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Forecasters predict chance of rain this week; US Drought Monitor puts Lake County in 'exceptional' drought category
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As Clear Lake's level continues to drop, forecasters are predicting the possibility of rain later this week.
The National Weather Service is reporting that a cool low pressure system from the eastern Pacific may bring with it showers to parts of the county on Wednesday and Thursday.
Forecasters are putting the chance of midweek showers at up to 30 percent for most of the county Wednesday, decreasing slightly on Thursday. The forecast also includes light winds.
Upper Lake has a 40-percent chance of showers on Wednesday, the National Weather Service reported.
Lake County and the rest of Northern California is slipping deeper into drought.
Clear Lake on Monday night was at -0.31 on the Rumsey gauge, the unique measure used for the lake. A full lake is 7.56 feet on the Rumsey gauge.
According to Lake County Water Resource records, Clear Lake hasn't been at a negative level since the 1977 drought.
The US Drought Monitor's latest summary puts most of California – including Lake County – into the “exceptional” drought category, its most severe level of intensity. Lake County previously had been in the “extreme” drought category.
Because the drought doesn't appear to be letting up, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider another extension to the drought emergency it first declared in March.
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Supervisors to consider continuing drought emergency proclamation
LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Board of Supervisors is set to once again discuss whether to extend the emergency drought declaration it first passed earlier this year.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. TV8 will broadcast the meeting live, with the archived video to be available online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Board_of_Supervisors/calendar.htm .
In an untimed item, the supervisors will get an update from the county's Drought Task Force and consider continuing the proclamation of emergency declaration for drought conditions passed earlier this year.
The board has to renew the declaration every month. To date, the board has extended the declaration five times since it first passed the declaration March 4.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Approve minutes from the Board of Supervisors meeting held July 1, 2014.
7.2: Approve budget transfer in BU 9907 from account 62-79 from water truck to sign truck in the amount of $35,000.
7.3: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce for FY 2014-15 Marketing, Economic Development and Visitor Information Services, in the amount of $50,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.4: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Mendocino and Lake Counties, for FY 2014-15 support of services provided to Lake County residents, in the amount of $5,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.6: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and St. Helena Hospital for Acute Hospital Services for fiscal year 2014-15 (to cover services rendered in FY 2013-14), in the amount of $150,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.7: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and California Psychiatric Transitions for Fiscal Year 2014-15 for a contract maximum of $150,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.8: Adopt resolution approving the grant project, Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program, and authorize the district attorney to execute said agreement.
7.9: Approve equitable sharing agreement and certification for the Office of the District Attorney for FY 2013-14, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.10: Approve extended leave of absence through Dec. 25, 2014, for Parks Maintenance Worker Vincent McIntosh.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 1 p.m.: Assessment appeal hearing, sitting as the Lake County Local Board of Equalization, Wayne Chatoff - Application No. 41-2012 - 8815 Paradise Beach Dr., Glenhaven, CA (APN 060-350-240).
8.3, 1 p.m.: Assessment appeal hearing, sitting as the Lake County Local Board of Equalization, Torborg Lundell - Application No. 37-2012 - 12530 Maple Lane, Loch Lomond, CA (APN 050-591-130).
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.2: FY 2013-14 Annual Report from Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Mendocino and Lake Counties' Executive Director Sheryn Hildebrand.
9.3: (a) Drought Task Force update and consideration of staff’s request for further board direction; and (b) continuing the proclamation of emergency declaration for drought conditions.
9.4: Continued from Sept. 9, consideration of agreement between the county of Lake and Nacht & Lewis Architects for Architectural/Engineering Services for the Hill Road Correctional Facility Expansion, in the amount of $2,024,307.
9.5: Consideration of (a) request for approval of an administrative encroachment permit for the Splash-In seaplane event, Sept. 25 to 28, 2014; and (b) request for a waiver of the permit fee ($665).
CLOSED SESSION
10.2: Conference with real property negotiator pursuant to Gov. Code § 54956.8: (a) Property located at: 2617 S. Main Street, Lakeport (APN 005-053-22) (b) Negotiating parties: For County/Air Quality Management District: Supervisor/Director, Anthony Farrington; Air Pollution Control Officer, Doug Gearhart; and Deputy County Administrative Officer, Alan Flora. For seller: Neslo Group, LLC representatives (c) Under Negotiation: Purchase terms.
10.3: Employee evaluations title: Special Districts administrator and Child Support Services director.
10.4: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d) (1) - Fowler and Ford v. County of Lake.
10.5: Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9 (d)(4) .
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Lakeport City Council to hold purchasing system discussion, consider equipment buy
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council will hold another hearing on a proposed city purchasing system and separately consider a purchase of equipment for the city's Public Works Department.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
This week the council will hold a public hearing for the second public hearing on a proposed ordinance to amend Chapter 3.04 of the Lakeport Municipal Code establishing a city purchasing system.
The ordinance was introduced at the council's Aug. 19 meeting and a following hearing was held at the council's Sept. 2 meeting.
The matter is being brought back after the council requested that the document's local vendor preference be changed from 5 percent to 10 percent, as Lake County News has reported.
Also on the agenda, the council will consider giving City Manager Margaret Silveira the go-ahead to sign a purchase order for a sewer combination cleaner for the Public Works Department.
The purchase order for the Aquatech Combination Cleaner is not to exceed $382,946.40.
The meeting also will feature a presentation regarding a new Halloween coloring contest event.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; warrants; minutes of the Sept. 2 regular council meeting; approval of Application No. 2014-019 for the Lakeport Elementary School to hold its annual Halloween Parade on Friday, Oct. 31, from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.; approval of Application No. 2014-021 for Clear Lake High School to hold its annual Homecoming Parade on Friday, Sept. 26, from 3:45 to 4:15 p.m.; adoption of a resolution approving the memorandum of understanding between the city of Lakeport and the Lakeport Police Officer’s Association for Sept. 16, 2014, through June 30, 2016; adoption of a resolution approving an addendum to the compensation and benefits program adopted June 17, 2014, for the city of Lakeport Unrepresented Employees.
Following the open session of the meeting, the council will convene in closed session to discuss negotiations with the Lakeport Employees Association.
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Council honors young cancer survivor and her family as part of 'Childhood Cancer Awareness Month'
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – “Childhood Cancer Awareness Month” was proclaimed in the city of Clearlake on Thursday as the Clearlake City Council paid tribute to the families, friends, professionals and communities who lend their strength to children fighting pediatric cancer.
“May their courage and commitment continue to move us toward new cures, healthier outcomes and a brighter future for America's youth,” Mayor Denise Loustalot stated in reading the proclamation into the record.
Loustalot was emotional in making the presentation to City Clerk Melissa Swanson, her husband Thomas Swanson and their daughter Ellie.
Ellie is a childhood cancer survivor; so is her brother. Ellie turned 7 years old on Wednesday.
According to the proclamation, cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children younger than the age of 15. Every school day, 86 children are diagnosed with the often life-threatening disease.
Advances in research and treatment are recognized for increasing a five-year survival rate in childhood cancer from less than 50 percent to 80 percent throughout the past several decades.
“But despite the gains that have been made, help still does not come soon enough for many of our sons and daughters, and too many families suffer pain and devastating loss,” Loustalot stated.
In February, Ellie was diagnosed with ganglioneuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer. A tumor in the girl's left lung and against her spine was discovered after an exam for what her family thought was either a serious cold or pneumonia, as Lake County News reported earlier this year.
The Swanson family's fight to get their daughter treatment was joined by people around the community, who made online donations and contributed through fundraiser events to help with medical costs and transportation to the Bay Area.
Ellie underwent a successful surgery in June to remove the tumor. Throughout the many procedures and time spent in the hospital, Ellie's courage – was well as her positive outlook and big smile – didn't waver, and she became an inspiration for those following her story.
Ellie's battle with cancer has touched an entire community, according to her mother, who has said, “This has not just been Ellie's fight. This has not just been our family's fight. This amazing community and our Facebook friends and family have been a part of our fight from day one. We have two a amazing childhood cancer survivors, Ellie and Tommy. We are blessed.”
Melissa Swanson said she had just one thing to say when she and her family accepted the proclamation before the city council: “I just want to say thank you. Thank you to everyone.”
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