LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Since the beginning of the pandemic, the number of Americans living with behavioral health issues has increased.
According to a recent study conducted at Columbia University, 1 in 10 adult Americans reported living with depression, and nearly 1 in 5 adolescents and young adults also reported experiencing some sort of depression.
Unfortunately, many of those experiencing depression and other behavioral health concerns are not seeking timely treatment, according to Lake County Behavioral Health.
Taking action to close the “treatment gap” is critical; there is a great need to ensure individuals are being screened for anxiety and depression, and made aware of treatment resources.
October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month, and Lake County Behavioral Health Services invites the community to join in raising awareness at this crucial juncture.
People experience depression in different ways, and it can affect anyone, any time.
Depression, which may be coupled with dementia in older adults, can have an adverse effect on one’s quality of life; it can also contribute to lost productivity at home and at work, and increased risk of death.
Help is available.
Lake County Behavioral Health Services offers a range of supports for county residents facing behavioral and mental health concerns, including depression and substance use disorder services.
If you need immediate support, and it is after business hours, Lake County Behavioral Health Services 24-hour Crisis Hotline is available. Dial 800-900-2075; our Crisis Team will be ready to assist.
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said he will enforce the new insurance pricing regulation he wrote recognizing and rewarding wildfire safety and mitigation efforts made by homeowners and businesses.
Commissioner Lara’s regulation is the first in the nation requiring insurance companies to provide discounts to consumers under the Safer from Wildfires framework created by the California Department of Insurance in partnership with state emergency preparedness agencies.
The regulation is now state law and enshrined in the California Code of Regulations.
"Protecting Californians from deadly wildfires means everyone doing their part, including insurance companies by rewarding consumers for being safer from wildfires," said Commissioner Lara. "The reality of climate change is driving my determination to help communities better prepare, help our firefighters save lives, and help more Californians find insurance they can afford. My Department will work diligently to increase discounts to reward the hard work that California consumers do to protect their families, homes, businesses, and communities.”
Commissioner Lara’s regulation requires insurance companies to submit new rate filings incorporating wildfire safety standards created by the department, and to establish a process for releasing wildfire risk determinations to residents and businesses within 180 days.
Transparency is an important benefit of this regulation, by requiring insurance companies to provide consumers with their property’s “wildfire risk score” and creating a right to appeal that score.
This regulation is part of a comprehensive solution that Commissioner Lara initiated after taking office to protect consumers from climate change-intensified wildfires.
When Commissioner Lara took office in 2019, insurance companies representing 7% of the residential market provided insurance discounts and, under his leadership, that figure has grown to 4%.
When this regulation is fully implemented, it will be 100% of the residential and commercial market aligned with the Safer from Wildfires framework.
Commissioner Lara directed the Department to write the regulation to protect consumers and improve market competition after hearing first-hand from consumers and business owners about their frustration with insurance companies that did not consider mitigation in their rating plans.
During town hall meetings in more than 38 counties and an extensive department investigatory wildfire hearing in 2020, many consumers testified that their homes and businesses were subject to “wildfire risk scores” that many did not know existed and had no right to appeal if inaccurate.
Regulation followed extensive public input and Safer from Wildfires partnership with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Administration
Lara took what he learned from Californians to shape this rule that will promote a fair, transparent, and competitive insurance market.
In October 2021, Lara shared an initial version of the text of regulation. Following further public input, Lara formally proposed his regulations in February and held a public hearing to receive verbal and written comments before submitting the final regulation on Sept. 1 for approval by the California Office of Administrative Law, of which that approval has now been received.
The regulation incorporates the Safer from Wildfires framework, created in February by a first-ever partnership between the Department of Insurance and the emergency preparedness agencies in Governor Newsom’s Administration, including the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, and the California Public Utilities Commission.
“Home Hardening retrofits, along with Defensible Space significantly increase a home’s chance of surviving a wildfire,” said Chief Daniel Berlant, Cal Fire deputy director of Community Wildfire Preparedness & Mitigation. “Using the latest fire science and recent wildfire data, these retrofits and landscaping requirements provide a strong path to structure survivability. Cal Fire is currently funding over $300 million in local wildfire prevention projects to prepare communities against wildfire, but we know it will take every resident doing their part to ensure California is fully protected.”
Regulations will drive down costs and create transparency for consumers
The regulation requires insurance companies to submit new rates that recognize the benefit of safety measures such as upgraded roofs and windows, defensible space, and community-wide programs such as Firewise USA and the Fire Risk Reduction Community designation developed by the state’s Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, which currently includes the counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Butte as well as cities and local districts.
“I applaud and welcome the new insurance pricing regulation developed by Commissioner Lara,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents approximately 2 million residents, including many who own properties in the county’s wildland urban interface. “Over the years, I’ve met with many wildfire survivors who were underinsured and, as a result, were financially ruined – left with a home that’s uninhabitable, that they can’t afford to repair, yet still liable for meeting their mortgage payments. The discounts offered to property owners who harden their homes and take action to mitigate wildfire threats are a financial reward that I believe will be embraced by many. This is a big step forward towards promoting community-driven preparedness and resilience.”
“Commissioner Lara’s proposed regulation will transform the insurance landscape by rewarding wildfire risk reduction, creating safer communities and restoring access to affordable coverage,” said Amy Bach, Executive Director of United Policyholders, a 31-year-old non-profit assisting California insurance consumers whose statewide Wildfire Risk Reduction and Asset Protection (WRAP) working group is working toward the goal of this regulation. “Giving people a financial incentive to do their part is a critical and fair step to getting ‘all hands on deck’ to save homes and lives. United Policyholders strongly supports this common-sense and sustainable solution to the property insurance problems millions of Californians are experiencing.”
“Communities have been engaging in wildfire risk reduction through the national Firewise USA program for two decades,” said Michele Steinberg, wildfire division director for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). “The Firewise USA process requires annual preparedness work across neighborhoods, and a long-term commitment. This ongoing effort has proven to reduce property losses from wildfire and should factor into risk evaluations and insurance rates.”
“My regulation is the result of listening closely to the needs of consumers and businesses and crafting common-sense, lasting solutions that strengthen our ability to protect Californians from the threat of climate change-intensified wildfires,” said Commissioner Lara.
The Safer from Wildfires regulation is part of a larger solution that Commissioner Lara is pursuing for consumers and wildfire survivors that includes working to increase insurance protections and market competition to help protect consumers. Commissioner Lara’s actions since taking office in 2019 include, among others:
Protecting more than 4 million homeowners from non-renewal or cancellation of insurance following declared wildfire emergencies, in order to speed up community recovery. Sponsoring new insurance protections signed into law by Gov. Newsom — despite opposition from insurance companies — that will mean larger payouts for some consumer claims, less red tape from insurance companies, and more help for people under evacuation orders.
Ordering the FAIR Plan, the state’s insurer of last resort, to offer a more comprehensive homeowners policy as an option, which a judge upheld, as well as expanding residential and commercial coverage limits for the first time in 25 years to keep pace with increased costs.
The following cats at the shelter have been cleared for adoption.
Female domestic shorthair
This 2-year-old female domestic shorthair cat has a Siamese coat with reddish points and blue eyes.
She is in cat room kennel No. 73, ID No. LCAC-A-4090.
‘Mama’
“Mama” is a 2-year-old domestic shorthair cat with an all-black coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 7, ID No. LCAC-A-3884.
Female domestic shorthair
This 2-year-old female domestic shorthair cat has a gray tabby coat.
“She is an adult cat with some playful kitten tendencies when toys are brought out. She has a sweet little meow and likes to have playful chats with you,” shelter staff said.
She is in cat room kennel No. 10, ID No. LCAC-A-3661.
Male domestic shorthair
This 3-year-old male domestic shorthair cat has an orange tabby coat.
“This guy can be shy at first, but once he knows that you are all about the pets, he will roll right over and start his purr machine. He has a unique curly tail which he flicks around when curious,” shelter staff said.
He is in cat room kennel No. 13, ID No. LCAC-A-4021.
Male domestic shorthair kitten
This 2-month-old male domestic shorthair kitten has a white coat and blue eyes.
He is in cat room kennel No. 36A, ID No. LCAC-A-4081.
Male domestic shorthair kitten
This 2-month-old male domestic shorthair kitten has a light orange coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 36B, ID No. LCAC-A-4082.
Male domestic shorthair kitten
This 2-month-old male domestic shorthair kitten has an orange coat.
He is in cat room kennel No. 36C, ID No. LCAC-A-4083.
Male domestic longhair cat
This 1-year-old male domestic longhair cat has a black and white coat.
“This guy had a hard start, but has a lot of love to give once he warms up to you,” shelter staff said.
Staff said he also loves brushing and shows his appreciation with purring and head bumps.
He is in kennel No. 107, ID No. LCAC-A-4023.
Female domestic shorthair kitten
This 2-month-old female domestic shorthair kitten has a white coat with orange markings.
She is in kennel No. 129a, ID No. LCAC-A-4084.
Female domestic shorthair kitten
This 2-month-old female domestic shorthair kitten has a gray coat with white markings.
She is in kennel No. 129b, ID No. LCAC-A-4085.
Female domestic shorthair kitten
This 2-month-old female domestic shorthair kitten has a tortoiseshell coat.
She is in kennel No. 129c, ID No. LCAC-A-4086.
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.
As the midterm elections approach, much of life has returned to its busy post-COVID-19 normal, even as the pandemic continues. Being busy and wary of sharing space with large numbers of strangers are among the many reasons people might consider skipping Election Day.
In most states, you can skip Election Day and still vote, though. In many ways, the most convenient way to vote is by mail – even if many states require you to file a form or use a website to request a ballot. You can examine the choices of candidates and questions, and consider your choices, as you would if you were to vote on Election Day. When you are ready, you can mark your ballot in your own time and either mail it back or drop it off at a local ballot drop box or government office – as long as you do it before your state’s deadline.
Many people have questions about the integrity of this process, how they can be sure their vote will be counted accurately and how they can make sure it is even counted at all. Several scholars have written articles for The Conversation U.S. describing aspects of this system and explaining why it’s trustworthy and safe.
1. ‘Built-in safeguards’
Charlotte Hill, a former local election official in San Francisco who now studies voting laws at the University of California, Berkeley, and political scientist Jake Grumbach from the University of Washington write about six ways mailed ballots are protected from fraud. Those include the facts that it’s very hard to make a fake ballot and a fake envelope and that eagle-eyed postal and municipal workers are always on the lookout for irregularities.
“The mail-in voting process has several built-in safeguards that together make it hard for one person to vote fraudulently and even more difficult to commit voter fraud on a scale capable of swinging election outcomes,” Hill and Grumbach write.
2. Lessons from Oregon
Since 1998, all elections in Oregon have been held by mail. Over that entire time, Priscilla Southwell, a professor emerita of political science at the University of Oregon, has watched how the system has worked and how people have reacted to it, and then she has analyzed its integrity.
Her conclusion reflects broad public support of the system: “Perhaps the strongest evidence that the system is equitable, fair, reliable and safe is that in two statewide surveys I have conducted over the years, a nearly identical percentage of Oregon Republicans and Democrats strongly support voting by mail, and the same is true of elected officials in the state.”
3. One caution
In an article crediting the convenience and integrity of voting by mail, political scientists Susan Orr of The College at Brockport, State University of New York, and James Johnson at the University of Rochester note one potential pitfall: Because it happens outside an official polling place, the act of voting isn’t necessarily secret.
A person voting by mail may be more susceptible to the influence of a relative, friend or employer, or may even be observed while marking their ballot.
“The voter marks the ballot outside the supervision of election monitors – often at home. It’s possible to do so in secret,” they explain. “But secrecy is no longer guaranteed, and for some it may actually be impossible.”
4. Some ignore the evidence
There have been several lawsuits, especially in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, alleging that voting by mail is fraudulent or suspect. Rutgers University Newark law professor Penny Venetis has observed that some judges accept those claims:
If you’ve decided to vote by mail, in most states you can keep tabs on your ballot and make sure it arrived safely at your local election office.
Law professor Steven Mulroy at the University of Memphis explained that many states have “a unified system [that] allows all voters to see when their request for a ballot by mail was received, when the ballot was mailed to them and when the completed ballot was received back at the local election office.”
Check to see if your state is one, and you can rest assured that your ballot is on the way, that you’ve successfully mailed it back and that it has been accepted and counted.
Editor’s note: This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversation’s archive.
School bus safety is a two-way street — a responsibility shared by professional school bus drivers and every motorist on California’s roadways.
The California Highway Patrol is bringing awareness to the role we all play in ensuring students throughout the state travel safely to and from school as part of National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 17 to 21.
“School bus safety is part of the CHP’s mission, and we take our mission very seriously,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “This week is a reminder that everyone should do their part each day to remain alert behind the wheel, particularly when you see a school bus or children at bus stops.”
With few exceptions, California law requires drivers to stop in both directions when a school bus has flashing red lights on.
Drivers must stop until the red lights are off, and school bus drivers are trained to only turn their flashing red lights off when they are certain the children are safely out of the road and seated on the bus.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, riding a school bus is the safest way for students to get to school — 70 times safer compared to other modes of transportation. School buses are one of the most regulated vehicles on the road.
On average, more than 50,000 certified school bus drivers transport more than one million students each year in California, traveling approximately 243.5 million miles.
To help ensure the safety of students, the CHP inspects more than 20,000 school buses annually and launched the Vehicles Illegally Passing a School Bus, or VIPS, enforcement project in 2017.
During VIPS enforcement operations, CHP officers ride on school buses and patrol bus routes, watching for vehicles that do not stop for flashing red school bus lights.
The VIPS enforcement project also encourages people to report drivers who illegally pass a school bus — a violation that last year resulted in citations to 218 motorists.
The extreme weather that has battered much of the U.S. in 2022 doesn’t just affect humans. Heat waves, wildfires, droughts and storms also threaten many wild species – including some that already face other stresses.
I’ve been researching bee health for over 10 years, with a focus on honey bees. In 2021, I began hearing for the first time from beekeepers about how extreme drought and rainfall were affecting bee colony health.
In both cases, managed colonies – hives that humans keep for honey production or commercial pollination – were starving. Beekeepers had to feed their bees more supplements of sugar water and pollen than they usually would to keep their colonies alive. Some beekeepers who had been in business for decades shared that they lost 50% to 70% of their colonies over the winter of 2021-2022.
These weather conditions likely also affected wild and native bees. And unlike managed colonies, these important species did not receive supplements to buffer them through harsh conditions.
Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency host federal pollinator experts to share the latest scientific findings on bee and pollinator health, and assess the status of these important insects, birds, bats and other species. One clear takeaway from this year’s meeting was that climate change has become a new and formidable stressor for bees, potentially amplifying previously known issues in ways that scientists can’t yet predict but need to prepare for.
The scourge of Varroa mites
Pollinators contribute an estimated US$235 billion to $577 billion yearly to global agriculture, based on the value of the crops they pollinate. Understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change on pollinators is key for supporting healthy ecosystems and sustainable agriculture.
Bee health first attracted widespread attention in 2006 with the emergence of Colony Collapse Disorder, a phenomenon where the majority of adult worker bees in a colony disappeared, leaving their honey and pollen stores and some nurse bees behind to care for the queen and remaining immature bees. In the past five years, reported cases have declined substantially. Now, researchers are focusing on what beekeepers call the “four Ps”: parasites, pathogens, pesticides and poor nutrition, as well as habitat loss for wild and native bees.
One of the most severe threats to honey bees over the past several decades has been Varroa destructor, a crablike parasitic mite that feeds on honey bees’ fat body tissue. The fat body is a nutrient-dense organ that functions much like the liver in mammals. It helps bees maintain a strong immune system, metabolize pesticides and survive through the winter.
These are vital functions, so controlling mite infestations is essential for bee health. Varroa can also transmit deadly pathogens to honey bees, such as deformed wing virus.
Controlling mite populations is challenging. It requires using an insecticide in an insect colony, or as beekeepers say, “trying to kill a bug on a bug.” It’s hard to find a formula strong enough to kill mites without harming the bees.
Monitoring Varroa takes significant skill and labor, and mites can build up resistance to treatments over time. Researchers and beekeepers are working hard to breed Varroa-resistant bees, but mites continue to plague the industry.
However, it can be hard to document and understand sublethal toxicity. Many factors affect how bees react to agrochemicals, including whether they are exposed as larvae or as adult bees, the mixture of chemicals bees are exposed to, the weather at the time of application and how healthy a bee colony is pre-exposure.
Like many other species, bees are losing the habitat and food sources that they depend on. This is happening for many reasons.
For example, uncultivated lands are being converted to farmland or developed worldwide. Large-scale agriculture focuses on mass production of a few commodity crops, which reduces the amount of nesting habitat and forage available for bees.
As diverse and healthy bee forage disappears, beekeepers feed their bees more supplements, such as sugar water and pollen substitutes, which are not as nutritious as the nectar and pollen bees get from flowers.
Climate change is a force multiplier
Researchers don’t know exactly how climate change will affect bee health. But they suspect it will add to existing stresses.
For example, if pest pressures mount for farmers, bees will be exposed to more pesticides. Extreme rainfall can disrupt bees’ foraging patterns. Wildfires and floods may destroy bee habitat and food sources. Drought may also reduce available forage and discourage land managers from planting new areas for bees as water becomes less readily available.
Climate change could also increase the spread of Varroa and other pathogens. Warmer fall and winter temperatures extend the period when bees forage. Varroa travel on foraging bees, so longer foraging provides a larger time window for mites and the viruses they carry to spread among colonies. Higher mite populations on bee colonies heading into winter will likely cripple colony health and increase winter losses.
Studies have already shown that climate change is disrupting seasonal connections between bees and flowers. As spring arrives earlier in the year, flowers bloom earlier or in different regions, but bees may not be present to feed on them. Even if flowers bloom at their usual times and locations, they may produce less-nutritious pollen and nectar under extreme weather conditions.
Research that analyzes the nutritional profiles of bee forage plants and how they change under different climate scenarios will help land managers plant climate-resilient plants for different regions.
Creating safe bee spaces
There are many ways to support bees and pollinators. Planting pollinator gardens with regional plants that bloom throughout the year can provide much-needed forage.
Ground-nesting native bees need patches of exposed and undisturbed soil, free of mulch or other ground covers. Gardeners can clear some ground in a sunny, well-drained area to create dedicated spaces for bees to dig nests.
Another important step is using integrated pest management, a land management approach that minimizes the use of chemical pesticides. And anyone who wants to help monitor native bees can join community science projects and use phone apps to submit data.
Most importantly, educating people and communities about bees and their importance to our food system can help create a more pollinator-friendly world.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The effort to expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include the Walker Ridge area took another step on Monday.
Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) led members of California’s Congressional delegation on Monday in a letter calling on President Joe Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include adjacent federally owned land known as the Walker Ridge tract.
Garamendi and Padilla’s letter also requested that Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland order the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to rename “Walker Ridge” to “Condor Ridge” and “Molok Luyuk” in the Patwin language of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and other Native American peoples from the area.
Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument stretches from Napa County in the south to Mendocino County in the north, encompassing 330,780 acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Much of the monument is in Lake County.
President Barack Obama designated the national monument in 2015, responding to a call from Representatives Thompson and Garamendi, then-Senator Barbara Boxer, other Members of California’s Congressional delegation, and community leaders to permanently protect these lands.
The proposed expansion area is located on the eastern edge of the existing monument. These BLM managed lands include oak woodlands, rocky outcroppings, wildflower meadows, the world’s largest stand of McNab cypress, and dozens of rare plant species.
“Molok Luyuk is a special and sacred place for area tribes and for many local residents who enjoy recreation activities like hiking and mountain biking,” said Lake County Supervisor E.J. Crandell, a member of the Robinson Rancheria tribe. “The natural beauty of our home also drives tourism, which is key to the economic vitality of the region. Protecting these beautiful lands would be a gift to future generations.”
“Molok Luyuk is a rare treasure of rich cultural heritage and sacred history, diverse wildlife and rare plants, and stunning natural beauty and accessible recreational activities,” said Sandra Schubert, Executive Director of Tuleyome, a local conservation organization. “We are deeply grateful to our Congressional champions Reps. Garamendi and Thompson and Sens. Padilla and Feinstein for shepherding this effort. We encourage President Biden to expand the existing monument and permanently protect Molok Luyuk.”
Garamendi and Padilla’s letter was cosigned by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA05), Jared Huffman (D-CA02), Barbara Lee (D-CA13), Katie Porter (D-CA45), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA06) and Mike Levin (D-CA-49).
“Conserving California’s special places has been a lifelong passion throughout my tenure in the state legislature, as Deputy Secretary of the Interior to President Clinton, and now as a member of Congress representing Lake County. Walker Ridge, soon to be known as Molok Luyuk, is one of those special places. I am proud to work with Senator Alex Padilla and our Congressional colleagues from California in calling for President Biden and Secretary Haaland to use the powers bestowed upon them to protect and expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument for future generations to enjoy,” said Congressman Garamendi.
“The sacred lands within and around the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument are central to thousands of years of indigenous origin stories,” said Senator Padilla. “That’s why I’m leading calls with Representative Garamendi urging President Biden to use his existing authority to expand the Monument and permanently protect Molok Luyuk. It is our duty to protect the abundant natural resources and the rich history of Molok Luyuk for today’s children and for future generations.”
“Molok Luyuk is home to both profound natural beauty and deep cultural significance. It is a special place, so it's fitting that California’s tribes and the U.S. government create a special relationship to protect it,” said Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Chairman Anthony Roberts. “We commend Representative Garamendi and Senator Padilla for their work to protect our homelands.”
Presidential proclamations under the Antiquities Act of 1906 only apply to federally owned land and do not affect privately owned or other non-federal land in any way.
Over 50 local and national organizations have endorsed the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act,” including: Lake County Board of Supervisors; Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation; Conservation Lands Foundation; Sierra Club; California Wilderness Coalition; The Wilderness Society; Lake County Land Trust; Backcountry Anglers & Hunters; California Native Plant Society; Hispanic Access Foundation; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Tuleyome (Woodland, CA-based nonprofit); Audubon California; Vet Voice Foundation; Native American Land Conservancy.
Timeline of Events:
As Deputy Secretary of the Interior from 1995 to 1998 and now as a member of Congress representing Lake County since 2011, Congressman Garamendi has a lifelong passion for conserving California’s special for future generations to enjoy.
February 2014: Congressmen Mike Thompson, Garamendi and Huffman introduced bicameral legislation with then-Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to establish the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.
December 2014: Congressmen Thompson and Garamendi host then-Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Obama Administration officials on a tour of Berryessa Snow Mountain Region, urging National Monument designation.
July 2015: President Obama declared the federal land surrounding Lake Berryessa as a National Monument, at the Congressmen’s urging.
May 2017: Garamendi defends Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument against Trump Administration’s review to downsize national monuments designated by President Obama under the 1906 Antiquities Act.
July 2021: Garamendi sought public feedback on the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument expansion and his draft legislation.
January 2022: Garamendi introduced the “Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act” (H.R.6366) with Congressman Thompson.
March 2022: Garamendi testified before the House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands on his “Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act” with Tribal Chairman Anthony Roberts for the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.
April 2022: Senator Padilla introduced the companion legislation (S.4080) with Senator Feinstein.
June 2022: Senator Padilla testified before the U.S. Senate’s Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining on his companion legislation (S.4080).
July 14, 2022: U.S. House of Representatives passed Garamendi’s Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act” as part of the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023” (H.R.7900).
July 21, 2022: U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passed Senator Padilla’s companion legislation (S.4080) with bipartisan support.
In addition to the letter cosigners, the “Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act” is also cosponsored in the House by Representatives Jerry McNerney (D-CA-9), Jim Costa (D-CA-16), and Ro Khanna (D-CA-17).
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week will get a presentation on the work to create a countywide parks master plan and consider whether to hire legal counsel in response to Pacific Gas and Electric’s wildfire mitigation activities in Lake County.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 931 6832 0280, pass code 852821. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,93168320280#,,,,*852821#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
At 9:06 a.m., the board will receive a presentation from BluePoint Planning on the preparation of a countywide parks, recreation and trails master plan.
Public Services Director Lars Ewing’s report to the board explains that earlier this year his department “solicited proposals to analyze opportunities and constraints of the County’s parks, recreation, and trails system; assess existing facilities, potential locations, recreation programs, and trail components; and develop a comprehensive countywide parks, recreation, and trails master plan.”
The board awarded the contract to BluePoint Planning, with the work now underway, Ewing said.
“The final plan will serve as an implementation tool and operational guide for management of county parks, recreation programs, and trails,” he wrote.
Ewing said BluePoint staff and Public Services wants to “take a brief opportunity to ‘kickoff’ the project with an introduction to your Board to provide an overview of the work plan and the events that will occur over the next year.”
At 11:30 a.m., the supervisors will hold a public hearing to consider an ordinance rescinding specified sections of the Lake County Zoning Ordinance relating to early activation.
At 1 p.m., there will be a discussion regarding retention of specialized legal services to address PG&E's wildfire mitigation activities.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve the Updated Bylaws of the Lucerne Area Town Hall.
5.2: Approve Amendment No. 2 to the lease agreement between the county of Lake and the Middletown Senior Citizens Inc. for lease of buildings and grounds located at 21256 Washington St., Middletown, California and authorize the chair to sign.
5.3: Approve continuation of proclamation of the existence of a local emergency due to pervasive tree mortality.
5.4: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2202-118 adopting Final Budget for FY 22-23 to provide a temporary loan from the non-departmental revenue (Fund 001) to Community Development Block Grant Program Income Capital Projects Fund (Fund 936).
5.5: Adopt resolution approving Agreement No. 22-0998-004-SF with California Department of Food and Agriculture for compliance with the Sudden Oak Death Quarantine program for period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 in the amount of $4,695.26.
5.6: Approve Amendment No. 2 to the agreement between Sierra Vista for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations for fiscal years 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 for a new contract maximum of $81,572.00 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.7: (a) Adopt resolution authorizing the agreement between the county of Lake and Advocates for Human Potential for the Department of Care Health Care Services for the Period of April 19, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2022 and authorize the Behavioral Health director to sign the agreement and (b) waive competitive bidding in accordance with Section 2-38.2 of the Lake County Code and (c) approve the agreement in the amount of $294,000 between COAR Design Group for facility design services and the county of Lake for the Behavioral Health Clearlake Facility Expansion Project and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.8: Adopt resolution authorizing Lake County Behavioral Health Services to Increase the rates for substance use disorder drug medi-cal services effective fiscal year 2022-23. not available not available
5.9: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between county of Lake and Hilltop Recovery Services for FY 2022-23 to reflect drug Medi-Cal rate changes and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.
5.10: Approve purchase order for Heritage Oaks Hospital for acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations in the amount of $50,000.00 and authorize the department head to sign.
5.11: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between county of Lake and Kings View Professional Services for MIS support services for fy 2022-23 in the amount of $158,469.00 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.12: Approve Board of Supervisors minutes Sept. 13, 2022, Sept. 20, 2022, and Oct. 4, 2022.
5.13: Approve amendment to the purchase amount of a New 2023 Ford Explorer for the Building & Safety Division, from $33,298.15 to $40,184.06.
5.14: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature or goods or services; (b) approve purchase of 2023 Ford Bronco Sport base four door; and (c) authorize the department head/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order for total amount $28,899.91.
5.15: Approve continuation of resolution authorizing teleconferenced meetings during a state of emergency to continue to exist.
5.16: Approve continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.17: Approve continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transport, and disposal of fire debris for the LNU Complex wildfire.
5.18: a) Waive the formal bidding requirement pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.1, as it is an extension of an annual agreement and the county purchasing agent has determine such action to be a cost advantage and in the best interest of the county; and b) authorize the IT director to issue a purchase order to Zoom Video Communications, Inc. for Zoom Video Conferencing licenses in the amount of $27,581.96.
5.19: Approve continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.20: Approve continuation of a local emergency in lake county in response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.21: Approve continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions.
5.22: Approve agreement by and between the county of Lake and G.D. Nielson Construction, Inc. for Installation of Standby Generator at Hill Road Correctional Facility in the amount of $507,456 and authorize the chair to sign the agreement for award of Bid No. 22-08.
5.23: Approve purchase orders for the purchase of six vehicles for the Central Garage Fleet, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase orders.
5.24: Approve Supplemental Services Agreement No. 2 between the county of Lake and Armstrong Consultants for consulting services related to Lampson Airfield and authorize the chair to sign the agreement.
5.25: Approve destruction of records, paper, or documents which are more than two years old or document that is not expressly required by law to be filed and preserved.
5.26: Approve Amendment No. 1 for the continuation of agreement with Zonehaven for SaaS software in the amount of $8,400 per year and a total agreement price of $25,200 for three years and authorize the chair to sign.
5.27: Adopt resolution to affirm the establishment of the Lake County Housing Commission office located at 16170 Main St., Suite F, Lower Lake, CA, 95457.
5.28: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, authorize Special Districts administrator/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $60,000.00 to Thomas & Associates for the purchase of a Gorman-Rupp 4” self-priming sewage pump.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Presentation of BluePoint Planning for the preparation of a countywide parks, recreation and trails master plan.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, hearing of notice of violation and notice of nuisance and order to abate; property owner: Thomas Carter; location: 1622 Hunter Point Road, Upper Lake (APN 022-001-05).
6.4, 9:35 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of appeal of notice of nuisance and order to abate for 200 Hoover St., Clearlake Oaks (APN# 035-404-180); appellant: Brett Hill.
6.5, 10:30 a.m.: Continued from Sept. 27, 2022, public hearing, consideration of proposed rezone (RZ 22-02) and negative declaration (IS 22-19). Applicant: Daniel Sosa. Project Location: 3774 and 3794 E. Highway 20, Nice (APNs 032-181-02 and 03).
6.6, 11:30 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of ordinance rescinding specified sections of the Lake County Zoning Ordinance relating to early activation.
6.7, 1 p.m.: Consideration of retention of specialized legal services to address PG&E's wildfire mitigation activities.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of an advocacy letter requesting urgent state action in support of Lake County’s tree mortality emergency.
7.3: Consideration of county representation for Oct. 27 meeting with California Public Utilities Commissioner Darcie Houck and Rural County Representatives of California; discussion to gather board member and public input in preparation for this meeting.
7.4: Consideration of resolution authorizing an amendment to the standard agreement between the county of Lake and the Department of Health Care Services for the period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023, and authorizing the Behavioral Health director to sign the amendment to the standard agreement.
7.5: Consideration of Amendment No. 3 to the agreement between county of Lake and North Valley Behavioral Health LLC for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalization for fiscal year 2021-22 in the amount of $911,380.00 and authorize the board chair to sign.
7.6: Consideration of (a) waiving the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) agreement between county of Lake and the Regents of the University of California, Davis in the amount of $510,981.00 for early psychosis intervention program evaluation services for fys 2022-23 through 2025-26 and authorize the board chair to sign.
7.7: Consideration of the following Advisory Board appointments: Lucerne Area Town Hall.
ASSESSMENT APPEAL HEARING
8.1: Consideration of request by the Lake County Assessor's Office to continue the following assessment appeal applications: 03-2020 through 10-2020, Earthways Foundation Inc., a Delaware Nonprofit Corporation to the May 2, 2023 Board of Supervisors meeting.
8.2: Consideration of request by the appellant to continue the following assessment appeal applications: No. 68-2022 Worldmark to the May 2, 2023 Board of Supervisors meeting.
8.3: Consideration of withdraw on the following assessment appeal applications: a) No. 05-2021, Charles E.Bellig TRS.; and b) No. 06-2021, Lakeshore Drive, LLC; and c) No. 09-2021, Transform SR Holding Management, LLC; and d) No. 01-2021, 03-2021, Geysers Power Co. LLC.
8.4: Consideration to deny the following assessment appeal applications on timeliness, as no request for hearing received: a) No. 02-2021, Norman Winters Trustee; and b) No. 08-2021, Patricia Gage.
8.5: Consideration of stipulation on the following assessment appeal applications: No. 07-2021, Bakhtiara, Deborah Ann (TE),Karl Eric (TE).
CLOSED SESSION
9.1: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(2) (e)(1) – One potential case.
9.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1): In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation MDL No. 2804/Case No. 17-MD-2804.
9.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1) – City of Clearlake v. County of Lake, et al.
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.
The lake is always green and there is so much algae, it’s everywhere. We are visiting another lake this weekend, will there be algae there too? How do we find out?
— Asking about algae
Dear Asking,
Thank you for asking this question, it’s timely and very important! There is also a lot of confusion around “algae” and what is commonly mistaken for algae. What you are probably concerned about is actually cyanobacteria. However, what you are noticing about your lake happens every summer, and not just in Clear Lake, but in other places around the state, around the Country, and around the world.
Now it’s important to recognize that algae is not cyanobacteria, and cyanobacteria is not algae. They may look similar to us standing on the beach or a boat, but they actually originate in different biological kingdoms. Cyanobacteria are as different to green algae as a mushroom is to a horse — they are not similar at all! They just happen to inhabit the same space — water.
Cyanobacteria belong in the Bacteria/Monera kingdom and green algae, or phytoplankton, belong in the protozoa kingdom.
For more information on the biological kingdoms and why algae and cyanobacteria are separated into different kingdoms, I recommend the Wikipedia page on Kingdoms. This page really does a good job discussing what is classified in each kingdom and some of the history of classification.
Before we go on, let’s review a few things.
Clear Lake is full of life, so it’s important for us to understand all that lives in the lake for us to understand what we are concerned about and what potential solutions are, and what their impacts might be on all things in the lake.
One: aquatic plants (or macrophytes) grow in the water, some are rooted in the lake sediments at the bottom and some are not rooted, and are free-floating.
Two: Green algae are microscopic plants (sometimes called phytoplankton) that are the primary fish food in the lake. Clear Lake is very green - that is from the green algae and that is why we have a world class fishery and people come from all over to catch record-sized fish living in the lake. The phytoplankton, or green algae is why Clear Lake is called “A Living Lake” as the productive green algae can sustain abundant life. In contrast, Lake Tahoe does not produce that much green algae because it is cold and dark, and does not have a work class fishery or as much life as Clear Lake.
Three: Cyanobacteria, which are sometimes called blue-green algae, are not really algae, but bacteria that live in the water alongside green algae. Cyanobacteria is also the culprit behind the “Harmful Algal Blooms, or HABs” colloquial. Cyanobacteria is NOT a preferred food source for fish. Sometimes when cyanobacteria populations grow in great numbers (called blooms) they can produce toxins that can cause public health hazards (hence their reference as Harmful Algal Blooms or HABs).
So when someone states that they want to get rid of all the algae, that is usually not what they mean. The green algae is really, really important for our lake’s food web. It's the base of the food web and if it was all removed, we would see the collapse of the entire food web. From fish, otters, to birds, to all the living things that depend on green algae feeding fish. We would also see the elimination of our world class fishery.
Macrophytes, algae, and cyanobacteria all conduct photosynthesis, meaning they turn sunlight energy and carbon in the air into both oxygen and food energy or starch to grow. For macrophytes, algae, and cyanobacteria, the three main nutrients they rely on for growth are carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus.
Carbon and nitrogen are very abundant in the atmosphere and water, carbon in the form of CO2 and nitrogen in the form of N2 (gas) and any animal or plant waste or breakdown product in the water.
Phosphorus is least common, therefore phosphorus is the main driver of growth, because it’s normally least available, so it’s what limits growth of macrophytes, algae, and cyanobacteria. It’s not surprising that in Clear Lake, there is abundant light, warm temperature, and plentiful food nutrients. When the lake has excess phosphorus, we get excess growth of plants, algae, and cyanobacteria.
For Clear Lake, there is a comprehensive cyanobacteria monitoring program managed by Big Valley EPA and other tribal partners. They have a website with most recent monitoring data posted. They sample about 20 sites every two weeks in the summer and every month in the winter. Results are also posted on the Facebook page called “Clear Lake Water Quality”. Red pins mean DANGER levels have been found and it’s recommended to not go into the water in that area. Orange pins mean WARNING, and yellow mean CAUTION. Green pins mean no cyanobacteria toxins have been detected in the sampled water from that area.
Cyanobacteria is not just a Clear Lake problem
As conditions around the country and the world change, cyanobacteria blooms are becoming more prevalent. Monitoring and reporting is also more widespread across the state and country. For example, here in California HABS data can be reported and shared on the My Water Quality HABS portal as part of the California Water Quality Monitoring Council.
On the California HABs portal is a link to a HAB Incident Reports Map, which provides data on voluntarily reported blooms in California. The data may include reports under investigation and/or confirmed incidents of HABs, but it’s a good visual to see what conditions are in water bodies in different parts of the state.
This site also provides a satellite freshwater HABmap <https://fhab.sfei.org/> tool developed by San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI). This map displays estimated amounts of cyanobacteria in large water bodies calculated from satellite imagery. The map includes approximately 250 water bodies in California large enough to be detected by the satellite. It is designed as a screening level analysis tool to indicate past 10-day aggregate conditions.
By exploring these tools, it becomes evident, and quite obvious, that cyanobacteria issues extend beyond Clear Lake, and are now becoming more frequent in other water bodies throughout the state.
The use of these tools in making informed decisions when recreating on or in freshwater is invaluable. Before planning a water excursion, you can see what current bloom conditions are in a lake of interest, and can use that knowledge to stay safe while enjoying the lake.
Cyanobacteria and HABS beyond California
Just this summer around the country, for example, there have been numerous reports of lakes or beaches closing due to harmful blooms. Here are a few examples from states like Colorado, New York, Michigan and Nebraska. This summer, lake monitoring revealed harmful cyanobacteria bloom conditions across the Country, further demonstrating that cyanobacteria is a serious issue that extends beyond Clear Lake and requires both state and national focus and attention.
Ulster waterways had to issue warnings to the public after cyanobacteria bloom occurred.
In Michigan, throughout July and August, numerous lakes were reported and confirmed to have cyanobacteria blooms.
And as recently in September, in Nebraska, five lakes were under a health alert after testing confirmed cyanobacteria abundance above health triggers.
Therefore, it's important to be aware of conditions when visiting any freshwater water body, whether it’s located close to you or miles from home. Much like when you visit the ocean, you look for signs warning of rip currents, tides, or dangerous marine wildlife. When visiting freshwaters, keep aware of any posted signage.
Cyanobacteria blooms don’t always impact entire lakes or streams, and there can be areas that are less concerning, however you might have to spend a little time doing some research to find the monitoring data online from a local or state source. Every year more and more states are conducting monitoring and providing public health information so everyone can stay safe while enjoying their favorite lake, near or far.
— Sincerely Lady of the Lake
The CDC is a great resource for learning more about potential health impacts of cyanobacteria, what to look for, and how to protect you, your kids, and pets, when recreating in freshwaters.
Angela De Palma-Dow is a limnologist (limnology = study of fresh inland waters) who lives and works in Lake County. Born in Northern California, she has a Master of Science from Michigan State University. She is a Certified Lake Manager from the North American Lake Management Society, or NALMS, and she is the current president/chair of the California chapter of the Society for Freshwater Science. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the COVID-19 State of Emergency will end on Feb. 28, 2023, charting the path to phasing out what Newsom’s office said has been one of the most effective and necessary tools that California has used to combat COVID-19.
This timeline gives the health care system needed flexibility to handle any potential surge that may occur after the holidays in January and February, in addition to providing state and local partners the time needed to prepare for this phaseout and set themselves up for success afterwards.
With hospitalizations and deaths dramatically reduced due to the state’s vaccination and public health efforts, California has the tools needed to continue fighting COVID-19 when the state of Emergency terminates at the end of February, including vaccines and boosters, testing, treatments and other mitigation measures like masking and indoor ventilation.
As the state of emergency is phased out, the SMARTER Plan continues to guide California’s strategy to best protect people from COVID-19.
“Throughout the pandemic, we’ve been guided by the science and data — moving quickly and strategically to save lives. The state of emergency was an effective and necessary tool that we utilized to protect our state, and we wouldn’t have gotten to this point without it,” said Gov. Newsom. “With the operational preparedness that we’ve built up and the measures that we’ll continue to employ moving forward, California is ready to phase out this tool.”
To maintain California’s COVID-19 laboratory testing and therapeutics treatment capacity, the Newsom Administration will be seeking two statutory changes immediately upon the Legislature’s return: 1) The continued ability of nurses to dispense COVID-19 therapeutics; and 2) The continued ability of laboratory workers to solely process COVID-19 tests.
“California’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has prepared us for whatever comes next. As we move into this next phase, the infrastructure and processes we’ve invested in and built up will provide us the tools to manage any ups and downs in the future,” said Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency, Dr. Mark Ghaly. “While the threat of this virus is still real, our preparedness and collective work have helped turn this once crisis emergency into a manageable situation.”
Throughout the pandemic, Gov. Newsom, the Legislature and state agencies have been guided by the science and data to best protect Californians and save lives — with a focus on those facing the greatest social and health inequities — remaining nimble to adapt mitigation efforts along the way as we learned more about COVID-19.
The state’s efforts to support Californians resulted in:
•Administration of 81 million vaccinations, distribution of a billion units of PPE throughout the state and processing of 186 million tests. •Allocation of billions of dollars to support hospitals, community organizations, frontline workers, schools and more throughout the pandemic. •The nation’s largest stimulus programs to support people hardest hit by the pandemic – $18.5 billion for direct payments to Californians, $8 billion for rent relief, $10 billion for small business grants and tax relief, $2.8 billion to help with overdue utility bills, and more.
California’s pandemic response efforts have saved tens of thousands of lives, kept people out of the hospital and protected the economy:
• California’s death rate is the lowest amongst large states. If California had Texas’ death rate, 27,000 more people would have died here. If California had Florida’s rate, that figure jumps to approximately 56,000 more deaths. • In only the first 10 months of vaccines being available, a study showed that California’s efforts saved 20,000 lives, kept 73,000 people out of the hospital and prevented 1.5 million infections. • California’s actions during the pandemic protected the economy and the state continues to lead the nation in creating jobs and new business starts. “Lockdown” states like California did better economically than “looser” states like Florida, new COVID data shows,” with California's economy having contracted less than such states — economic output shrank 3.5% on average for the U.S., compared with 2.8% for California. Since February 2021, California has created 1,628,300 new jobs — over 16% of the nation’s jobs, by far more than any other state. By comparison, Texas created 1,133,200 jobs (11.3% of the nation’s) and Florida created 787,600 jobs (7.9% of the nation’s) in that same timeframe. Since the beginning of 2019, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that over 569,000 businesses started in California, by far more than any other state.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council plans this week to discuss outdoor dining design guidelines and amendments to the 2022-23 fiscal year budget.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, 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.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the city clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
On Tuesday, the council will meet new Public Works employees Cody Morland and Lucy Avilez, present a proclamation declaring October 2022 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and offer a plaque in appreciation of former Council Member Mireya Turner’s contributions to the city.
The council will hold public hearings to close out several Community Development Block Grants, adopt a draft resolution authorizing the city manager to sign the necessary amendment documents for the State Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Rounds 2 and 3, and introduce a draft ordinance related to outdoor dining design guidelines with the second reading to be set for Nov. 2.
Under business, the council will consider approving a professional services agreement with WMH for the Lakeport Blvd at Bevins Street Project study report equivalent as well as a mutual aid agreement for emergency assistance among the cities of Lakeport, Clearlake, Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Willits and Point Arena.
Also on Tuesday, Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Nick Walker will present a request for approval of amendments to the fiscal year 2022-23 City budget and Public Works Superintendent Ron Ladd will ask for approval of an on-call professional service agreements with 15 contractors.
On the consent agenda — items usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on Sept. 20; the warrant register of Sept. 27; adoption of a resolution authorizing continued remote teleconference meetings of the Lakeport City Council and its legislative bodies pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e); approval of application 2022-024, with staff recommendations, for the 2022 Clear Lake High School Homecoming Parade; approval of application 2022-025, with staff recommendations, for the 2022 Halloween Parade; receipt and filing of the Community Development Department quarterly report for the first quarter of the 2022-23 fiscal year; adoption of a resolution authorizing the city manager to apply for PLHA funding allocations in accordance with the five-year plan; adoption of the resolution accepting construction of the Martin Street Apartments Off-Site Improvement Project by Pacific West Builders and authorize the filing of the notice of completion; approval for the mayor to sign the letter of support for Pacific West Communities, Inc. to apply for an Infill Infrastructure Grant for the Bevins Street Senior Apartments.
The council also will hold a closed session to discuss property negotiations with the Lakeport Fire Protection District regarding 445 N. Main St. and 901 Larrecou Lane and employee negotiations with the Lakeport Police Officers’ Association.
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.
When the federal government set up boarding schools in the 19th century to assimilate Native American children into American culture, one of the objectives was to get them to turn away from the use of their native languages. In recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the U.S., The Conversation turned to Daryl Baldwin, a citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma who is a leader in Native American language and cultural revitalization and a member of the National Council on the Humanities, for insight into a tribal community’s efforts working with a university to help bring languages back.
How were Indigenous languages lost?
Many actions throughout history put pressure on tribal communities to abandon the use of their languages. This included the forced assimilation that resulted from the Indian Civilization Act of 1819. This act established Indian boarding schools to teach subjects such as math and science while suppressing the use of Indigenous languages and cultures.
Boarding schools lasted until the mid-20th century, and their effect was devastating for Indigenous communities and their languages. Linguists have estimated that prior to European settlement, there were 300 Indigenous languages spoken in what is now the United States. Communities are struggling to pass these languages on to a younger generation.
These affected communities include the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, of which I am a citizen. The Miami Tribe lost the last speakers of the Myaamia language during the mid-20th century in part due to these assimilation efforts. Additionally, the forced relocation of the Tribe from its homeland in the Ohio-Indiana region to Kansas, and eventually Oklahoma, during the 19th century caused the community to become fragmented due to some families remaining behind or being exempt from relocation.
These factors also increased the stress on the community to simply survive. Many tribal members and elders from this time have recounted how they didn’t pass the language on to their children for fear of discrimination.
Why bring the languages back?
Simply put, our languages help make us whole again. When we empower our cultural selves through speaking our languages, we begin to undo the damage caused by years of cultural and linguistic oppression.
For the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, language and cultural revitalization is a priority. We contribute significant time and financial resources into educational programs that help tribal citizens reconnect to their cultural heritage.
When we engage in revitalization activities, we are weaving strands of knowledge, cultural practices and other ways of being into our lives so we may draw on them as a source of community strength. Today, this encompasses all aspects of our lives, including art, games and food, as well as song and dance. For many of us, our Myaamia language is central to this process.
Since 1972, Miami University has been an important partner in this process of language and cultural revitalization. The Myaamia Center – the tribe’s research arm – directly supports the Myaamia Heritage Program. The program provides Miami Tribe students with tuition waivers and a unique opportunity to engage with their cultural heritage while earning a college degree.
What practical uses do these languages serve?
Language was an important aspect of my home when my four kids were young. Being able to say teepaalilaani – “I love you” – and to sing bedtime songs to my children – kiilhswa neewaki kiilhswa neewita … – “I see the moon, the moon sees me …” - in my native language was important to me.
Speaking my language connects me to our ancestral homelands of what are now parts of Ohio and Indiana. And doing so strengthens my relationship with my immediate family who also speak the language, and allows me to communicate in a way that is unique to my culture. My language may not be practical in holding a mainstream job or getting around in the world, but it is important to my identity as a Myaamia person. I feel grounded when I can speak my language with other members of my family and community.
The Myaamia Center’s Nipwaayoni Acquisition and Assessment Team has evaluated programs since 2012 and found that Myaamia students regularly comment on how important speaking their language is to their identity.
Jenna Corral, a Myaamia student who graduated in 2021, described her experience: “Learning our language has been one of the best ways to make me feel connected to my identity and tribal community. Being able to learn and speak the language that was developed by my ancestors was something I never thought I would do. I am forever grateful for all I have learned about my heritage and culture and the positive impact it has had on my life.”
How do students benefit from learning these languages?
Myaamia tribal youth who participate in language and cultural revitalization programs are more engaged in tribal activities, internal assessment research shows. Participation has continually risen over the past 20 years, in part due to increased tribal enrollment encouraged by language and cultural revitalization. Engagement is increasing because people want to be involved and participate in what is happening. We have gained approximately 1,000 citizens in the last five years, boosting our enrollment to 6,780 today. This is a significant development because we view youth engagement as important to future growth of the tribal nation.
Myaamia students have been enrolled at Miami University since 1991. Students who attended before the creation of the Myaamia Heritage Course, which allows students to explore their Myaamia heritage, had a graduation rate of 56%. Since the addition of the course in 2003, our six-year graduation rate has increased to 92% – more than double the national six-year graduation rate of 41% for Native Americans – and 106 Myaamia students have earned degrees from Miami University.
We believe growth of tribal programs developed by the tribe’s Cultural Resources Office, the creation of the Myaamia Center and further development of the heritage program are at the core of what has driven this dramatic increase in our graduation rate.
How will these languages be preserved going forward?
Just as the boarding school era was designed to remove language and culture, our tribal efforts can put back what was taken.
But these efforts require financial resources. Some people feel that the federal government holds a degree of financial responsibility in the revitalization of these languages. This is because significant federal funding was used historically to eradicate these languages. The federal government spent US$2.81 billion – adjusted for inflation – to support the nation’s Indian boarding schools, but only a fraction of that amount for Indigenous language revitalization today.
Partnerships between tribes and universities can be powerful in building a response to inequalities that have emerged through our recent history. Yes, language is an important part of what we do, but in the end it’s about knowledge, who holds that knowledge and how it’s expressed through our unique language and culture. Our partnership with Miami University is one such model.