How to resolve AdBlock issue? Park naming policy, visitors’ center, code enforcement on Clearlake City Council agenda
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council will discuss a proposed new naming policy for city parks, a visitors’ center and code enforcement when it meets this week.
The council will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, for a closed session conference with legal counsel regarding two cases, Sean Pryor vs. City of Clearlake and James Smiley Harris vs. City of Clearlake, as well as a conference regarding labor negotiations with the Clearlake Municipal Employees Association, Clearlake Middletown Management Association, Clearlake Police Officers Association and Clearlake management employees.
The open portion of the meeting will convene at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Under council business, council members will consider a proposed naming policy for city parks. Currently there isn’t one, and City Manager Joan Phillipe is proposing to establish guidelines and a process.
Council members also will discuss an agreement with the Clearlake Chamber of Commerce for use of the Highland Park building as a visitors’ center.
Also on the agenda for Thursday, the council will discuss proposed changes to municipal code regarding code enforcement.
Phillipe’s report explained that she is preparing a new ordinance for consideration that will repeal existing sections of code and replace them “with a single ordinance that is reflect of current laws and procedures.”
The goal, she said, is to consolidate code enforcement into a single area of city code so that regulations aren’t interspersed through several code chapters “and to streamline where possible to be more effective and reduce opportunity for error.”
Among the considerations are placing unpaid abatement and administrative costs on the tax rolls as a way of the city more quickly recouping those costs. Currently, the city uses liens, which can take a long time to collect, she reported.
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Firefighters gain more control of Scotts Fire; Cal Fire updates county supervisors on incident
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Firefighters working through the night made more gains in their efforts on a wildland fire burning northwest of Lakeport.
Cal Fire said Tuesday morning that the Scotts Fire had been held to 4,618 acres overnight, with containment rising to 50 percent.
The fire – burning since Friday afternoon on Cow Mountain, west of Scotts Valley Road and east of Ukiah – was given No. 1 priority statewide when it began burning, according to Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Tim Streblow.
Cal Fire said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.
Incident Commander Eric Hoffman, a Cal Fire division chief who also led the effort against the Wye Fire in August, told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday that firefighters had achieved shaky containment around the fire, with hand line and dozer line being connected overnight.
Hoffman was joined by Streblow at the Board of Supervisors' meeting, where they offered a detailed update on the incident's management.
Streblow said that when the Scotts Fire broke out last week, Cal Fire found itself at “max drawdown,” meaning that most of Cal Fire's resources around the state had been committed to other incidents. By that time they already had tapped into California's mutual aid system.
He recognized Lake County's fire chiefs for their role in assisting Cal Fire. “The best thing that we have in Lake County is the commitment and resources that step up to help us out.”
Hoffman said the fire initially was dispatched through Cal Fire's Mendocino Unit on Friday afternoon. It later was discovered that the fire was within the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, with only 20 acres inside the Mendocino Unit's area.
On that first night they did a lot of good work using bulldozers, but there were gaps in the line, and the fire went through those gaps, he said.
On Tuesday, with a shaky line around the fire, Hoffman said there was still a lot of heavy fuel in the interior, but added, “We're doing real well.”
Resources on scene Tuesday morning included 1,625 firefighting personnel, 157 engines, 44 fire crews, 11 helicopters, 30 bulldozers and 27 water tenders, according to Cal Fire's morning incident report.
Hoffman told the supervisors that incident command needs to allow firefighters to begin returning to their home fire stations to be prepared for other fires. Already on Tuesday morning there was a report of another fire in Shasta and Siskiyou counties, he said.
Many of the firefighting personnel on the Scotts Fire have been out on incidents for 21 days, Hoffman said.
He said Cal Fire plans to maintain its base at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport and will give firefighters the chance to rest there.
In reviewing the incident, Hoffman said the evacuation for Blue Lakes last Friday went very well, with good cooperation from the sheriff's office and local fire districts. Once the order was lifted, residents were able to get back home quickly.
On Sunday an evacuation warning was given for Scotts Valley Road. Hoffman said Red Cross quickly set up a shelter in preparation for a full evacuation, which didn't happen.
“Once again the system seemed to work real well,” he said.
Hoffman said Cal Fire officials also had come up with emergency plans for the fire that they would leave with the county. Those plans could be used for future incidents.
Lampson Field, which the county closed to general aviation traffic effective Sunday morning, is being used as Cal Fire's helibase.
Hoffman said there were nine rotary wing helicopters at Lampson Field on Tuesday morning, with plans to begin releasing the helicopters for use on other incidents.
During the discussion Streblow said a DC-10 out of McClellan Air Force Base had been used in the firefighting effort. The jet, which was last on scene at the Scotts Fire on Monday, had been sent to Wyoming on Tuesday.
Streblow said the DC-10 can carry the equivalent of 12 times what a regular S2 tanker can take on a run.
Streblow said the state is at “historic levels” for the dryness of vegetation. He said they were in the 97th percentile for ignition, meaning if 100 embers were dropped, 97 would catch fire. He added that the fire season is far from over.
Most of the big fires this season have been driven by fuel and topography, said Streblow. Winds have not been as big a concern, but low humidity has, with fires burning just as well at night as they do during the day.
During the meeting board members expressed their thanks to Cal Fire and local fire officials for the efforts to get the Scotts Fire under control and protect local communities.
Cal Fire has estimated that the Scotts Fire will be fully contained by Saturday.
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Supervisors to hold public hearing on cable access pass-through fee
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss placing a fee on cable subscribers that will be used to support the local cable access television station.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
At 9:30 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing on a proposed ordinance that would establish a 1-percent pass-through fee on the bills of Mediacom subscribers, with the funds to benefit TV8.
The board held the hearing over from its Aug. 28 meeting in order to let County Counsel Anita Grant research whether the pass-through constitutes a fee or a tax. In the latter case, it would need to go to a ballot, based on state law.
In other business, at 10 a.m. the board will hear a presentation on the status of Medi-Cal Managed Care in Lake County and at 10:15 a.m. will consider a proposed letter in opposition of Senate Bill 1221 (Lieu) regarding the ban on the use of dogs while hunting bear or bobcat.
The full agenda follows. Some of the items are out of order due to an addendum being issued after the agenda was released.
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).
9:15 a.m., A-5: Consideration of protest of proposed notice of non-renewal, Williamson Act Contract 68-21; property located at 1275 Merritt Road, Lakeport (APN 008-045-35 – Virginia Vovchuk and Gabriel Vovchuk).
9:30 a.m., A-6: Public hearing, consideration of proposed ordinance adding article seven to chapter Seven of the Lake County Code to provide support for public, educational and governmental (PEG) cable television access facilities. Continued from Nov. 8 and Dec. 13, 2011, and Aug. 21 and Aug. 28, 2012.
10 a.m., A-7: Presentation on status of Medi-Cal Managed Care in Lake County.
10:15 a.m., A-8: Consideration of proposed letter in opposition of Senate Bill 1221 (Lieu) regarding the ban on the use of dogs while hunting bear or bobcat.
NONTIMED ITEMS
A-9 Board of Supervisors Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
A-11: Consideration of request for authorization of out-of-county travel for non-county employees, to attend the California Memorial Project event in Ukiah on Sept. 17, 2012.
CLOSED SESSION
A-10: 1.Conference with Labor Negotiator: (a) County Negotiators: A. Grant, L. Guintivano, M. Perry, J. Hammond and A. Flora; and (b) Employee Organization: DDAA.
A-10: 2. Public Employee Performance Evaluation: Interim County Administrative Officer Matt Perry.
A-10: 3. Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Government Code Sec. 54956.9 (a) - (a) Rivero v. Lake County Board of Supervisors, et al. - Case No. CV 411638; and (b) Application of Pacific Gas and Electric Company for Approval of Modifications to its SmartMeter Program (CPUC Applications 11-03-014; 11-03-015; 11-07-020).
CONSENT AGENDA
C-1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held on Sept. 4, 2012.
C-2: Proclamation designating September 2012 as Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.
C-3: Approve first amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Mary McMillan, MFT, for FY 2012-13 mental health services for youth placed at Lake County Juvenile Hall, for a decrease of $10,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-4: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Edgewood Center for Children & Families for FY 2012-13 specialty mental health services, for an amount not to exceed $92,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-5: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and the county of Shasta for implementing, training and accessing www.assessments.com risk needs assessment Web-based software (term of agreement Jan. 1, 2012 through Dec. 31, 2012), in the amount of $5,176.36, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-6: Approve first amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and Northwest Biosurvey for environmental services for the Bridge Arbor Bikeway Project, for an increase of $3,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-7: Approve easement deed and direct clerk to certify for recordation (APN 002-025-35 – Marvin Conley, Jr.), and approve right of way agreement between the county of Lake and Marvin Conley Jr. for the Elk Mountain Road Storm Damage Repair Project, and authorize the chair to sign the agreement.
KELSEYVILLE COUNTY WATER WORKS DISTRICT #3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
C-8: Approve easement deed and direct clerk to certify for recordation (APN 008-064-65 – Ralph Delaney), and approve right of way agreement between the county of Lake and Ralph Delaney for the Bell Hill Water Line Improvement Project, and authorize the chair to sign the agreement.
LAKE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
C-9: Approve easement deed and direct clerk to certify for recordation (APN 039-482-42 – Catherine Quinn and Dominic Quinn), and approve right of way agreement between the county of Lake and Catherine Quinn and Dominic Quinn for the Bell Hill Water Line Improvement Project, and authorize the chair to sign the agreement.
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County officials temporarily close Mt. Konocti County Park due to fire concerns
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With wildland fires now burning inside of Lake County and around it, county officials said Saturday they will temporarily close the county park on top of Mt. Konocti due to concerns over fire danger.
“As of now, Mt. Konocti is closed to public access until further notice,” Board of Supervisors Chair Rob Brown said shortly after 4 p.m.
Brown said the decision was made in consultation with Lakeport area Supervisor Anthony Farrington, Battalion Chief Joe Huggins of Kelseyville Fire Protection District and Capt. Chris Macedo of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, who also oversees the Lake County Office of Emergency Services.
“Public Works will be placing signage at the base of the mountain near Konocti Road,” County Deputy Administrative Officer Debra Sommerfield told Lake County News on Saturday afternoon.
Sommerfield said hunting permits previously issued for the Highland Springs area also are being temporarily suspended.
The county opened the park on Mt. Konocti – which it acquired in 2009 – to the public last fall. It’s the largest park in the county, at approximately 1,520 acres.
Brown said the park closure is temporary, and will stay in effect until the Scotts Fire northwest of Lakeport and the fires in surrounding counties – including the North Pass Fire in Mendocino County and the 16 Complex in Colusa and Yolo counties – are under control and resources can be released.
“We feel that a fire on Mt. Konocti would be the greatest threat to life and property in Lake County at this time, and we don’t want to take any chances given the limited resources that are available currently,” Brown said.
Brown said he saw a steady stream of cars going up the mountain on Saturday. Seeing the nearby Scotts Fire continuing to burn, he said he decided safety precautions were in order.
At the base of Mt. Konocti are a number of communities with thousands of residents and limited routes out of the area.
With local and state resources stretched due to the wildland fires around the region, Brown said the county will consult with Kelseyville Fire and Cal Fire about when it would be safe to reopen the park.
Brown said the Board of Supervisors will add an emergency item on the park closure to its agenda this Tuesday. At that point the board will discuss with County Counsel Anita Grant what steps to take next.
Cal Fire has not given an estimate of when the Scotts Fire will be fully contained. It had burned 3,000 acres by early Saturday evening, with 5 percent containment.
However, the agency has said that both the North Pass Fire, now at 41,983 acres, and the 16 Complex, which has burned 16,837, are both expected to fully contained by Monday.
As to how long the park could end up being closed, “It could be a week, it could be less,” Brown said.
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Board talks about Wye Fire aftermath; discussion to be continued
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors held a followup discussion on Tuesday regarding its passage last month of an emergency declaration on the Wye Fire, with the board deciding to hold the matter over for a few weeks until an assessment of the county’s response to the incident is completed.
On Aug. 21 the board approved the emergency resolution in response to the Wye Fire incident, which included two fires, the Wye and Walker.
The fires began on Sunday, Aug. 21, burning approximately 7,934 acres and destroying three structures east of Clearlake Oaks.
That supervisors’ resolution is meant to help get disaster assistance from state and federal sources, although local officials have been concerned that Lake’s damages may be considered below a required threshold.
A total estimate of damages for the county resulting from the fire has not been available, outside of the $7.3 million Cal Fire said the fire suppression effort cost.
“The fire's out, however, it's a devastated area,” with concerns about rain and floods ahead, said Supervisor Denise Rushing.
County Counsel Anita Grant said those issues of collateral damage could constitute an emergency that the board will have to consider this winter.
Supervisor Jeff Smith said he took a flight over the fire area last Thursday that was arranged by Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Wink.
Smith said 245 acres in the burn area have runoff that flow into Clear Lake – particularly, the Burns Valley Watershed – with the rest of the runoff going into Cache Creek and flowing to Yolo County.
Smith said he would like to have additional input from agencies like the Natural Resources Conservation Service on how the damage can be addressed.
Rushing said the Lake County Office of Emergency Services is convening a group of county department heads to assess the response to the Wye Fire.
The meeting is expected to take place by the end of September and will be led by Capt. Chris Macedo of the Lake County Sheriff's Office, she said.
Rushing said there are many sources of funding and many rules in such emergency situations, which needed to be considered before they closed the emergency.
Rushing suggested they continue the matter and have an assessment of the response and an update on the incident at the same time at the board's meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
The board agreed, with the matter being scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Sept. 25.
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