How to resolve AdBlock issue? California Coastal Clean-Up Day set for Sept. 20
Editor’s note: This story has been updated regarding the decision to drop the Kelseyville and Middletown sites. There is also new information on how to sign up for the local event.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Community members are invited to join the effort to keep the county’s waterways clean.
Lake County will once again participate in the California Coastal Clean-Up Day, which takes place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 20.
More than 50 California state parks and the Division of Boating and Waterways will participate in the event in coordination with the California Coastal Commission.
This year marks the 41st annual cleanup event, which is California’s largest annual volunteer event.
Organized by the California Coastal Commission, more than 45,000 volunteers are expected to gather at 700 locations throughout the state, including beaches and shorelines.
But the event is not limited to coastal regions; there are cleanups along inland waterways as well, including in Lake County.
New this year, California Coastal Cleanup Day will become the world's largest scavenger hunt. Special "trashure" items will be hidden at cleanup sites across the state. Volunteers finding one of these items can redeem them for valuable prizes.
In Lake County, cleanup sites are:
• Highland Springs Recreational Area, Lakeport;
• Library Park, Lakeport;
• Rodman Slough at the Nice/Lucerne Cutoff;
• Habematolel EPA Department, Upper Lake;
• Lucerne Harbor;
• Austin Park, Clearlake.
Linda Rosas-Bill of Lake County Water Resources said anyone wanting to volunteer can head to the site of their choice, sign a liability waiver and start helping.
Following the cleanup, there will be an appreciation barbecue for the Coastal Clean-Up volunteers at Highland Springs Recreational Area from noon to 2 p.m. Captains will have a ticket for volunteers at their sites.
All volunteers’ names will be added to a drawing for a chance to win a prize. The winner will be announced Friday, Sept. 26.
For more information on the Lake County cleanup, reach out to Linda Rosas-Bill at
California’s event is also part of the International Coastal Cleanup organized by the Ocean Conservancy.
Last year, more than 47,000 volunteers removed over 400,000 pounds, or 200 tons, of trash and recyclables from our waterways, beaches and lakes.
In addition to individual volunteers, 40 boating facilities and groups participated with 1,391 volunteers collecting 9,745 pounds of trash and recyclables on land and from 95 kayaks, canoes and dinghies.
The event also provides hands-on educational experiences about the damage that trash, especially single-use disposable plastics, can cause to California’s wildlife, economy and human health.
According to past cleanup data, 75 percent of the debris volunteers remove is composed of plastic, a material that never completely biodegrades and has numerous harmful consequences in the environment. Plastic debris can kill wildlife, leach toxins into the environment and introduce them into the food chain.
To join this statewide effort, the California Coastal Commission has an interactive map of cleanup locations throughout the state, available here. Volunteers can check the website for updates and share their cleanup experiences on social media using the hashtag #coastalcleanupday.
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Gov. Newsom proclaims Latino Heritage Month
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, 2025, as "Latino Heritage Month," and released a video with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom commemorating the observance.
The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below, in both English and Spanish:
PROCLAMATION
California is proudly home to more than 15 million Latinos who are foundational to our state’s identity, success, and future. During Latino Heritage Month, we celebrate the central role of Latinos throughout every chapter of our history, and in our rich culture and prosperity as a state and nation.
Since the very beginning of statehood, Latino heritage and community have been irrevocably intertwined with our democracy – and with our state as a whole. In 1849, California approved its first constitution, written in both English and Spanish, and included a provision requiring that all laws and official state documents must be published in both languages.
That provision was nullified in 1879, with an amendment that allowed official writings and proceedings to be conducted and written only in English – part of a rising tide of anti-Latino and xenophobic sentiment. Today, we face a similar sentiment, an anti-Latino, anti-immigrant movement that has been fueled by misinformation and hate, and supported by laws, policies, and rulings that ignore the humanity, the civil rights, and many contributions of the Latino community.
But that sentiment is not in the majority. Here in California, we understand that our diversity is a source of strength. The contributions of generations of Latinos are fundamental to the success and scale of California’s society, economy, culture, and values. The leadership, service, sacrifices, and vision of Latinos continue to enrich all facets of American life.
The Latino community is strong and resilient, and their legacy and foundational role in the prosperity of this nation and California will not be extinguished by hate – as a state, we will not allow it. California stands firm in our support. We are a majority minority state – 40% of Californians are Latino, and we are simply not the same state without them.
In California, we know and believe that our state is better off when all our communities can thrive. This Latino Heritage Month, we reaffirm our commitment to making the California Dream a reality for everyone, defending our families and communities, pushing back against hate and injustice, and protecting our collective progress.
This month and every month, let us recognize and celebrate the countless contributions of Latino communities to our California story throughout the centuries and for generations to come.
NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim September 15 to October 15, 2025 as “Latino Heritage Month.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 11th day of September 2025.
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
ATTEST:
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
Secretary of State
PROCLAMACIÓN
California se enorgullece de albergar a más de 15 millones de latinos, quienes son fundamentales para la identidad, el éxito y el futuro de nuestro estado. Durante el Mes de la Herencia Latina, celebramos el papel central de los latinos a lo largo de cada capítulo de nuestra historia, así como en nuestra rica cultura y prosperidad como estado y nación.
Desde el inicio de este estado, la herencia y la comunidad latina han estado irrevocablemente entrelazadas con nuestra democracia y con nuestro estado. En 1849, California aprobó su primera constitución, escrita en inglés y español, e incluyó una disposición que exigía que todas las leyes y documentos oficiales del estado se publicaran en ambos idiomas.
Esa disposición fue anulada en 1879 con una enmienda que solo permitía que los escritos y procedimientos oficiales se realizaran y redactaran en inglés, como parte de una creciente ola de sentimiento antilatino y xenófobo. Hoy, nos enfrentamos a un sentimiento similar, un movimiento antilatino y antiinmigrante alimentado por la desinformación y el odio, y respaldado por leyes políticas y fallos que ignoran la humanidad, los derechos civiles y las numerosas contribuciones de la comunidad latina.
Pero ese sentimiento no es mayoritario. Aquí en California, entendemos que nuestra diversidad es una fuente de fortaleza. Las contribuciones de generaciones de latinos son fundamentales para el éxito y la expansión de la sociedad, la economía, la cultura y los valores de California. El liderazgo, el servicio, los sacrificios y la visión de los latinos continúan enriqueciendo todas las facetas de la vida estadounidense.
La comunidad latina es fuerte y resiliente, y su legado y papel fundamental en la prosperidad de esta nación y de California no se extinguirá por el odio – como estado, no lo permitiremos. California se mantiene firme en nuestro apoyo. Somos un estado mayoritariamente minoritario: el 40% de los californianos son latinos, y simplemente no seríamos el mismo estado sin ellos.
En California, sabemos y creemos que nuestro estado prospera cuando todas nuestras comunidades pueden sobresalir. Este Mes de la Herencia Latina, reafirmamos nuestro compromiso de hacer realidad el Sueño Californiano para todos, defendiendo a nuestras familias y comunidades, combatiendo el odio y la injusticia, y protegiendo nuestro progreso colectivo.
Este mes y cada mes, reconozcamos y celebremos las innumerables contribuciones de las comunidades latinas a la historia de California a lo largo de los siglos y para las generaciones venideras.
POR TANTO YO, GAVIN NEWSOM, Gobernador del Estado de California, por la presente proclamo del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre de 2025 como el “Mes de la Herencia Latina.”
EN TESTIMONIO DE LO CUAL, firmo la presente y ordeno que se estampe el Gran Sello del Estado de California este 11 de septiembre de 2025.
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
ATTEST:
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
Secretary of State
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California Legislature passes SB 254; landmark electricity affordability legislation expected to save ratepayers billions
The California Legislature passed landmark legislation on Saturday that supporters said will save utility customers billions on their electricity bills annually, while ensuring the state’s wildfire fund, an insurance policy for utilities, remains solvent in the wake of claims from the 2025 Eaton Fire.
Mark Toney, executive director at The Utility Reform Network, or TURN, said his organization supports SB 254 as a first step in the right direction for ratepayer affordability, adding that they appreciate the commitment of Sen. Josh Becker and Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris to ratepayer affordability.
“Given the utility affordability crisis that residents, agriculture, industrial businesses, small businesses and older customers face, we need to work harder than ever in 2026,” Toney said. “Voters have been crystal clear in demanding that legislators put customer affordability ahead of utility company lobbying, and TURN is expecting lawmakers to roll up their sleeves to make utility affordability a top priority in the next legislative session.”
SB 254 (Becker, D-13) will help stem the tide on electricity rate increases while replenishing the state’s wildfire fund. The legislation was backed by strong support from voters: Recent polling shows 85% of voters say it's important for their representatives to do everything possible to lower electricity bills this year.
SB 254 adopts multiple key measures to reduce electricity bills:
• Public financing of transmission: Establishes a transmission infrastructure accelerator to expedite infrastructure development and facilitate public financing to reduce project costs borne by ratepayers by up to 50%, or $3 billion per year.
• Securitization: Ratepayer securitization of $6 billion in wildfire safety capital investments will save ratepayers $3 billion over the next ten years, when compared to utility financing.
• Cost effective wildfire mitigation: Restoring CPUC approval of wildfire mitigation plans will set limits on utility overspending.
"This is the most transformative electricity affordability bill in recent memory—one that uses low-cost financing to deliver the same critical infrastructure California needs at a dramatically lower cost. SB 254 will accelerate clean energy deployment while saving ratepayers billions annually. Millions of utility customers across California will benefit from this legislation, and we look forward to seeing Gov. Newsom sign it into law,” said Sam Uden, co-founder and managing director at Net Zero California.
SB 254 also establishes a wildfire fund replenishment mechanism. California's Wildfire Fund could be wiped out entirely by claims from the 2025 Eaton Fire.
Under this legislation, utility shareholders will contribute 50% of the cost of replenishing the fund, and utility customers will cover the other half. This mechanism will ensure utilities maintain financial stability to continue serving customers.
“SB 254 delivers on both fronts - billions in electricity savings for customers and a fair approach to replenishing California’s wildfire fund. The 50-50 split ensures this essential coverage stays intact without unfairly burdening any single party. This bill, supported by environmental groups, consumer advocates, and utilities deserves the governor’s signature," said Merrian Borgeson, California climate and energy policy director at Natural Resources Defense Council.
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Board of Supervisors to discuss Behavioral Health loan repayment
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss a Behavioral Health repayment plan and hear presentations from county interns and a community gardening group.
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.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 865 3354 4962, pass code 726865. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,86533544962#,,,,*726865#. The meeting can also be accessed via phone at 669 900 6833.
In an untimed item, the supervisors will consider the Behavioral Health fiscal recovery plan and request for loan repayment extension.
On June 17, the board adopted a resolution authorizing a $2 million short-term loan from the General Fund to Behavioral Health requiring repayment within 90 days.
Behavioral Health hasn’t repaid that loan in full due to continued cash flow constraints tied to the Medi-Cal Intergovernmental Transfer process and timing of reimbursements, according to county documents.
As a result, Behavioral Health is seeking a 180-day extension on the loan repayment.
Also on Tuesday, at 9:15 a.m. the board is scheduled to receive a presentation by the University of California Master Gardeners of Lake County.
At 9:30 a.m., the board also is scheduled to hear a presentation from county of Lake interns.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve addition of a special meeting for Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, to the board's annual meeting calendar.
5.2: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes Aug. 26, 2025.
5.3: (a) Approve 15th amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Sun Ridge Systems Inc. for the purchase of RIMS Body Camera Link software in the amount of $3,000, plus installation of $900, and annual support of $450; and (b) authorize the chair of the board to sign.
5.4: Approve second amendment to the contract between the County of Lake and Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc. for drug and alcohol testing in the amount of $35,000 from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and $60,000 per fiscal year from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:03 a.m.: Pet of the week.
6.3, 9:05 a.m.: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, Hearing for consideration of resolution amending Resolution 2025-113, repealing Sections 631, 12.450, 12.640, Chapter IV, and Article VI in their entirety, and adopting updates to Sections 208.2, 226.5, 433.5, 1002, 1105, a new Chapter IV, and Article VI Sections 660-668 of Lake County Air Quality Management District Rules and Regulations.
6.4, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of presentation by the University of California Master Gardeners of Lake County.
6.5, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of presentation from County of Lake interns.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of Behavioral Health fiscal recovery plan and request for loan repayment extension.
7.3: Consideration to approve the memorandum of understanding between the county of Lake and the Lake County Continuum of Care to alleviate and prevent homelessness in Lake County and approve the budget of HHAP-6 application to the California Department of Housing and Community Services.
7.4: Consideration of the following advisory board appointment: Big Valley Advisory Council.
7.5: Consideration of the first amendment to the commercial lease agreement between the County of Lake and Lakeport Plaza LLC for office space at 55 1st St., Lakeport.
7.6: (a) Waive the formal bidding process pursuant to County Ordinance 3137 Section 28.2 due to 38.2(2) not in the public interest; and (b) approve contract between the County of Lake and North Coast Opportunities Inc. for Stage One Child Care Services in the amount of $1.1 million per fiscal year from May 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and authorize the chair to sign.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Closed session – Public employee evaluations: Special Districts Administrator Robin Borre.
8.2: Closed session – Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1) – Two potential cases.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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City of Lakeport to receive Blue Zones designation
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council this week will mark the city’s Blue Zones designation and consider adopting a hazard mitigation plan.
The council will meet Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda can be found here.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to
The meeting will feature a presentation by the Blue Zones Project – Lake County regarding the city's Blue Zones designation.
Blue Zones is a project dedicated to encouraging community members to make healthy lifestyle choices. The city of Clearlake and numerous other Lake County organizations and workplaces have achieved the designation.
Under council business, Public Works Director Ron Ladd will ask the council to adopt the proposed resolution approving the Lake County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Ladd also will seek direction to prepare a future general plan amendment to incorporate relevant data, goals and policies into the safety element of the Lakeport General Plan.
On the consent agenda — items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the City Council’s regular meeting on Sept. 2; approval of a memorandum of understanding with the Lakeport Police Officers’ Association for the period of Sept. 16, 2025 to June 30, 2028; and approval of the modified Police Officer I/ II/ III classification and job description.
The council also will hold a closed session to discuss the national prescription opiate litigation.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
