LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Board of Supervisors will consider approving a policy to let Lake County Animal Care and Control officers carry wooden batons for protection.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. TV8 will broadcast the meeting live.

Animal Care and Control Director Bill Davidson, in an untimed item, will ask the board to consider a policy reviewed and approved by county counsel allowing animal control officers to carry wooden batons to protect themselves against vicious animals.

Davidson's report explains that the board in early 2009 approved animal control officers carrying and using pepper spray “for personal defense from attacks by animals and people.”

Last fall, the board also approved the purchase of Kevlar vests for animal control officers in the wake of the November 2012 fatal shooting of Sacramento County Animal Control Officer Roy Marcum.

Marcus was shot and killed through the front door of a foreclosed residence he was approaching to collect several cats and dogs, according to media reports about his shooting.

Davidson is requesting “one more piece of equipment that will allow our officers to remain safe while performing their duties in the field,” specifically, a 24-inch straight-handled wooden baton “to ward off and defend against vicious animal attacks.”

“Approximately 35 percent of the calls our officers respond to are for loose dogs. Of those loose dog calls, approximately 37 percent are for vicious animals,” Davidson said in his report.

“Several times a month, our officers respond to vicious dog complaints and must confront the animals in question, and take command of the situation,” Davidson continued. “Often times, during routine calls for service, our officers are surprised by a loose vicious dog, which charges them from behind a broken fence or from around a corner. The ability for our officers to be able to immediately defend themselves is crucial in determining the outcome of the encounter.”

Davidson's report also notes that training that has to be in place before any Animal Care and Control officers could carry the batons.

In other business Tuesday, in an timed for 9:30 a.m., the board will consider the first amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and GLASS Architects for Facility Design for Behavioral Health Facility Expansion in Clearlake. The increase is not to exceed $250,325.

The full agenda is below.

CONSENT ITEMS

7.1: Approve minutes from the Board of Supervisors meetings held on May 6, 2014 and May 13, 2014.    

7.2: Adopt proclamation designating June 2014 as Homeless Youth Awareness Month.

7.3: Waive 900-hour limit for extra help DA Investigator Aide Michael Curran.

7.4: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-96 establishing position allocation for FY 2013-14, Budget Unit 2110, District Attorney.

7.5: Adopt resolution authorizing Lake County Health Services Department to submit a grant application to California Environmental Protection Agency for the rural underground storage tank prevention program grant for FY 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 and authorizing the Health Services Director to sign said application and grant.

7.6: Adopt resolution authorizing the submission to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, CalRecycle for Local Enforcement Agency grant EA-25 for the period of July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2019, not to exceed five years from the date of adoption.

7.7: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-96 Establishing Position Allocation for FY 2013-14, Budget Unit 4011, Public Health to: (a) establish two temporary position allocations to be eliminated upon the employee’s retirement: Public Health Nurse Trainee I/II / Public Health Nurse I/II & Nurse Various; (b)Change the current Child Health Coordinator, Supervising position to a Public Health Nurse III; and (c) Change the current Business Software Analyst position to a Staff Services Analyst I/II.

7.8: Adopt Resolution appropriating unanticipated revenue to budget unit 8695, Special Districts, for grant funded Seismic Monitoring Network.    

7.9: Award Bid No. 13-32 for Hildebrand Drive at St. Helena Creek Bridge Replacement Project near Middletown to Granite Construction Co., in the amount of $1,085,320.60, and authorize the chair to execute the Agreement and Notice of Award.

TIMED ITEMS

8.2, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of Proclamation designating June 2014 as Homeless Youth Awareness Month.

8.3, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of first amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and GLASS Architects for Facility Design for Behavioral Health Facility Expansion in Clearlake.

NONTIMED ITEMS

9.2: Consideration of Animal Control Officer Safety Policy regarding training and use of batons in the field.

9.3: Consideration of a) funding agreement with California Department of Public Health for Soda Bay Water- CSA #20; and b) Resolution appropriating unanticipated revenue to budget unit 8480, Soda Bay Water- CSA#20 for California Department of Public Health funded project.

9.4: Sitting as the Board of Directors of the Lake County Sanitation District, Kelseyville County Waterworks #3, and Board of Supervisors concurrently - Consideration of resolutions adopting the Westside Sacramento Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.

CLOSED SESSION

10.1: Conference with labor negotiator: (a) county negotiators: A. Grant, , S. Harry, M. Perry, A. Flora and C. Shaver; and (b) employee organizations, 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 Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Mateu v. County of Lake, et al.

10.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Rickel v. Lake County Board of Supervisors, et al.

10.4: Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(4): one potential case.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council will hold a workshop this week to discuss the proposed fiscal year 2014-15 budget.

The council will meet early for the workshop, with the meeting set to begin at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

Following the budget workshop, City Engineer Scott Harter will present to the council a proposed agreement with Vulcan Construction and Maintenance Inc. of Fresno for the completion of the US Department of Agriculture water meter replacement project. The contract amount is $957,137.

Harter also will present a proposed resolution designating the location of 20-minute parking zones – or “green zones” – on city streets. The new resolution also will rescind Resolution No. 2296, passed in 2007.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; the May 14 warrant register; minutes of the May 20 council meeting; approval of a recommendation to reject all bids received for the engineering department truck; approval of Application No. 2014-013 with staff comments for the Lakeport Yacht Club’s 2014 Cardboard and Duct Tape Regatta to take place July 4, 2014 at Library Park; authorization to contract with Valley Toxicology Services Inc. to provide urinalysis/chemical testing services for the Lakeport Police Department and authorize the mayor to sign.

The council also plans to have a closed session to discuss labor negotiations with all employee units.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

060314 Lakeport City Council agenda packet

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week accepted a property conveyance from Live Oaks Seniors Inc. and also approved a lease agreement with the group for the new senior center in Clearlake Oaks.

County Administrative Officer Matt Perry presented the items regarding the Live Oak Senior Center to the board Tuesday morning.

The 4,000-square-foot, $1.5 million facility opened its doors to the community's seniors last month, as Lake County News has reported.

Center Executive Director Pat Grabham said in an April interview that the center serves an average of 80 to 100 meals a day on site. Its Meals on Wheels program serves another 30 to 35 meals daily.

Perry said that as part of the public-private partnership to build the new Live Oak Senior Center, Live Oak Seniors Inc. agreed to donate to the county the property on which the former senior center was located next door.

Regarding the lease between the county and Live Oak Seniors Inc. for the new building, the initial term is for 10 years with the option to extend in five-year increments with mutual consent of the two parties.

Live Oaks Seniors also will be able to serve alcohol on premises for special occasions, and is required to commercial liquor liability endorsement when doing so, Perry said.

“What a day this is,” to finally be able to lease the new building, said Grabham, who has been one of the guiding forces for the project over the past several years.

“It's beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, and we're so happy there, and all of our seniors are, also,” she said.

Perry and Grabham told the board that the tentative date for the center's grand opening is Thursday, June 26.

Board Chair Denise Rushing, whose district includes Clearlake Oaks, passed the gavel to Supervisor Rob Brown so she could make the motions to accept the real property donation and approve the lease agreement, both of which were approved 4-0. Supervisor Anthony Farrington was absent from the meeting.

Rushing said it was an example of a true public-private partnership.

“It shows the power of a vision and what can happen if you’re willing to be patient and just keep working toward a goal,” said Rushing.

She said it took many years of holding onto that vision. “You, of all people, held onto that vision,” she told Grabham.

“Our seniors are the ones who will benefit the most,” said Grabham.

She said the new facility also will serve as a cooling and heating center for seniors.

Rushing credited retired County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox for initially putting aside the money for the project, and Perry and his staff for getting the project across the goal line.

The audience then offered a round of applause.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The draft environmental impact report, or EIR, prepared in the process to update the city of Clearlake's General Plan was presented Saturday at City Hall.

Public comment on the draft EIR extends through June 30.

About 15 people attended Saturday's meeting, including four members of the Clearlake City Council and a couple members of city staff.

The California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, “requires agencies to identify the significant environmental impacts of their actions and to avoid or mitigate those impacts, if feasible.”

Completion of the EIR is required in the city's process to update its general plan, which describes and regulates the city's future growth.

According to City Manager Joan Phillipe, updating the general and completing an EIR is typically quite costly and can range from $600,000 to more than $1 million.

She said the city saved a substantial amount of money by utilizing the services of a team of graduate students from Cal Poly, who worked under the direction of Professor Cornelius Nuworsoo.

Ultimately, Phillipe said, the city's cost was about $100,000 to $120,000.

The draft EIR directly relates to the general plan, which underwent preparation from September 2012 to March 2013.

Notice of preparation of the draft EIR was issued in January of this year with a completion notice issued May 1.

Nuworsoo said following the public comment period, he anticipates the final EIR will be compete by the end of summer, with certification to follow.

Nuworsoo said preferred alternatives were used in developing the general plan resulting in the establishment of eight zones representing areas of key growth.

“The plan creates an identity around those zones,” he said.

Goals of the plan included concentrating growth in focus areas and intensifying land, redeveloping and reusing built-up areas by way of general land use; improving quality of housing stock and reducing the vacancy rate in residential use; and diversifying economic base and targeting land uses and jobs that provide living wages in commercial use.

The plan incorporates findings of the Clearlake Vision Task Force and the Lakeshore Drive Corridor Plan. Nuworsoo said it seeks to create a distinct brand for Clearlake including visions that create gateways into the city as well as a regional shopping center.

Project Manager Kerby Olsen said 16 areas of impact are addressed in the draft EIR.

Comments received in notice of preparation included hydrology, water quality, biological resources and habitat; water supply, federally-listed species, utilities and service systems; and buffer zones around odor emission sources.

Impacts are determined to be less than significant within the aesthetics of the plan, which analyzed scenic views, state scenic highways, visual character and light pollution. Analysis of agricultural resources determined to be less than significant as well.

Two areas of impact are identified and mitigated within the air quality category.

The first mitigation effort in the area of “sensitive receptors” (i.e., hospitals and schools), calls for avoiding the placement of new sensitive land uses within 500 feet of the freeway, 300 feet from a dry cleaner and 300 feet from a large gas station.

The second mitigation effort in the area of “objectionable odors” calls for new sensitive land uses to be within California Air Resources Board screening distances as well as utilization of best management practices to reduce odors.

Mitigation efforts for impacts within biological resources for special status plants and animals include assessing frequency of collisions between wildlife and vehicles along Highway 53.

It also includes implementing the following best management practices associated with collision prevention: change driver behavior, increase visibility, influence animal behavior and physical separation of wildlife and roadway.

Impacts in the areas of cultural resources are determined less than significant. Analysis included areas of historical and archaeological resources and geographical features.

Impacts are determined less than significant in the area of geology and soils which, in part, looked at the threat to life and property due to landslides; loss of soil through erosion; and location on unstable soils. Mitigations in greenhouse gas emissions relate to their reduction.

Continuing corrective measures, such as groundwater monitoring for underground storage leaks is called for in mitigating issues associated with locations on hazardous sites.

Hydrology and water quality mitigation efforts include those associated with threats to life and property due to seiche – a standing wave seen in lakes – tsunami or mudflow. They call for the following: classifying low-lying lands and requiring simulation studies for development and proposals in low-lying areas for seiche inundation; and adequate vegetation, retaining walls and minimizing development at the base for steep slopes.

Land use and planning mitigation calls for the updating of the city's zoning ordinance to be consistent with the general plan. Phillipe said the city is in the process of updating the zoning ordinance in its process to update the general plan document.

Less than significant impacts are determined in the area of mineral resources.

Mitigations to avoid permanent increase in ambient noise call for noise studies for existing and proposed development.

Impacts are determined to be less than significant within the categories of population and housing as well as in the category of public services and recreation.

In the category of transportation and traffic, mitigation efforts to avoid reduction in services at some intersections include requiring traffic impact studies for proposals of new development (unacceptable volumes of traffic would result in the need for mitigation); applying new state Complete Streets Act requirements; and application of various strategies such as increasing multi-modal use, increasing the number of lanes and installation of bus pull-outs.

Mitigation efforts in the area of utilities and service systems address regulations in regard to solid waste, which calls for updating the Lake County Source Reduction and Recycling Element and identifying alternatives for Eastlake Landfill or a plan for its expansion.

According to District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith, who was present during the meeting, the county is planning an expansion of the landfill.

The draft EIR is available for public review at Clearlake City Hall or through the city's Web site at www.clearlake.ca.us .

Written comments should be sent to the attention of City Manager Joan Phillipe, 14050 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422 or call City Clerk Melissa Swanson at 707-994-8201, Extension 106.

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors is set to consider a property donation from Live Oak Seniors Inc. as well as a lease agreement with the group for use of the new senior center in Clearlake Oaks.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 27, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. TV8 will broadcast the meeting live.

At 9:30 a.m., the board will consider a resolution accepting conveyance of the property that was the location of the old and recently demolished center, located at 12502 Foothill Blvd. and 12504 Pine St. The property serves as the parking lot for the new senior center next door.

County Administrative Officer Matt Perry explained in his report to the board that the newly completed center was constructed as part of “a public private partnership in that the Live Oak Seniors, Inc. agreed to donate to the County the property on which the former senior center was located.”

Along with the property donation, the board will consider a proposed lease agreement with Live Oak Seniors Inc. for the new building,

The lease provides Live Oak Seniors Inc. with exclusive use – subject to making it available for groups when not in use as a senior center – and has an initial term of 10 years with an option to extend in five year increments upon the mutual consent of the parties.

Perry said the agreement is closely modeled after one made between the county and the new Middletown Senior Center.

He said the lease also provides the senior center with the opportunity to support its budget by renting out space within the facility so long as the proposed use is in accordance with a facility use policy that is satisfactory to the county.

“The Live Oak Seniors specifically requested the right to serve alcohol on special occasions. Therefore, the lease allows this and also requires the Live Oaks Seniors to provide a commercial liquor liability endorsement for bodily injury, personal injury and broad form property damage,” Perry's report stated.

Also on Tuesday, at 9:45 a.m. the board will consider the first amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and GLASS Architects for Facility Design for Behavioral Health facility expansion in Clearlake.

The full agenda is below.

CONSENT ITEMS

7.1: (a) Adopt resolution establishing 2014-15 appropriations limit for county of Lake; and (b) adopt resolution establishing 2014-15 appropriations limits for Special Districts governed by Board of Supervisors.

7.2: Approve first amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Rebekah Children's Services for FY 2013-14, increasing amount to $87,000, and authorize the chair to sign.         

7.3: First amendment to the agreement between Lake County Behavioral Health and Sacramento Children's Home for FY2013-14 specialty mental health services, decreasing amount to $9,000 and authorize the chair to sign.

7.4: Approve third amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Remi Vista Inc. for FY 2013-14 specialty mental health services, increasing amount to $70,000, and authorize the chair to sign.

7.5: Adopt resolution approving an application for funding under the California State Library's Federal Library Services and Technology Act Program for Lake County Library and and authorize the county librarian to sign the application (for $35,000), grant agreement and other necessary documents.    

TIMED ITEMS    

8.2: 9:15 a.m., Hearing, nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $1,590.87, for 16295 Eagle Rock Road, Hidden Valley Lake (APN 142-363-07 - Mark Hansen and Evelyn Hansen).

8.3: 9:30 a.m., (a) Consideration of resolution accepting conveyance of real property located in Clearlake Oaks; and (b) consideration of proposed lease agreement between the county of Lake and Live Oak Seniors Inc.

8.4: 9:45 a.m., Consideration of first amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and GLASS Architects for Facility Design for Behavioral Health Facility Expansion in Clearlake.

NONTIMED ITEMS

9.2: Consideration of letter of support for AB 2363 - Electricity Procurement (Dahle).

CLOSED SESSION

10.1: Conference with labor negotiator: (a) county negotiators: A. Grant, , S. Harry, M. Perry, A. Flora and C. Shaver; and (b) employee organizations, 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): Lakeside Heights HOA, et al. v. county of Lake.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council designated June as Homeless Youth Awareness Month in the city.

The proclamation was read into record by Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson during Thursday’s regular meeting.

Fortino Dickson said the city is strongly committed to seeking ways to assist homeless youth by implementing innovative programs and systems and by putting “children first.”

The proclamation recognizes the city, the county of Lake, Lake County Office of Education, Lake Family Resource Center and Lake Community PRIDE Foundation for providing critical services to children and families, ensuring children have the opportunity to reach their full potential as productive adults and members of the community.

According to the 2010 Census, the proclamation states, there are approximately 3,750 youth age 15 to 19 in Lake County.

The 2012-13 California Annual Homeless Data Collection shows 185 (20-percent) of these youth were declared homeless and were in need of some form of assistance.

“Whereas, too many children and youth in the City of Clearlake are forced to flee from unsafe homes due to family violence, drug-use, or other dysfunctions only to become vulnerable to making unwise choices that expose them to further exploitation, drug-use and other risks,” Fortino Dickson read.

The proclamation concluded that increasing public awareness of the importance of this issue through education, media attention and outreach will reinforce the need for all parents to take responsibility for the financial, emotional and physical support of their children.

Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .