How to resolve AdBlock issue? Supervisors to get update on drought conditions at April 8 meeting
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The latest on the drought conditions in the Lake County is on the Board of Supervisors' meeting agenda this week.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 8, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. TV8 will broadcast the meeting live.
In an untimed item, the board will consider the current state of local emergency due to drought conditions in the county.
The board unanimously approved an emergency declaration because of the dry year at its March 4 meeting, as Lake County News has reported.
Also on Tuesday, in an item timed for 9:30 a.m., the board will receive a citizens’ report regarding nutrient conditions in Clear Lake tributaries.
The full agenda follows.
TIMED ITEMS
9 a.m., A-1 to A-4: Approval of consent agenda, which includes items that are expected to be routine and noncontroversial, and will be acted upon by the board at one time without discussion; presentation of animals available for adoption at Lake County Animal Care and Control; consideration of items not appearing on the posted agenda, and contract change orders for current construction projects.
9:05 a.m.: Citizen's input. Any person may speak for three minutes about any subject of concern, provided that it is within the jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors and is not already on the agenda. Prior to this time, speakers must fill out a slip giving name, address and subject (available in the clerk of the board’s office, first floor, courthouse).
9:10 a.m., A-5: (a) Presentation of proclamation designating the month of April 2014 as Child Abuse Prevention Month; (b) Presentation of Proclamation designating April 6-12, 2014 as National Crime Victims Week in Lake County; and (c) Presentation of Proclamation designating April 7-13, 2014 as Public Health Week.
9:15 a.m., A-6: Public hearing, consideration of proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Income Reuse Plan.
9:20 a.m., A-7: Consideration of Form HUD 50077-CR: Civil Rights Certification for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
9:25 a.m., A-8: Consideration of Mental Health Services Act FY 2013/14 Annual Update.
9:30 a.m.: Presentation of citizens’ report regarding nutrient conditions in Clear Lake tributaries.
NONTIMED ITEMS
A-10: Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
A-11: Consideration of FY 2014-15 Classification and Compensation Committee Findings and Recommendations.
A-12: Consideration of current state of local emergency due to drought conditions in the County of Lake.
CLOSED SESSION
A-13: 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.
A-13: 2. Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Fowler and Ford v. County of Lake.
A-13: 3. Public employee evaluation: Title – information technology director.
CONSENT AGENDA
C-1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held on April 1, 2014.
C-2: (a) Adopt proclamation designating the month of April 2014 as Child Abuse Prevention Month; (b) adopt proclamation designating the week of April 6-12, 2014 as National Crime Victims Week in Lake County; and (c) adopt proclamation designating April 7-13, 2014 as Public Health Week.
C-3: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Gallina LLP for audit services for fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, total amount $65,800, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-4: Approve first amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and Virginia Cerenio for fiscal year 2013-14 general education teaching services, an increase of $7,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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Lakeport Planning Commission to discuss general plan at April 9 workshop
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Planning Commission this week will continue its work on the update to the Lakeport General Plan.
The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The main item of business for the Wednesday meeting will be a workshop on the focused review and update/amendment of the Lakeport General Plan.
On Jan. 21, the Lakeport City Council adopted a resolution initiating a focused review/update of the
Lakeport General Plan and some possible related actions.
The commission's Wednesday meeting will be among a series of public meetings and workshops on the general plan update that it is hosting as the process gets under way.
Staff will lead the discussion on the document, and is expected to report on a recommendation from the city attorney regarding the inclusion of the City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District land area in the sphere of influence.
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April designated 'Child Abuse Prevention Month'
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council has designated April as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in the city of Clearlake.
Last Thursday, representatives of the Lake County Children's Council, consisting of multiple resource agencies accepted the proclamation, which encourages increased participation in efforts to prevent child abuse.
Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson, in presenting the proclamation, cited child abuse as a community-wide problem in which finding solutions is dependent upon the involvement of all.
She stated effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among social service agencies, schools, religious and civic organizations, law enforcement agencies and the business community.
The proclamation urges citizens to become more aware of the effects of child abuse and its prevention and more supportive of parents raising their children in safe and nurturing environments.
A “Children's Day” event is scheduled to assist in raising awareness.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12, in Lakeport's Library Park.
The event will feature musical entertainment among an informational faire and activities for the children.
There also will be a selection of guest speakers and an opportunity to participate in an advocacy walk.
Agencies interested in participating in the informational faire should call Lauren Milano at 707-994-5486 to sign up.
Email Denise Rockenstein at
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Clearlake City Council discusses options for member insurance
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council last week discussed ideas for cutting costs associated with health insurance provided to council members.
Focal points of the discussion landed on the city's current policy in providing no-cost coverage of council member dependents and cost savings that might found in each member of the council seeking a coverage plan independently.
The city's current total expense for providing health care insurance to members of the council and their dependents is $110,262. The annual cost of single coverage is $9,924; single plus one is $19,404; and the family rate is $26,040.
City Manager Joan Phillipe said there are currently three council members covered at the single plus one level for a total annual expense of $58,212 and two at the family level for a total annual expense of $52,080.
Members of the council were unanimously in agreement that no-cost coverage should be provided to the council member only and options for adding dependents should be available at the expense of the council member.
Limiting coverage to council members only would result in an annual savings of $60,672, Phillipe said.
“It's one thing for us to be covered but the community should not be paying for my family. They are not the elected official,” Councilwoman Joyce Overton said.
Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson said since members of the council are considered to be “employees” of the city, their benefits should mirror that of city staff. She said if staff can add dependents at their expense, the same option should apply to the council.
Citizen Bruno Sabatier asked if there were any options available to the council members as a result of the national health care reform.
Fortino Dickson, who said she has training in educating the public on the new health care law, said the Affordable Care Act prohibits corporations from dropping coverage currently provided to employees.
However, Phillipe said in her report that it is a matter of policy that the city provides health insurance for council members.
She said there is a period of time in the early 2000s in which the coverage was discontinued completely, which she understood was because of fiscal constraints.
Overton said she remembered the reason being that the council at the time did not want people to run for office just to gain the insurance benefits.
District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith, who spoke from the public, said he recalled that all council members at the time had other insurance.
“There were financial problems, too but that was pretty much what it was,” he said.
Smith recommended the council consider placing a maximum allowance on insurance such as the Board of Supervisors does.
He said expenditures over the maximum amount are paid by the individual. He also suggested limiting coverage to two persons.
Fortino Dickson said city policy does exist for council member reimbursement for health care costs.
Phillipe said the policy relates to those who may be covered by a spouse's policy. Overton said that policy needs to change.
Overton said in her personal research she has found a private plan to fit her needs at a cheaper rate than the city is paying.
It was suggested that each member of the council research options for private coverage prior to the upcoming budget discussion, during which the discussion is expected to resume.
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Clearlake marks 'World Autism Awareness Day'
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake City Council designated Wednesday, April 2, as "World Autism Awareness Day" in the city of Clearlake by way of a proclamation presented by Mayor Denise Loustalot to Michelle Reyes of Lake Family Resource Center's Early Headstart program last Thursday.
The proclamation urges citizens to take measures to raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding children with autism.
The document cites autism as being a lifelong developmental disability that manifests itself during the first three years of life.
It results from a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, affecting children in many countries irrespective of gender, race or socioeconomic status.
Autism is characterized by impairments in social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication and restrictive, repetitive behavior, interests and activities.
Public health officials estimate that one in every 86 children in America is growing up on the autism spectrum.
Reyes said citizens can show their support and help raise awareness to autism by wearing blue on Wednesday.
Additionally, Lake County’s inaugural “Light It Up Blue” event takes place from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Austin Park in Clearlake. Guests are encouraged to wear blue.
The event feature an informational fair, public speakers and a display of service vehicles for children to explore.
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