sierra was 188% and the Southern Sierra was at 200%, for a statewide average of 188%.
Kaitlyn Trudeau, a senior research associate in climate science for Climate Central, said there are important differences in conditions to remember when comparing the start of 2024 to the beginning of 2023.
Late 2022 and early 2023 were marked by heavy winter storms — driven by a series of atmospheric rivers — that dropped both heavy rain and snow across Lake County and the region.
Trudeau said during that time there were nine major atmospheric rivers which is what resulted in the big snow amounts in the Sierras.
In Lake County, snow hit particularly hard in late February after still more atmospheric rivers hit.
“Last year was really exceptional, and those storms were just packed with moisture,” she said, adding they also were colder.
Those bigger storms also led to massive flooding in some areas.
Another key difference between this year and last, said Trudeau, is that none of California is now in drought, while at the start of 2023, all of the state was in drought.
This year, the reservoir levels also are a lot higher at the start of the water year. As a result, Trudeau said the state has less pressure for water supply on it this year than last.
The Department of Water Resources is reporting that as of Saturday night, nearly all of the state’s reservoirs are above their historic average for this time of year. On the same date for 2023, reservoir levels were far lower.
Due to El Nino conditions, Trudeau said Lake County and the rest of California can expect more warm storms, and heavier downpours, with more rain and less snow.
Not only will that lead to less of a snowpack, but she said it could contribute to earlier snowmelt.
While last year’s storms lasted well into the spring, Trudeau said forecasters aren’t sure about this year. There is no parade of atmospheric rivers on tap.
“We would really like more snow,” she said, adding she’s not giving up hope that more may arrive this season.
“We probably will see more warmer storms. It’s going to make it harder to have snowpack at the same levels,” she said.
Trudeau said it’s important to think about the long-term, and to plan for the potential for multiple stretches of drought conditions.
Unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, Trudeau said there will continue to be increasing impacts from climate change.
“We can’t keep using the past to guide us into the future,” Trudeau said.
She has also focused on fire weather for the last several years, looking at trends over the past 50 years.
In the West, there has been a massive increase in weather with hot, dry conditions, and that sets the stage for extreme fire weather. Trudeau said the changes have led to the Southwest having two more months of fire risk.
Trudeaus said it’s really important that Californians and people in the West don’t let their guards down.
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.