Council gets cyanotoxin monitoring program update

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council recently got an update regarding the Clear Lake Cyanotoxin Monitoring Program and its efforts to track lake health.

Environmental specialists Sarah Ryan of the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Karola Kennedy of the Elem Indian Colony outlined the program and provided recommendations to the city at a council meeting late last month.

The primary goal of the program is to protect areas of tribal significance, which in turn, Ryan said is of benefit to the general public. Monitoring is also occurring on county and city beach lines.

Components of the 2014 program included the collection of baseline data primarily on tribal specific locations; the formation of a task force to notify local, state and federal agencies of elevated cyanotoxin levels at the Clear Lake shoreline; advocacy for signage that indicate safe thresholds for recreational use; and collaborative discussion of cyanotoxin monitoring and response plan and identification of additional monitoring locations.

The current year's program consists of taking water samples at 18 sites; obtaining field data measurements; cyanobacteria cell identification; and cyanotoxin analyses based on cell identification and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, which are “wet-lab” type of collections that use a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay to detect the presence of substance in a liquid or wet sample.

Data documentation and use of information for health-based decisions and lake management are also included in the program.

Kennedy said the shoreline in the city of Clearlake has the highest concentrations of cyanotoxins.

“Clearlake is a hot zone because of the water flows,” she said. “Austin Park has had elevated levels 75-percent of the times we monitored.”

Kennedy said a resort on Cache Creek has had elevated levels of 50 percent and Redbud Park, 63 percent, of the times monitored.

The presentation included several recommendations to the council including the installation of signage based on recent results to inform the public of risks and options.

Ryan said the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians is currently working on a signage program that the city could access at no charge. She said the city could assist in creating signage design.

Additional recommendations included:

– Issuing press releases when toxin levels exceed guidelines for safe recreation.
– Developing a program to abate weeds through non-chemical means to reduce nutrient loads.
– Aeration in shoreline areas to reduce cyanobacteria blooms.
– Considering requiring water purveyors to test for cyanotoxins in the treated drinking water when shoreline levels are elevated.

Email reporter Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Supervisors to discuss Valley fire housing issues, get updates on response and recovery

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Much of the Board of Supervisors' meeting this week will be devoted to updates and actions related to the Valley fire.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Board_of_Supervisors/calendar.htm . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

In the first of several timed items, at 9:15 a.m. the Office of Emergency Services will give reports and updates on the Valley fire response and recovery efforts.

At 9:20 a.m., the board will consider a request for staff direction regarding Valley fire-related adjustments to policies and procedures for public health, potable water, wells and land use.

Community Development Director Rick Coel will take to the board two items. They are consideration of an interim urgency ordinance to defer certain provisions of the Lake County Zoning Ordinance pertaining to occupancy of recreational vehicles as temporary dwellings due to the Valley fire, timed for 9:25 a.m., followed at 9:30 a.m. by the consideration of an interim urgency ordinance deferring provisions related to permitting RV parks.

At 9:35 a.m., the board also will consider an urgency ordinance prohibiting rental housing price gouging in the county during the Valley fire state of emergency.

County officials have received reports of landlords increasing rental costs above the 10 percent that's allowed as compared to the time period before the fire, with there also being reports that current tenants are being evicted in order to charge higher rental rates to Valley fire victims.

Untimed items relating to the Valley fire include the consideration of continuing the proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer and an update from the Department of Public Works and Special Districts regarding contracts it has executed related to the fire recovery process.

In other business, in an untimed item, the board will consider findings of fact for denying Cross Development's appeal of the Lake County Planning Commission's denial of its major use permit application for a Dollar General store in Kelseyville.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

7.1: Adopt resolution amending position allocation in BU 2303- Juvenile Hall to eliminate all positions effective Oct. 15, 2015.

7.2: Adopt resolution authorizing cancellation of loan reserve funds in the amount of $32,309 to cover loan payment due by CSA #21 - North Lakeport.

7.3: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Lake County Office of Education - Safe Schools Healthy Students Program for Specialty Mental Health Services for Fiscal Year 2015-16, in the amount of $250,000 and authorize the chair to sign.     

7.4: Approve incorporation of the Board of Directors of the South Lake County Fire Protection District's resolution concerning the devastation caused by the Valley fire with the county of Lake's declaration of existence of a local emergency due to the Valley fire.

TIMED ITEMS

8.2, 9:15 a.m.: Reports/updates of response and recovery efforts from the Office of Emergency Services, assisting agencies and/or community groups consequent to 2015 wildland fires.

8.3, 9:20 a.m.: Discussion/consideration of request for staff direction regarding adjustments to policies and procedures relating to Public Health, potable water, wells and land use as they relate to the Valley fire.   

8.4, 9:25 a.m.: Consideration of interim urgency ordinance to defer certain provisions of the Lake County Zoning Ordinance pertaining to occupancy of recreational vehicles as temporary dwellings due to the Valley fire.

8.5, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of interim urgency ordinance deferring provisions related to permitting RV parks.

8.6, 9:35 a.m.: Consideration of urgency ordinance prohibiting rental housing price gouging in the county of Lake during a state of emergency.     

8.7, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of Lake County Planning Commission's recommendation to approve a two-year extension for a tentative subdivision map SDX 15-04, previously approved by merger and resubdivision SD 05-04; and re-adoption of a mitigated negative declaration based on Initial Study IS 05-40; applicant is Westamerica Bank; project located at 6015 and 6850 Robin Hill Drive, Lakeport (APNs 004-029-28 and 60).

UNTIMED ITEMS

9.2: Consideration of continuing the proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer.   

9.3: Update to the Board of Supervisors regarding contracts executed by Department of Public Works and Special Districts related to the Valley fire local emergency.   

9.4: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, consideration of reappointment of Mark Burkdoll, public member, to the Lake County Air Quality Management District Hearing Board for a three year term pursuant to California Health and Safety Code.

9.5: Consideration of findings of fact – appeal of Cross Development LLC (Dollar General (AB 15-02)).

9.6: Consideration of departmental request for board direction regarding requests to enter into Williamson Act contracts for grazing land.

9.7: Consideration of 2015/16 OHV grant in the amount of $26,376 and corresponding resolution, in order for Lake County to participate in the Department of Parks and Recreation off-highway vehicle program.

CLOSED SESSION

10.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54956.9(d)(1): City of Lakeport v. County of Lake, et al.

10.3: Public Employee Evaluations Title: Public Services Director Caroline Chavez.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

Lakeport City Council to consider temporary housing issues for Valley fire evacuees

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will discuss a proposed resolution to offer help to Valley fire victims seeking temporary housing in the city, and will hold public hearings on minor changes to city ordinances.

The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Council, 225 Park St.

The meeting will begin with the presentation of a proclamation designating October 2015 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month; an update on the Clear Lake Cyanotoxin Monitoring Program; the latest from Rebecca Southwick on the Lake Leadership Summit, to be held Friday, Oct. 9, at Marymount California University in Lucerne; and a donation for the annual fireworks show from the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.

Community Development Director Kevin Ingram will take to the council a proposed resolution to help Valley fire victims seeking temporary housing in the city.

“In an effort to reduce the imposition of additional hardships upon displaced victims of the Valley Fire, City staff is recommending the temporary relaxing of certain regulations and fees required by the Lakeport Municipal Code,” Ingram wrote in his staff report for the meeting.

Specifically, Ingram said the resolution would waive the maximum 30-day stay allowance for transient housing at local hotels and other similar establishments, and also would waive initial service and deposit fees associated with new sewer and water connections for fire victims seeking temporary rental housing within the city limits.

He said the proposed resolution is valid for 90 days but may be extended further by a majority vote of the council.

The council also will conduct three separate public hearings for the purpose of making minor amendments and revisions to existing ordinances relating to establishing a review process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems, imposing additional licensing fees on fortunetellers and allowing for the issuance of special parking permits for residential units in the central business district that don't have access to on-site parking.

In other business, the council will conduct a public hearing and adopt the proposed ordinance forming the Lakeport Industrial Development Authority, which is part of the process to meet requirements for US Department of Agriculture funding for the new Lakeport Police headquarters on Main Street.

Staff also is asking the council to confirm the current council signatories for city warrants and checks and adopt the proposed resolution adding the Lakeport Police chief as a signatory.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular Lakeport City Council meeting of Sept. 15; warrant register from Sept. 3; approval of Application No. 2015-022 with staff recommendations for the 2015 Clear Lake High School Homecoming Parade on Oct. 9; and review and adopt a revised conflict of interest policy for the city of Lakeport.

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.

100615 Lakeport City Council agenda packet