As smartphone use continues to increase in the U.S., especially among children, the California Department of Public Health has issued guidance for individuals and families who want to decrease their exposure to the radio frequency energy emitted from cell phones.
Although the scientific community has not reached a consensus on the risks of cell phone use, research suggests long-term, high use may impact human health.
“Although the science is still evolving, there are concerns among some public health professionals and members of the public regarding long-term, high use exposure to the energy emitted by cell phones,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “We know that simple steps, such as not keeping your phone in your pocket and moving it away from your bed at night, can help reduce exposure for both children and adults.”
Cell phones emit radio frequency energy when they send and receive signals to and from cell towers, and some scientists and public health officials believe this energy may impact human health.
Meanwhile, cell phone use in the U.S. has increased dramatically in recent years. About 95 percent of Americans own a cell phone, and 12 percent rely on their smartphones for everyday Internet access.
In addition, the average age when children get their first phone is now just 10 years old, and a majority of young people keep their phones on or near them most of the day and while they sleep.
“Children’s brains develop through the teenage years and may be more affected by cell phone use,” said Dr. Smith. “Parents should consider reducing the time their children use cell phones and encourage them to turn the devices off at night.”
The new CDPH guidance includes practical steps both adults and children could take to reduce exposure to radio frequency energy from cell phones.
That includes:
– Keeping the phone away from the body; – Reducing cell phone use when the signal is weak; – Reducing the use of cell phones to stream audio or video, or to download or upload large files; – Keeping the phone away from the bed at night; – Removing headsets when not on a call; – Avoiding products that claim to block radio frequency energy. These products may actually increase your exposure.
Forty-seven states saw their adult uninsured rate drop by five percentage points or more in the first three years following the Affordable Care Act’s major health coverage expansions, according to a new Commonwealth Fund scorecard assessing access to health care.
New Mexico’s rate dropped the most between 2013 and 2016, from 28 percent to 13 percent.
A dozen other states, meanwhile, saw double-digit drops: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and West Virginia.
The uninsured rate for children under age 19 also fell in most places, dropping by at least two percentage points in 33 states. Nevada saw the biggest drop – eight points – with Montana next at six points.
Recent policy actions, however, could reverse these gains in many states, the report concludes.
If Congress repeals the ACA’s individual mandate, premiums for people buying health insurance on their own could become unaffordable for many.
Of the 39 states using the federal marketplace, Nebraska, Wyoming, Alaska and Iowa would see the biggest average dollar increases in premiums for people who buy coverage without subsidies.
In addition, the shortened open-enrollment period, cuts in advertising and outreach for ACA marketplace coverage, and failure to renew federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program could potentially reverse states’ gains in access to health care.
“The Affordable Care Act has successfully allowed states to expand health insurance to millions of their residents,” said Sara Collins, vice president for health care coverage and access at the Commonwealth Fund and a coauthor of the study. “If people are going to continue to be able to get and afford the health care they need, it will be essential to hold on to and build on these coverage gains.”
People in many states are better able to get and afford health care
The report, States’ Progress on Health Coverage and Access to Care, 2013–2016, analyzes state performance based on six measures of access and affordability.
Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Hawaii, and Minnesota were top-ranked overall, while South Carolina, Mississippi, Wyoming, Texas and Oklahoma came in at the bottom.
When looking at trends over time, the scorecard found substantial improvement between 2013 and 2016 in most states, with some exceptions.
In nearly three-quarters of states, fewer people skipped needed health care because of costs in 2016 compared to 2013. Arkansas, California, Kentucky, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington saw drops of between five and seven percentage points in the share of people who said they didn’t see a doctor because it was too expensive.
In more than half of states (30 states plus D.C.) the percentage of people at risk for poor health outcomes who did not have a recent routine doctor's visit declined by at least two points. Arizona, Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Oregon saw gains of five points on this access measure.
The share of working-age adults and children in each state living in households that spent a large portion of their income on medical care was at least two percentage points lower in 25 states and the District of Columbia in 2015–2016 compared to 2013–2014.
Alaska, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Tennessee saw the greatest improvement – a five-to-six-point reduction.
Medicaid expansion key to improving access to health care
States that expanded eligibility for Medicaid as allowed by the ACA were the most likely to see big declines in their uninsured rate. Montana and Louisiana, which both recently expanded their Medicaid programs, saw uninsured rates drop four and three percentage points, respectively, between 2015 and 2016 alone.
Low-income adults fared better in Medicaid expansion states than their counterparts in non-expansion states:
Nine expansion states slashed their uninsured rate for low-income adults by more than 20 percentage points between 2013 and 2016.
The share of low-income adults going without health care because of costs declined by more than seven points, on average, in the states that expanded Medicaid, compared to three points in states that did not.
All the top-ranked states, as well as those that climbed the most in the rankings since 2013 – prior to the ACA’s coverage expansions – had expanded their Medicaid program by January 2016. Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Montana, Oregon and Rhode Island all made double-digit jumps in the rankings. Other expansion states also improved: Nevada jumped eight places in the rankings, while Washington State and the District of Columbia each moved up six places.
Conversely, Wyoming, which did not expand Medicaid, dropped 19 places, from 30th in the baseline ranking (prior to the ACA coverage expansions) to 49th.
“The scorecard clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of policies that make it easier for people to get and afford the health care they need,” said Commonwealth Fund President David Blumenthal, M.D. “Moving forward, we should continue to evaluate the Affordable Care Act’s impacts and support successful efforts to ensure high-quality, affordable health care for everyone.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday heard from south county community members about the importance of facilitating the rebuild of Harbin Hot Springs after resort officials wrote a letter that blamed county staff for holding up their plans.
The decades-old resort was destroyed in the September 2015 Valley fire, and since then has been seeking to get its rebuild off the ground.
However, in a letter sent to Supervisor Moke Simon late in November, Sajjad Mahmud, senior vice president and managing director, and Julie Adams, vice president and managing director, criticized Community Development Director Bob Massarelli and his department for what they said has been a burdensome planning process filled with obstacles.
Mahmud and Adams’ letter went so far as to say that dealing with the Community Development Department has been worse than the Valley fire itself.
Concerns about the rebuild process for the resort aren’t new. In March, the Middletown Area Merchants Association wrote to the Board of Supervisors, asking that the body “recognize Harbin’s importance to the economy of South Lake County, and do what it can to facilitate the rebuilding of Harbin Hot Springs.”
The association’s letter said the resort attracted 200,000 unique visitors from around the world to Middletown each year. It estimated that the resort’s closure since the fire has resulted in a loss of $125,000 annually in transient occupancy tax, $120,000 in lost sales tax, with south county businesses losing at least $2 million in annual revenue on top of the loss of 240 jobs.
In response to the Nov. 27 letter from Mahmud and Adams, Simon had the matter placed on the board’s Tuesday agenda for discussion.
Harbin supporters helped fill up the room for the morning meeting. Simon said he brought the matter to the board for the opportunity to discuss the vision and the process of the resort.
Massarelli gave an overview of his involvement with the project, noting that he started his job at the county in June 2016 and very quickly learned how important Harbin was to Lake County in terms of the economic base, jobs, other businesses and tax revenue.
He said he invited resort officials to a meeting in September 2016, at which point his staff laid out the process of updating the specific plan of development for rebuilding the resort.
However, he noted that the project isn’t “just a simple rebuild,” explaining that 1,700 acres are being added to the resort and facilities are being moved around the property.
He said 1993 was the last time the resort received project approvals, adding that a lot has changed in 24 years.
When the resort’s management submitted a general plan of development two months ago, Massarelli said it didn’t meet the county’s code requirements.
Due to the October Sulphur fire, Massarelli said his department’s last meeting with Harbin officials was moved to this Wednesday.
Board Chair Jeff Smith recalled resort representatives coming to the board meetings right after the Valley fire and stating that they wanted to be the first to rebuild.
“We all wished it would have happened by now, for sure,” Smith said.
Supervisor Rob Brown pointed out that the resort had received the permits for its phase one – reported to include the renovation and reopening of its pool facilities – and asked where that was in the process.
Mahmud said they’ve made good progress on phase one, with a lot of construction having taken place already. He estimated the resort is about three months away from opening again for day use.
His complaints on Tuesday touched on lengthy delays – in some instances, several months – between submittal of plans and response from Community Development. Grading plans and building color schemes that have been requested were earlier in the process than expected, and overall they felt the requests were excessive.
Brown pointed out that everyone – even those rebuilding their homes – now have more requirements than they did in in decades past.
One of the issues facing the project is that it’s been placed under design review in accordance with the Middletown Area Plan. “How do we get around that?” asked Brown.
Massarelli said he thought his department was working well with Harbin, and trying to make sure that what is built is replacing “like with like.”
He said they asked for color samples to see how the new construction would fit with the area. “We’re not asking for elaborate detailed drawings.”
Brown pointed out that if the resort submits color samples now and then decides to repaint in a year, the county isn’t going to stop them. They can’t, however, get away from the grading plan, he added.
Smith said Massarelli is following the laws, and that the only people who can tell him to do anything different are the supervisors.
Simon said they got themselves into a pickle as a board this last year by saying what the intent of the Middletown Area Plan was, and that it’s been applied to one business but not another. That statement seemed to refer to previous discussions about the plan in reference to the Dollar General project.
“The main thing is, getting stuff rebuilt,” Simon said, adding that he thought there needed to be more communication between Community Development and resort staff. “Right now I don’t have any solutions.”
County Counsel Anita Grant urged the board to avoid making sweeping legislative changes when talking about one project.
“Also, don’t forget the law of unintended consequences, which can sometimes come back,” she said.
Grant added that the board could direct staff to streamline the process within the bounds of existing law, but that they have the obligation to apply the rules equally to everyone.
Supervisor Jim Steele said he thinks the project’s change in scope – referring to the 1,700-acre addition – was a part of the challenge, and that other things took up staff time.
Steele also faulted the resort for the “ad hominem” nature of its letter that blamed Massarelli, and said there was an across-the-board communication problem.
In response, Adams went to the microphone to say that the letter had originated in response to Massarelli’s comments at the Nov. 9 Middletown Area Town Hall meeting. The meeting can be seen in the video below; Massarelli’s comments begin at 1:55:16 in the video.
Adams said they interpreted Massarelli’s comments at that time to mean he wasn’t happy to be working on the project. “His response was not supportive.”
She added, “What we really want is the same kind of easy, friendly, loving relationship before the Middletown Area Plan dropped out of the sky.” Adams said it was a surprise to find the resort covered by the plan.
Mahmud said they are now trying to get an entry kiosk and reception trailer in place, as well as a trailer for ministerial and other services in the interim before permanent structures are built.
Massarelli said that at the Wednesday meeting between his staff and resort officials they could go through each of the issues. He added that he needs to talk to the chief building official about allowing for the trailers, as they’re not proposed to be on foundations.
Mahmud emphasized that they want to move the project forward and not lose the 2018 construction season. He asked that the general plan for the project be approved before the next construction season starts.
Community offers support for resort
The board heard on Tuesday from several community member and business people who asked for the county’s help in getting Harbin’s project moved forward.
Steve Foster said he’d lived at Harbin for 22 years, serving for 18 years as managing director. “It is more than just bricks and mortar, it’s the people.”
Foster said he gets phone calls from people weekly begging for the resort to reopen. “Our contribution and commitment is to get Harbin back as soon as possible,” he said, and he asked the board to do whatever they can to get the resort reopened.
Robert Hartley, founder of Heart Consciousness Church, which owns Harbin, told the board, “I just want to stress that there are so many people whose lives are hurt by the failure to complete the rebuild.”
He cited hundreds of local employees as well as the thousands of Bay Area residents for whom the resort is a place of sanctuary and renewal.
Lisa Kaplan, director of the Middletown Art Center, came to speak on behalf of the Middletown Area Merchants Association. She presented copies of the letter and petition the group sent to the board in March in support of Harbin.
“We have fewer visitors to Lake County, which affects all of us,” Kaplan said, outlining the lost room and sales tax, fewer jobs and lost tourism spending.
Some businesses have closed since Harbin burned, “And we could possibly lose more,” she said.
Kaplan asked the board to instruct staff to do whatever possible to speed up the resort’s rebuild. “Time actually is of the essence. We are two and a half years after the fire at this point in time,” she said.
Robert White, another Harbin community member, said of the resort, “Harbin wasn’t something, it is something, and we miss it.”
Duane Harper, representing Hardester’s Markets, said Harbin has played an important role in the local economy. He noted the resort’s rebuilding will be key to the community’s Valley fire recovery, attracting thousands of visitors and increasing local employment.
Simon asked to give direction to staff to streamline the planning process as much as possible, with Massarelli saying he would report back on the Wednesday meeting with the resort staff.
Supervisor Tina Scott pointed out that Harbin isn’t the only project in Lake County that will help the county if it moves forward. She asked if there is something they can do to streamline other projects.
Massarelli suggested they put that topic on a future agenda, as he has several ideas.
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 this week will get an update on the Sulphur fire recovery process, consider a clarification for city commercial marijuana rules and hold a public hearing as part of the Community Development Block Grant process.
The council will meet in closed session at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, to hold a performance evaluation of City Manager Greg Folsom and discuss negotiations for a property at 14141 Lakeshore Drive before the public portion of the meeting beings at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
At the start of the meeting, the council will get an update on the Sulphur fire.
Acting Police Chief Tim Celli will present a commendation and introduce new officers, and the Lake County Office of Education Workability Program will give a presentation.
On the agenda is a public hearing for the presentation and closeout of the Community Development Block Grant as required by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
The council also will consider a clarification of Ordinance No. 200-2017 regarding commercial marijuana, or cannabis, zoning.
Items on the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the council meetings on Sept. 28, and Oct. 5, 12, 18 and 26; minutes of the Lake County Vector Control District Board meetings on Oct. 11 and Nov. 8; consideration of a declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9 and ratified by council action on Oct. 12; consideration of continuation of a declaration of a local health emergency issued on Oct. 12 and ratified by council action on Oct. 18; and consideration of a grant submission resolution.
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.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Area Town Hall this week will hold board nominations and hear the latest on a number of south county projects.
MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, at the Middletown Community Center, 21256 Washington St.
Meetings are open to the community, and offer the opportunity for additional public input on items not included on the agenda.
On the agenda is the second round of nominations for board seats.
Community Development Director Bob Massarelli also will give the group an update on south county projects.
Rod Shaffer will speak regarding Diamond D Ranch and there will be an update from the South Lake Fire Safe Council.
There also will be committee reports and the group will receive correspondence items related to the “Santa Visits Calpine,” a monument sign at the Coyote Valley Plaza and a monopine antenna at Wild Diamond Vineyards.
The MATH Board includes Chair Claude Brown, Vice Chair Linda Diehl-Darms, Secretary Fletcher Thornton, and members Lisa Kaplan and Gregg Van Oss.
MATH – established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 – is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.
Meetings are subject to videotaping.
For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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 city of Lakeport has opportunities for the general public to become involved in local government by serving on local commissions and committees.
If you have an interest in serving your community, applying for a position on a city commission or committee is a great place to start.
The city has extended the application period until 5 p.m. Jan. 3 for the following positions:
– Lakeport Planning Commission; – Parks and Recreation Commission; – Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee.
These appointments will be effective retroactive to Jan. 1, 2018.
Membership on these commissions and committees is voluntary.
If you are interested in serving on one of these committees, applications are available on the City’s website under the Hot Topic, “Now Recruiting: Commission/Committee Openings” (www.cityoflakeport.com).
For additional information, please contact Hilary Britton, deputy city clerk, at 707-263‑5615, Extension 102, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Due to holiday closures between Christmas and New Year, the city encourages applicants to either email completed applications, or place them in an envelope and drop them in the utility payment drop off box located on Second Street in front of Lakeport City Hall.
California Governor Jerry Brown delivers remarks at the One Planet Summit on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, in Paris, France. Photo by Allyson Kron, Bloomberg Philanthropies. Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr., representing the United States – and states and regions leading on climate across the globe – joined the President of France, the United Nations Secretary-General, the World Bank President and other heads of state at the One Planet Summit on Tuesday, the two-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement.
"We can't wait for the White House to wake up," said Gov. Brown in keynote remarks on the acceleration of local and regional climate action. "We in America are operating from the grassroots – from the cities, from the states, from corporate leaders, from universities and from civil society."
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Bloomberg also joined Gov. Brown at the summit, reaffirming America's steadfast commitment to climate action, which France's President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged in his opening remarks: "We have Mike Bloomberg, we have Gov. Brown of California, they've said they're going to stand in place of the American federal government – 'states, cities, private sector players, we're going to play a role ourselves.'"
Pointing to the state's nearly year-round fire season – and the blazes still raging in Southern California – the governor also sounded the alarm on the costly and destructive global impacts ahead unless we rapidly decarbonize.
"These fires, combined with the ones from just a few weeks ago in Northern California, add up to thousands of homes being burned and even people being killed because the fires move so fast," said Gov. Brown. "This is an example of what we can expect in the very near future."
The governor also discussed California's upcoming Global Climate Action Summit – which will convene representatives from subnational governments, businesses, investors and civil society in San Francisco next year with the direct goal of supporting the Paris Agreement – and the growing role of non-state actors with Bloomberg and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
Earlier in the day, Gov. Brown met with the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands Hilda C. Heine on the impacts of climate change to island nations.
At the invitation of the governor, President Heine confirmed she will attend the Global Climate Action Summit in 2018, and committed to working with the governor to drive stronger climate commitment and action by national governments.
California's climate leadership
Gov. Brown continues to build strong coalitions of partners committed to curbing carbon pollution in both the United States through the U.S. Climate Alliance and around the globe with the Under2 Coalition, which has grown to include 205 jurisdictions collectively representing more than 1.3 billion people and $30 trillion GDP – equivalent to 17 percent of the global population and 40 percent of the global economy.
The governor also joined Bloomberg to launch America's Pledge on climate change to help compile and quantify the actions of America’s businesses and non-federal jurisdictions to drive down their greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Last month, the governor – serving as special advisor for states and regions – rallied city, state and regional leaders from around the world at the UN Climate Change Conference, or COP 23.
In Bonn, the governor welcomed new members to the Under2 Coalition; joined Bloomberg, America's Pledge co-founder, to reaffirm the commitment of U.S. states, cities and businesses to the Paris Agreement; partnered with environmental officials from Canada and Mexico to advance North American climate action; discussed West Coast climate initiatives with Pacific Coast Collaborative governors; and delivered keynote remarks at the opening of a UNFCCC high-level event, the ICLEI climate summit and the IRENA clean energy forum.
Last month, Gov. Brown also discussed opportunities for further climate collaboration with top European Union, European Parliament and other officials in Brussels and Stuttgart; met with Norway's prime minister and convened scientists from the world's leading scientific academies in Oslo; and delivered keynote remarks for a climate symposium at the Vatican.
Earlier this year, Gov. Brown traveled to China to build closer climate ties with President Xi Jinping, Russia to call for deeper trans-pacific collaboration on climate at the Eastern Economic Forum, Canada to officially link California's carbon market with Quebec and Ontario and New York to discuss subnational climate action with the UN Secretary-General and open Climate Week NYC.
California Governor Jerry Brown meets with Michael Bloomberg (left) and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres (right) at the One Planet Summit on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, in Paris, France. Photo by Allyson Kron, Bloomberg Philanthropies.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A woman driving her vehicle in the wrong lane of Highway 29 was involved in a head-on wreck with another driver on Monday evening.
The California Highway Patrol said Bonnie Adams, 73, of Plumas Lake, suffered moderate injuries in the crash, as did the other driver, 20-year-old Roen Adams of Oakland.
The CHP said that the crash occurred at 5:30 p.m. Monday on Highway 29, south of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff.
Bonnie Adams was reported for driving her 2010 Honda Odyssey SUV the wrong way, northbound on Highway 29, within the No. 1 southbound lane, the CHP said.
Less than a minute later, she was involved in a head-on crash with Roen Adams, who was driving her 2007 Honda Accord southbound in the southbound No. 1 lane, according to the CHP.
The CHP said both women were flown by air ambulances to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of their injuries.
Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected as contributing factors, according to the CHP.
Both women were wearing their seat belts at the time the crash occurred, the CHP reported.
CHP Officer Piers Pritt is investigating the crash.
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. – Two people were flown out of county by air ambulances on Monday night following a head-on collision on Highway 29.
The crash was first reported at about 5:30 p.m. Monday in the southbound lane of Highway 29 just north of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, according to radio reports and the California Highway Patrol.
Reports from the scene described the two vehicles involved as a black SUV and a blue sedan.
Initial reports indicated that the SUV was northbound in the southbound lane, leading to the head-on wreck that blocked two lanes of the highway.
When Lakeport Fire personnel arrived on scene they reported that two people were trapped as a result of the crash, with extrication needed.
Two air ambulances – CalStar 4 and REACH 1 – were requested to land at Sutter Lakeside Hospital in order to pick up the patients, according to radio reports.
CalStar 4 landed and picked up the first patient, transporting them to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, according to reports from the scene. REACH 1 landed a short time later, also taking the second patient to Santa Rosa Memorial.
Incident command requested Lake County Animal Care and Control respond to take care of a dog that had been in the back of one of the vehicles.
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.
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 met last week to continue to work through proposed new marijuana regulations, and approve a job classification, bonds and an equipment purchase.
The council’s special Dec. 4 meeting was largely focused on another consideration of proposed new rules for commercial marijuana, or cannabis, operations.
The proposed rules were recommended to the council by the Lakeport Planning Commission, whose members put extensive work into reviewing them this fall. The council took them up at the Nov. 21 meeting and set them for a formal public hearing at its Dec. 19 meeting, as Lake County News has reported.
Community Development Director Kevin Ingram said the rule updates are necessary to be in line with state regulations, with the state having given local jurisdictions a deadline of the end of this year to have their rules in place.
Police Chief Brad Rasmussen polled seven other jurisdictions about calls for service at their marijuana dispensaries. Only one – the city of Arcata – had responded to him by the time the meeting was held, and while he didn’t have time to sit and analyze the numbers, they did not look out of line with retail stores in Lakeport of similar size.
Councilman Kenny Parlet said it didn’t look like the facilities had large crime impacts, and helped address those types of concerns.
During public comment, the council heard from Kimberly Chilcutt, founder of a medicinal cannabis company, who pointed out what she considered was a significant hole in the rules, specifically, for small manufacturers and microbusinesses like hers.
Chilcutt said she uses nontoxic and biodegradable organic vegetable glycerin to make cannabis tinctures and topicals at her home. One of her key pieces of equipment is a crockpot.
“I do everything I can to be in accordance with the law,” she said. She added, “I don’t want to be cut out of what’s going on here.”
Mayor Stacey Mattina asked Ingram if Chilcutt’s operation fits the city’s residential policy. Ingram said no, that allowing for such operations in residences hasn’t been proposed.
Councilwoman Mireya Turner said Chilcutt’s situation is an example of the kind of caution that the council needs to use as it proceeds in creating new city rules.
Chilcutt asked the council to consider her unique situation. If the city insists she move to a commercial location, “I’m done. I can't afford it. I give too much away.”
Lakeport resident Stan Jones said he didn’t feel the city needs storefront commercial marijuana operations. He said he can live with delivery sales “but not happily,” and specifically asked them not to allow onsite consumption.
Planning Commissioner Michael Green said he didn’t see marijuana being a good fit in a residential area, period. He said the city should explore the state’s mini collective concept, but added that doesn’t belong in residential zoning, either.
Green, a marijuana industry consultant, said sole proprietors are caught in the middle of up and coming commercial operations.
Melissa Fulton, chief executive officer of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, told the council that rules the county puts in place in the unincorporated areas could alleviate the pressure in the city related to situations involving dispensaries, as the county areas could bear that business.
Lakeport Fire Chief Doug Hutchison said his agency also is watching to see the developing regulations. He was concerned about solvents, and said that so far it was hard to determine what would be needed from his department in the permitting and inspection process.
Hutchison said there isn’t a day that goes by that he doesn’t see a news story about an extraction lab that goes bad or an indoor grow in a residential area that’s discovered as the result of a fire. He recounted the discovery of a lab on Bevins Street that had used dangerous venting procedures.
Other residents brought up concerns about having storefront dispensaries in the city’s downtown and on 11th Street.
Chilcutt returned to the microphone to speak against deliveries rather than storefront dispensaries, noting, “Deliveries are very dangerous” due to the potential for robbery.
Parlet agreed that delivery seemed sketchy and brick and mortar dispensaries appeared a better way to go for distribution.
Mattina said many cities are banning commercial marijuana operations for now, and she wanted to see what the state would do with its regulations. She added that the city has been trying to find a happy medium. “We need to start somewhere.”
Turner said there are regulations at the state level that are attempting to make deliveries as safe as possible. However, she had concerns about enforceability on the local level if they tried to ban deliveries.
Green told the council that they needed to serve local patients, who he said aren’t going to show up at meetings to advocate for dispensaries.
Parlet suggested the city could make some allowance for medical marijuana dispensaries but not recreational storefronts as a sort of compromise.
In regard to concern about meeting an end-of-year deadline, City Attorney David Ruderman said that when the council holds the Dec. 19 hearing on the proposed regulations, if they make substantial changes they would need to bring them back at a regular meeting.
However, he noted that the city may have some room early in the new year to finalize its rules in order to meet state requirements thanks to new state emergency regulations.
In other news, the council took the following actions:
– Approved a new classification for police detective with a salary range earning $4,708 to $6,012 per month, and the reclassification of one police officer position to police detective in the 2017-18 budget.
– Considered and approved resolutions for the authorization, preparation and sale of wastewater revenue bonds to repay the city for project costs associated with the wastewater system improvement project.
– Authorized City Manager Margaret Silveira to sign the associated purchase order and purchase agreement for a 2017 Hamm Model HD-14-VV double drum vibratory roller for paving projects at a cost of $62,748.75.
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.
New homeowners Jaiana Alvarez, Giovanni Steffan and their children at the dedication of their Habitat for Humanity home in Clearlake, Calif., on Saturday, December 9, 2017. Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Lake County. CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Habitat for Humanity has dedicated another home and welcomed another family into its circle.
On Saturday, Habitat staff, family and friends gathered to celebrate the occasion with lunch and fellowship before presenting the Steffan-Alvarez family with the key to their new home on Green Street in Clearlake.
Grocery Outlet stocked the pantry and the bathroom, and provided gifts for the two children, a generous donation that Habitat and the family all appreciate
“The boys are so excited to have their own rooms in time for Christmas,” said homeowner Jaiana Alvarez. “This is such a blessing.
Her husband Giovanni Steffan agreed. “We’re so grateful for all of the work Habitat for Humanity did with us in making this happen. We wouldn’t have this opportunity without them.”
If you are interested in the Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program and would like to know if you qualify, or if you lost your residence in one of the wildfires during the last three years, contact Deborah at 707-994-1100, Extension 106, Tuesday thru Thursday to discuss your options.
You can pick up a pre-application at the office located at 15312 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.
Equipment removes dead trees in one of the California forests impacted by a wave of tree mortality. Photo courtesy of Cal Fire. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The U.S. Forest Service on Monday announced that an additional 27 million trees, mostly conifers, died throughout California since November 2016, bringing the total number of trees that have died due to drought and bark beetles to an historic 129 million on 8.9 million acres.
The dead trees continue to pose a hazard to people and critical infrastructure, mostly centered in the central and southern Sierra Nevada region of the state.
“The number of dead and dying trees has continued to rise, along with the risks to communities and firefighters if a wildfire breaks out in these areas,” said Randy Moore, regional forester of the U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region. “It is apparent from our survey flights this year that California’s trees have not yet recovered from the drought, and remain vulnerable to beetle attacks and increased wildfire threat. The Forest Service will continue to focus on mitigating hazard trees and thinning overly dense forests so they are healthier and better able to survive stressors like this in the future.”
Moore continued, “To increase the pace and scale of this important work, we need to fix how fire suppression is funded. Last year fire management alone consumed 56 percent of the Forest Service's national budget. As fire suppression costs continue to grow as a percentage of the Forest Service’s budget, funding is shrinking for non-fire programs that protect watersheds and restore forests, making them more resilient to wildfire and drought.”
Though California received record-breaking rains in the winter of 2016 to 2017, the effects of five consecutive years of severe drought in California, a dramatic rise in bark beetle infestation and rising temperatures have led to historic levels of tree die-off.
The Tree Mortality Task Force, or TMTF, with support from the Governor’s Office and comprised of more than 80 local, state and federal agencies and private utility companies, continues to remove hazardous dead trees.
To date, the TMTF members have collectively felled or removed over 860,000 dead trees; this includes over 480,000 dead trees felled or removed by the U.S. Forest Service.
The TMTF members are using a triage approach to this tree mortality crisis, first focusing on public safety by removing dead and dying trees in high hazard areas.
To further improve forest health, the U.S Forest Service and have increased their pace and scale of prescribed fire. The U.S. Forest Service has treated over 55,000 acres and has completed over 33,000 acres in fuel treatment projects.
By combining tree removal with prescribed fire, crews will be able to decrease overly dense stands of trees, reduce greenhouse gases, and protect communities across the state.
"Tree mortality at this magnitude takes on-going cooperation between public, nonprofit and private entities,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, director and California’s state forester. “California’s forests are a critical part of the State’s strategy to address climate change. By working together and using all the resources at our disposal we will be able to make more progress towards our common goal of healthier, more resilient forests that benefit all Californians.”
With record breaking levels of tree die-off, the TMTF has used this event as an opportunity to collaborate on several fronts: from public workshops about reforestation, public outreach in urban and rural areas, and awarding over $21 million in grants aimed to protect watersheds, remove dead trees and restore our forests.
The TMTF continues to collaborate on the efficient use of resources to protect public safety and build consensus around long-term management strategies for California’s forest lands.
“The Tree Mortality Task Force has provided an essential venue for coordination of response efforts, exchange of ideas, reporting, and accountability for the ongoing statewide response to this incident,” said Supervisor Nathan Magsig of Fresno County. “Leadership from the Governor’s Office, and Office of Emergency Services has helped to ensure county issues are heard and addressed. Monthly coordination of the 10 most impacted counties has resulted in a more effective use of resources and has allowed counties to share ideas and successes.”
The California Forest Watershed Alliance also weighed in on the news.
“These growing tree mortality numbers are not a surprise given the current state of California’s public forestlands,” said Justin Caporusso, the alliance’s chair. “They are however devastating to the landscape, threatening public resources and local communities. This ongoing epidemic underscores the importance of ecologically based forest management activities in protecting our communities and public resources.”
Caporusso said the group – which represents rural counties, farmland, forestlands, water interests and conservation – is advocating at both the state and federal level to increase the pace and scale of ecologically based thinning to improve the health of our forests, reduce wildfire risk and protect water supplies; find a fix to the fire-borrowing issue that will restore funding for proactive management, reforestation and restoration activities; and advance projects and partnerships that improve forest health on a landscape level.”
With a staggering 129 million dead trees in the state, the work of the task force is far from over. The strong foundation built will continue to be an advantage as the Tree Mortality Task Force continues to address tree mortality and its impacts.
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