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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Two weeks after it made the surprising decision to terminate its animal control contract, the Clearlake City Council is set to discuss next steps.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
The agenda can be found here.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEGTV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom. Register in advance for the meeting here; after registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
On Thursday, the council is scheduled to hold a discussion regarding “next steps” for animal care and control services in the city, with the recommended action being direction to staff, although exactly what action is yet to be determined.
On Aug. 7 the council agenda contained a vague and overly broad item of business regarding discussion and consideration of the contract with North Bay Animal Services.
In a surprise move, Mayor Russell Cremer and Councilmember Tara Downey were joined by Councilmember Jessica Hooten in voting to terminate the contract.
City Manager Alan Flora’s brief staff report for the item notes that he provided a notice of termination to North Bay Animal Services on Aug. 15.
Flora said that at the Aug. 7 meeting, the council directed him to add an item to a future agenda to discuss the next steps after the contract termination.
Also on Thursday, the council will hold a public hearing regarding fire mitigation fees, consider designating one voting delegate and up to two alternates for the League of California Cities Annual Conference in October, and receive presentations on August’s adoptable dogs and Future Farmers of America.
On the meeting’s consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; minutes; and the rescinding of the prior award of the contract for the Clearlake Senior Center painting project to Poso Brothers Painting due to
contractor withdrawal, authorization for the city manager to enter into a contract with Underdog Painting in the amount of $49,285, and authorization for the city manager to approve up to 10% for additional unforeseen contract amendments.
The council will hold a closed session to discuss negotiations with Alvarez Investments for city-owned property at 14180 and 14190 Division Ave., as well as to hold a conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation, Mosqueda, Miguel v. City of Clearlake, p.s.i., administered by LWP Claims Solutions Inc.; and liability claims against the city filed by Anna Middling and Jeremy Nelson.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. — On Tuesday, Lake County’s In-Home Supportive Services workers, now in contract negotiations with the county of Lake, returned to the Board of Supervisors meeting to urge elected officials to invest in long-term care.
In-Home Supportive Services, or IHSS, workers in Lake County are represented by SEIU Local 2015, the largest union in California, representing more than half a million long-term care workers.
The county’s IHSS workers are currently negotiating a new contract with county officials, as their previous contract expired at the end of 2023.
More than 2,400 Lake County IHSS workers provide essential long-term care — including paramedical, personal care and household services — to seniors and people with disabilities.
The IHSS program ensures people have the freedom to receive long-term care in the setting of their choice by enabling them to remain in their homes instead of moving to an institutional setting.
“The entire community benefits from having trained, compassionate, caring home care providers for these recipients,” said Lake IHSS worker Dianna Wilyard. “Our essential work keeps thousands of people safe at home and out of expensive care facilities.”
Despite this essential role, the union said Lake County is experiencing a caregiver shortage that will only worsen as the population ages.
Last year, more than 385,000 authorized IHSS care hours went unused in Lake County, which SEIU Local 2015 said is nearly 10% of the total and more than double the percentage of unused authorized hours statewide.
The union said these unfulfilled hours suggest individuals are not receiving the care they need and qualify for.
Additionally, union officials said wages and benefits that fail to meet the needs of families are driving IHSS workers out of the caregiving profession. The current Lake County IHSS wage is $17.15 an hour, only $0.65 above California’s minimum wage, and far below the MIT living wage threshold of $22.83 an hour for a single individual with no children.
“At various times, I’ve had to work two to three jobs to support my family,” said Ellie Hayes, a Lake County IHSS worker. “The IHSS wage is not enough to cover all my family’s costs.”
On top of all this, the population of older adults is growing in Lake and across California, increasing the demand for in-home care.
The union said IHSS providers are especially critical in rural areas of Lake County, serving as vital links for the disability and senior community and offering essential care to those who do not have easy, affordable access to medical centers or specialized services.
“Lake County needs to start investing in care before more providers leave the industry which will worsen the current care crisis,” said SEIU Local 2015 President Arnulfo De La Cruz. “Care workers are essential and they need to be valued in order to safeguard the well-being of seniors and people with disabilities in Lake County.”
The union’s bargaining team is encouraging the Board of Supervisors to collaborate to address these pressing issues and ensure that Lake’s long-term care system is prepared to support the county’s future.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
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