Local Government

LAKEPORT – An ordinance that would ban the sales and use of safe and sane fireworks in the city of Lakeport will be introduced at the Lakeport City Council's meeting on Tuesday.


The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St. The agenda and staff reports can be downloaded at www.cityoflakeport.com/departments/docs.aspx?deptID=88&catID=102.


On April 21, the council directed interim City Manager Kevin Burke to bring them an ordinance to ban fireworks in response to concerns about the potential for fire danger and injuries. That followed a decision to turn down the applications of four local nonprofits to sell fireworks this year, as Lake County News has reported.


The council passed an ordinance in 1993 regulating fireworks sales, which was amended in 2002 to impose limits on locations and hours where they could be used, Burke's staff report notes.


Burke notes that the pros in prohibiting fireworks would be a reduction in the chances of injuries or fires. The cons, he said, include loss of revenues for the nonprofits, which use the funds to enhance community programs and activities.


If approved, the ordinance would be set for a public hearing on June 2.


On the consent agenda – which includes noncontroversial items that will be accepted with one vote – the council will look at accepting an updated memorandum of understanding with the Lakeport Police Officers Association, adopt a resolution regarding senior populations and eligibility for entitlement programs, approve and amendment to the city's ease with the Lakeport Yacht Club to allow for a dry storage area and approve a request from Charanjit Kamar from Lakeport Express for a finding of public convenience and necessity for an off-sale Type 21 liquor license.


The council will hear a presentation by Dr. Jamesina Scott of the Lake County Vector Control District on the upcoming Proposition 218 benefit assessment to fund mosquito and vector control services.


Also in presentations, Mt. Konocti Facilitation will ask the council for $2,500 for a year's worth of economic development activities.


Redevelopment Director Richard Knoll will bring to the council a request to approve funding the Business Stabilization Loan Program and approve a contract with Community Development Services for loan processing.


Compliance Officer Dan Buffalo will present a resolution adopting an identity theft prevention program to protect personal and identifiable customer information collected and maintained by the city.


Buffalo also will present an update on pre-applications that city staffers are submitting for State Revolving Fund/Economic Stimulus funding. In all, the city is seeking $13,580,000 for various projects, from a sewer main expansion on Main Street to the Green Ranch purchase and well renovation.


The council will hold a closed session to discuss one case of anticipated legislation and the interim city manager.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LAKEPORT – Proposed Mental Health Department personnel cuts, water conservation, law enforcement on the lake and long-term rentals at RV parks will be part of a long agenda for the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.


The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. in the board chambers at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. TV Channel 8 will broadcast the meeting live.


Last month, Mental Health Department Director Kristy Kelly asked the board for permission to look at layoffs as an option to meet the department's estimated deficit in the coming budget year, as Lake County News has reported.


Kelly will return to the board at 11 a.m. on Tuesday with a proposed resolution that will eliminate 18 positions in the department: one managed care manager, one staff psychiatrist, one clinical psychologist, two mental health team leaders (levels one and two), four mental health specialists (levels one, two and senior), two mental health case managers (levels one and two), one mental health case manager peer support (levels one and two), one mental health case manager parent partner, one accounting technician, one account clerk (levels one and two), two medical records technicians; and one office assistant peer support (levels one and two).


Sgt. Dennis Ostini of the Lake County Sheriff's Boat Patrol will make a presentation on boating safety and law enforcement activities on Clear Lake at 10:45 a.m. Ostini's presentation is in response to a recent request by Finley resident Phil Murphy that the county consider a nighttime speed limit on Clear Lake.


At 11:30 a.m., the board will receive an update on drought management planning in the county's 10 water systems and offer direction regarding a proposed drought management plan, which includes mandatory conservation measures and an urgency ordinance adopting emergency water conservation restrictions for county service areas.


Also continuing a discussion that began last month, at 1:30 p.m. the board will discuss and consider establishing a county policy regarding Code Enforcement actions in resort properties housing long-term residents.


Other items on the agenda include the following.


Timed items:


9:15 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the week of May 3 through 9 as National Correctional Officers’ Week in Lake County.


9:20 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the week of May 4 through 9 as National County Government Week in Lake County.


9:25 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of May as Veterans Appreciation Month in Lake County.


9:30 a.m.: Presentation by representative of Mt. Konocti Facilitation regarding their work with entrepreneurs and existing businesses in Lake County.


10 a.m.: Public hearing: Review of the performance of Community Development Block Grant

No. 08-EDBG-2604 for Clark’s Island Redevelopment Analysis Study.


10 a.m.: Consideration of proposed resolution approving a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide an Animal Damage Control Program for the county of

Lake; and consideration of proposed letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for verification of the intent of Lake County to enter into the 2009/2010 USDA Wildlife Services Management Program. Continued from April 21.


10:30 a.m.: Discussion/consideration of request for approval of proposed bylaws for the Clear Lake Advisory Subcommittee.


Non-timed items:


– Consideration of proposed resolutions adopting memorandum of understandings between the county of Lake and the Lake County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Lake County Correctional Officers’ Association.


– Consideration of proposed resolution establishing salaries and fringe benefits for management employees for fiscal year 2008-09.


– Consideration of proposed resolution establishing salaries and fringe benefits for employees in Confidential Unit, Section A, for Fiscal Year 2008-09; and consideration of proposed resolution establishing salaries and fringe benefits for employees in Confidential Unit, Section B for Fiscal Year 2008-09.


– Discussion/consideration of proposed letter of support regarding AB 548, which would allow rural hospitals to hire physicians and/or surgeons directly.


– Consideration of proposed ordinance adding Section 2.5 to the Lake County Code, specifying particular office hours for Lake County Animal Care and Control.


– Consideration of proposed resolution confirming and continuing delegation to the Special Districts administrator of the authority to take immediate action to effectuate emergency repairs in the

Southeast Reservoir Dam Drainage System.


– Discussion/consideration of request for waiver of the policy for review and selection of professional consultants and other services providers for 40 construction projects and allow the Public Works Department to comply with a proposed alternative selection process for construction related activities policy.


– Discussion/consideration of proposed Amendment Two to Agreement between the County of Lake and Green Valley Consulting Engineers for engineering services for realignment of a portion of Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville (an increase of $76,027).


– Discussion/consideration of proposed Amendment Two to Agreement between the County of Lake and Quincy Engineering, Inc. for engineering services for the repair of storm damage sites (PM 0.55), on Robinson Road, Lucerne (an increase of $11,500).


– Consideration of authorization the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to terminate the existing lease agreement with Alliant Bank for an analog plotter/printer and pay the early termination fee of $2,200; consideration of approval of Budget Transfer B-237, in the amount of $3,000, to

cover the cost of a new lease for a digital plotter/printer, Budget Unit No. 1908, Engineering and Inspection and authorize the Chair to sign; and consideration of authorization for the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to enter into an lease agreement with ADS Reprographics Inc. (not to exceed $500 per month for 48 months).


– Consideration of recommendation for award of Bid No. 09-03, for the construction of Main Street pavement rehabilitation and accessibility improvements from Highway 20 to 2nd Street, Upper

Lake.


– Discussion/consideration of proposed agreement between the Lake County Watershed Protection District and The Regents of the University of California for Clear Lake historical data analysis

in the amount of $52,076. Continued from April 28.


– Consideration of award of Bid No. 09-32 to Coastline Equipment for the purchase of one 2009 crane truck in the amount of $100,000, and/or other options for the purchase of this equipment. Continued from April 21 and 28.


The board will hold a closed session to discuss labor negotiations, conduct a performance evaluation of Public Works Director Brent Siemer and hold conference with legal counsel on one case of existing litigation, Rogers v. County of Lake, et al.

LAKE COUNTY – Lake County will celebrate National County Government Week May 4 through 8, with a Board of Supervisors proclamation on the Tuesday, May 5 agenda, courthouse lobby displays and a job fair on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.


This year special emphasis will be placed on Lake County's “green government” efforts.


National County Government Week, sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo), was first celebrated in 1991 to raise public awareness and understanding about the roles and responsibilities of the nation's counties.


The theme for this year's celebration is “Greening Our Future.”


“We must recognize that the choices we make and actions we take today will determine the quality of our lives, the health of our people and the vitality of our communities in the years to come,” said

Board of Supervisors Chair Denise Rushing.


Added Kelly Cox, the county's administrative officer, “This is certainly an appropriate time to highlight the efforts the county has been making, under the direction of the Board of Supervisors, to decrease our use of fossil fuels and make our county an example of green government. The recent construction of our award-winning solar energy project at the county's wastewater facilities and county jail represent an extraordinary achievement in sustainability that we are proud to be able to celebrate during this year's National County Government Week.”


For more information about the services the county of Lake offers and other information about the county in general, visit the county's Web site, www.co.lake.ca.us.


Lake County is a member of NACo, the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States.


Based in Washington, DC, NACo provides essential services to the nation's counties, advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public's understanding of county governments, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added service to save counties and taxpayers money.


For more information visit www.naco.com.


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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Snowpack results released Thursday showed that a key California water supply declined over the past month.

 

The state Department of Water Resources (DWR) said its final snow survey results showed that the critical Sierra Nevada snowpack water content is 66 percent of normal, compared to 72 percent at this time last year.

 

The numbers from Thursday show a decline from a snowpack measurement conducted earlier in April, when water content was measured at 81 percent.

 

“Today’s snowpack survey further emphasizes the importance of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s statewide drought emergency declaration and our call on all Californians to reduce their water use,” said DWR Director Lester Snow. “When combined with extremely dry years in 2007 and 2008, low storage in the state’s major reservoirs, restrictions on Delta pumping, a growing population and prediction of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change, it is clear the problems facing California will persist beyond this year and this drought.”

 

Manual survey results taken today at four locations near Lake Tahoe, combined with electronic readings, put snowpack water content at 66 percent of normal in the Northern Sierra, 70 percent in the Central Sierra and 61 percent in the Southern Sierra, the DWR reported.

 

At the same time, California’s major reservoirs remain low. Lake Oroville, principal storage reservoir for the State Water Project (SWP), registers only 58 percent of capacity.

 

In Lake County, Clear Lake’s level has declined in recent weeks, measured at 3.96 feet Rumsey, the measure used for the lake, on Thursday. That’s down from 6.67 feet Rumsey measured on April 30, 2008, according to Lake County Water Resources Division records.

 

Because of the low lake level, the Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District – which owns the water right to Clear Lake – will only be able to draw 21,767 acre feet from the lake, down from the 112,978 it was entitled to based on the lake’s level last year.

 

Yolo Flood, which also controls Indian Valley Reservoir, reports that the reservoir’s storage on Thursday was 48,952 acre feet, down from 101,482 acre feet on the same date last year.

 

On. Feb. 27 Schwarzenegger declared a drought state of emergency, directing DWR and other state agencies to provide assistance to people and communities impacted by the drought.

 

Also in February, the Lake County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution calling for voluntary water conservation in county-run water and sewer districts, as Lake County News has reported. The board held another discussion on conservation on April 21, and county officials plan to bring the matter back for further consideration on May 5.

 

In other parts of the state, DWR reported that local water agencies are updating urban water management plans and DWR is facilitating water transfers through its Drought Water Bank program. The state has made $240 million in bond funding available for water conservation, drought assistance and Integrated Regional Water Management programs. Those funds came from the Pooled Money Investment Board following the successful sale of California infrastructure bonds in March.

 

DWR and the Association of California Water Agencies launched a statewide public education program on April 21 challenging individuals to do their part to “Save Our Water.” For information about Save Our Water, conservation tips and drought and water shortage information, visit www.saveourH2O.org.

 

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

LAKEPORT – The Chi Council, a group of volunteers who watch the creeks for a resurgence of chi, the Pomo name for the native hitch fish, received the  Fish and Wildlife Council award for meritorious service Tuesday during the Board of Supervisors meeting.



Gregory Giusti, the county's University of California Cooperative Extension director and chairman of the Lake County Fish and Wildlife Council, presented the award to Chi Council President Peter Windrem, who accepted it on behalf of the group.

 

The award has not been given since 1999. Both men were recently honored as environmental Stars of Lake County.



“This year we cast a broad net,” Giusti said.

 

This is the first time it has gone to a group.



The fish, once abundant in Clear Lake, were food for indigenous people and for the lake's bass. Part of the reason they have been dwindling in numbers is that bridge abutments act as dams, along 30 miles of their spawning grounds in the creeks. Recently they have been found only in Adobe and Kelsey Creeks.



Windrem said the 80 volunteers are “people who stand on bridges spotting fish.” He said they come from all walks of life.



The hitch, Lavinia exilicauda, is endemic to central California, and once very common.



They are generally silver all over; younger fish have a black spot at the base of the tail, losing it as they age, and becoming generally darker as well.

 

They can get large for minnows, occasionally growing to a pound of weight. They are omnivores of the water, eating a combination of filamentous algae, insects and zooplankton.

 

E-mail Sophie Annan Jensen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

SACRAMENTO – A bill by Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-First District) to restore up to 1,400 acres of wetlands in the Clear Lake Basin has won unanimous bipartisan support from the Assembly’s Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee.

 

AB 74, the Middle Creek and Hamilton City Flood Damage Restoration and Ecosystem Act, seeks to restore Clear Lake habitat that includes open water, seasonal wetlands, in-stream aquatic habitat, shaded aquatic habitat and perennial wetlands.

 

The bill, coauthored by Assemblyman Jim Nielsen (R-Second District), also includes a subvention project for a levee in Hamilton City, Glenn County. AB 74 would authorize the state to provide subvention funds for both projects.

 

The Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee approved AB 74 with a 13-0 vote on Tuesday. The bill next goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

 

“The Middle Creek Project would eliminate flood risk to 18 homes and approximately 1,600 acres of agricultural land,” Chesbro said. “And it would restore damaged habitat and the water quality of Clear Lake."

 

Congressman Mike Thompson is also seeking $1.2 million for Middle Creek in the 2010 federal budget, as Lake County News has reported.

 

The project is located at the north end of Clear Lake in the area bounded by State Highway 20 and Rodman Slough. That area was "reclaimed" between 1900 and 1940 by constructing levees, creating a slough and “reclaiming” approximately 1,200 acres of lake bottom and shoreline wetlands for agricultural purposes.

 

In 1958, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers added to the levee system, “reclaiming” an additional 200 acres of shoreline wetlands. These projects resulted in the physical isolation of more than 1,600 acres of wetland and floodplain from the largest tributaries of Clear Lake. The Corps levees constructed are owned and maintained by the State of California.

 

The levees in the project area are up to 3 feet below design grade, are prone to slope failure, and have inadequate cross-section. The levees were never constructed to proper standards and are the most prone to failure during a major flood event.

 

The corps has determined that the levees provide only a four-year level of protection (the levees were designed to provide a 50-year level of protection) and will overtop during a 35-year flood event, unless emergency flood fight measures are implemented. The area was evacuated in 1983, 1986 and 1998, with evacuation imminent in 1995.

 

Analysis of the project has estimated the amount of phosphorus entering Clear Lake from Middle and Scotts creeks would be reduced by 40 percent. Reduced phosphorus concentrations in Clear Lake would potentially reduce the chlorophyll concentrations by 33 percent, significantly improving water quality.

 

The project would also restore up to 1,400 acres of the 7,520 acres of historic wetlands in the Clear Lake Basin that have either been lost or severely impacted. Restored habitat includes open water, seasonal wetlands, in-stream aquatic habitat, shaded aquatic habitat, and perennial wetlands. Additional upland habitat will be protected adjacent to the wetland and stream areas.

 

AB 74 is supported by the Lake County Board of Supervisors, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Lake County Land Trust, Habematolel of Upper Lake Tribe, Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Club Lake Group, West Lake Resource Conservation District, The Nature Conservancy, Glenn County Board of Supervisors, Reclamation District 2140 in Glenn County, Hamilton City Community Services District, Hamilton City Citizens In Action and the Hamilton City Fire Protection District.

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