Supervisors Denise Rushing and Anthony Farrington were reportedly on a trip to Washington, D.C. to advocate on behalf of the county.

Another supervisor also was reported to be ill, leaving only two board members available to meet.

All of the business that was to have taken place at Tuesday's meeting will be reagendized for next week, according to an announcement from Kelly Cox, county chief administrative officer.

{mos_sb_discuss:3}

A special interim program has been developed for Lake County residents who own or operate registered or unregistered vessels located in Lake County. This special program will enable residents to obtain an inspection sticker at no cost.

This no-cost inspection sticker program for local residents will be available beginning April 8 through June 30. Stickers will be available beginning April 8, and are valid through Dec. 31.

The eligibility for an inspection sticker will be determined through a simple call-in process, designed to make it convenient for local residents to obtain a sticker.

Inspection stickers are required prior to launching any vessel in Lake County water bodies and are not mandatory until just prior to launch. Any resident whose boat is currently in storage and who does not plan to take that boat out for several weeks does not require a sticker now; the sticker only will be required prior to launching. Thus, those residents may consider waiting a week or two to get their stickers after the initial rush for stickers (but before June 30 when the no-cost program ends).

As part of this call-in process, every resident who owns a vessel will be asked a few simple questions and then will be asked to complete, sign, and return an affidavit agreeing to comply with the clean-vessel policy. Once the signed affidavit is received, the inspection sticker will be issued.

During the initial call, it may be determined that a physical inspection of the vessel is required in order to obtain an inspection sticker. In that case, residents will be provided details on where to go for the inspection, which during this initial period also is free to residents.

For registered vessels, stickers must be affixed on the port (or left) side of the vessel, 6 inches in front of the registration number (CF#). For unregistered vessels such as kayaks and canoes, stickers must be affixed in a prominent location toward the front, and preferably port side, of the vessel. Owners of vessels such as seaplanes will be instructed as to acceptable alternate display locations.

Proof of residency in Lake County and proof of vessel registration (when applicable) in Lake County will be required for participation in this special program. Any resident who takes their vessel out of Lake County is required to have the vessel re-inspected when they return to Lake County.

To begin the call-in process, local residents may call one of the following locations, beginning April 8, through June 30:

• The Lake County Visitor Center at 274-5652 during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday; and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

• The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce at 994-3600, during the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

• The Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce at 263-5092 during the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' ACTION

This program has been set forth upon the approval of an urgency ordinance by the Lake County Board of Supervisors on March 25, to protect the water bodies of Lake County from the significant and imminent threat posed by invasive quagga and zebra mussel infestation. Effective immediately, this ordinance:

• Requires a mandatory inspection for any water vessel prior to launching in a Lake County water body, beginning April 8. This applies to all motorized and nonmotorized vessels including boats, kayaks, canoes, jet skis, inflatable rafts, etc.

• Establishes the first phase of an inspection program, which includes a special interim program for local vessels to obtain inspection stickers at no cost beginning April 8, through June 30.

• Bans the disposal of live bait and any liquid that contains or has contained live bait into Lake County water bodies.

All vessels coming in from outside of Lake County will be required to go through an inspection process prior to receiving an inspection sticker.

ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED

Local resort owners are being encouraged to attend training to become a courtesy boat monitor and/or a certified inspector, in order to be able to provide this mandatory vessel inspection service to their guests.

Volunteers are a critical part of the program and will be needed in a variety of roles, including telephone screeners, courtesy boat monitors and certified boat inspectors, and more.

For information about this program – including the limited-time no-cost sticker program for residents – go online to the Lake County Mussel Web Site at: www.co.lake.ca.us/mussels.

For specific questions or to volunteer to help, please call the Lake County Mussel Hotline at 707-263-2556.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

The Board of Supervisors voted 3-1, with Supervisor Anthony Farrington voting no, to supporting Lake County Waste Solutions moving forward with upgrading its Soda Bay facility. Supervisor Rob Brown was absent for the vote.

As part of that decision, the board is requiring county Public Services staff to report back in six months on the company's progress, at which time the board also will consider whether or not to go ahead with closing the transfer station.

Board members also told staff when they bring back that report to agendize a discussion on implementing mandatory garbage collection in the unincorporated areas of the county, which is believed to aid in reducing illegal dumping. In addition, they'll consider imposing road impact fees on garbage haulers and a possible rate adjustment if the fees are put in place.

Public Services Director Kim Clymire supported the idea of letting Lake County Waste Solutions take over the transfer station, which the company has guaranteed it can do with no additional cost to customers or the county. The company already has a transfer station permit but would need to upgrade its permit to take the additional trash.

“The driving force behind this is economics,” said Clymire.

He said the transfer station's equipment continues to break down despite continual, expensive maintenance. After $100,000 in repairs 18 months ago, the station's compactor is again needing repairs, which could run from another $100,000 for a basic fix to $1 million for a full unit replacement.

At the same time, Lake County Waste Solutions is proposing to transition from a mini transfer station into a larger facility.

“In essence what we're trying to do is minimize and cut our losses on this transfer station,” Clymire said.

The transfer station receives about 14 percent of total waste stream, said Clymire, with between 6 and 9 percent coming from residents. Processing waste at the facility is much more expensive, costing $90 per ton as opposed to $37 at the landfill in Clearlake.

Lake County Waste Solutions has offered to handle that waste stream for the same $48 per ton that the county currently charges to take trash at the transfer station, Clymire said.

The down side is the possible loss of three employee positions, which Clymire said could be transferred within the county or assumed by the company.

If the company will take over handling the trash at no extra cost to the county or ratepayers, “To me the term win-win comes to mind,” said Clymire.

Supervisor Denise Rushing said privatizing services can solve some issues but cause others. She pointed to private companies' control of water systems as an example.

She asked how a private company could operate the transfer station at a lower cost than the county, and said it's a policy question for the county if it's really better to let services be operated privately.

Farrington said he disagreed with Public Services' support of the plan. “We are in the business of providing public services.”

He added that he's especially concerned about increased traffic and the resulting impact on roads and air quality, along with loss of convenience to the community. Farrington asked to see another option.

Supervisor Jeff Smith supported the idea of having Lake County Waste Solutions take over the services. “I like the idea of smaller government rather than larger government.”

He referred to the company's plan to add machinery that would offer better separate of garbage, resulting in pulling out extra recycled materials. “It's exactly what we should be looking at doing,” he said. “It's going to save us a lot of money.”

Rushing said she felt there was a series of decisions the board needed to make, beginning with whether or not to close the transfer station. The temptation to privatize, she said, often is due to the kinds of capital investment issues the county is facing.

“All of this is connected,” she said. “It's not just one decision on a transfer station here.”

Bruce McCracken of Lake County Waste Solutions said his company could begin immediately working on the permitting process to upgrade the Soda Bay facility. He estimated that construction itself would take between six to eight months.

Community Development Director Rick Coel told the board that the project would likely take six months to move from the permitting process to Planning Commission approval.

Rushing had raised the issue of instituting mandatory garbage collection services, an idea Smith said he wanted to explore further. “It's way past time.”

That discussion of mandatory collection resulted in the direction to staff to bring the subject back for further discussion in six months.

Clymire told Lake County News last week that the county's garbage rates are extremely affordable – averaging about $10 a month for recycling, greenwaste and trash. It's so affordable, he added, that it doesn't make sense for people not to have it.

The county currently collects 130 tons of garbage a day, with 20 tons of it going through the transfer station and 110 tons directly to the landfill.

The landfill is expected to be able to continue accepting trash through 2024, said Clymire. “The more we can divert, that will push out our expectancy.”

If everything goes well and Lake County Waste Solutions is able to move through the permitting process, Clymire said the company could be ready to take over the waste stream from the transfer station in about 18 months.

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

{mos_sb_discuss:3}

The board meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 1, at the Board of Supervisors' chambers in the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. The meeting will be broadcast on TV Channel 8.

The discussion of bids and contracts for cleanup on Charles Fowler's property, located at 9100 and 9250 Adobe Creek Road, is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

In January, the board ordered abatement to begin on Fowler's 360-acre property, due to unpermitted trailers, nuisance vehicles, tons of greenwaste and scrap metal, and garbage.

Code Enforcement is taking to the board for its consideration bids for $16,100 to Case Excavating and $23,226 to Chernoh Construction for various sites designated to be abated during the cleanup.

In other board business, at 10:25 a.m. the board will present a proclamation designating April as Chilc Abuse Prevention Month in Lake County.

At 1:30 p.m. the board will hold a public hearing on the Planning Commission's recommendation to approve general plan amendment and rezones Langtry Farms LLC has proposed as part of its plan to build an 18-hole golf course, practice range and 3,500-square-foot club house on a flat, 581-acre irrigated pasture located at 21423 Butts Canyon Road and 23000 Oat Hill Road.

Other items on the Tuesday agenda include:

9:15 a.m. – Public hearing and discussion/consideration of a proposed contract between the county and the West Lake Resource Conservation District to provide fire education prevention and planning services; and an agreement between the county and the South Lake Fire Safe Council to provide fire prevention education and planning services.

10 a.m. – Consideration of a request to approve the Lake County Housing Authority's streamlined annual plan for fiscal year 2009; and consideration of a proposed resolution approving the PHA certifications of compliance with the PHA plans and related regulations.

10:15 a.m. – Presentation of proclamation and a certificate of appreciation commending Dr. Craig McMillan on his retirement from county service.

10:30 a.m. – Consideration of request to exempt from the hazardous materials regulatory requirement for petroleum fuel when stored in industry standard, above-ground containers and used at business locations for space heating or domestic hot water heating purposes.

Under untimed items, the board will consider a request for out-of-state travel for all hazards coordinator Steven Finch to travel to Portland, Ore., from April 8 through 11 to attend the 2008 Medical Reserves Corps National Leadership and Training Conference.

The board also will consider awarding a bid for a pavement rehabilitation project in Kelseyville.

A public hearing originally scheduled on an appeal for the Planning Commission's approve of a solar generation facility at 2485 Old Highway 53 in Clearlake is likely to be continued until April 8 at the developers' request.

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

{mos_sb_discuss:3}

The council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St. At 4 p.m. the council will convene a special workshop with staff to review and update the city's business plan.

Councilman Ron Bertsch is taking an emergency ordinance to the council establishing an inspection program for all water vessels launched in the city.

Bertsch sat on a county task force which just completed crafting a similar ordinance accepted last Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors. The inspection program is part of an effort to protect Clear Lake from becoming infested with quagga and zebra mussels.

The mussels, which were confirmed last year in Southern California waterways, have been known to cause havoc in other ecosystems where they've appeared, including the Great Lakes areas.

Bertsch said the ordinance he's proposing to the council is exactly the same as that adopted by the county.

“The county would just like us to do the same thing they're doing,” he said.

Previous to working on the county ordinance, Bertsch said he has served on the Clear Lake Advisory Subcommittee over the past year, which also has extensively explored the issues involving the mussels.

Other items on the Tuesday agenda include:

– Consideration of an application for the Center for Life Choices Walk on April 26, which proposes beginning at Library Park, going down Main Street and circling back for one hour.

– Update by city Utilities Superintendent Mark Brannigan on a standby fee, a fixed monthly fee that would help recover costs of service when a water account is closed or put on hold.

– Authorize letters to state legislators and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger regarding delays in paying the highway user's tax.

Following the open portion of the meeting the council will meet in closed session to discuss employee negotiations and a potential case of litigation.

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

{mos_sb_discuss:3}

The Children’s Council asks the public to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 1 at 10:25 a.m. for the reading of the proclamation declaring the month.

Following the reading, there will be a brief ceremony in Library Park at 12:15 p.m. to raise the Child Abuse Prevention flag and join together in remembrance of Lake County children affected by abuse. The Children’s Council will host a light lunch for attendees.

The council also is sponsoring Lake County Lights for Children by providing strands of blue lights for businesses and organizations to light in their windows during the month. Blue is the color of Child Abuse Prevention Month ribbons, so this is a way to remind everyone that keeping our children safe is the job everyone.

The Lake County Children’s Council and Prevent Child Abuse American offer the following suggestions that you can help prevent child abuse:

♥ Be a nurturing parent. Children need to know they are special, loved and capable of following their dreams.

♥ Help a friend, neighbor or relative. Being a parent isn’t easy. Offer a helping hand – take care of the children, so the parent(s) can rest or spend time together.

♥ Help yourself. When the big and little problems of your everyday life pile up to the point you feel overwhelmed and out of control – take time out. Don’t take it out on your kid.

♥ If your baby cries. . . It can be frustrating to hear your baby cry. Learn what to do if your baby won’t stop crying. Never shake a baby-shaking a child may result in severe injury or death.

♥ Get Involved. Ask your community leaders, clergy, library and schools to develop services to meet the needs of healthy children and families.

♥ Help to develop parenting resources at your local library.

♥ Promote programs in school. Teaching children, parents and teachers prevention strategies can help to keep children safe.

♥ Monitor your child’s television and video viewing. Watching violent films and TV programs can harm young children.

♥ Volunteer at a local child abuse prevention program. For information about volunteer opportunities, call Lake County Office of Education or Lake Family Resource Center.

♥ Report suspected abuse or neglect. If you have reason to believe a child has been or may be harmed, call Child Welfare Services at 707-262-0235, or your local law enforcement agency.

The Lake County Children’s Council is a coalition of local public and private agencies and individuals striving to create an environment where children are nurtured and thrive. It welcomes new members on a continuing basis.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}