LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The same day that the Board of Supervisors voted to pass the first reading of an ordinance to enforce COVID-19 Public Health orders, more than a dozen new cases of the virus were confirmed.
Total cases rose to 253 on Tuesday, an increase of 13 over the previous day, as the results of another 259 tests were reported, according to the Public Health COVID-19 dashboard.
The total active cases – those being monitored by Public Health – on Tuesday numbered 30, with 221 recovered, no current hospitalizations and two deaths, the dashboard showed.
Statewide, about 586,000 cases and more than 10,600 deaths were reported by county Public Health departments across California as of Tuesday night.
The California Department of Public Health said local health departments have reported 26,676 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 137 deaths statewide.
On Tuesday night, Lake’s neighboring counties reported the following caseloads: Colusa, 396 cases, five deaths; Glenn, 396 cases, three deaths; Mendocino, 478 cases, 10 deaths; Napa, 1,129 cases, 11 deaths; Sonoma, 3,825 cases, 51 deaths; and Yolo, 1,898 cases, 45 deaths.
Lake County’s tests on Tuesday totaled 8,036. The California Department of Public Health reported there have been 9,186,279 tests conducted in the state, an increase of 187,926 over the prior 24-hour reporting period.
Lake County’s increase in cases was reported as the Board of Supervisors was discussing an ordinance to enforce Public Health order requirements, including masking and social distancing.
After a lengthy hearing, the board passed the ordinance’s first reading in a 3-2 vote, with Rob Brown and Bruno Sabatier voting no.
The second reading of the ordinance is set for Aug. 18.
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. – This week Congressman Mike Thompson will hold another in his ongoing series of virtual town halls, this one to discuss Congress’ response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The virtual town hall will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Pacific Time Thursday, Aug. 13.
Thompson will be joined by special guest Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Member of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, for a discussion about the Congressional response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
This is the 13th in a series of virtual town halls. All constituents of California’s Fifth Congressional District and members of the press are invited to join.
This event will be held over Zoom and interested participants must email Thompson’s office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in order to join, as the platform has a capacity of 500 people.
Interested participants will be notified via email with instructions on how to join. The event will also be streamed on Facebook Live via Thompson’s page.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means where he chairs the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures. Rep. Thompson is Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus and a member of the fiscally-conservative Blue Dog Coalition.
Building upon the success of California’s first-in-the-nation earthquake alert system, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced, in partnership with Google, that the forthcoming update to the company’s Android operating system will incorporate California’s earthquake early warning technology into all Android phones.
The system will use the same data feed to receive and distribute alerts as the state’s Earthquake Early Warning System, which was announced by the governor and Office of Emergency Services last fall.
“It’s not every day that Silicon Valley looks to state government for state-of-the-art innovation, but that’s exactly what is happening today,” said Gov. Newsom. “This announcement means that California’s world-class Earthquake Early Warning System will be a standard function on every Android phone – giving millions precious seconds to drop, cover and hold on when the big one hits.”
Last October, on the 30th anniversary of the deadly Loma Prieta earthquake, Gov. Newsom announced the launch of the nation’s first statewide Earthquake Early Warning System, which marries a new smartphone application dubbed “MyShake” with traditional alert and warning delivery methods such as Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEA.
“Google is building on what we have done with MyShake,” said Richard Allen, director of the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory and professor of earth and planetary science, who led the development of MyShake.
MyShake provides Californians with early warning of ground shaking through the ShakeAlert system, which was rolled out last year by the governor’s Office of Emergency Services in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey, UC Berkeley and the California Institute of Technology.
But the app also collects shaking data from cellphones and feeds it to UC Berkeley for analysis and research. Currently, MyShake has been downloaded by more than one million users around the world.
While the state’s application has been downloaded more than a million times since being launched, the new Google technology will automatically be included in millions of Android phones used in California, without the need to download a separate app.
Earthquake early warnings can come seconds to minutes before the ground begins to shake, giving MyShake users — and now Android users — time to duck, cover and hold on.
Warnings delivered through the system are based on a computerized program called ShakeAlert, operated by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the U.S. Geological Survey that analyzes data from seismic networks in California, calculates preliminary magnitudes, and then estimates which areas will feel shaking.
The ShakeAlert system more broadly gives the state’s businesses, utilities, first responders and others time to secure equipment, pause activities or shut off equipment that could be damaged or incapacitated in a quake — or that could cause injuries.
Allen and UC Berkeley researcher Qingkai Kong consulted with Google over the past year to help the company develop and implement the Android Earthquake Alerts System.
“It's a great project that allowed academic researchers to participate and help Google build the system,” Kong said. “It’s goal is to make an earthquake early warning system available globally that can benefit a lot of people and reduce a lot of casualties in the future. That is always the ultimate goal, to serve society and reduce earthquake hazards.”
Android’s built-in system works similarly to MyShake: Accelerometers in every phone detect shaking and send the data to Google, which uses massive processing to determine the pattern and estimate the spread of shaking.
In a blog post on Tuesday, Marc Stogaitis, a principal software engineer with Android at Google, noted, “We’re essentially racing the speed of light (which is roughly the speed at which signals from a phone travel) against the speed of an earthquake. And lucky for us, the speed of light is much faster!”
According to Kong, Android will only source ground-shaking data from phones that are plugged in and charging and have not moved for a fixed period of time, in order to weed out shaking due to normal movement or to being carried in a pocket or bag.
Allen is hopeful that what Google learns from its crowdsourced earthquake detection network will be applicable to the MyShake experiment, even if outsiders cannot access the data because of privacy concerns.
“Google has great resources, but they are behind a wall,” he said. “I hope we can continue our partnership, so that we can continue to make advances, some inside Google, from which we can learn and apply these lessons outside Google to improve early warning and also better understand earthquake processes.”
Earthquake-prone countries like Mexico and Japan have long had earthquake early warning systems, with alerts typically delivered through cell phones or public address systems. However, California is the first state in the nation to offer earthquake early warning.
Gov. Newsom and the Legislature made significant investments to fund disaster planning and preparedness – including earthquake early warning – in the 2019 Budget Act.
Last year’s enacted budget included $16.3 million one-time general fund to finish the build-out of the system, including finishing seismic stations installation, adding GPS stations to the network, improving telemetry and launching an education campaign.
The governor’s budget this year includes an additional allocation of $17.3 million, supported by a one-time loan of the same amount from the School Land Bank Fund, for full operation and maintenance of the system.
To learn more about earthquake preparedness and download the earthquake early warning application, visit www.earthquake.ca.gov .
NORTH COAST, Calif. – A bill authored by Sen. Mike McGuire that seeks to protect journalists from being physically attacked and detained has passed an Assembly committee.
Sen. Mike McGuire’s legislation, SB 629, which will enhance and extend access and protections to members of the media who are attending demonstrations in order to gather vital information, passed another hurdle last week with a 7-0 vote in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.
“Members of the press risk their personal health and safety each time they attend protests or rallies to get the public the information they need and deserve. Rubber bullets, tear gas, and even detainment cannot be the new norm for an essential pillar of our nation’s democracy. California must lead the way to ensure the right of the press and the First Amendment are protected and held to the highest standard,” McGuire said. “SB 629 - The Press Freedom Act - will help ensure journalists can perform these critical roles while being protected under the law from any law enforcement officer intentionally assaulting, obstructing or interfering with their duties while they are gathering the news.”
Freedom of the press is one of the foundations upon which America was born. In 2020, that freedom has been under attack more than ever before.
According to the Freedom of the Press Foundation and the Committee to Protect Journalists, there have been approximately 600 incidents in the United States of reported aggressions against the press in the last several months. These aggressions include detainments, arrests and attacks against members of the press attempting to do their jobs at First Amendment protests, marches and events.
During protests this year, reporters have been hit by rubber bullets, struck with batons, sprayed with tear gas, and detained by law enforcement, all while performing their critical role of documenting and informing the public of current events.
While California law allows reporters and members of the press to enter natural disaster emergency areas for the purpose of gathering information, these protections do not extend to first amendment protests, marches or events. SB 629 provides these protections.
The legislation is supported by the California News Publisher’s Association, The California Broadcasters Association, California Black Media, Impremedia, Ethnic Media Services and the First Amendment Coalition.
The legislation is co-authored by: Senators Dodd, Hertzberg, Hill, Wiener, Gonzalez, Portantino and Skinner and Assemblymember Wicks.
SB 629 will move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, then to the Assembly floor for a full vote later this month.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Health reported that 20 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in county residents.
The Public Health COVID-19 dashboard showed on Monday that the local caseload had risen to 240, up from 220 from the last update on Friday.
Of those 240 cases confirmed on Monday, 25 are active, 213 are recovered and two have died, the dashboard showed. None currently are hospitalized.
Lake County’s positivity rate on Monday remained at 4.6 percent.
Public Health departments in the state’s 58 counties reported more than 574,000 cases and more than 10,470 deaths as of Monday night.
The California Department of Public Health said local health departments have reported 26,544 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 137 deaths statewide.
In Lake’s neighboring counties, the following numbers were reported on Monday: Colusa, 391 cases, four deaths; Glenn, 360 cases, three deaths; Mendocino, 472 cases, 10 deaths; Napa, 1,071 cases, 11 deaths; Sonoma, 3,753 cases, 50 deaths; and Yolo, 1,834 cases, 44 deaths.
To date, 7,777 tests have been completed in Lake County, Public Health reported. Statewide, there had been 8,998,353 tests conducted as of Monday, an increase of 172,234 over the prior 24-hour reporting period, the California Department of Public Health reported.
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 Clearlake City Council on Thursday reached consensus to pursue a salary increase for its members and supported having staff work on the implementation of a tobacco retail license program.
During public comment at the start of the meeting, city staff read numerous comments from residents of Pond Road who were concerned about the possible relocation of the city’s corporation yard to their neighborhood.
Earlier this year, after the council determined that a city-owned property on Ogulin Canyon Road wasn’t suitable for the corporation yard – currently located at the former Pearce Field airport property which the city wants to see used for a shopping center – the city began looking at other locations, including co-locating the yard at the Special Districts facility on Pond Road.
Pond Road residents who submitted comments raised issues with traffic, noise, lighting, crime and a host of other concerns.
City Manager Alan Flora told the council that city staff held a neighborhood meeting with residents, with both Mayor Russ Cremer and Vice Mayor Dirk Slooten in attendance, to hear their concerns.
“Just so all of you know, we’re looking at other additional sites within the city,” said Flora, nothing that when staff has an analysis prepared, they will bring the matter to the council for an agendized discussion.
The two main items on the agenda included a discussion requested by Councilman Phil Harris regarding raising council members' salaries. Harris, in his first term, is not seeking reelection this fall.
City Attorney Ryan Jones gave the council an overview of council compensation. “It is set very clearly in government code,” and is based on population size.
The current council salary is $300 per month, which was approved in 1989. While statute sets the maximum salary for cities with a population of fewer than 35,000 people at $300 per month, Jones said the state law also allows an annual salary adjustment of 5 percent per calendar year above that amount.
If the council wanted to catch up with the 5 percent for each of the past 31 years, it would raise total monthly salaries to $765, staff reported.
The written staff report from Flora and Jones said the city’s current total cost for council salaries is $18,000. They also get health care benefits, the total costs for which average between $30,000 and $40,000 per year.
If the council implemented the $765 per month stipend, total costs would increase from $18,000 to $45,900 or from $3,600 to $9,180 per year for each council member, Flora and Jones’ report said.
The increase wouldn’t go into effect until after the November general election, Jones said.
Harris asked if, beyond the stipend, there is the ability to provide the same benefits packages to council members as offered to employees. Jones said yes, and that some other councils also offer benefits like life insurance.
Harris said medical benefits are one aspect, and he also wanted life insurance and retirement to be considered.
Comments from community members on the item questioned whether it was wise to proceed.
“This does not seem like a good time to discuss an increase,” said local Realtor Dave Hughes in a letter to the council.
Others on the city’s Town Hall site questioned the raise, suggesting it wait a few years.
One city resident, Terry Stewart, said he thought the raise was “long overdue” and suggested that the compensation be doubled to $600. “I think this amount would be more in line with other small cities in our area, as compared with the maximum available increase.”
“We’re not necessarily doing it for ourselves, we’re doing it for the future,” said Councilwoman Joyce Overton.
Overton said it costs money to go to the council meeting, and during the discussion she said early in her council career she had considered quitting because of the out-of-pocket expenses, which she estimated totaled $60,000 in her first eight years.
“I think this is the wrong time to do this,” said Slooten.
Cremer said he agreed with Harris about the need to do it. “The cost of living has gone up,” he said, adding the council members aren’t going to get rich off the increased salary.
Harris suggested increasing the monthly salary for council members from $300 to $500. He said it’s a way of making sure they get the right people, who truly care, and not just those who have the means to serve. Overton agreed.
Harris, noting he wasn’t seeking reelection, said, “There’s an ongoing commitment I have to make sure the right people take the seats on the dais.” He added he wanted to make sure the city is reaching out to as many people as possible.
He suggested an increase to $500 per month, with the additional 5 percent raise per year.
Councilman Russ Perdock said he came to the meeting on the fence about the issue. He said when he was initially on the council and working on commission as an insurance agent, he lost a lot of money. At the same time, he said he thinks it’s a tough time to ask for a raise.
Cremer agreed with Harris on the $500 per month amount, calling it “reasonable” and saying it was supported by a League of California Cities analysis of city council salaries included in the staff report.
“I really believe this is the wrong time to do it,” said Slooten, noting local businesses are struggling. He said an additional $200 per month isn’t going to bring in higher quality people.
Jones ultimately received consensus from the council to bring the matter back. Jones said he will draft an ordinance with options and come back at the next meeting later this month.
“The council can decide at that point,” he said, noting the ordinance would need to pass two readings.
In other business, the council supported staff working to create a tobacco retail license program, with Flora reporting that there is grant funding available to implement it.
On Aug. 13, a moratorium expires which the council put in place on retail tobacco outlets like smoke shops and vapor lounges. Flora said that moratorium has been extended as long as it can.
During the discussion, Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said the county has discussed a similar program, but it’s been put on the backburner since Public Health – which was directing it – has been dealing instead with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flora said funding should be available after the end of the year, and staff will bring back details to the council.
He said the staff had been waiting for funding availability to implement the program. “That’s why you’re seeing it now.”
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. – New demographics data for Lake County’s COVID-19 cases shows continuing trends with regard to source, gender and communities having the largest caseloads.
The new demographic report is based on a total of 240 cases, the caseload Public Health reported on Monday. That’s a 32-case increase since the last data report on Aug. 10.
This week’s report shows that, once again, the category of close contacts to known cases – at 116, up by 11 from last week – continues to lead all other sources for how Lake County residents contract COVID-19.
Another 54 cases are classified as “under investigation,” up by three from last week; 33 cases are listed as “other/unknown,” up by 16; 24 are from out of county contacts, up by one; seven are presumed community transmission, up by one; four are presumed occupational contact, no change; and two are in a congregate living situation, specifically, the Lake County Jail, with no change since last week.
For gender, cases in females continue to lead, with 133, up by 20 over last week, compared to 107 in males, an increase of 12 cases.
Regarding age range, the largest number of cases continues to fall into the 25 to 34 age group, with 54 cases, up by six over the previous week.
Tied for second place at 40 cases are the 13 to 24 and 35 to 44 age groups, having risen by five and four cases, respectively; followed by age 45 to 54, 33 cases, up six; age 55 to 64, 30, up by two cases; age 65 and above, 22 cases, up by one; and birth to age 12, 21 cases, up by three.
The case breakdown by supervisorial district for the week is as follows:
– District 1, Middletown and the south county along with portions of Clearlake: 32 cases, an increase of nine over the week; – District 2, Clearlake area: 91 cases, up by 12; – District 3, Northshore area: 42 cases, up by six; – District 4, greater Lakeport area: 35, up by two; – District 5, Kelseyville, Loch Lomond and Cobb: 38 cases, up by two. – Two cases are labeled as “unknown” for location, a decrease of one since last week.
The caseload breakdown by zip code shows, with the increased number over last week in parentheses, is as follows:
Public Health will release its next demographics report on Monday, Aug. 17.
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 Parks and Recreation Committee will hold a special meeting this week to discuss items including plans for the city’s new Lakefront Park development.
The commission will meet via webinar beginning at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here or join by phone by calling toll-free 877-309-2074 or 213-929-4221. The access code is 335-523-379; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the City Clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments prior to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
Indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council prior to the meeting.
On the agenda is the review of proposed plans for the Lakefront Park design, with the commission to make recommendations to the Lakeport City Council.
Earlier this year, the city received a $5.9 million grant to develop the park, which will be located on land that includes the former Natural High School property in the 800 block of N. Main Street.
The commission also will receive an update on activities at the Silveira Community Center, the former Bank of America building on N. Main Street that is named for newly retired City Manager Margaret Silveira, whose work resulted in the building being donated to the city.
In other business, the commission will get updates on the Westside Community Park, completion of items for the city’s walking path and activities at Library Park.
The commission includes citizen members Suzanne Lyons, Jen Hanson, Cindy Ustrud, Ben Moore and Wayne Yahnke, and staff members including City Manager Kevin Ingram, Public Works Director Doug Grider, Parks Lead Worker Ron Ladd and Deputy City Clerk/Secretary Hilary Britton.
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. – After months of adjustment, planning and preparation, the majority of Lake County’s schools are set to resume classes this week, most of them in distance learning mode because of the continuing threat of COVID-19.
Lake County schools closed on March 16 in response to the pandemic and just days ahead of countywide shelter-in-place and statewide stay-at-home orders.
The first school to start the new school year, the Lake County Office of Education’s schools, the Clearlake Creativity School, begins classes on Monday, Aug. 10.
On Wednesday, Aug. 12, Lakeport Unified, Lucerne Elementary and Upper Lake Unified will start class.
Konocti Unified, originally setting an Aug. 10 start date, has pushed that back to Aug. 17, and Middletown moved its opening from Aug. 13 to Aug. 24.
Lake County International Charter School in Middletown reported that it is reopening on Aug. 24.
Kelseyville Unified will reopen on Sept. 8, the same day that the Lake County Office of Education’s second school, the Lloyd P. Hance Community School in Lakeport, starts the fall semester.
Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg said a four-stage countywide model of reopening was adopted by each of the six school districts, which in turn needed to adapt it for their specific circumstances.
The four instructional models in the Lake County Schools COVID-19 Return to School Continuum Plan, last updated on July 17, are:
Stage one, distance learning. This calls for distance learning, with school staff on campus but limited students on campus, instruction happening virtually, and no athletic competition or practice.
Stage two, hybrid model. This stage has staff on campus along with some students. Safety protocols will be in place, including masks, social distancing, smaller cohorts and frequent handwashing. Instruction will occur both in-person and virtually.
Stage three, five-day-a-week instruction. Both staff and students are on campus, safety protocols – masks, social distancing, smaller cohorts and frequent handwashing – remain in place and instruction occurs in-person.
Stage one distance learning will remain available to parents who choose it in stages two and three.
Stage four, school sites open with no restrictions. Traditional schooling resumes five days a week without restrictions.
Four of Lake County’s six districts – Kelseyville, Konocti, Lakeport and Middletown – are beginning in stage one.
The superintendents of Lucerne Elementary and Upper Lake Unified report they plan to start in stage three with some students on campus five days a week and the distance learning option available to families that want it. Smaller class sizes will help with social distancing and, in the case of Lucerne, the district will implement shorter school days.
Lake County International Charter School said it will start classes in stage two of the reopening plan.
School administrators so far have not been able to estimate when they will move into future phases.
In the case of the Office of Education’s two schools, Falkenberg said they are going to open in stage three, with in-person instruction.
“Our schools are unique. First of all, they’re very, very small,” and serve a unique population, he said.
Falkenberg said those children need to be in the school environment. “In reality, we really intend to have those kids come to school on a regular basis.”
All of the districts are pledging that distance learning this time will be better for students than it was in the spring.
It’s a concern raised by many, including Lakeport Unified School District Board member Jennifer Hanson at that board’s special July 21 meeting.
Hanson is an educator herself – a professor in the business faculty at Woodland Community College’s Lake County Campus in Clearlake – who is now leading online classes.
She said she was concerned about schools being prepped for distance learning following what happened in the spring. At the same time, she said her daughter, who is in college, didn’t have a good learning environment in the distance education model.
“When you go back and look at last school year, we were in crisis mode,” said Falkenberg.
He said the districts went from making a decision on March 15 to close schools to having a learning plan ready for children and families the next day. At that point, Falkenberg said, they thought they would only be out of school for a matter of weeks.
“Teachers did a fantastic job of trying to fill that gap,” he said.
“Now we know this is a long-term, extended situation. We don’t know when it’s going to end,” he said.
However, Falkenberg said teachers, as a unit, have promised that there will be robust, high-quality educational outcomes for Lake County’s students.
He said the Office of Education and local districts engaged this past week in professional development in distance-based learning, a discipline in which most teachers aren’t trained, as the traditional model of teacher preparation is for in-person instruction.
Likewise, Upper Lake Unified Superintendent Dr. Giovanni Annous said the distance learning will be leaps and bounds different than it was when they were in “survival mode” from March to May. Now, he said, they need to transition from survival mode to thrive mode.
Falkenberg also pointed to how extremely important parents are to the education process now – “much more so than they’ve ever been required to be involved in educational outcomes.”
With parents now also acting as teachers, Falkenberg said they need to engage in any stakeholder feedback opportunities they can – attending district meetings, and expressing their thoughts and concerns to the superintendent and school board – so their needs can be considered as schools move forward.
A fast-changing situation
Educators have found themselves having to create and recreate opening plans as state, local and federal guidance has been adjusted on an almost constant basis in response to the ever-changing pandemic.
On April 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his roadmap for modifying the statewide stay-at-home order, and on April 24, the Lake County Office of Education released a COVID-19 recovery plan document.
Days later, Newsom said he was considering allowing an early start to the academic year providing that schools and businesses implemented safe social distancing practices.
On May 12, the district superintendents joined Falkenberg in signing a letter to the county’s families explaining their work to come up with reopening plans that would minimize health and safety risks for everyone. On June 17, the schools announced they would open on time.
On June 25, Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace issued a 31-point plan for local schools to follow in reopening. The document covers cleaning, testing strategies, scheduling, use of indoor and outdoor spaces, and routes for entry and exit of campuses, and protocols for what to do when students, family members or staffers test positive for the coronavirus, among other issues.
On July 13, the Lake and Mendocino County chapters of the California Teachers Association sent an open letter to county superintendents outlining what teachers and classified staff believed was necessary to provide safe and health schools. They outlined the need for community support, funding, equitable access for students to resources and professional educators, as well as a variety of distance and blended learning options “to maximize the educational advancement of all students in as safe an environment as possible.” The letter can be seen below.
The state released its in-person learning reopening criteria for K-12 schools on July 17. That’s the basis for the four-stage reopening model local schools are using and which – so far – remains current.
“The fluidity of the situation has been frustrating for everybody,” said Falkenberg.
He said local schools have been continually making plans, only to have to go back to the beginning and start again when guidelines change.
For schools, which are used to planning six to seven months in advance, that’s a challenge, Falkenberg said.
“That’s the nature of COVID-19, and as we are learning, we’re having to adjust based on the most current and relative data,” he said.
Annous put it this way: “We are building the plane as we’re flying it.”
At Lucerne Elementary, Principal-Superintendent Mike Brown and Assistant Principal Megan Grant have been writing reports and plans all summer, working to keep up with quickly changing health guidance.
“It’s just been a rollercoaster ride, this whole summer,” said Brown.
“I think everybody is trying to do what they think is best for their community and their kids,” Brown said, explaining that having children back in school is important so people can return to work.
Pace reported in recent weeks that, while resumption of in-person instruction is ultimately under the discretion of local school officials, in-person instruction is only allowed to resume in areas that have not been on the state’s county monitoring list within the prior 14 days.
The California Department of Public Health said that schools in jurisdictions that are on the monitoring list must conduct distance learning, only, until their local health jurisdiction has been off the monitoring list for at least 14 days.
Since then, with issues connected to the state’s testing and reporting data – specifically, a server outage and other technological issues reported by California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly last week – the state said it wasn’t adding or removing counties from the watch list, which has 38 counties on it currently.
Kelseyville Unified switches course, goes to online model
Earlier in the summer, Kelseyville Unified reported that based on the response from parents, the district was planning to start the school year with in-person instruction.
However, weeks later, with support of the board, Superintendent Dave McQueen switched to distance learning, a course he said he had been considering due to rising COVID-19 cases and the need to meet local and state health guidelines.
“The virus is spiking. We must keep studies and staff safe,” McQueen said in a message posted on the district’s website on July 22. “We know the best place for students is in the classroom with their teachers and their peers; however, our first priority is to keep everyone safe, and at this point, we’re not confident we can do that with in-person instruction. Therefore, all Kelseyville Schools will start the school year with distance learning.”
Kelseyville Unified said distance learning will be better this fall. “Last March, the decision to move to distance learning happened over the course of a weekend. Teachers changed from in-classroom to remote learning practically overnight. They did the best they could under difficult circumstances and I’m grateful to them for their flexibility and dedication. I’m also glad we’ve had time since then to improve how we provide distance learning,” McQueen said.
McQueen said the district is working to provide technology to the students who need it as well as a more interactive learning experience.
“We heard loud and clear that students need more real-time interaction with teachers and peers. We plan to provide it,” McQueen said.
McQueen also asked parents to tell the district what they need and communicate if students are struggling. “It’s always best to start with your student’s teacher, but you can also call the school and the district for information and answers.”
The district will hold three virtual town hall meetings about school this fall. They will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, Thursday, Aug. 13 (in Spanish) and Wednesday, Aug. 19. Community members must register; they are asked to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for login information and to provide the date – or dates – on which they want to participate.
Konocti Unified superintendent describes plans
On July 29, Konocti Unified Superintendent Dr. Becky Salato posted a video in which she explained the district’s plans for the coming school year.
On July 21, the Konocti Unified board took action to start with all students on a distance learning model. Salato said the board also approved the four-phase plan for returning students to face-to-face learning by meeting all health and safety guidelines.
She said the district is offering three options for parents. The first is a phased-in approach that will move through the four phases of reopening.
It starts with distance learning before moving into a hybrid instructional model that will include distance learning as well as modified, in person learning. In the second of the four-phase plan, 50 percent of students will attend face to face instruction Mondays and Tuesdays, and continue Wednesday through Friday with distance learning. Salato said the other 50 percent of students will attend face to face instruction on Thursday and Friday, while doing distance learning from Monday through Wednesday.
She said Wednesday will be a day for deep cleaning, teacher prep, office hours and additional needed support for students. Safety protocols will be in place including masks, social distancing, smaller cohorts and frequent handwashing.
Phase three would have school sites reopening with safety protocols and modifications and the final phase, four, would have school sites reopen without additional restrictions. “This looks more like our traditional school years,” Salato said.
The other two models are distance learning on an online platform that parents can continue for a year; and distance learning for up to half a year, ending right before winter break in December, she said.
“I’m looking forward to a unique but successful 20-21 school year,” Salato said.
Lakeport Unified board weighs options
Lakeport Unified Superintendent Jill Falconer said her district is on track to start school in stage one on Aug. 12.
She told Lake County News that the district is bringing in small groups of five to seven students each day for each teacher to do an orientation or for students to meet their teacher and pick up devices.
Since stage one allows for limited students on campus, “We felt it best for the students to meet their teachers and see their classrooms,” Falconer said.
At a special meeting on July 21, the Lakeport Unified Board wrestled with what course to take at a time when health officials are advising against children being in classrooms. Even in outdoor spaces like the playground, Falconer said children can’t even share sports equipment or bounce balls back and forth.
After listening to hours of input from parents, teachers and staff, the board chose to select the stage one route and start the school year fully online with a full distance learning model.
“It is the express intent of this board to get to phase two as quickly as possible,” said Board Chair Dan Buffalo.
Kindergarten teacher Tanya Wynacht said the teachers wanted their students with them in the classroom and they were working as hard as they can to create the best possible program for children. “We still want to come to school and love our kids and teach our kids.”
Falconer praised district teachers who worked hard through the summer break to volunteer their time and create a program for students going forward.
“I applaud all of them. They have not been paid to work throughout the summer,” she said.
District nurse Diane Gunther told the board that being in school is important for children. “That’s the best thing for kids. Everyone knows it,” she said, adding, “But we can’t. It’s not safe.”
That’s because of community spread. Gunther, who said she has been rigorously watching the data, referred to Lake County Public Health numbers and exponential growth in recent cases over the summer, with a number of those cases in school-age patients.
Gunther was concerned about the county being placed on the state monitoring list, noting it would be hard for students to return to school only to be shut down again. She added that the state’s additional guidance that came out on July 17 is “literally impossible” to follow in order to go back to schools in person, so she encouraged the distance learning route.
Lucerne Elementary to have hybrid model
At Lucerne Elementary, the district used a survey to help determine options for families.
Brown said about 75 percent of parents asked to start back to school with in-person instruction, with safety measures in place, while the remaining 25 percent opted for a distance learning model.
“So we decided we would do both,” Brown said. “That is the direction we have been headed in.”
School administration worked with staff to get their input and at the June board meeting, board members gave direction to pursue both options, he said.
Grant said that in June the school started to make preparations to follow its dual-option model. The school has two intervention teachers who were added as classroom teachers, which allows the school to drastically reduce class sizes for kindergarten through fifth grades.
They also ordered partitions to assist with distancing of 4 to 5 feet among older students. New handwashing stations also are on site, Grant said.
Brown said those purchases were made possible by a small amount of money the district received from the state that it was able to spend right away as well as a healthy reserve the school has had.
Grant said the district has been very diligent in committing to health and safety procedures in order to create a safe learning environment for everybody. “We’ve really held true to the state standards and Dr. Pace’s county standards to be able to service kids and staff.”
Brown said the school day will be shortened by one hour for students thanks to a state waiver allowing schools to only meet the instructional minutes for a minimum day, which for kindergarten is 180 minutes, 230 minutes for first through third, and 240 minutes for fourth through eighth grades.
Middletown’s new superintendent navigates reopening challenges
Michael Cox joined Middletown Unified as its superintendent on July 1. He was hired in the spring and came to Lake County from Southern California.
He’s had to jump right in. Within weeks of his arrival, he issued a letter to the district, staff and the community explaining the next steps to starting school.
Cox said the district had been considering four options for the 2020-21 school year, but with the rising case rate, and after consultation with health officials and stakeholders, Cox said the school year would start on Aug. 24 with distance learning.
Cox told Lake County News that while the district is starting in stage one, they plan to move to a hybrid model that allows some in-person instruction as soon as they can safely. “Right now we don’t have a tentative date,” adding that the goal is to be back in person in schools before the end of the year.
He said the district has taken multiple surveys of parents as it has determined its course for the start of the new school year. “Everybody wanted the kids to be safe and to have a good instructional model.”
Like Annous and Falkenberg, Cox said distance learning will be different and improved going forward when compared to the spring. “The quality and the rigor was not up to what we would like,” Cox said, adding that they learned a lot from their experience in the spring.
Cox said the district’s staff has been working hard to develop a new and improved distance learning model that will ensure that all students participate on a daily basis.
Part of the preparation, Cox said, has been providing seven days of professional development to teachers and classified staff to make sure they’re proficient in the technology necessary to deliver distance learning.
As for accessibility, Cox said the majority of people in the district have Internet access. For those who don’t, they’ve been issuing mobile hotspots.
In addition, Cox said they will now have a one-to-one ratio for students and technology. Within the week a shipment of Chromebooks should arrive. There will then be an orientation and drive-through proces where students can pick up their education packets and technology.
Cox said it’s been a tremendously challenging situation, with the district trying to get input from families, students and stakeholders in order to understand both what’s needed and what’s wanted, while doing everything they can to make sure students are safe.
Upper Lake Unified plans to be ‘ready for everything’
In determining Upper Lake Unified’s course, Annous and his staff said they have been taking surveys, which have revealed changing requests and concerns from parents.
An initial survey conducted about two months ago showed that 74 percent of respondents wanted children to return to schools in person. Another 12 percent wanted distance learning.
Another survey completed at the end of July with responses from 200 families – accounting for 369 of the district’s 840 students – showed opinions had shifted. Annous said that survey showed 41 percent wanted distance learning and 37 percent wanted students back in school, with the remaining 22 percent wanting a hybrid model where students would be on campus a few days a week.
Annous said they are planning a stage three model with about half of the students on campus and the other half on distance learning.
At the same time, they’re keeping an eye on local virus numbers and whether those numbers could land the county on the state’s watch list and close in-person instruction.
“Our approach is we want to be ready for everything,” Annous said.
The main goal is not to take a blanket approach but to make sure everybody is as safe as possible and comfortable, as Annous said COVID-19 could be with us for quite some time.
Annous said the district has an amazing, talented core staff that can meet the challenge, and he wants to make sure they have the resources and tools they need, including emotional stamina and support.
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. – City and county officials are reporting that election deadlines for numerous local offices on the November ballot – including both city councils and numerous school and special district boards – have been extended because some incumbents have not filed to run again.
The nomination periods for the Lakeport and Clearlake city councils opened early in July, with three seats on each up for election on Nov. 3, as Lake County News has reported.
The filing deadline for the councils was at 5 p.m. Friday, but has now been extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, for nonincumbents, city officials reported.
In Clearlake, the seats up for election are currently held by Phil Harris, Joyce Overton and Russell Perdock.
City Manager Alan Flora told Lake County News that both Overton and Perdock have filed the necessary paperwork by the Friday deadline to seek reelection. Harris previously had indicated he was not seeking reelection and so didn’t file.
“Three new candidates have pulled papers but none have been submitted,” Flora said.
Candidates are asked to contact the Clearlake Administrative Services/City Clerk’s Office at 707-994-8201, Extension 106, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information on the filing process.
In Lakeport, the seats which will be up for election in November currently are held by Tim Barnes, Kenny Parlet and George Spurr.
Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Kelly Buendia said the extension resulted from Spurr, currently the mayor and in his first term, not filing to run again.
Buendia told Lake County News that both Barnes and Parlet have filed to run for reelection.
She said nomination papers must be issued by the City Clerk’s Office and are available by appointment beginning Monday, Aug. 10. All filings must be submitted to the city clerk no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12.
Each candidate must be nominated by not less than 20 nor more than 30 registered voters; therefore, Buendia recommends that candidates pick up nomination papers in advance of Wednesday’s 5 p.m. deadline to allow time to gather signatures and fill out the required paperwork.
Those interested in running for Lakeport City Council should contact Buendia at 707-263-5615, Extension 101, for further information and to set up an appointment to go over the nomination packet.
Registrar of Voters Office reports on extended deadlines for school, special districts seats
Lake County Registrar of Voters Maria Valadez said the deadline for qualified candidates to file for office has been extended for several school boards and special districts. The nomination periods for those offices also had opened last month.
With incumbents not filing by the Friday deadline, Valadez said the nomination period to file for candidacy has been extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, for the following offices.
Yuba Community College District
Trustee Area No. 7, one vacancy, four-year term.
The seat represents the Konocti and Middletown Unified school districts in Lake County, the Maxwell, Princeton and Williams Unified school districts in Colusa County, and the Stony Creek Joint Unified School District in Glenn County.
Kelseyville Unified School District
Three vacancies, four-year terms.
Middletown Unified School District
Two vacancies, four-year terms.
Northshore Fire Protection District – Upper Lake Zone
One vacancy, four-year term.
Anderson Springs Community Services District
Two vacancies, two-year unexpired terms.
Hidden Valley Community Services District
Three vacancies, four-year terms.
Callayomi County Water District
Two vacancies, four-year terms.
One vacancy, two-year unexpired term.
Clearlake Oaks County Water District
Three vacancies, four-year terms.
Villa Blue Estates Water District
Three vacancies, two-year terms.
Individuals wanting more information regarding filing for any of the school or special district elective offices that have been extended until Aug. 12 are advised to contact the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office, located in Room 209 on the second floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. prior to the extended filing deadline.
The Registrar of Voters Office can be reached at 707-263-2372.
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 Board of Supervisors will consider another proposed ordinance to enforce public health orders, this one focusing first on education and training before levying administrative fines.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11.
The supervisors will meet in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, for a hybrid meeting format which also will include the opportunity for community members to continue to participate virtually.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link at 9 a.m. The meeting ID is 968 5797 8176, password 344284.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item please visit https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the eComment feature linked to the meeting date. If a comment is submitted after the meeting begins, it may not be read during the meeting but will become a part of the record.
At 9:02 a.m., Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace will give the board an update on COVID-19.
At 11 a.m., Supervisor EJ Crandell will ask the board to consider a draft ordinance to provide for graduated levels of enforcement of public health orders through education and training and the imposition of administrative fines.
Last week, Crandell had intended to have the board consider an urgency ordinance that also would have imposed fees and administrative fines but pulled it from consideration.
This week, Crandell is returning with an ordinance that would focus on education and training in seeking compliance with Public Health orders.
He said the Blue Collar Committee – a group of local business owners assembled by Supervisor Rob Brown to consult on COVID-19-related matters – drafted its own ordinance. Crandell noted in his report that “many of the points they included in it serve as the basis for the Ordinance I am presenting today. More recently, I have received another draft from community members who support enforcement, also attached, and I am appreciative of the efforts of these folks as well.”
Crandell’s ordinance differs significantly from the one presented last week, although it has the same administrative fine structure based on Government Code section 25132, subdivision (b): up to $100 for a first violation, up to $200 for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year of the first violation and not more than $500 for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year of the first violation.
The new ordinance defines “enforcement officer” as the Health Services director and Community Development director or their designees, and any official designated by the Board of Supervisors to enforce the ordinance.
Examples of violations the ordinance lists include, but are not limited to, a business operating when that business sector has been ordered closed, and failure to adhere to masking, social distancing and mandated hygiene requirements.
Crandell said in his report that if a violation is determined to be occurring, an enforcement officer will contact the responsible party and request correction while offering assistance in the form of training and/or information to achieve compliance and allowing a reasonable time of not less than five days to make the correction.
If informal enforcement is unsuccessful, the enforcement officer will issue a notice of violation that provides up to 10 days to make the correction. “In those rare cases where the violation is still not corrected in ten days, the Enforcement Officer may impose an administrative fine, not to exceed $100 for the first violation, $200 for the second and $500 for additional violations, within one year of the first,” Crandell said in his memo.
Anyone who receives a notice of violation may file a written appeal to the Board of Supervisors within 10 days. “Appeals will be heard by our Board, allowing the party an opportunity to testify and present evidence. Our Board will make the decision as to whether an administrative fine will be imposed,” Crandell wrote.
Crandell concluded, “With hope we have moved beyond the COVID-19 crisis, this Ordinance would sunset on October 1, 2021, unless further action is taken by our Board.”
Also on Tuesday, in an untimed item, the board will consider recommendations for the formation of an Economic Development Task Force.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Second reading, adopt ordinance Amending Articles 27 and 68 of Chapter Twenty-One of the Lake County Code to clarify the definition of public lands in regard to commercial cannabis cultivation.
5.2: Approve additions to the County of Lake COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Return to Work - Worksite Protection Protocol, authorizing the county administrative officer or her designee to initiate the meet and confer process with labor groups.
5.3: Approve county’s COVID-19 interim policy for working remotely.
5.4: Approve agreement with Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation for Equity Assessment and Cannabis Local Equity Program Plan in the amount of $100,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.5: Adopt resolution approving agreement with California Department of Food Agriculture for Pierce’s Disease/ GWSS Agreement in the amount of $54,423.15 for FY 20/22.
5.6: Adopt resolution approving agreement with the State of California, Department of Food and Agriculture for State Organic Program Cooperative Agreement # 20-0198-000-SA in the Amount of $5,520.
5.7: Adopt resolution approving agreement with California Department of Food Agriculture for Certified Farmer’s Market Program investigation and enforcement in the amount of $1,425 Agreement # 20-0140-000-SA.
5.8: Approve budget transfer and purchase for new asset in the amount of $2,450 to purchase pickup truck and authorize the chair to sign.
5.9: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and The SmithWaters Group for patient rights advocacy for FY 2020-21 for a contract maximum of $45,000, and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.10: Approve resolution of the governing board of the Kelseyville Unified School District Increasing school facilities fees as authorized by Government Code Section 65995 (b) 3.
5.11: Adopt resolution approving revenue grant agreement with the state of California for Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) and CoronaVirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and authorizing the Registrar of Voters to execute the agreement with the state.
5.12: Approve the Continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transportation, and disposal of fire debris for the Mendocino Complex fire.
5.13: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as Proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.14: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.15: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire Incident.
5.16: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.17: Approve long-distance travel for Sgt. Joe Dutra to attend active shooter training in Grapevine, Texas, for the period Oct. 30 to Nov. 4, 2020, at a cost not to exceed $3,500.
5.18: Approve long-distance travel for Sgt. Ben Moore and Det. Nate Newton to attend Watchguard training in Allen, Texas, for the period Sept. 13 to 18, 2020, at a cost not to exceed $5,000.
5.19: Approve contract between county of Lake and Adventist Health for the provision of out stationed eligibility specialists for the donation amount of $70,276.80 per fiscal year from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2023, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:02 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: Nuisance abatement hearing for Ryker Schenck, 2922 Gardner St. Nice (APN No. 031-134-57).
6.4, 11 a.m.: Consideration of an ordinance of the Lake County Board of Supervisors to provide for graduated levels of enforcement of public health orders through education and training and the imposition of administrative fines.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of recommendations for the formation of an Economic Development Task Force.
7.3: Consideration of resolution authorizing a joint application by the county of Lake and the Elijah House Foundation for the California Department of Housing and Community Development Homekey Grant Program.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Threat to the security of public facilities and delivery of essential public services pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.
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.
To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here or join by phone by calling 914-614-3429 or toll-free, 866-952-8437. The access code is 499-692-147; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . To give the City Clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments prior to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
Please indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council prior to the meeting.
The commission’s main item of consideration is a commercial self-storage facility proposed by Jonathan and Doug Bridges of Kelseyville-based Bridges Construction.
The Bridges want to develop the 35,800 facility on a 6.6-acre property at 1296 and 1320 Craig Ave.
They’ve applied for a general plan amendment, zone change, and an architectural and design review.
The staff report said a 28-unit single-family development previously had been approved for the site, as had a use permit and architectural design review for the development of a private school. However, those projects haven’t been pursued.
Also on Wednesday, the commission will get an update from city staff regarding COVID-19 and will review the pending projects list.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are approval of the completed minutes for the commission’s regular meetings on Feb. 12, April 8, May 13 and June 10 meetings.
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.
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