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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
During its April 1 meeting, the council awarded the $552,662 project bid to Granite Construction.
The city’s construction plans show that work will include sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, new LED flashing traffic signage, crosswalk warning pavement lights, signage, an electric utilities vault in the sidewalk and irrigation control, along with the new bus stop.
Public Works Director Dale Goodman said the city had to put the project out to rebid.
On March 18, the city opened bids from Granite, the low bidder; as well as Darren Taylor, $556,915; M3 Integrated, $607,200; and Team Ghilotti, $877,141.
Goodman said they were satisfied with the Granite Construction bid.
City Manager Alan Flora said the promenade and bus stop projects were combined in order to get better bids. He said the Lake Transit Authority will reimburse the city for the bus stop project.
The cost breakdown in city documents shows that the city’s cost share is $475,000 while Lake Transit’s is $138,427.
Flora told Lake County News that the promenade was originally bid as part of the larger Austin Park project, “but we didn’t have enough money to tackle it at that time so we cut it out.”
Staff recommended the city council approve the contract with Granite Construction. There was no public comment, and the council approved the contract unanimously.
Also during the April 1 meeting, the council approved a resolution approving responsibilities and guidelines for Measure V Citizen Oversight Committee members, got an update on the Hope Center, and presented proclamations declaring Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Lake County registered an 8.3-percent unemployment rate in February, down from 8.9 percent in January, according to the Employment Development Department. Lake County’s February 2020 rate was 5.8 percent.
The February jobless rate is the second-lowest Lake County has experienced since the pandemic began last spring. It recorded a 7.4-percent rate in November and October also was 8.3 percent.
The EDD’s report said the state’s overall unemployment rate dropped 0.5 percentage points to 8.5 percent in February as employers gained 141,000 jobs. The February 2020 unemployment rate in California was 4.3 percent.
On the national level, February’s unemployment rate was 6.2 percent, down from 6.3 percent in January. The February 2020 rate ws 3.5 percent.
In Lake County, farming jobs in February were up by 27.5 percent over January and were 1 percent above the previous year, EDD data showed.
Total nonfarm jobs are up by 0.9 percent in a month-over comparison but down by 4.4 percent when compared to last year, based on the data.
Job categories or subcategories showing growth over this time last year include federal government jobs, up 13.3 percent; retail trade, up 4.5 percent; and trade, transportation and utilities, up by 3.2 percent.
All industries and subcategories in Lake County showed positive job growth or no change over the month, with the exception of financial activities, which was down by 3.4 percent, according to the report.
Lake’s neighboring counties’ jobless rates and ranks in the latest report are Colusa, 15.9 percent, No. 57; Glenn, 7.6 percent, No. 25; Napa, 7.1 percent, No. 18; Sonoma, 6.4 percent, No. 8; and Yolo, 6.8 percent, No. 12.
The statewide snapshot
In California, the EDD said December and January combined for a two-month total of 155,400 jobs lost, but February’s gain recovered nearly 91 percent of that loss, the state said.
California has now regained nearly 39 percent of the 2,714,800 total nonfarm jobs lost in March and April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In California payroll jobs totaled 15,998,900 in February 2021, up 141,000 from January 2021 but down from 1,662,000 from February 2020.
The number of Californians with jobs in February was 17,334,300, an increase of 345,600 jobs from January’s total of 16,988,700, but down 1,253,500 from the employment total in February of last year, the report said.
The EDD said the number of unemployed Californians was 1,610,200 in February, a decrease of 69,600 over the month, but up by 764,900 in comparison to February of last year.
Statewide, the number of jobs in the agriculture industry increased by 2,900 from January to 423,100 jobs in February. The agricultural industry had 2,300 more farm jobs in February 2021 than it did the February prior.
Among industries, leisure and hospitality led the gains, with 102,200 new jobs over the month, followed by other services, 14,100; education and health services, 13,000; manufacturing, 8,900; trade, transportation and utilities, 8,200; professional and business services, 5,400; and construction, 600.
Industries that showed declines included government, which the EDD said lost 6,000 jobs, mainly due to reductions in federal government jobs such as census and postal workers; followed by information, -2,800; financial activities, -1.900; and mining and logging, -700.
In related data that figures into the state’s unemployment rate, there were 794,348 people certifying for Unemployment Insurance benefits during the February 2021 sample week. That compares to 818,589 people in January and 351,766 people in February 2020, EDD said.
Concurrently, EDD said 90,662 initial claims were processed in the February 2021 sample week, which was a month-over increase of 32,285 claims from January, as well as a year-over increase of 55,533 claims from February 2020.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration will officially open the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, or SVOG, application portal on Thursday, April 8.
The portal will open at 9 a.m. Pacific Time.
The grants are for operators of live venues, live performing arts organizations, museums and movie theatres, as well as live venue promoters, theatrical producers and talent representatives.
Those eligible entities are some of the first that had to shutter their doors a year ago in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Concerts, plays, dance performances, movie premieres, museum exhibits – these are the lifeblood of culture and community, and often the anchor for travel, tourism and neighborhood food and retail stores. We know that for the stage and venue operators across the nation that help make this culture happen, the pandemic has been devastating. Too many have been forced to lower the final curtain on their businesses. Today, with more than $16.2 billion available through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants, help is here,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “The SBA is committed to moving as quickly as possible to deliver this vital funding effectively and equitably - ensuring relief goes to those venue operators whose revenues have been most impacted by the pandemic.”
The SVOG program was appropriated more than $16.2 billion for grants via the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act and the American Rescue Plan Act. Of these funds, at least $2 billion is reserved for eligible SVOG applications with up to 50 full-time employees. Eligible applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue up to a maximum amount of $10 million for a single grant.
The SBA is accepting SVOG applications on a first-in, first-out basis and allocating applicants to respective priority periods as it receives applications.
The first 14 days of SVOG awards, which are expected to begin in late April, will be dedicated to entities that suffered a 90 percent or greater revenue loss between April and December 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The second 14 days (days 15-28) will include entities that suffered a 70% or greater revenue loss between April and December 2020.
Following those periods, SVOG awards will include entities that suffered a 25% or greater revenue loss between one quarter of 2019 and the corresponding quarter of 2020.
Prior to the opening for SVOG applications, the SBA has hosted a national informational webinar – which can be viewed above – to highlight the application process for potential eligible entities.
The agency also provided recurrent program updates and information via frequently asked questions, additional video tutorials, an application checklist, eligibility requirements and applicant user guide through SBA’s dedicated SVOG website and targeted outreach to potential applicants.
As the SBA built the SVOG program from the ground up, it worked closely with its federal partners, including those dedicated to the affected industries such as the National Endowment for the Arts and Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Congressional authors in analyzing the legislation and Congress’ intent.
The agency also consulted industry partners, such as the National Independent Venue Association, National Association of Theatre Owners, National Independent Talent Organization, Performing Arts Alliance, Broadway League, American Alliance of Museums and the Associations of Art Museum Directors, Children’s Museums, Science and Technology Centers, and Zoos & Aquariums.
The SBA’s collaboration with these organizations has been vital to SBA’s understanding of and guidance for potential SVOG applicants and the agency looks forward to their continued partnership during the launch of the program.
In addition, SBA’s resource partners, including SCORE Mentors, Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers and Veterans Business Outreach Centers, are available to provide entities with individual guidance on their applications.
Applicants can find a local resource partner via SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/local-assistance or via a zip code at www.sba.gov/localassistance.
Per federal grant program guidelines that the same and equal information needs to be provided to each applicant, SBA’s team members are limited on responses they can provide to individual, specific questions regarding SVOG eligibility, potential grant amount, or other detailed information.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
During their Tuesday meeting, the supervisors agreed to pull the letter of opposition to Senate Bill 271 from the consent agenda in order to discuss it further, ultimately voting unanimously to send the letter to the bill’s author, State Sen. Scott Wiener.
In February, Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced SB 271, the Sheriff Democracy and Diversity Act, which he said is meant to allow all registered voters to run for sheriff, reverting back to the eligibility requirements in place from 1850 until 1989.
Under current law, candidates must have Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST, certificates to qualify, which Wiener asserts limits those eligible to a “tiny pool” and results in sheriffs being “effectively insulated from political accountability and are only accountable to the law enforcement officers who are authorized to challenge their reelection.”
In his announcement on the legislation’s introduction, Wiener said that sheriffs have aggressively cooperated with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to facilitate deportations, have ignored and refused to endorse COVID public health orders, and have failed to be responsive to community demands for police and jail reform. He said 49 of 58 of the state’s sheriffs are white men.
Board of Supervisors Chair Bruno Sabatier said he worked with Sheriff Martin on the proposed letter, the text of which is published below.
The letter focuses on the key issues of training and experience, which also were focal points of Tuesday morning’s discussion.
“My heart in this is really to make sure we have good public policy in California,” said Martin.
He explained that, with the exception of the supervisors, all county elected offices – such as judge, district attorney and assessor-record – have minimum requirements for candidates.
In 1988, a law passed to require sheriff’s candidates to have some professional experience and qualifications in order to hold the office, Martin explained. “These current qualifications are not an unattainable bar.”
California Government Code Section 24004.3, which the bill aims to repeal, requires that those running for sheriff meet one of the following criteria:
– Has an active or inactive advanced certificate issued by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
– One year of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience, at least a portion of which must be within five years of the date of filing to run for office, and a master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
– Two years of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience within five years prior to the date of filing, and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
– Three years of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience within five years prior to the date of filing, and an associate in arts or associate in science degree, or the equivalent, from an accredited college.
– Four years of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience within five years prior to the date of filing, and a high school diploma or the equivalent.
Candidates don’t have to be in the sheriff’s office to run, with Martin pointing out that many former California Highway Patrol and police officers, district attorney investigators and state peace officers are eligible to run for a sheriff’s post.
SB 271 would essentially strip all the requirements, said Martin.
He said arguments for the bill have looked at larger, urban counties like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, where the functions of sheriff are much different than in rural counties. Those supporting the bill based on the urban model argue that the sheriffs in those areas don’t go out and conduct patrol.
But in Lake County, Martin does do patrol, just like other rural sheriffs do, he said.
He said the bill would institute a blanket policy by someone in an urban area who doesn’t understand rural areas.
Martin suggested it could have “a great effect,” especially with issues of civil rights, searches, evidence collection and protecting the innocent.
“You don’t learn these things by simply getting more votes” but by years of experience, Martin said.
He also was concerned that the bill could have a large impact on rural sheriffs specifically. “I think we’re going to have some poor outcomes,” he said, adding he’s let Lake County’s state representatives know where he stands on the bill and thanking Sabatier for bringing it forward.
Sabatier said the law change would mean that literally anybody, no matter their criminal background, would have the eligibility to run for sheriff. “That does not make sense to me.”
Supervisor Jessica Pyska said the county relies on the sheriff to manage its disasters, and a high level of expertise is needed.
Supervisor Tina Scott said she supported the letter and asked if other counties are writing similar letters.
Martin said other jurisdictions and employee organizations are registering their opposition, but the bill is getting support in urban areas.
“I can see the reasons people might think it’s not that bad of an idea,” Martin said, noting that in an urban area, a sheriff is unlikely to be out interacting with the community like he does. “The vast majority of counties in California are rural like ours.”
Sabatier said the California State Sheriffs’ Association also has submitted a letter opposing it.
“I just think that we should be looking to raise the bar, never lower the bar,” said Sabatier.
Acknowledging the motivations about diversity and inclusion, Sabatier said he believes they can be increased while raising the bar for sheriffs.
Supervisor EJ Crandell noted of Martin in particular that he has always worked with the Native American community and people of color.
In response to a question about the bill’s status, County Counsel Anita Grant said it has passed the Senate’s Public Safety Committee by a 4-1 vote and is headed to the Senate Governance and Finance Committee.
As such, Sabatier noted, “It’s got legs.”
The Senate Governance and Finance Committee is chaired by Sen. Mike McGuire, who represents Lake County. Martin said that hearing is scheduled for later this month.
Pyska asked how McGuire feels about the bill. Martin said so far McGuire hasn’t made that known.
Martin said his concerns aren’t about him but who eventually comes after him to hold the office, explaining that experience is key.
“This is about doing what’s best for our community,” and getting the best person for the job, he said.
Scott moved to approve sending the letter, with the board voting 5-0.
See the letter’s text below.
RE: Senate Bill 271 (Wiener) – Oppose As Introduced January 28, 2021
Dear Senator Wiener,
We are writing this letter in opposition to SB 271, County Sheriffs: Eligibility Requirements. This bill would in essence, and as currently presented, eliminate all eligibility requirements to become a County Sheriff.
We understand that this is part of the social justice movement to help diversify the sheriffs in our state, and to help broaden the scope of the conversation on what policing is, and what policing should be. We never want to shy away from these conversations. Diversity helps us understand each other better, and better serve the public in a more meaningful and understanding position. Policing, while fundamentally similar to when it first began, has changed over the course of our social evolution. We support the conversation on how best to serve our communities and how best to ensure the safety of our communities. Reinforcing that appropriate processes and protocols are utilized is paramount to building trust within our communities in regard to policing. These conversations are continuous and productive.
However, there is one aspect of policing that should not change: training and experience. Obtaining the appropriate educational and certification requirements are all part of ensuring that we evolve in a best practice approach. Rural counties, such as Lake County, commonly rely on their elected Sheriff to actually perform law enforcement functions. If police-community interactions are a concern now, what kind of outcome would we expect when a person with no
training or real-world experience with respecting civil rights decides to engage in law enforcement as the county’s senior law enforcement officer?
In larger counties, it is true that the elected sheriff may not perform tasks as they have many support personnel and staff with requisite experience to handle things such as administrative and personnel matters, policy updates, community engagement, and a myriad of other responsibilities. The reality for small and medium sized counties is that sheriffs themselves often perform these functions. The experience and training required to carry out these tasks properly and effectively comes after many years. It doesn’t occur simply because you get more votes than someone else. A county which has a sheriff that needs to go through a learning curve that takes years to attain will be disserved.
We seek experienced and knowledgeable candidates who understand the law and the Constitutions to which they take an oath. While experience and training does not always speak to the character of the individuals that are elected to the position of Sheriff, it speaks to an understanding of the legal processes and the rights that they are meant to preserve.
We believe strongly in quality policing in Lake County and strive to be better in how we interact with our communities and how we keep them safe. SB 271 will not help us in this endeavor. In fact, we fear that it may do just the opposite. This is why we oppose SB 271, and hope that this bill will not continue its path to the Senate Floor.
Respectfully,
COUNTY OF LAKE
____________________________ ____________________________
Bruno Sabatier, Chair Brian Martin, Sheriff
cc: Honorable Assembly Member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Honorable State Senator Mike McGuire
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