How to resolve AdBlock issue? Lakeport Unified School Board to discuss Westshore Pool Thursday
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Unified School District Board of Trustees this week will discuss the situation surrounding the Westshore Pool, which remains closed due to concerns about its safety and accessibility.
The board will meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m. before convening in open session at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at the Lakeport Unified District Office, 2508 Howard Ave.
The district office reported that the Westshore Pool item that Dave Norris – the district's director of maintenance, operations and transportation – will take to the board is for discussion only, with no action agendized.
No report was available ahead of the meeting, however, the district indicated that there will be a detailed report offered at the meeting regarding the structural improvements needed to open the pool based on the requirements of the Division of the State Architect and the Field Act, which mandates earthquake resistant construction.
The city of Lakeport has taken primary responsibility for running the pool for several years, despite the fact that the pool is owned by the school district and there is a 2004 contract between the city and school district for sharing pool-related expenses.
Last fall the pool pump broke and the Lakeport City Council voted to fix it – the cost is estimated at about $9,500 – but asked the district to begin contributing to the pool's costs once again.
In December, the school board had indicated it wanted to find ways to open the pool so the Channel Cats and the Clear Lake High School swim team could begin practicing for competition this month.
However, last month Superintendent Erin Smith-Hagberg told the Lakeport City Council that over the Christmas holiday break she found a December 2003 letter saying that the pool – constructed in 1973 – was built without the Division of the State Architect's approval or inspection, as Lake County News has reported.
The letter includes “preliminary findings of the complex based on limited information” and raises issues with the pool's accessibility, said its construction does not meet current state code, and points to potential safety issues with its structure and the location of some equipment.
Based on statements by the school district and the Division of the State Architect's responses to questions from Lake County News, the district did not originally respond to the agency's concerns.
As a result of the letter's recent discovery, the district has not reopened the pool. Quail Run Fitness Center has offered the swim team a place to practice so the swimmers can compete this spring.
Smith-Hagberg told the Lakeport City Council last month that priority repair items totaled about $34,000.
At the Board of Supervisors' Feb. 4 meeting, Supervisor Anthony Farrington asked for, and received, approval to provide $15,000 – which already had been set aside for the pool – to help fund needed capital improvements or professional services in order to get the facility reopened.
The supervisors, also at Farrington’s suggestion, agreed to hold off on allocating another $15,000 that had been set aside in this year’s budget for a solar project at the pool in advance of getting all parties – city, county and school district – to the table to discuss contributions.
They also agreed to send letters to the Division of the State Architect asking to meet with local representatives as soon as possible. Farrington himself sent such a letter to the Division of the State Architect asking to meet to work on the issues.
“The County is extremely concerned about the impact the closed pool will have on the local swim teams, which rely on this facility for meets, and want to pursue a swift resolution to the DSA's concerns,” Farrington wrote. “This facility is also a key regional recreational amenity that would be sorely missed.”
Engineer Cliff Ruzicka, who originally designed the pool, also has volunteered his time and professional services to help improve the facility, Farrington said.
Farrington also sent a letter to Lakeport Unified Board Chair Phil Kirby Feb. 7 informing him of the county’s monetary contribution to the pool and noting he had reached out to the state in an effort to resolve the matter.
“The Board recognizes the benefits that the pool provides to the residents of the unincorporated areas of the County, as well as the residents of Lakeport and students of the Lakeport Unified School District,” Farrington wrote, adding the board recognized the necessary capital improvements are too much for one or two entities to bear.
“We strongly encourage you to review the District's budget to determine the availability of funds that could also be allocated towards the cost of these improvements and make a financial contribution to this worthwhile project,” Farrington said.
The Lakeport Unified School District contacted the Division of the State Architect last week to ask for a meeting, according to Ken Hunt, a Division of the State Architect spokesman.
Hunt said that meeting – which will include a discussion about the outstanding issues noted in the original letter – was to take place this week.
As to whether the issues could be resolved so the pool can be reopened, Hunt told Lake County News that’s a question the district will need to answer.
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County authorizes new veterans photo ID card
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Because so many veterans do not have a quick or easy way to show proof that they are U.S. military veterans, the Lake County Board of Supervisors has authorized the Lake County Veterans Service Office to begin issuing veteran photo identification cards.
The Veterans Service Office will follow Veterans Affairs guidelines to verify that the individual has served in the U.S. military and was discharged under honorable conditions or for medical reasons.
The veteran identification card can be useful to verify veterans' status for participating stores, restaurants and businesses offering discounts or promotions to veterans.
The Veterans Service Office has started to create a list of local and national businesses that offer discounts to veterans; local businesses that want to be added to the list should contact the local agency.
Applying for the veterans card also will give the Veterans Service Office the opportunity to inform veterans about their entitlement to federal, state and local benefits and to assist them in applying for those benefits.
Veterans who wish to obtain a veteran ID card will first need to obtain an application which can be found and printed from the Veterans Service Office Web site, http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/VeteransServices.htm , or by calling the Veterans Service Office at 707-263-2384.
After completing the application contact the Lake County Veterans Service Office to make an appointment for either a Tuesday or Thursday between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lakeport office only.
Veterans will need to bring to the appointment a legible, original, copy of their DD214/military discharge or a copy of any VA rating decision where the veteran has been rated with a service connected disability.
If either of these documents are not available, contact the Veterans Service Office and they can assist you in obtaining your DD214 or VA Rating Decision.
Veterans also will need to show at the time of the appointment a driver’s license or other form of legal identification.
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Supervisors approve acquisition of light armored vehicle
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a request from the Lake County Sheriff's Office to accept a used light armored vehicle from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.
The board approved the receipt of the 1994 Cadillac Commando light armored vehicle in a 4-0 vote. Board Chair Denise Rushing was absent for the meeting.
Undersheriff Patrick Turturici and Capt. Chris Macedo went to the board with the request to accept the vehicle from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, which it was noted during the meeting is upgrading to a new $300,000 SWAT vehicle and so offered the vehicle to Lake County.
Sheriff's command staff also took the Cadillac Commando to the courthouse, parking it on N. Forbes St.
“It does turns heads,” Turturici noted during the discussion.
The Cadillac Commando has a top speed of 65 miles per hour, has a hydraulic ram, can withstand a .50-caliber round and has tires, not metal tracks, like the sheriff's current SWAT vehicle, a Vietnam-era M113 that Macedo said the sheriff's office acquired about 10 to 15 years ago from the military.
“In high risk operations, this can be used to keep the officers safe when they're attempting to breach residences on search warrants,” said Macedo, adding the vehicle also can be used in situations involving injured officers.
The vehicle also is free, Macedo said. The sheriff's office just has to pay maintenance and upkeep.
“It will provide the officers a safer environment to work out of in these types of operations instead of doing it the way we currently do it now,” said Macedo.
Farrington asked during the discussion if the M113 assault vehicle LCSO already owns had ever been used. Macedo said it had been used a few times. “It's just too cumbersome and burdensome to try to utilize that vehicle in these operations, especially when time is of the essence in a lot of situations.”
Farrington asked if the sheriff's office already had taken possession of the Cadillac Commando, which community members have reported seeing being driven through Lower Lake and Clearlake.
Macedo said the sheriff's office was borrowing it – and had used it in an operation – in anticipation of the board's approval.
Board members noted during the meeting that they had been contacted by concerned constituents about the vehicle, with some community members believing it was an armed assault vehicle or a tank.
Supervisor Rob Brown said he understood the concerns. “The first thing that people react to is the military aspect of law enforcement.”
Brown said he researched the diesel vehicle, which has 3,600 hours of use and overall is in good shape.
“It's not an assault vehicle. It's not armed or anything like that,” he said, explaining that it can get 10 men up close to an incident. “It's a big shield.”
In the end, “I think it's justified,” Brown said.
Supervisor Jeff Smith agreed.
“Really, you don’t have to sell this to me,” said Smith, adding that it's a matter of officer safety.
Smith asked if the sheriff's office planned on getting rid of the M113. Macedo said they are working on it right now, with the process requiring it to be returned to the military.
Smith said of the new vehicle, “If it helps one time it’s paid for itself.”
Supervisor Jim Comstock asked if it would have tires that a suspect can't shoot out. Macedo said yes.
Farrington requested a short break so the board could go out and take a look at the vehicle.
After returning to the chambers, the board reconvened. There was no public comment.
Before the 4-0 vote, Farrington said he couldn't resist asking, “Is this going to be a take home vehicle?”
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Clearlake City Council to consider next steps to address roads, code enforcement; review budget
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – This week the Clearlake City Council will review the city's budget at the midyear point and discuss possible next steps to take in the wake of last fall's failed sales tax measure for roads and code enforcement services.
The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, in the chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
At the beginning of the meeting, Clearlake Police Chief Craig Clausen will present a certificate of appreciation to Dale Valentine for his $5,000 donation to the Clearlake Police Department K-9 Fund, honor the employee of the year and recognize retiring employee Carl Stein for his 55 years in law enforcement.
City Manager Joan Phillipe will ask the council to consider what actions the city should take next in order to improve the condition of roads and code enforcement.
During the past two fall elections the city has placed before voters one-percent sales tax measures that each would have generated an estimated $1.4 million annually.
Measure G and Measure H failed in November 2012 and November 2013, respectively, as Lake County News has reported.
In other business Thursday, the council will hold a public hearing regarding the submission of a Community Development Block Grant and review the midyear budget.
Also on the agenda, the council will consider an amended loan agreement with the successor agency to the former Clearlake Redevelopment Agency, receive and file a report and direct staff on necessary actions regarding the State Controller's Office final asset transfer review, approve the city's housing rehabilitation guidelines and consider updating the city's program income reuse plan.
Items on the consent agenda – considered to be noncontroversial and accepted as a slate with one vote – include warrant registers; minutes of the Jan. 9 council meeting; second reading of Ordinance No. 2014-166, amending city's purchasing system Ordinance No. 121-2006 to provide for local vendor preference; quarterly reports from the Clearlake Police Department, Public Works, Engineering, City Clerk and the Finance Department; and consideration of an environmentally preferred purchasing policy.
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Board of Supervisors to get Konocti Regional Trails update Feb. 18
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Next week the Board of Supervisors will get an update on the efforts to expand the Konocti Regional Trails network.
At 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, county of Lake Trails Coordinator Gigi Stahl will present to the board an update on the progress of the Konocti Regional Trails Team over the last eight months, as well as the action plans for 2014.
Konocti Regional Trails (KRT) is a collaborative effort between county departments, local, state and federal entities engaged in recreation and preservation, and local trail user groups of wildlife enthusiasts, hikers, cyclists, dog walkers, equestrians and kayakers.
The group is focused on expanding multiuse recreational opportunities within Lake County and surrounding areas.
The update will include outreach efforts with regional and state agencies, local organizations, and citizens groups to support and/or participate in the effort to build the trails system.
It also will include marketing efforts to build the KRT brand, leverage outdoor recreation in Lake County for tourism programs, and expand awareness of existing Lake County trails with potential destination linkages.
Lastly, Stahl will present the prioritized concept trails for 2014, the long-term vision for some trail systems, and introduce the KRT project teams tasked to implement the trail plans, guided by the KRT Master Plan.
The county’s trail planning efforts are funded in part from a portion of transient occupancy tax in prior years that was allocated to pathways development.
Lake County residents interested in learning about outdoors recreation and the regional trails system are encouraged to attend.
For more information on the KRT, please visit https://sites.google.com/site/konoctitrails/ or contact Gigi Stahl, Lake County trails coordinator, 707-263-2580 or by email at
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