LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Valley fire has impacted not just the physical landscape in Lake County, but the political one as well.

This week, Cobb Mountain businessman and agricultural leader Beau Moore – who in February had announced his plans to run for Rob Brown's seat on the Board of Supervisors after Brown indicated he would not seek reelection – said he will not run.

Moore said he reached the decision after much consideration, and attributed his change of plans to the Valley fire's impacts on his family.

“The Valley fire destroyed my family’s home and devastated our entire community,” Moore said in a written statement. “It will take several years of hard work for those of us on Cobb Mountain to rebuild our homes and restore our lives. There is simply no time for me to engage in a campaign for county supervisor during this difficult rebuilding period. It would not be fair to my family or to the people of District 5.”

Moore, who said he is dedicated to helping his community rebuild, thanked those who supported his candidacy and asked them instead to give their support to keeping Brown on the board in order to continue his service to the county.

“Now more than ever, Lake County needs an experienced leader on the Board of Supervisors to guide us through our lengthy recovery process,” Moore said. “Supervisor Rob Brown has done a phenomenal job of going above and beyond the call of duty to help the people whose lives have been shattered by the Valley fire.”

Brown, in turn, confirmed to Lake County News that he will run again, a decision that, like Moore, he attributed to the Valley fire.

Now in his fourth term, Brown had said in January that he planned to leave the board in 2017 but had plenty of other plans for family and for business and personal pursuits.

However, this week he said that, due to the Valley fire and the need for the next several years to be dedicated to the rebuilding and recovery process, he decided to pursue another term in office.

Brown has been a ubiquitous presence in the county response to the fire so far, from helping direct traffic and visiting the fire area during the incident, to hosting meetings with the community, and working with state and federal officials on solutions to issues that have arisen during the recovery.

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's agenda this week includes a proposed action to make trick-or-treating safer in a city subdivision, marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month and hearing about the prospect of using tiny homes to help the homeless.

The council will meet in closed session at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, to discuss existing litigation, and property negotiations for the city's airport property, and parcels at 2185 Ogulin Canyon Road, 14265 Lakeshore Drive and 14060 Olympic Drive before convening in open session at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, at 14050 Olympic Drive.

During the meeting, the council will present a proclamation declaring October to be Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The council also will receive a presentation by Cornerstone Villages on tiny home villages for unhoused people.

For its main item of business on Thursday, the council will consider a request for traffic mitigation measures in the Village Subdivision area – which includes Harbor, Lakeview and Ridgeview drives – from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31.

City Clerk Melissa Swanson's report to the council explains that, dating back to at least the 1980s, the Village area “has been a local favorite trick or treating spot for children and families. Several thousand children visit the area each year.”

She said it has been the normal practice for the Clearlake Police Department's Volunteers in Policing to assist in dealing with traffic-related issues by limiting cars in the area that evening to residents only in an effort to protect the children walking from house to house and playing in the street.

Swanson said drivers will be asked to show identification and/or proof of residence to ensure only necessary traffic in an effort to protect the children and families in the area for Halloween.

The activities also are monitored by the Clearlake Police Department, said Swanson.

She said the city will post the mitigation information on its Web site, http://www.clearlake.ca.us/ , so drivers can plan alternate routes that evening.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers and the minutes of the council's Oct. 8 meeting, minutes of the Sept. 9 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting, adoption of the 2015 City of Clearlake Injury and Illness Prevention Program, adoption of Resolution No. 2015-34 approving a temporary street closure for Trunk N' Treat event at Austin Park, award of a contract for asbestos/lead abatement and demolition of the building at 4740 Golf Ave., approval of the council's holiday schedule for November and December, and consideration of a contract with William Clemans for interim city engineer services.

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.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is continuing the push to register Valley fire survivors in Lake County – and Butte fire survivors in Calaveras County – for federal assistance, as a result of President Barack Obama's presidential major disaster declaration issued last month.

FEMA spokesman Steve Solomon said the deadline for registrations is Nov. 23.

With just over a month left to register, there so far have been 2,357 registrations in Lake County alone, with another 994 registrations in Calaveras County, said Solomon.

“The bulk of everything is Lake County,” he explained.

As of Tuesday, Solomon said FEMA has approved $8.44 million in “Individual Assistance” funds for Butte and Valley fire survivors.

Lake County's two Disaster Recovery Centers – at the Middletown Senior Center and at the Burns Valley Mall in Clearlake – have had a total of 1,630 visits, he said.

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams, which have gone out into the communities in an effort to find people who haven't yet registered for help, have had 6,467 interactions with fire victims of the Butte and Valley fires, Solomon said.

If survivors can't transport themselves to a Disaster Recovery Center, Solomon said they can call 916-381-0330 and FEMA will arrange a home visit.

Between Lake and Calaveras counties, Solomon said FEMA has completed 98 percent of the inspections for 2,526 properties.

Regarding housing issues, Solomon said efforts are moving forward to provide temporary housing units in both Lake and Calaveras counties.

“We have 60 mobile housing units in a staging area just north of Sacramento,” he said. “We're in the process now of looking at who is eligible to live in one and where they would be placed.”

FEMA also has now approved “Public Assistance,” which Solomon said is defined as support to repair and rebuild infrastructure, such as roads and bridges.

“That's a key development in the process,” he said.

Under the Public Assistance program, FEMA covers 75 percent of the costs, with state and local governments to cover the remainder, Solomon said.

“We're scheduling what we call applicant briefings,” he said, where representatives from various governmental bodies, eligible nonprofits and utilities can get information on how the application process works.

Solomon said the first applicant briefing is from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, in the Board of Supervisors chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

Another will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, in the banquet room at the Mount St. Helena Golf Course, 2025 Grant St., in Calistoga, he said. That briefing is only for local governments, tribal governments and certain private nonprofits in Napa and Sonoma counties.

Separately, Solomon said the state of California is offering disaster unemployment assistance, but the deadline for that is approaching – it's Oct. 26.

He said people can register by calling 800-300-5616 (English) or 800-326-8937 (Spanish), 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday.

Solomon said eligible workers can receive as much a $450 a week for up to 28 weeks.

FEMA also reported that its Disaster Recovery Centers in Lake County will have new hours beginning this weekend.

The centers are located in the former Apria Healthcare building at 14860 Olympic Drive in the Burns Valley Mall in Clearlake, and the Middletown Senior Center, 21256 Washington St.

New hours starting this weekend are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and closed on Sunday.

Survivors also can apply for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585; 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

Editor's note: A previous version of the story did not specify that the Nov. 2 applicant briefing was open only to organizations and local governments from Napa and Sonoma counties.

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. – On Tuesday night the Lakeport City Council turned down an application for a Halloween event whose organizer asked to shut down a street on what is one of the city's busiest nights of the year.

Wayne Yahnke of Haunted Lake County put forward plans to hold a Halloween event, titled “A Walk Through the Forest,” in his neighborhood on Halloween night. He intends to move it to a different venue next year.

His application to the city, submitted on Oct. 11, said the walk-through haunted house event would take place from 4 to 9:30 p.m., and have decorations, Halloween props and costumes, with donations from the event to go to Mendo Lake Credit Union's Valley fire fund.

Yahnke asked the city to close Forest Drive from Terrace Drive to Hillcrest Drive, barricade each end of the closure, sweep the street the day before the event and have extra police patrols in the area.

Lakeport Police Lt. Jason Ferguson, sitting in for Chief Brad Rasmussen, said there were a number of concerns, including the lack of a traffic and parking safety plans, and the fact that Yahnke was asking for the road closure in an area of the city that doesn't have much parking and, in some spots, doesn't have curb, gutter and sidewalk.

“This is one of the areas where there's a lot of trick-or-treaters,” said Ferguson. He added, “Halloween for us in the city of Lakeport is already very busy.”

He said at nearby Clear Lake High School there will be the Kiwanis annual Halloween party, which is expected to draw about 800 children, with another event, a harvest festival, also set to take place in the area that night.

City Public Works Director Mark Brannigan also raised safety issues. “At first glance this looks like it wouldn't be a big issue,” he said, also citing dangers during nighttime hours, and the lack of a parking plan.

Yahnke said he reviewed the city's concerns and had a phone conversation with Rasmussen about alternative plans, including permission for parking at the nearby High Street Village shopping center and additional lighting.

He's been doing the event for four years, Yahnke said, and drew up to 300 people last year. Ferguson said there were concerns that the event could be “significantly larger” this year.

Yahnke, who said he had the required insurance, also is a trauma nurse, and indicated he was prepared to handle the event safety.

Councilman Kenny Parlet calculated city costs of up to $1,100 to provide the services Yahnke requested, asking if Yahnke thought it was a fair tradeoff for the several hundred dollars it's hoped the event will raise for fire victims. Parlet also raised additional liability issues for the city.

“I've tried to address the concerns,” said Yahnke, adding he thought it was fair to ask the city for the support of his fundraising objectives.

Councilwoman Stacey Mattina asked Ferguson, who had sat in with Rasmussen while he was on the call with Yahnke, about what Rasmussen's bottom line was on the event. Ferguson said his chief didn't want the road closed due to traffic concerns.

Ferguson said police also wanted more planning time. “This kinda came at us really quickly,” he said.

Mayor Martin Scheel said he liked the event idea. However, he added, “For me, it solely rests on our chief of police and our Public Works folks,” and their concerns.

Scheel called Halloween “a very unique night” in Lakeport, explaining that it's probably the city's busiest night of the year for pedestrians. He said all it would take is for one child to get bumped by a car for blame to start being directed everywhere.

Brannigan added that he was concerned about people getting confused and frustrated. “It's not a time for drivers to be unsure of what they're supposed to be doing.”

Warren Myrick, a Forest Drive resident, said he and his wife love Halloween and have fun with families that visit the neighborhood, but he spoke against the event.

“Last year was something like we've never seen before. It was shocking, it was scary,” he said, although he said he didn't believe that was Yahnke's intent.

He said the neighborhood has small streets and, in some cases, no sidewalks. Last year, there was so much traffic that there was a traffic jam, and people parking in front of driveways.

Myrick said he would donate time to helping the event be held somewhere else.

Parlet moved to deny application, with the council voting 5-0.

Scheel thanked Yahnke for coming in. “I know it's not the news you wanted,” Scheel said. “You will have our support definitely for next year.”

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. – Several more items of Valley fire-related news will go before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 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 and online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Board_of_Supervisors/calendar.htm . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.

In a series of untimed items, the board will consider continuing the proclamation of a local health emergency by Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait, as well as continuing the proclamation of emergency declaration for drought conditions and the proclamation of emergency declaration for wildfire conditions.

The board will consider a memorandum of understanding with the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery concerning the Rocky and Jerusalem fire debris removal and related environmental restoration activities.

Board members also will be asked to approve a letter of support for Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa to host a benefit concert for Valley fire survivors.

In other Valley fire-related business, the board will consider the proposal for the Behavioral Health Department to enter into a contract with the Department of Health Care Services in order to fund services already provided by Behavioral Health and to help reduce and deescalate possible post-traumatic stress disorder by providing additional community outreach and support to members of the county affected by the fire.

In an item timed for 9:15 a.m., the board will receive a presentation on the 2014 Crop Report and at 10 a.m. will get Lake Family Resource Center's Final Report on domestic violence services for the time period of July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

7.1: Adopt resolution pertaining to tax revenue exchange between the county of Lake and Callayomi County Water District (Middletown Rancheria Annexation).

7.2: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and North American Mental Health for TelePsychiatric services for Fiscal Year 2015-16 for a contract maximum of $170,000 and authorize the board chair to sign.

7.3: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Charis Youth Center for FY 2015-16 Specialty Mental Health Services, a contract maximum of $25,000, and authorize the chair to sign.

7.4: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Rebekah Children's Services for FY 2015-16 Specialty Mental Health Services, a contract maximum of $25,000, and authorize the chair to sign.   

7.5: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Davis Guest Home for FY 2015-16 Adult Residential Support Services, a contract maximum of $34,675, and authorize the chair to sign.   

7.6: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Family Service Agency of Marin for the North Bay Suicide Prevention Program for FY 2015-16, in the amount of $15,000, and authorize the chair to sign.   

7.7: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc. for drug testing services for fiscal year 2015-16, in the amount of $15,000 and authorize the chair to sign.

7.8: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and First 5 Lake for the FY 2015-16 Mother-Wise Program (Post Partum Depression Initiative), a contract maximum of $65,000, and authorize the chair to sign.     

7.9: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Clover Valley Guest Home for FY 2015-16 Adult Residential Support Services and Specialty Mental Health Services, a contract maximum of $40,150 and authorize the chair to sign.

7.10: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and St. Helena Hospital for Acute Hospital Services for FY 2015-16, in the amount of $100,000, and authorize the chair to sign.   

7.11: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services for the FY 2015-16 MHSA Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Drop-In Center, a contract maximum of $61,200, and authorize the chair to sign.   

7.12: Adopt resolution setting rate of pay for election officers for the Nov. 3, 2015 General District Election Pursuant to Section 12310 of the Elections Code.   

7.13: Adopt resolution approving the application and certification statement for the State Department of Health Care Services, CMS Branch’s California Children’s Services (CCS) Administration Plan Renewal Grant for FY 2015-16 and authorize the board chair to sign said certification statement    .

7.14: (a) Approve request to waive the county's normal competitive bidding process; and (b) approve contract with Ken Dorsey Janitorial to Provide Janitorial Services for the Lake County Health Department and authorize the board chair to sign said contract.     

7.15: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2015-120 Establishing Position Allocations for Fiscal Year 2015-16, Budget Unit No. 2302, Probation Officer – Juvenile Court.     

7.16: Approve lease agreement between the county of Lake and Gary Weiser and Shelley Weiser for the office space at 4477 Moss Ave., Unit B, Clearlake, for the period from April 1, 2015, through March 31, 2018, for an amount not to exceed $13,200 annually; and authorize the chair to sign.     

7.17: Approve permit for Lake Aero Styling & Repair to conduct aeronautical activities at Lampson Airport for FY 2015-2016 and authorize chair to sign.   

7.18: Approve permit for Westgate Petroleum to conduct aeronautical activities at Lampson Airport for FY 2015-2016 and authorize chair to sign.     

7.19: Approve permit for Steve's Aircraft to conduct aeronautical activities at Lampson Airport for FY 2015-2016 and authorize chair to sign.

7.20: Approve permit for Reach Air Medical Services, LLC to conduct aeronautical activities at Lampson Airport for FY 2015-2016 and authorize chair to sign.

7.21: Approve permit for Jack Olof to conduct aeronautical activities at Lampson Airport for FY 2015-2016 and authorize chair to sign.

7.22: Approve forms requesting cooperative work agreements with Caltrans for state and federally funded projects, and authorize the chair to sign.

7.23: Adopt resolution delegating the County Public Works director authority to negotiate and acquire certain real estate transactions under $10,000 in order to purchase a portion of certain parcels (APN 007-003-47, 008-020-16 & 008-020-45) as part of the bridge replacement project on Mathews Road.     

7.24: Approve advanced step hiring of Correctional Officer II Efren Jauregui at step 5 due to extraordinary qualifications.

7.25: Adopt resolution approving the second year application for funding and the execution of grant agreement and any amendments thereto with the Board of State and Community Corrections for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds in the amount of $207,028.

7.26: Approve purchase of Microsoft Office Suite licenses from a state contractor, in the amount of $50,214 and authorize director of Social Services to sign purchase order and related documents.     

7.27: Approve lease agreement between the county of Lake and Sam Polo for office space located at 14092 Lakeshore Blvd., Clearlake, for the duration of three years at $3,170.20 per month and authorize the chair to sign.

TIMED ITEMS

8.2, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of checks to the Animal Coalition of Lake County and SPCA of Clearlake.   

8.3, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation of the 2014 Crop Report.

8.4, 9:25 a.m.: Consideration of proclamation in support of LakeCountyFilm.com.

8.5, 9:30 a.m.: Presentation of Lampson Field FY 2017-2021 Airport Capital Improvement Plan.

8.6, 10 a.m.: Lake Family Resource Center's Final Report (July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015), Domestic Violence Services.

UNTIMED ITEMS

9.2: Consideration of continuing the proclamation of a local health emergency by the Lake County health officer.     

9.3: Consideration of a) continuing the proclamation of emergency declaration for drought conditions; and, b) continuing the proclamation of emergency declaration for wildfire conditions.

9.4: Consideration of memorandum of understanding between the county of Lake and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery Concerning the Rocky and Jerusalem fire debris removal and related environmental restoration activities.

9.5: Consideration of Behavioral Health Department to enter into a contract with the Department of Health Care Services in order to fund services already provided by Behavioral Health and to help reduce and deescalate possible PTSD by providing additional community outreach and support to members of the county affected by the Valley fire.

9.6: Consideration of policy allowing Juvenile Hall employees who are terminated to buy-back vacation and sick leave to avoid a break in service.

9.7: Consideration of letter of support for Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa to host a benefit concert for Valley fire survivors.

9.8: Consideration of FY 2015-16 Emergency Management Performance Grant application in the amount of $138,552.

9.9: Consideration of FY 2015-16 State Homeland Security Grant Application in the amount of $140,489.

CLOSED SESSION

10.2: Public employee evaluation title: Child Support Services director.

10.3: Public Employee Appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): Interviews and appointment of interim Public Services director.

10.4: Conference with Legal Counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(4): One potential case.   

10.5: 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.