How to resolve AdBlock issue? Board of Supervisors continues emergency drought declaration
LAKEPORT, Calif. – With the drought conditions in Lake County continuing to worsen, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday continued a declaration of a local emergency it originally passed in the spring.
In March the board unanimously approved the declaration, which they're required to revisit and extend once a month. Tuesday's extension of the declaration was the fourth the board has authorized.
Lake County Office of Emergency Services Marisa Chilafoe asked the board to continue the local emergency declaration.
“I think it's obvious conditions have not improved,” said Chilafoe, who explained that the declaration is necessary for the county to obtain grand funding to improve local water systems impacted by the drought.
During the meeting Chilafoe also presented to the board an update on the county drought task force.
She said at the June 25 meeting of the county's disaster council, it was decided that the county needed to significantly increase its response efforts to ensure that the proper quality and quantity of water in county water systems are maintained.
A large drought task force has been put together, said Chilafoe, explaining that it's composed of the Office of Emergency Services and other county departments such as the agriculture commissioner, along with the Lake County Winegrape Commission.
Chilafoe is chairing the drought task force, with Special Districts Compliance Coordinator Jan Coppinger acting as vice chair. Chilafoe also asked that one of the board members serving on the disaster council – either Rob Brown or Jeff Smith – sit on the task force.
The task force's first meeting is at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17, in the board chambers at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport, Chilafoe said.
Brown moved to continue the declaration, which Smith seconded before the board voted 5-0.
County staff also updated the board on efforts to conserve water across county operations, such as parks.
Public Services Director Caroline Chavez said her staff did an analysis of water use in their department. “Overall, we have a 44-percent reduction in our water usage and a 30-percent reduction in our rates.”
At some of the parks, like Lakeside in Kelseyville and Alpine in Lucerne, the grounds aren't being watered, as the lake is their source and the lake level has dropped so far that the intakes can't reach the water, she said.
Alpine has the option of hooking up to a domestic well to save the landscape, she said. County parks in Middletown and Upper Lake also have wells, while Nylander Park in Clearlake Oaks uses domestic water.
Chavez told the board that restroom use at parks and water-related vandalism have large impacts on overall water use and aren't factors that can be controlled.
The county is required to maintain parks that have received state grant funds. She said the state has been notified of the county's water issues and the need to conserve.
Board Chair Denise Rushing asked about using nonpotable water for watering landscaping. Special Districts Administrator Mark Dellinger said the county would still be required to meet certain treatment standards. Dellinger explained that dual plumbing systems also are needed for graywater systems.
Chavez said she can look at the feasibility of adding more wells for county parks, but Smith said he felt it was less expensive to extend the water intake valves for the parks further into the lake. Chavez said such a project could itself take a year due to the Army Corps of Engineers permitting process.
Special Districts offers urgency ordinance updates
In March, the board also approved urgency ordinances to implement conservation measures in certain county water systems.
Coppinger updated the board on the status of water supply and conservation efforts in the Starview, Mt. Hannah, Bonanza Springs and Paradise Valley county service areas.
In Starview, the static well level dropped another 4 percent in June for an overall 17-percent decrease since January 2013, she said.
Systemwide conservation efforts in Starview have reduced usage 35 percent over last year, according to Coppinger.
Coppinger said the urgency ordinance allows every household to use 275 gallons per day before getting a $350 surcharge. Approximately 142 customers stayed within that allotment, while seven customers far exceeded it.
Special Districts plans to explore how to address the overuse. “We can’t allow just a few to jeopardize the system,” she said, noting that the time of the year when water tables are at their lowest is about to arrive, and Starview has no backup well.
“We’re trying to really convince everybody up there that this system needs conservation,” she said.
In the Mt. Hannah system, water levels also have dropped and the recharge rate is declining, she said. In January 2013, water could be reached 24.8 feet down, but by this past June 30 the well depth had dropped to 47.1 feet.
The system can't produce enough water to keep its storage tanks full. Coppinger said they have to pump for an hour and shut down for three to four hours to allow for recharge, a situation she likened to being in intensive care.
Plans are to begin drilling a new well next week – a project that was delayed from last week due to equipment issues for the well driller, Coppinger said. The California Department of Public Health has approved grant funds to pay for the new well and Special Districts has applied for emergency grant funding through the California Department of Water Resources to replace the transmission line.
With the system “hanging on by its teeth,” Coppinger said extraordinary conservation efforts are under way in the district. The average household in the Mt. Hannah District uses 78 gallons of water per day. “They're really on board and they’re working with us.
Bonanza Springs' well levels have dropped 16 percent and they're exploring an option for a third well. Coppinger said the district's users have reduced overall consumption 32 percent compared to last year, but of the system's 170 customers, 16 are using in excess of the allotment and of those, six are using more than twice the amount alloted – in some cases, more than 1,000 gallons daily.
In Paradise Valley, levels of the system's three wells have dropped a total of 9 percent since the start of the year, with customers cutting use by 43 percent over this time last year. Coppinger said the district didn't have adequate source capacity to begin with, “so watching these drop is really scary.”
Special Districts has applied for emergency funding from the state and is trying to help the district link with the Clearlake Oaks County Water District, Coppinger said.
Well levels are starting to drop in other areas as well, according to a written report Coppinger presented to the board.
The report showed Kono Tayee's levels were down 7 percent, with a 40-percent reduction in consumption due to voluntary conservation; Spring Valley has reduced consumption by 10 percent; Kelseyville-Finley has seen an 11-percent drop in its wells in the last six months with a 30-percent consumption decrease.
The Soda Bay and North Lakeport water systems are not experiencing difficulties currently, although treatment has had to be increased due to the lake's conditions, according to Coppinger's report.
She said Special Districts will be coming back to the board with proposals for urgency ordinances in other systems.
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Clearlake City Council to discuss proposed car wash moratorium, use tax and marijuana ordinance
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council is set to discuss a proposal to place a moratorium on car washes, a ballot measure to support code enforcement and the status of enforcement on the city's marijuana cultivation ordinance.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 10, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Among the council's first actions Thursday will be a presentation to Charlotte Griswold Tergis to thank her for her donation to the Clearlake Police K9 program.
Regarding the proposed car wash moratorium, City Manager Joan Phillipe's report to the council explains that at the council's June 26 meeting Councilwoman Joyce Overton had sought consensus to pursue the moratorium in the city limits due to the year's drought concerns.
If the council decides to implement such a moratorium, Phillipe said it would need to be done by enacting an emergency ordinance at the July 24 council meeting.
The council also will hold the first reading on an ordinance to place a sales tax initiative on the November ballot. The measure would benefit fund citywide cleanup and improvement efforts.
City staff also will present to the council a one-year status report on the implementation of the city's marijuana cultivation ordinance.
Phillipe notes in her report that the city is enforcing the ordinance, however it lacks an eradication provision, and she is proposing that the council needs to consider amending the ordinance to allow the eradication of plants not within the bounds of what is allowed.
Also on the agenda is an amendment to the agreement for animal control services between the city and the SPCA of Clear Lake, award of a bid for the Olympic Drive and Old Highway 53 street maintenance project and a request for consideration of concerns regarding the intersection of Moss and Davis streets.
Items on the consent agenda – considered to be noncontroversial and accepted as a slate with one vote – include warrant registers, consideration of Resolution No. 2014-14 supporting the designation of a recycling market development zone and authorization of the city manager to executive a professional engineering contract with Omni Means Engineer Planners to perform a feasibility study for construction of a roundabout at the Dam Road and Dam Road Extension intersection.
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City of Clearlake gets clean bill of health in latest annual audit
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council recently accepted its annual audit for fiscal year 2012-13.
The audit was performed by independent certified public accounting firm Terry Krieg, CPA.
Completion of the audit brings the city up-to-date in its auditing process.
“We are on top of where our finances are,” City Manager Joan Phillipe said. “We've made significant progress in identifying the health of the city's finances. We've been able to bring the audits up-to-date and combined with the establishment of financial management policies, along with economic development goals, the city is situating itself to become financially stable.”
City management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Those responsibilities include the design, implementation and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
It is the auditor's responsibility to evaluate such statements to obtain reasonable assurance that they are free from material misstatement.
“Generally speaking, it's a clean audit, clean report,” Phillipe said. “The dissolution of the redevelopment agency is where the main impacts were seen.”
The audit involves the performance of procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
The auditor considers internal control relevant to the city's preparation and fair presentation of those financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate to the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the city's internal control.
The audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting procedures used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.
Krieg said he believes the audit evidence he obtained was sufficient and appropriate to provide the basis for his audit opinions.
Krieg said, in his opinion, the city's financial statements “present fairly,” in all material respects, the respective financial position of the government activities, each major fund, and the aggregated remaining fund information of the city as of June 30, 2013, and the respective changes in its financial position for the year then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Krieg's audit report identifies financial highlights in four areas including those that describe the general fund, the city's net position, overall revenues and other non-major governmental funds.
At the end of 2013, the general fund reported a fund balance of $499,171, which Krieg said is a 23.6-percent decrease over fiscal year 2011-12.
He said this is mainly because of the return of funds to the successor agency, which manages the dissolution of the Clearlake Redevelopment Agency.
According to Krieg, after conducting all operations and programs, the city's net position showed an increase of $557,156, or 2 percent, over 2011-12.
He said the net position totaled $31.1 million at year end; of that amount, $1.7 million is mostly a longterm receivable from the successor agency.
According to Krieg, the $1.7 million is unrestricted and may be used in the long term to meet the government's ongoing obligations to its citizens and creditors.
Phillipe said the receivable involves a loan from the city to the redevelopment agency. “We now have approval from the state allowing repayment of that loan. It will be repaid over a number of years,” she said.
Krieg said that, over time, increases and decreases in net position may serve as a useful indicator of whether the financial position of the city is improving or deteriorating.
Overall, citywide revenues from governmental activities, grants and taxes decreased $595,103 compared to the 2012 fiscal year, Krieg said.
“When you back out the redevelopment agency from 2012 revenues increased by $400,173. The increase is a result of higher revenues in sales taxes and capital grants,” he said.
The city's other nonmajor government funds ended 2013 with a fund balance of about $608,300.
Krieg said the increase of about $134,000 is primarily the result of bringing in more revenue than was spent.
The fiscal year 2012-13 audit report is available for public review at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, during regular business hours.
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Lakeport Planning Commission elects new chair, vice chair
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Planning Commission held a brief regular meeting on Wednesday evening to elect its officers for fiscal year 2014-15.
Planning Service Manager Andrew Britton, who is serving as the commission's secretary, explained that the commission is required to elect a new chair and vice chair each year.
Accordingly, the commission unanimously elected Tom Gayner – who has served this past year as vice chair – as the chair for the new year, with Commissioner Suzanne Russell to be the new vice chair.
In the discussion leading up to the vote, Britton pointed out that the terms of three of the commissioners are about to expire.
Russell's term expires in August – she was first appointed by the Lakeport City Council in August 2010 – with Ross Kauper's and Harold Taylor's terms expiring in October.
On Wednesday, Taylor – first appointed in January 2003 – indicated he intended to apply to the city council for reappointment.
Kauper, the commission's longest serving member who was first appointed in October 2002, said he is “on the fence” about seeking another term.
Gayner's second term is up in June 2016, a month after outgoing Chair Ken Wicks Jr.'s term ends. Wicks was first appointed to complete a partial term in July 2011.
Britton said the city is expected to follow past practice and invite applications from the public at large – as well as the sitting commissioners – for the seats when the terms expire.
Wicks thanked everyone for their support and for having made him chair for two years in a row. Taylor then made the motion appointing Gayner chair and Russell vice chair, with the commission voting 5-0.
The commission recently finished major projects including work on the updated housing element and the city's general plan update. The housing element update is to go to the Lakeport City Council in August, Britton said.
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Supervisors to get update on water conservation efforts, discuss wetlands and November 'Right to Grow' initiative
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will discuss the latest on the efforts to deal with the county's drought conditions and a local organization's wetland project, and consider placing on the November ballot another initiative put forward by marijuana proponents.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
At 8:25 a.m., the board will discuss continuing a proclamation of a declaration of a local emergency and get a drought task force update.
The supervisors also will review county conservation efforts, hear from the Lake County Office of Emergency Services about its program and get an update on water systems under urgency ordinance for emergency water conservation restrictions in County Service Areas No. 16, Paradise Valley Water; No. 18, Starview Water; No. 7, Bonanza Springs Water; and No. 22, Mt Hannah.
At 10 a.m., the board will consider a resolution supporting the Big Valley Wetlands Project being undertaken by the Lake County Land Trust.
The organization is raising money to purchase a 31-acre lakeside parcel on the Big Valley shoreline near Kelseyville, as Lake County News has reported.
In an untimed item, the board will consider Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley's certificate on “An Initiative Measure to Restore the Natural Human Right to Grow and Use Plants for the Basic Necessities of Life.”
Ron and Conrad Kiczenski of Lucerne gathered enough signatures to place the act on the November ballot. It was circulated as “The Freedom to Garden Human Rights Restoration Act of 2014.”
Although it does not specifically mention marijuana, in the four-page initiative the Kiczenskis – known marijuana activists who sued the county over its interim marijuana cultivation ordinance – are attempting to exempt “an individual's home gardening efforts or abilities” from being limited by any county permits or ordinances.
The initiative would allow for unlimited numbers of any kinds of plant to be grown with no recourse for complaints outside of mediation unless complaints are “related to a specific medically verifiable toxic health risk.”
The measure is expected to appear on the November ballot along with the Medical Marijuana Control Act, put forward by the Emerald Unity Coalition.
Coalition representatives have said the Kiczenskis' initiative directly conflicts with the Medical Marijuana Control Act.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Approve Minutes from the Board of Supervisors meeting held June 17, 2014.
7.2: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-95 to amend the adopted budget for FY 2013-14 to transfer money to Budget Unit 2711 - Spay-Neuter Programs to operate the animal control clinic and authorize the chair to sign.
7.3: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-95 to amend the adopted budget for FY 2013-14 to appropriate unanticipated revenue to Budget Unit 2601, Agricultural Commissioner, to fund weed control programs.
7.4: Adopt resolution approving Agreement No.14-0156-SF with the State of California, Department of Food and Agriculture for compliance with the Pierce's Disease Contract Program and authorizing chair to sign.
7.5: Approve out-of-state travel for Animal Care and Control Officer Bailey Nolan to attend the Equine Investigators Academy Level I on a half scholarship, Aug. 25-30, 2014.
7.6: Approve amendment to the standard agreement between the county of Lake and the Department of Health Care Services for performance agreement for fiscal year 2013-14 and authorize the Behavioral Health director to sign.
7.7: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA) for investment in Mental Health Wellness Grant Program for period between April 24, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2014, and authorize the Behavioral Health director to sign grant agreement.
7.8: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Hilltop Recovery Services for Lake County residents for fiscal year 2014-15, not to exceed $40,000, and authorize chair to sign.
7.9: Approve amendment to the standard agreement between the county of Lake and Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) for the period of July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2014, an increase of $37,310, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.10: Approve advance step hiring of Substance Abuse Counselor II, Step 5, for Dr. Paul Hofacker due to extraordinary qualifications.
7.11: Approve out-of-state travel for Business Software Analyst Kelly Larson to attend Advanced WYSIWYG Training, July 31-Aug. 1, 2014.
7.12: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Rebekah Children's Services for FY14-15 specialty mental health services, in the amount of $75,000 annually, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.13: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Breezy Bill Pay & Errands for janitorial services in Child Support offices, amount not to exceed $12,000 annually, and authorize chair to sign.
7.14: Adopt resolution authorizing grant project - Victim-Witness Assistance Program, in the amount of $123,371, and authorize the chair to sign the Certification of Assurance of Compliance.
7.15: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Calserve Inc. for FY 14-15 process services, amount not to exceed $25,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.16: Adopt revised agreement/deed restriction for Habitat Conservation Fund Grant for Mt. Konocti Park improvement and authorize the chair to sign.
7.17: Approve plans and specifications for HR3 Sign Replacement & Striping Project, Bid No. 13-35 and authorize Public Works director to advertise for bids.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:15 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of resolution authorizing the sale of certain county owned properties located on Mt. Konocti.
8.3, 9:25 a.m.: Continuation of proclamation of a declaration of a local emergency, b) drought task force update, c) review of county conservation efforts, d) update on water systems under urgency ordinance for emergency water conservation restrictions: CSA #16 Paradise Valley Water, CSA#18 Starview Water, CSA #7 Bonanza Springs Water and CSA #22 Mt Hannah, and e) OES Program update.
8.4, 9:45 a.m.: Presentation by Pam Harpster of MPIC/Workforce Lake.
8.5, 10 a.m.: Consideration of resolution supporting the Big Valley Wetlands Project being undertaken by the Lake County Land Trust.
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Consideration of appointment to the Spring Valley CSA #2 Advisory Board.
9.3: Consideration of approval to replace the existing county criteria for naming county parks and facilities with a revised park, recreational facility, county-owned building, and street naming policy.
9.4: Consideration of approval to implement the “Our System” Workers' Compensation Cost Control and Injury Management Program.
9.5: Consideration of elections official’s certificate, an initiative measure to restore the natural human right to grow and use plants for the basic necessities of life.
CLOSED SESSION
10.1. Conference with Labor Negotiator: (a) county negotiators: A. Grant, L. Guintivano, S. Harry, M. Perry, A. Flora and C. Shaver; and (b) employee organizations, Deputy District Attorney's Association, Lake County Deputy Sheriff's Association, Lake County Correctional Officers Association and Lake County Safety Employees Association.
10.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54956.9(d)(1): Fowler and Ford v. County of Lake.
10.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54956.9(d)(1): Lakeside Heights HOA, et al. v. County of Lake.
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