NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Below-average snow and rain this winter are again posing concerns for state water officials.
The Department of Water Resources on Tuesday conducted the third manual snow survey of the season at Phillips Station.
The manual survey recorded 56 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent, or SWE, of 21 inches, which is 86 percent of average for this location.
The SWE measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast.
“As California closes out the fifth consecutive dry month of our water year, absent a series of strong storms in March or April we are going to end with a critically dry year on the heels of last year’s dry conditions,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “With back-to-back dry years, water efficiency and drought preparedness are more important than ever for communities, agriculture and the environment.”
Dry conditions require coordination among state, federal and local entities. State water leaders are preparing to address the current dry conditions adaptively, guided by lessons learned during previous droughts.
With below-average precipitation across the state, California’s reservoirs are showing the impacts of a second consecutive dry year. Lake Oroville is currently at 55 percent of average and Lake Shasta, California’s largest surface reservoir, is currently at 68 percent of average for this date.
Statewide snow survey measurements continue to reflect the overall dry conditions. Measurements from DWR’s electronic snow survey stations indicate that statewide the snowpack’s SWE is 15 inches, or 61 percent of the March 2 average, and 54 percent of the April 1 average.
April 1 is typically when California’s snowpack is the deepest and has the highest SWE.
The current State Water Project, or SWP, allocation of 10 percent amounts to 422,848 acre-feet of water, distributed among the 29 long-term SWP contractors who serve more than 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland.
Last year the initial allocation was also 10 percent, with a final allocation of 20 percent set in May 2020.
Precipitation in the form of rain – and snowfall at higher elevations – is critical because it refills reservoirs, packs away snow for spring runoff and helps stem the risk of wildfires.
As dry conditions continue to persist, Californians should look at ways to reduce water use at home. Each individual act of increasing water efficiency can make a difference. Visit www.SaveOurWater.com to learn easy ways to save water every day.
Tinglong Dai, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
If you’ve tried to get a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, you know how frustrating the process can be. People are spending hours obsessively refreshing websites, hoping an appointment will open up somewhere. They scan Facebook groups for tips and insider information. One writer compared it to Soviet-style queues for cabbage.
The competition for slots will only worsen when the COVID-19 vaccination priority list opens to the broader public.
As an expert in health care operations and vaccine supply chains, I have closely followed the difficulties in connecting COVID-19 vaccine doses with people. I believe the best solution to vaccine appointment scheduling lies in building a trustworthy one-stop preregistration system.
The U.S. has now surpassed half a million deaths from COVID-19, and new fast-spreading variants of the coronavirus are adding to the urgency. As states scramble to speed up vaccinations and try to prevent their limited doses going to waste, a handful of them are testing this approach.
Why did the traditional model go so wrong?
The traditional vaccine sign-up model does not work when the demand for vaccines far exceeds supply.
Under that model, the only way to get vaccinated is to reserve an appointment slot. Naturally, the fear of being left out drives people to attempt to sign up as soon as appointment slots become available. This leads to a rush of people endlessly refreshing the same websites for the few appointments available.
Even if all states had one-stop appointment websites that did not crash under high volume, the limited vaccine supply would mean most appointment slots would quickly be taken. That could make it even harder for people who aren’t tech-savvy to get the vaccine.
To fix the broken vaccine scheduling system, we need to break this cycle.
In Israel, which leads the world in COVID-19 vaccination, citizens do not need to actively sign up for vaccine appointments. Rather, they are notified when they become eligible via text messages and can then make an appointment.
States can echo this “push” system by creating a one-stop preregistration portal where everyone registers once and is notified to schedule appointments when their turn arrives. The preregistration step helps avoid waves of people trying to get appointments at the same time, which can crash computer systems, as Massachusetts experienced on Feb. 18.
A good system will make it easy for people to check their position in the vaccine queue at any time, provide an estimated time to vaccination based on frequently updated supply information and then send notifications when their date is getting close. Underlying the system, vaccine doses can be allocated among eligible users on the registry using a lottery system.
A well-designed preregistration system can also help avoid vaccine doses going to waste because of no-shows. With an active waitlist, vaccine planners can match supply with demand in an agile manner and offer appointments to people a few days in advance rather than scheduling appointments weeks out when the supply isn’t certain. Research in appointment scheduling has shown that no-shows are more likely under long lead times.
West Virginia sets an example
West Virginia uses a statewide preregistration system and has so far been more successful at vaccinating its population than almost every other state. It controls the process from preregistration to appointment. To get the vaccine, almost all residents, with a few exceptions, are required to use the state system, with options to register either online or by phone.
Minnesota just launched a similar system. “We still have a frustratingly limited vaccine supply from the federal government, but every Minnesotan should know their chance to get a vaccine will come. Today, we are connecting them directly to that process,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in announcing the preregistration system on Feb. 18.
More states should follow their lead as more of the general population becomes eligible for the vaccine in the coming months.
Preregistration can still create confusion if the process isn’t coordinated and users don’t know what to expect.
In Virginia, for example, counties created their own preregistration systems, but when the pharmacy chain CVS announced it was taking appointments, users didn’t know what to do. Most Virginia counties are now shifting to a statewide preregistration system. In Santa Cruz County, California, residents have struggled with a preregistration portal that doesn’t provide confirmation or an estimated time to vaccination.
“Efficiency-equity trade-off” has become a buzzword in discussing COVID-19 vaccination. With limited vaccine supply, the traditional sign-up model has proven to be both inefficient and inequitable. Moving away from that model and establishing one-stop preregistration systems is one key to resolving the painful vaccine scheduling process.
The pandemic has taken a heavy toll on Main Street, with small businesses across the U.S. closing by the thousands.
But as bad as the overall scene is, for minority-owned businesses the picture is even bleaker. A survey released on Jan. 27 by advocacy group Small Business Majority found that almost 1 in 5 Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs expected to permanently close their business over the course of the next three months – a rate higher than for white business owners. It comes on the back of a report by the Federal Reserve of Cleveland that suggested that the impact of the coronavirus could be over two times larger for Black- and Hispanic-owned businesses than for white-owned enterprises.
As scholars who research racial inequities and entrepreneurship, we know that even before the pandemic, Black- and Hispanic-owned businesses were more vulnerable to economic downturns. Minority-owned businesses tend to have lower levels of capital – the amount of equity relative to debt – than white-owned businesses, making it harder for them to safeguard against unexpected economic downturns. In addition, Black- and Hispanic-owned businesses tend to concentrate in areas and industries that have been especially heavily affected by the pandemic, such as retail and the restaurant business.
Lower levels of homeownership among Black and Hispanic Americans compromises their ability to use home equity to start or maintain businesses. Even for those who are homeowners, higher mortgage rates, mortgage insurance premiums and property taxes mean they are likely to have less home wealth at their disposition to keep businesses afloat in tough times.
Data from the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances shows that white business owners had almost five times the amount of home equity as their Black and Hispanic counterparts. At the same time, minority-owned companies generated 10 times less income than white-owned ones.
In short, this means white-owned businesses typically have more liquidity to weather a sharp decline in revenues, such as has been experienced during the pandemic.
Our analysis of data shows that Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs are 25 percentage points less likely to have emergency savings than white business owners, and similarly hold far fewer stocks or other liquid assets.
As a result, minority business owners are more often forced to rely on nonbusiness income, such as other family members’ income earnings and debt to fund their operations. But making interest payments on higher levels of debt drains cash at a time when entrepreneurs may need it the most.
Decline in business
Compounding the problem is the impact the pandemic has had on clients and customers of small businesses.
A large number of minority-owned businesses operate in neighborhoods with high minority populations – the very communities that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, through job loss and illness.
This in turn affects demand for products and services provided by minority small businesses, especially as recessions tend to hit Black and Hispanic communities in the U.S. harder and earlier.
Data from analytics website SafeGraph shows that foot traffic for businesses in minority neighborhoods has declined more sharply than those in white neighborhoods. Small businesses in all-white neighborhoods experienced nearly no decline in foot traffic during the pandemic. In contrast, small businesses in neighborhoods with a 20% minority composition saw a decline in foot traffic of almost 40%.
The sectors that Black- and Hispanic-owned enterprises tend to concentrate in also contribute to the racial disparity in closures. Figures from American Community Survey show that sectors that have been particularly vulnerable in the pandemic, such as retail and restaurant, comprise a larger share of minority ownership. As such, it is no surprise that job losses at the onset of the recession were larger in industries with the highest share of minority business owners.
Minority-owned businesses in need are also less likely to benefit when the government offers aid in a crisis.
And that’s what appears to be happening during the pandemic. The federal government created the Paycheck Protection Program last April to provide assistance to small businesses hurt by the coronavirus lockdowns.
Administered in two rounds, it offered more than US$500 billion worth of loans that could be forgiven if funds were used to cover payroll. These loans have provided a lifeline to many small businesses.
But research found that the first round of the stimulus package was inequitably distributed, with the bulk of the funds given to businesses in neighborhoods with low shares of Black and Hispanic residents. The delay in federal help to minority business owners may have been critical, given the large fraction of business closures that took place in the early months of the pandemic.
To mitigate the disproportionate effects of this downturn on minority-owned businesses, we believe it is crucial that the Biden administration begin to target more of its small business aid to Black and Hispanic enterprises and to the worst-hit communities. The consequence of not ensuring that aid is more equitably delivered is further suffering in the Black and Hispanic business community.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lake County Superior Court judge on Monday ordered an Upper Lake man to stand trial for the January shooting death of his stepmother.
Matthew Daniel Mora, 35, is charged with killing Christine Mora, 56, at the Upper Lake home they shared on Jan. 26, as Lake County News has reported.
Following a 40-minute preliminary hearing on Monday afternoon, Judge J. David Markham ordered Matthew Mora to stand trial for Christine Mora’s murder.
Matthew Mora also faces trial for charges of assault with a semiautomatic weapon on his father William Mora – who he had pointed the gun at before shooting his stepmother – and negligent discharge of a firearm for having shot off a round from his handgun while walking along Highway 20 shortly before the deadly confrontation.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff called two witnesses to the stand during the hearing, both deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office: Andrew Moyeda and Investigator Jeffrey Mora, who is no relation to Matthew Mora and his family.
Moyeda said he was on duty on Tuesday, Jan. 26, when he dispatched to a home in the 600 block of E. Highway 20 in Upper Lake for a gunshot victim.
When he arrived on the scene at 5:45 p.m., he found Christine Mora’s body at the home’s front door. Her husband was outside and he spoke to Moyeda.
“He told me that his son Matthew Mora shot his wife,” Moyeda said.
William Mora told authorities that he took the Glock 27 40-caliber semiautomatic handgun that his son had used to shoot his wife and seized it from his son, taking it to he and his wife’s bedroom at the back of the house and placing it on the foot of the bed.
That’s where Moyeda said he found it with a live round in the chamber and an unknown number of rounds in the magazine.
William Mora said he’d also taken another Glock handgun from his son and placed it in the bedroom, but Moyeda said he didn’t find that weapon.
After the shooting, Matthew Mora left the home. Moyeda assisted with arresting Mora shortly before 9:30 p.m. that same night at the Super 8 Motel in Upper Lake, just over a quarter mile from the shooting scene, and transported him to the sheriff’s office to be interviewed.
Investigator testifies about interviews
Jeffrey Mora was advised of the shooting just after 6 p.m. Jan. 26 and responded to the sheriff’s office administration headquarters in Lakeport to interview William Mora, who told him that his son shot his wife.
Investigators prepared a photo lineup for William Mora who confirmed the shooter was his son, Jeffrey Mora said.
William Mora explained during the interview that he, Christine and Matthew lived together.
Earlier on the day of the shooting, sometime between 4 and 5 p.m., Matthew Mora had arrived home from the nearby Running Creek Casino. William Mora told investigators that his son appeared upset or angry and reported that he had been kicked out of the casino.
Matthew Mora then said, “I’m strapping up and f*** those Indians.”
William Mora told his son that he shouldn’t be at the house intoxicated if his wife Christine was home, although she wasn’t yet there. He recommended his son go to a hotel, and Matthew Mora grabbed a backpack and two handguns and left. At some point before he left, Matthew Mora told his father that he let his wife boss him around.
It was around 30 minutes later that Matthew Mora returned to the house. By that time, Christine Mora had gotten home.
Matthew Mora came inside the home, and William and Christine Mora told him he needed to leave, that he wasn’t welcome because he was intoxicated.
That’s when, according to his father’s account, Matthew Mora pulled out a handgun and pointed it at his father, who was standing about 10 feet away, calling him an expletive and mocking him for flinching.
Then, Matthew Mora pointed the gun at Christine Mora, who was standing directly in front of him, at a distance of about 2 feet. He shot once, hitting her in the face.
After shooting her, Matthew Mora swore and appeared surprised, his father told the investigator.
After his wife was shot, William Mora rushed his son and took the firearm he’d used in the shooting as well as another he’d had tucked in his waistband. William Mora took the guns to his bedroom and then returned, telling his son to leave and pushing him out of the house.
Matthew Mora fell over backwards after being pushed before getting up and leaving on foot. His father opened the gate in the driveway to let in emergency vehicles and then returned to his wife, talking to her and calling her name, but she didn’t respond.
Later in the night, the sheriff’s office received a tip that Matthew Mora was in Room 101 at the Super 8 Motel, which is where he was arrested. Jeffrey Mora said they also recovered his backpack, along with handgun magazines and ammunition.
Investigator Mora later interviewed Matthew Mora. “In summary, Matthew told me he didn’t remember shooting Christine because he was too intoxicated,” and that it was a nightmare and he had blacked out.
Matthew Mora told the investigator that he had a sense of guilt from doing something bad but wouldn’t say what that bad thing was.
He said he and his father and stepmother had their problems, telling the investigator that some days they were nice to him and some days they weren’t, calling him a loser.
When told that his father said he’s shot his stepmother, Matthew Mora said, “Then that’s what I did then, but I don’t remember doing that.”
Jeffrey Mora said deputies had been able to track Matthew Mora’s movements before the shooting, explaining that he was at Woody’s Gas Station about 30 minutes beforehand. There, three employees reported coming in contact with him.
One told investigators that he wished Matthew Mora a good night, to which he responded, “It’s not going to be.”
Matthew Mora purchased a pack of Modelo beer and was walking along the nearby bridge on Highway 20 when he pulled out the handgun and fired a round in the air, according to witnesses. Jeffrey Mora said he and another detective later went to the site and were able to find a 40-caliber shell casing that matched the type used to kill Christine Mora.
Her autopsy, conducted by Dr. Bennet Omalu, concluded that Christine Mora died of a gunshot wound to the head and the face, Jeffrey Mora said.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Dana Liberatore brought up statements William Mora had made about his son drinking for several days before the shooting due to the death of a friend.
He asked if father and son had struggled after the shooting, and Jeffrey Mora said William Mora didn’t describe a struggle, but said his son had left peacefully. He also didn’t describe any specific problems between his wife of 20 years and his son, and didn’t report a motive for the shooting.
Matthew Mora had reportedly told investigators that he hadn’t slept for days before the shooting.
Jeffrey Mora said he interviewed Matthew Mora’s mother by phone, and she said he had alcohol problems and mental health issues for which he’s being treated.
During a brief closing argument, Hinchcliff said there was plenty of evidence to hold Matthew Mora for trial on the charges and Markham agreed, ordering him to stand trial.
Markham set Matthew Mora for arraignment in his Department 2 courtroom at 9 a.m. March 16.
Matthew Mora remains in the Lake County Jail with bail set at $2,150,000, according to jail records.
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 Upper Lake Unified School District’s superintendent said Sunday that a staffer has tested positive for COVID-19, the first instance of a positive case among its employees during school in the academic year so far.
Dr. Giovanni Annous told Lake County News that the situation shouldn’t warrant any anxiety from the community, as the Upper Lake Elementary School staffer who tested positive for the virus doesn’t work directly with students.
Annous and Upper Lake Elementary School principal Stephanie Wayment released a statement to staff and the community on Sunday explaining that at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday the staffer reported to Wayment that they were not feeling well.
The staff member was immediately sent home and directed to schedule a COVID-19 test. On Sunday, the test results were received confirming the employee has having COVID-19, the statement explained.
“Thanks to diligent safety protocols, we feel confident in the safety of students and staff,” Annous and Wayment said in the statement.
Over the next few days, district officials said they will be working with the Lake County Department of Public Health to conduct contact tracing and help identify and contact possible close contacts as quickly as possible. People identified as close contacts will be notified through Public Health.
The district said a close contact in terms of contact tracing means a person who has been within 6 feet of the infected person for 15 minutes or more within a period of 24 hours without wearing a mask. A person who has been identified as a close contact should be quarantined for 14 days after the last exposure.
Annous and Wayment told parents it’s important to stay home if they or their children feel ill, to contact their doctor as soon as possible and continue to communicate with their school.
Annous told Lake County News on Sunday evening that this is the first instance of a district staff member testing positive for COVID-19 during instructional time since returning to school on Aug. 12.
He said one staffer also had tested positive in June and over the Christmas break one or two district employees may also have tested positive but the district wasn’t formally notified of it.
The Upper Lake Unified School District and the Lucerne Elementary School District both started school in August in a “hybrid” model that allowed for having students back on campuses.
After Christmas break, Annous said the district agreed to a request from Public Health to delay in-person instruction for several weeks because of the county’s high case rate, so they began with distance learning and had students back on campus on Jan. 25.
Annous said 72 percent of the district’s elementary students are now on campus five days a week and 55 percent of students in the middle and high school grades attend classes in person.
He credited the district’s 99 staff members with their diligence in maintaining safety protocols each day for the fact the district has not had more cases.
In addition to hospital-style air purifiers that the district uses – and that were brought in before COVID-19 in order to deal with wildland fire smoke – Annous said every staffer gets a new K95 mask every day.
The schools also have been using partitions, foggers and hand sanitizer, among other measures.
“We’re always managing risk,” Annous said.
Two-thirds of the district’s staff also has been vaccinated against COVID-19. Annous said he was the last district staffer to receive the second dose on Friday.
Annous said the safety of students, teachers, staff and the community is paramount.
At the same time, he said they want to make sure they provide an atmosphere offering academic, social and emotional support for students.
“Our kids deserve the best,” he 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. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has five cats ready to be adopted into new homes this week.
The following cats at the shelter have been cleared for adoption.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm for information on visiting or adopting.
Male tuxedo cat
This male tuxedo cat has a short black and white coat and green eyes.
He is in cat room kennel No. 39, ID No. 14359.
‘Dumplin’
“Dumplin” is a female torbie with a short coat and green eyes.
She has been spayed.
She’s in kennel No. 88, ID No. 14385.
‘Buddy’
“Buddy” is a male domestic short hair cat with a flame point and white coat and blue eyes.
He has been neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 100, ID No. 14384.
‘Trouble’
“Trouble” is a young female domestic medium hair cat with a seal point coat and blue eyes.
She’s in cat room kennel No. 132, ID No. 14378.
Male domestic short hair
This male domestic short hair has a tuxedo coat and green eyes.
He has been neutered.
He’s in cat room kennel No. 142, ID No. 14386.
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 district facing fiscal challenges over the coming three years, the Lakeport Unified School District Governing Board will hold a special Tuesday night meeting to discuss a deficit recovery plan and other cost-saving measures.
The school board will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, at the district office, 2508 Howard Ave.
The physical meeting location will be limited to the board members and selected senior administration to ensure recommended guidelines for social distancing are practiced.
On Tuesday night, the deficit recovery plan is one of the main agenda topics.
“Due to the District’s declining enrollment and increased pension contributions, the District may be unable to meet its financial obligations within the next three years,” wrote Chief Business Official Joseph Silveira in a report to the board.
Silveira said the Lake County Office of Education requires districts in “qualified status” – those that can’t meet their financial obligations – to formulate a deficit recovery plan.
“Based on the First Interim Report, it is recommended that the District reduce at least $300,000 for the 2021-22 school year,” Silveira wrote. “To address this ‘deficit spending,’ the District has worked in collaboration with the Local Control Accountability Plan and Budget Stabilization Committee, school site personnel and the administrative team to formulate a deficit recovery plan that maximizes resources and minimizes the impact to student programs.”
In a letter to Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg, Lakeport Unified Superintendent Jill Falconer wrote, “The District believes that it must reduce expenditures by $668,000 to address the structural deficit, costs to negotiations, and the cost for two additional teachers.”
She said the deficit recovery plan is due to the Lake County Office of Education by March 15.
In other business, the school board will consider a resolution regarding the reduction or continuance of particular kinds of services in order to lay off the equivalent of one full-time teaching position.
The services to be cut include one period each of 21st century life skills, current events, earth science and computer skills, and two periods of physical education.
Due to an increase in the minimum wage requirement, the board will separately need to consider updating the classified substitute salary schedule.
The board also will consider approving an application to the US Department of Agriculture’s Community Facilities Grant Program to complement the new Clear Lake High School agriculture class, which includes a greenhouse and outdoor planting area.
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 is set to consider setting a summertime tax default property sale and forming an ad hoc committee promoting tolerance, respect, equity and inclusion.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 2, and will be available to the public virtually only.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link at 9 a.m. The meeting ID is 947 9043 3802, password 156886. The meeting also can be accessed via on tap mobile at +16699006833,,94790433802#,,,,*156886#.
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 passcode information above.
Chromebook devices are also available at the Lakeport and Clearlake Library branches, which will open early on Tuesday. Chromebooks can be checked out for three hours for use on the library premises and contactless pickup is available. The Lakeport Library Branch can be reached at 707-263-8817, and Clearlake at 707-994-5115.
WiFi is accessible in the parking lot of each County Library Branch, so residents can park at these locations to use WiFi on borrowed or personal devices, by connecting to the “Lake County Library” network (no password) anytime from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
While the board chambers remain closed, outdoor viewing and participation are also available during each meeting on the Third Street side of the courthouse building. To submit a written comment on any agenda item please visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a resolution directing another sale of tax-defaulted properties, to take place in June.
At 9:45 a.m., the board will discuss the formation of an ad hoc committee promoting tolerance, respect, equity and inclusion.
The report to the board from Board Chair Bruno Sabatier explains that on Feb. 23 the supervisors adopted the proclamation promoting tolerance, respect, equity and inclusion in Lake County.
“As an important next step, I am recommending our Board now form an ad hoc committee to plan for the community visioning forum to develop recommendation for meaningful actions and activities that build bridges where there may be walls; fostering tolerance, respect, understanding, equity and inclusion; promoting non-violence and non-violent conflict resolution; focusing resources on underlying causes and conditions that lead to inequitable resource and justice distribution; and, relevant solutions for social injustices, as they may come to light,” wrote Sabatier.
Sabatier recommends that the ad hoc committee have seven seats, including two board members – Supervisors Tina Scott and EJ Crandell – along with one representative of law enforcement and four members from the community.
In other business on Tuesday, in an item timed for 9:06 a.m., Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace will give an update on COVID-19.
At 10:30 a.m., the board will get a report from the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center.
In an untimed item, the board will consider giving notification to increase concealed carried weapon class fees.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt resolution amending Resolution 2021-133 and approving the Classification, Compensation Recruitment and Retention Committee findings and recommendations.
5.2: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings on May 19, 2020, and Feb. 23, 2021.
5.3: Approve COVID-19 Prevention Program.
5.4: Approve memorandum of understanding between the Department of Social Services and Behavioral Health Services for the provision of Lanterman-Petris-Short conservatorships in the amount of $102,780 per fiscal year, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.5: Approve contract between the county of Lake and Lindsey & Company Inc., an MRI Software LLC Co. in the amount of $104,252 from Jan. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2026, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Consideration of Update on COVID-19.
6.3, 9:45 a.m.: Consideration of an ad hoc committee promoting tolerance, respect, equity and inclusion.
6.4, 10 a.m.: Consideration of early activation changes; (a) amendment to cannabis cultivation ordinance; (b) resolution for those were early activated in 2020; and (c) efficiency processes, direction to staff.
6.5, 10:30 a.m.: Consideration of report from the Clearlake Environmental Research Center.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Agriculture Advisory Committee, Scotts Valley Community Advisory Council and Fish & Wildlife Advisory Committee.
7.3: Consideration to approve advance step hiring of Ms. Eileen Harmon in the position of Public Health Nurse, Senior, at Step 5, due to candidates extraordinary qualifications.
7.4: Consideration of notification of increase in concealed carried weapon class fees.
7.5: Consideration of resolution authorizing the chairman of the board to approve and direct the tax collector to sell, by public auction via internet, tax-defaulted property which is subject to the power to sell in accordance with Chapter 7 of part 6 of Division 1, of the California Revenue and Taxation Code and approving sales below minimum price in specified cases.
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, et al.
Correction: The article previously stated there were 471 properties to be offered for tax sale. There are in fact 490.
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 city of Clearlake’s planned sale of the former Austin Resort property to a developer has fallen victim to the economic uncertainties of the pandemic.
In May, the Clearlake City Council voted to sell the former resort property to Bailey Building and Loans LLC, a development firm that had planned to build a resort destination there, as Lake County News has reported.
The property includes two parcels, 4.74 acres located at 14061 Lakeshore Drive and owned by the city’s redevelopment successor agency and 2.94 acres at 14071 Lakeshore Drive held by the city.
The proposed purchase price for both parcels was $915,350.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has put a stop to the plan.
“They have stepped away from the deal at this point,” City Manager Alan Flora told Lake County News regarding the developer’s intentions.
“They were hesitant to move forward with anything early on in COVID. I am not sure if there is any chance of resurrecting the deal at this point,” he said.
At its Feb. 18 meeting, the Clearlake City Council approved two lists of surplus properties – one for city-owned properties and one held by the Clearlake Redevelopment Successor Agency – to send to the state in order to adhere to a state law that seeks to use surplus government-owned properties for affordable housing development.
The parcels at 14061 and 14071 Lakeshore Drive were included on the list, although Flora signaled at the meeting that the city wants to see the site properly developed.
He told Lake County News the same.
“We expect this to really be an impact project eventually and are confident that we can engage another partner,” he said. “I would say that we have so many other significant development projects underway right now that we are focusing all of our attention on those unless someone comes forward with a plan we like on the Austin Resort. I think we will put more energy into this one in the next one to two years when we have some of our other projects built.”
Flora noted that the city has had a couple of other people come in with an interest in doing an RV park or something at Austin Resort, “but we are not interested in seeing anything besides a quality resort development there.”
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. – Lake County’s Public Health officer said more supply of COVID-19 vaccine arriving in the county is allowing officials to open up the vaccination process to more community members.
“We continue to receive shipments of vaccine, and our clinics are accepting people at a higher capacity,” Dr. Gary Pace said on Monday. “About 2,000 doses are expected to be available this week. It is our goal to minimize confusion, and remove obstacles surrounding COVID-19 vaccination.”
He offered updated information regarding vaccine eligibility and appointment scheduling.
Who is eligible to be vaccinated now?
Starting March 1, groups eligible to be vaccinated in Lake County are those outlined in the state guidelines. People now eligible include:
– Individuals 65 and older; – Long-term care residents; – Health care Workers; – Emergency services workers; – Food and agricultural workers; – Education and childcare workers.
When will people aged 16-64 with qualifying chronic conditions and severe disabilities become eligible?
Starting Monday, March 15, people with certain chronic medical conditions and those with severe disabilities can get vaccinated. Guidance is here.
People eligible on this basis will need a note from their medical provider, simply confirming they have a qualifying condition; there is no need to include any sensitive medical information.
If you qualify but do not have a medical provider, send your name, date of birth, phone number, email address and qualifying condition(s) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Pace said he will confirm your condition qualifies, and write a letter. To avoid delaying your vaccination, please start work to get your letter now.
First dose appointments
Step 1: Make sure you are eligible. See the list above.
New links to schedule first dose appointments are posted every few days, as we ensure vaccine supply is adequate.
Step 3: Report to your appointment at the assigned time and place, and bring the following:
· Photo ID; and
· Proof of your eligibility (proof of employment, if you are eligible because of your job).
No walk-in appointments are available at this time. If you do not have an appointment, or you do not have proof you qualify, you will be turned away.
Need help with scheduling?
Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Lake County residents 65 and older, who do not have the ability to schedule online, can call 707-993-4644 for assistance.
The Health Services Department’s MHOAC line, 707-263-8174, is also monitored Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Special lines are available for farmworkers on Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call 707-262-4162, 707-262-4153 or 707-262-4159 for help.
Don’t call these numbers if there are no appointments available online. They have no additional appointments.
Ready for your second dose? Online scheduling now available
Current guidance notes second doses of the Moderna vaccine can safely be given four to six weeks following the first dose; it can almost certainly be even later, but Pace said they try to observe the recommended interval of 28 days as closely as possible.
The Public Health team typically calls or emails people to schedule their second dose appointment. Notices have, at times, been 24 to 48 hours prior in recent weeks. “We recognize this creates a hardship for some and apologize for any inconvenience,” Pace said.
If you are approaching 28 days, and haven’t received a call, you can use our new “Second Dose Appointment” links to schedule. New links will be regularly posted at http://health.co.lake.ca.us/Coronavirus/Vaccines.htm.
It is important people schedule their second dose no fewer than 24 days from the date of their first appointment. You will need to present the vaccine card you received at your first dose appointment to get your second dose.
Individuals who had their first dose on or before Feb. 4 can schedule for “Recall Clinic” (i.e., Second Dose Clinic) on Tuesday, March 2, at Lakeport Auto Movies, 52 Soda Bay Road, by visiting https://www.calvax.org/reg/9610629075 .
Individuals who had their first dose on or before Feb. 7 can schedule for the Recall Clinic on Friday, March 5, at Redbud Park, 14655 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake, here https://www.calvax.org/reg/0310296089.
Pace asked that people not use the first dose appointment links to schedule a second dose appointment; those links should be used for first dose appointments, only.
If you are unable to schedule online, you can write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-263-8174 for assistance. Please leave your name, date of birth, email and phone number, as well as the date of your first appointment.
Need general information on covid-19 vaccination?
Vaccine questions can now be answered by dialing 211 or texting “covid19” to 211-211. Additional resources are also available here.
Looking ahead: MyTurn platform to become standard, statewide
Pace said the State will soon require all counties to use the MyTurn appointment scheduling system.
Last week, Pace reported that Public Health had temporarily suspended use of the platform due to issues with it allowing out-of-county residents to schedule appointments in Lake County.
Pace said that at the appropriate timing, Public Health will provide detailed instructions for Lake County residents.
More information from the California Department of Public Health is available here.
Vacuna COVID-19: un recurso actualizado para los residentes del condado de Lake
Se esperan 2,000 dosis esta semana; Programación en línea ahora disponible para la primera y segunda dosis
Condado de Lake, CA (1 de marzo de 2021) - Seguimos recibiendo envíos de vacunas y nuestras clínicas están aceptando personas con mayor capacidad; Se espera que esta semana estén disponibles unas 2.000 dosis. Nuestro objetivo es minimizar la confusión y eliminar los obstáculos que rodean la vacunación COVID-19. Aquí hay un recurso actualizado sobre la elegibilidad de la vacuna y la programación de citas:
¿QUIÉN ES ELEGIBLE PARA SER VACUNADO AHORA?
A partir del 1 de marzo, los grupos elegibles para vacunarse en el condado de Lake son los que se describen en las pautas estatales. Las personas que ahora son elegibles incluyen:
• Personas mayores de 65 años • Residentes de cuidados a largo plazo • Trabajadores de la salud • Trabajadores de servicios de emergencia • Trabajadores de la agricultura y la alimentación • Trabajadores de la educación y el cuidado infantil
Si no está seguro de si su trabajo específico lo califica, esta Guía del 13 de febrero del Departamento de Salud Pública de California puede ser útil:
Las personas elegibles sobre esta base necesitarán una nota de su proveedor médico, simplemente confirmando que tienen una condición que los califica; no es necesario incluir información médica confidencial. Si reúne los requisitos, pero no tiene un proveedor médico, envíe su nombre, fecha de nacimiento, número de teléfono, dirección de correo electrónico y condiciones de calificación a This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Confirmaré que su condición califica y escribiré una carta. Para evitar retrasar su vacunación, comience a trabajar para recibir su carta ahora.
NOMBRAMIENTOS DE PRIMERA DOSIS
Paso 1: asegúrese de ser elegible. (Ver arriba, para la lista actual)
Cada pocos días se publican nuevos enlaces para programar citas para la primera dosis, ya que nos aseguramos de que el suministro de vacunas sea adecuado.
Pasó 3: Preséntese en su cita a la hora y lugar asignados, y traiga lo siguiente:
• Identificación fotográfica; y
• Prueba de su elegibilidad (prueba de empleo, si es elegible debido a su trabajo).
No hay citas sin cita disponibles en este momento. Si no tiene una cita o no tiene pruebas de que califica, se le rechazará.
¿NECESITA AYUDA CON LA PROGRAMACIÓN?
De lunes a viernes, entre las 8 a. m. Y las 5 p. m., Los residentes del condado de Lake de 65 años o más, que no pueden programar en línea, pueden llamar al 707-993-4644 para obtener ayuda.
La línea MHOAC del Departamento de Servicios de Salud, 707-263-8174, también se monitorea de lunes a viernes, de 8 am a 5 pm.
Hay líneas especiales disponibles para los trabajadores agrícolas los viernes, de 9 am a 5 pm: llame al 707-262-4162; 707-262-4153; o al 707-262-4159 para obtener ayuda.
No llame a estos números si no hay citas disponibles en línea. No tienen citas adicionales.
¿LISTO PARA SU SEGUNDA DOSIS? PROGRAMACIÓN EN LÍNEA AHORA DISPONIBLE!
Las guías actuales señalan que las segundas dosis de la vacuna Moderna se pueden administrar de forma segura 4-6 semanas después de la primera dosis; Es casi seguro que puede ser incluso más tarde, pero tratamos de respetar el intervalo recomendado de 28 días lo más fielmente posible. El equipo de Salud Pública suele llamar o enviar correos electrónicos a las personas para programar su cita para la segunda dosis. En ocasiones, las notificaciones se han realizado entre 24 y 48 horas antes en las últimas semanas. Reconocemos que esto crea una dificultad para algunos y pedimos disculpas por cualquier inconveniente.
Si se acerca a los 28 días y no ha recibido una llamada, puede utilizar nuestros nuevos enlaces de "Cita de segunda dosis" para programar. Se publicarán nuevos enlaces periódicamente en http://health.co.lake.ca.us/Coronavirus/Vaccines.htm . Es importante que las personas programen su segunda dosis no menos de 24 días a partir de la fecha de su primera cita. Deberá presentar la tarjeta de vacuna que recibió en su cita de la primera dosis para recibir la segunda dosis.
Las personas que recibieron su primera dosis EL 2/4/2021 pueden programar la “Clínica de retiro del mercado” de mañana (martes 2 de marzo) (es decir, Clínica de segunda dosis) en Lakeport Auto Movies (52 Soda Bay Rd): https://www.calvax.org/reg/9610629075 .
Las personas que recibieron su primera dosis EL 2/7/2021 o antes pueden programar la Clínica de retiro del mercado del viernes (3/5) en Redbud Park (14655 Lakeshore Dr., Clearlake): https://www.calvax.org/reg/0310296089 .
No utilice los enlaces de citas de la primera dosis para programar su cita de la segunda dosis; esos enlaces deben usarse solo para citas de primera dosis.
Si no puede programar en línea, puede escribir a This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. o llamar al 707-263-8174 para obtener ayuda. Deje su nombre, fecha de nacimiento, correo electrónico y número de teléfono, así como la fecha de su primera cita.
¿NECESITA INFORMACIÓN GENERAL SOBRE LA VACUNACIÓN COVID-19?
Las preguntas sobre vacunas ahora se pueden responder marcando 211 o enviando un mensaje de texto con “covid19” al 211-211. Los recursos adicionales también están disponibles aquí: http://health.co.lake.ca.us/Coronavirus/Vaccines.htm .
MIRANDO HACIA ADELANTE - MI PLATAFORMA DE GIRO SE CONVIERTE EN ESTÁNDAR A NIVEL ESTATAL
El estado pronto requerirá que todos los condados usen su sistema de programación de citas MyTurn. En el momento adecuado, proporcionaremos instrucciones detalladas para los residentes del condado de Lake. Para aquellos interesados en mirar hacia el futuro, este comunicado de prensa del Departamento de Salud Pública de California tiene información valiosa: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR21-066.aspx .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council is set to discuss grant funding for housing, consider financial reports and get an update on city roads.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 2.
The meeting will be by teleconference only. The city council chambers will not be open to the public.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here 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 prior to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2.
Indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council prior to the meeting.
The council on Tuesday will meet new Lakeport Police Department intern Pualani Kiao Erickson.
Under council business, Administrative Services Director Kelly Buendia will present a resolution to approve joining the Employment Risk Management Authority Joint Powers Agreement for employment practices liability coverage.
Community Development Director Jenni Byers will take to the council a proposed professional service agreement with Mintier Harnish for the completion of objective design and development standards for the city’s zoning ordinance and updates to its accessory dwelling unit rules.
In other business, the council will consider adopting a resolution approving an allocation of funding and the execution of a grant agreement and any amendments thereto from the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief Program, or CDBG-DR.
Byers’ report to the council explains, “Due to the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire, which threatened the City Lakeport for over a week and resulted in the mandatory evacuation of all City businesses and residents, several allocations of Disaster Recovery funds have been allocated through the CDBG program. The City of Lakeport is eligible for $2,433,284 as part of the Multi-Family Housing Program. This funding must be used to develop multifamily housing. The program is administered through the state department of Housing and Community Development.”
She added, “While the process is frustratingly slow, it is moving forward, but in order to proceed in the process, the City needs to submit its due diligence package, which includes a Council resolution. While there is still time to decide which final project would be the best use of the funds, the City has several developers interested in proposing housing projects for these funds. The City does not need to determine the use of the funds at this time, but the funds must be spent within the City of Lakeport.”
Also on Tuesday, Finance Director Nick Walker will present the comprehensive annual financial report for the year ended June 30, 2020, and the council will consider adopting a proposed resolution to reaffirm the necessity of AB 1600 development impact fees.
In an informational item, Public Works Director Doug Grider will provide a basic overview of city roads and the methods used to manage them.
At the end of the meeting, the council will hear a presentation by NHA Advisors on the Unfunded Accrued Liability Pension Program.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances, minutes of the regular council meeting on Feb. 16 and confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the COVID-19 public health emergency.
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.
To help address growing wildfire-related challenges in America, the U.S. Geological Survey is rolling out a new Wildland Fire Science Strategy that lays out the critical needs for wildfire research over the next five years.
This strategy can be used to better understand the balance between fire’s benefits and its detrimental impacts.
Wildfires in the United States can be devastating, with 2017, 2018 and 2020 being particularly damaging and deadly years. The new fire strategy will guide future USGS research and help the agency provide timely and relevant information for land managers to tackle fire risks before they occur, during wildfire response and after the flames go out. It also addresses emerging priorities such as climate change and supporting underserved rural communities and tribes.
“Now is the time to act, and USGS science is leading the way,” said David Applegate, USGS Associate Director exercising the delegated authority of the USGS Director. “This new fire science strategy provides the roadmap for developing the research, data and technologies that are critically needed to help the country better face future wildfire challenges.”
The USGS employs more than 100 scientists whose research focuses on fire-related topics, including using high-resolution remote sensing to characterize vegetative fuel loads; applying the latest satellite technology to detect fires and map wildfire perimeters; evaluating best practices to reduce wildfire risks; and assessing post-wildfire flooding and debris-flow hazards.
This work also includes creating and sharing best practices to support recovery across landscapes. Together, USGS expertise and monitoring capabilities are greatly improving the safety of first responders and the public-at-large.
The new strategy also emphasizes the importance of bridging fire and post-fire science to develop the most effective response, recovery and pre- and post-fire mitigation strategies to reduce risk. It highlights the use of computer simulations to help predict burn severity, which can then pinpoint areas that would likely be vulnerable to hazards during and after fires.
Recognizing that post-fire hazards span many branches of science, the strategy integrates different research branches to improve planning for and response to fire-related disasters.
“Cutting-edge research and multidisciplinary teamwork are key to better understanding and addressing wildfire challenges in the 21st century,” said Anne Kinsinger, Associate Director for USGS Ecosystems. “Scientists from different fields – fire ecology, hydrology, geology, remote sensing and botany – are pooling their expertise to evaluate wildfires, linking initial fire behavior to post-fire hazards and applying that information to ecosystem recovery.”
Researchers across the USGS are working with the interagency fire community to expand the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and other rapid-computing capabilities.
For example, the USGS uses artificial intelligence with satellite imagery to detect fire boundaries and develop burn severity maps, and to identify distribution and abundance of fire-adapted invasive species like cheatgrass in the Great Basin.
“This strategy will help the local, state, tribal and federal collaboration to address the wildfire issue that our nation is experiencing,” said Jeff Rupert, director of the Department of the Interior’s Office of Wildland Fire. “The science needs identified in the strategy will support firefighters that respond to wildfires and prevention efforts to protect communities, resources and people.”
For example, the USGS is partnering with the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Tall Timbers Research Station to model fire behavior, fire weather patterns, 3D fuel loads and smoke conditions to evaluate how fuel treatments can reduce fire risk across a changing landscape.
The USGS is also strengthening its partnerships with the Fire Science Exchange Network to foster increased access and use of its fire information, data and tools while learning about needs of practitioners in the field.
The USGS Wildland Fire Science Strategy aligns with national initiatives as defined in the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. Developed by a broad swath of stakeholders at all levels, the Cohesive Strategy calls for science and management that promote resilient landscapes and fire-adapted communities for safe and effective wildfire responses.
For more details about the new USGS Wildland Fire Science 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, read the full report.
For more information about USGS fire science, visit www.usgs.gov/fire.