CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council is set to discuss selling a property it originally purchased for a corporation yard and animal shelter.

The council will meet virtually at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18.

Because of the county’s shelter in place order, Clearlake City Hall remains closed to the public, however, the virtual meeting will be broadcast live on Lake County PEG TV’s YouTube Channel.

Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You can also visit the city’s new town hall site and submit written comments at https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/327/Issue_9055 . Identify the subject you wish to comment on in your email’s subject line or in your town hall submission.

To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments prior to 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 18.

Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the mayor or a member of staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the beginning of the meeting will not be included in the record.

On the agenda is a discussion of selling the 21.25-acre city-owned parcel at 2185 Ogulin Canyon Road to Kim Gardner.

City Manager Alan Flora’s report to the council said the city purchased the property in 2016 with the intention of locating a Public Works corporation yard and animal shelter facility there.

However, in February, an analysis by city staff presented to the council concluded that the property isn’t an acceptable location either for the corporation yard or animal shelter, as Lake County News has reported.

“The City is currently under construction for new and upgraded Animal Shelter facilities and is undertaking planning to locate the Public Works Yard near the Lake County Sanitation District’s Southeast Treatment Plant. The City has no current need for the 21.25-acre property on Ogulin Canyon,” Flora reported.

He said the property was listed for sale a few weeks ago for $398,000 and a full price offer has been received. He said the buyer would like a 90-day escrow period.

If the council gives authorization to sign the agreement, Flora said staff will proceed with taking the proposed sale to the Clearlake Planning Commission for review of general plan consistency, and close of escrow would be contingent on this determination.

“Other than the 90-day period for due diligence no other contingencies have been requested by the buyer,” Flora reported.

The council also will consider adopting its new fiscal year budget, get updates to the management classification and benefits plan and city salary schedule and get a presentation on the city’s adoptable dogs.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote – are warrant registers; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017, in response to the Sulphur fire; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and Ratified by Council Action March 19, 2020; minutes of the April and May meetings; minutes of the May 13, 2020 LC Vector Control District Board meeting; consideration of Resolution No. 2020-29, approving a temporary street closure for the 63rd annual July 4th celebration; Adoption of Resolution 2020-30 authoring the application for and receipt of Local Early Action Planning Grant Program funds; acceptance of easement deed from Highlands Mutual Water Co. for property located at 14580 Lakeshore Drive; acceptance of right of way dedication from Clearlake Paper-Janitorial Supply for property located at 14802 Lakeshore Drive; purchase of emergency items with funds from the 2019 CalOES Grant.

Following the public portion of the meeting, the council will go to closed session to discuss existing litigation against Pacific Gas and Electric Co., negotiations for the sale of city-owned property at 2185 Ogulin Canyon Road and a potential case of litigation.

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. – Health officials on Monday confirmed that two more Lake County residents have tested positive for COVID-19.

The two new cases bring the total COVID-19 caseload for Lake County to 34.

Lake County Public Health did not immediately release any details about the cases.

Of Lake County’s total cases, four are active and 30 have recovered. There are no current hospitalizations, according to the Lake County Public Health COVID-19 dashboard.

Approximately 3,459 of Lake County’s more than 64,000 residents have been tested for COVID-19, with 149 of those test results still pending, Public Health reported.

As of Monday night, more than 155,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 5,100 deaths had been reported in California, according to data provided by county health departments statewide.

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. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has more new cats and kittens available for adoption this week.

The following cats at the shelter have been cleared for adoption.

Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm for information on visiting or adopting.

Domestic short hair cat

This young female domestic short hair cat has gold eyes and a black coat.

She is in cat room kennel No. 15c, ID No. 13733.

Male domestic short hair

This adult male domestic short hair cat has lynx point coloring and blue eyes.

He has been neutered.

He is in cat room kennel No. 74, ID No. 13719.

‘Foozy Ball’

“Foozy Ball” is a female domestic long hair cat with a calico coat and gold eyes.

She has been spayed.

She is in cat room kennel No. 108, ID No. 13729.

‘Buffy’

“Buffy” is a female domestic short hair with gold eyes and a black coat.

She is in cat room kennel No. 111, ID No. 13730.

Domestic medium hair kitten

This male domestic medium hair kitten has a white coat and blue eyes.

He has been neutered.

He is in cat room kennel No. 129a, ID No. 13688.

Male domestic short hair kitten

This male domestic short hair kitten has a white coat with black markings and blue eyes.

He has been neutered.

He is in cat room kennel No. 129c, ID No. 13690.

Domestic short hair cat

This male domestic short hair cat has a brown tabby coat.

He has been neutered.

He is in kennel No. 138, ID No. 13701.

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. – On Friday, the California Public Utilities Commission approved a proposal by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to create cost-effective microgrids to reduce the number of customers affected by public safety power shutoff events and mitigate the impacts to those who remain affected.

Lake County was impacted by several of PSPS events last year, which PG&E used in response to severe weather conditions that it said threatened the electric system and could have resulted in wildland fires.

PG&E said its Community Wildfire Safety Program includes short-, medium- and long-term plans to make its electric system safer. These plans include installing new grid technology, hardening the electric system, and performing enhanced vegetation management, all with the goal of making PSPS events smaller in size, shorter in length, and smarter for customers. Microgrids are one tool in these efforts.

PG&E spokeswoman Deanna Contreras told Lake County News that the company is preparing 63 substations across 19 counties, with eight of them in Lake County in locations including Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks, Hidden Valley Lake, Kelseyville and Lakeport.

By preparing these substations, PG&E will be able to more quickly and efficiently interconnect generation during PSPS events, Contreras said.

On Wednesday, June 17, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., PG&E will hold a webinar for Lake and Mendocino counties on its ongoing safety work to prevent and mitigate the serious risk of catastrophic wildfires and to keep them healthy and safe.

For information or to join the webinar visit here.

Plans for grid resilience

For 2020, PG&E’s microgrid solutions focus primarily on building grid resilience and keeping the power on for customers in communities that have a high likelihood of experiencing a future PSPS event.

To that end, PG&E has reserved more than 450 megawatts of temporary mobile generation to be deployed in four ways detailed below, each with a unique objective:

– Substation microgrids: PG&E will use temporary generation at safe-to-energize substations to support safe-to-energize customers and communities affected by transmission line outages during PSPS events. PG&E is preparing 63 substations to be ready to connect temporary generators as need arises during PSPS events, subject to operational logistics and generator availability. In addition to temporary generation, in certain instances, PG&E will leverage existing local, permanent generation sources to power safe-to-energize substations and customers during PSPS events, including PG&E’s Humboldt Bay Generating Station and a third-party owned natural gas plant in Red Bluff.

– Temporary microgrids: PG&E will serve designated areas like “main street” corridors by rapidly isolating them from the wider grid and re-energizing them using temporary generation during an outage. These temporary microgrids will be used in selected communities where PG&E can safely provide electricity to centrally located resources such as medical facilities and pharmacies, police and fire stations, gas stations, and banks. Construction is underway at four temporary microgrid generation sites, and PG&E anticipates having 10 sites ready to energize by the end of 2020.

– Backup power support: PG&E will deploy temporary generation on an as-needed basis to critical customers for whom the failure of existing backup power would directly or indirectly affect public safety. Deployment would be dependent on generator availability and subject to operational considerations. Additionally, PG&E has worked closely with the California Hospital Association and Hospital Council of Northern and Central California to identify hospitals supporting the COVID-19 response effort that have a higher likelihood of experiencing a PSPS event. PG&E is developing grid-based solutions where possible and supporting hospital readiness and resiliency planning, to ensure that those hospitals remain energized in a PSPS event.

– Community resource centers: PG&E will provide Community Resource Centers to support customers and communities affected by PSPS events. Some of these facilities may need temporary generation in order to give customers a climate-controlled location where they can charge devices and receive refreshments. PG&E remains flexible with CRC deployment plans to adjust to the COVID-19 restrictions and best practices.

Community Microgrid Enablement Program

On Friday, the CPUC also approved PG&E’s new Community Microgrid Enablement Program in which PG&E will partner with local communities to identify and build multi-customer microgrids serving local critical facilities and/or customers with disabilities or functional needs that are not already served by other microgrid solutions offered by PG&E.

The program will help communities design microgrids by providing enhanced technical support, improved access to relevant utility information, financial support for qualifying projects, and tariffs to support the accounting for the flows of services, energy, and costs among the parties.

PG&E will refine the eligibility criteria and other program requirements through consultation with local governments and communities, with a goal of full program implementation and projects in development by November.

PG&E intends to model future community microgrid projects on the Redwood Coast Airport Renewable Energy Microgrid project, a collaboration between PG&E, the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Schatz Energy Research Center at Humboldt State University, Humboldt County, and Tesla, Inc., among others.

This front-of-the-meter, multi-customer microgrid project featuring PV solar paired with battery energy storage is on schedule for commissioning and full operation in December 2020.

The Redwood Coast microgrid will provide renewable energy for 18 customer accounts, including the Arcata-Eureka Airport and the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, and serve as a lifeline for Humboldt County in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.

The microgrid will be capable of disconnecting from the broader grid (island mode) and operating as an independent, PG&E-operated grid segment during a power outage.

Learn more about PG&E’s wildfire safety and PSPS mitigation efforts by visiting www.pge.com/wildfiresafety .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – While the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cancellation of many annual events, the city of Clearlake’s July 4 celebration will take place in a modified format that will include its popular fireworks display.

The Lakeshore Lions Club plans and organizes the annual July 4 celebration for Clearlake and has done so for decades, and will present the 63rd annual event next month.

At the Clearlake City Council on June 4, City Manager Alan Flora told the council that the Lions Club was working to move forward on its plans for a celebration.

Then, this past week, the Lions Club announced that it is moving ahead with a modified version of the event.

The Clearlake fireworks show will take place beginning at dusk, but other key aspects of the event, such as the annual parade, carnival and classic car show, won’t be held because the Lions Club said the typical format “just wasn't feasible given the current situation.”

It promises to be the only major public fireworks display for Lake County this year, as the pandemic has led to the cancellation of the displays in Lakeport and Clearlake Oaks.

The Lions Club said this year’s event will offer food vendors from 4 to 8 p.m.

Those who wish to participate in the celebration can expect two elements, the Lions Club said.

The two elements include a "drive in" experience for those with vehicles and a "picnic in the park" experience for those walking in. The club will be welcoming a $10 donation to park vehicles in an effort to make up for a lack of fundraising opportunities so far this year.

Families driving in can park their vehicle and enjoy the fireworks display just as they would enjoy a drive-in movie. “Vehicles will be parked with adequate space between them to adhere to social distancing,” the Lions Club said.

“The ‘picnic in the park’ experience will allow those on foot to come and sit on the grass in designated areas, again adhering to social distancing guidelines,” the club reported.

The Lions Club is encouraging social distancing and the wearing of masks when people are away from your designated area or vehicle. Restrooms and handwashing stations also will be available.

Separately, Flora told Lake County News that there are plans to livestream the fireworks show for those who prefer to watch them at home.

“We plan to have Austin Park open for the weekend. We will also do a small ceremony for the raising of the flag, which has been delayed this year, but I don’t have all the details on this yet,” Flora said.

At its meeting on Thursday, the Clearlake City Council is expected to approve the Lakeshore Lions Club’s special event application, including its request to close down several streets – Lakeshore Drive from Olympic Drive to Division Avenue, Austin Road from Lakeshore Drive to Pine Street, and Olympic from Pine Street to Division Avenue – from 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 4.

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 has directed staff to bring back a proposed urgency ordinance that will give local officials enforcement options – including administrative penalties – when businesses and members of the public do not comply with county Public Health orders.

The draft ordinance, discussed in concept last week, will be discussed as an untimed item during the board’s meeting this Tuesday. It will apply in the unincorporated county.

It can be seen below.

The ordinance temporarily designates county Code Enforcement officers as compliance officers who “shall offer training, information, and other assistance to local businesses and members of the public as necessary in order to foster compliance with state and local public health orders and the County’s reopening plan during this period of the gradual reopening of the County of Lake.”

The document states, “In those rare situations where members of the public and/or local businesses reject offers of assistance and refuse to take corrective action to attain compliance with state and local public health orders and the County’s reopening plan, Compliance Officers may issue citations assessing administrative fines or penalties as described hereinbelow.”

The draft ordinance gives the Public Health officer the authority to determine whether a violation of the ordinance, state and local public health orders, and/or the county’s reopening plan exists and the authority to take appropriate action to gain compliance. It also gives the Public Health officer the power to issue notices of violation, the power to assess and collect civil fines and penalties, and the power to enter and inspect public and private property.

It would allow the Public Health officer and compliance officers the ability to impose administrative fines up to the maximum fine or penalty amounts for infractions set forth in subdivision of California Government Code section 25132.

That code section sets a first violation fine of $100, $200 for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year of the first violation and up to $500 for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year of the first violation.

The document also includes an administrative appeal process for anyone served a notice of violation.

Proposal raised at last week’s meeting

The discussion that gave rise to the draft ordinance was not on the board’s original agenda last week and was added as an extra item over the objections of Supervisor Rob Brown, who countered that it did not meet the parameters for adding an item to the agenda.

Board Chair Moke Simon and Supervisor EJ Crandell said the proposal came from a “reopening committee” of local officials. The timing also was said to be connected to the next phase of reopening that began on Friday.

Simon said the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport have similar ordinances in place allowing enforcement. “Enforcement, at some point, needs to be put into place.”

Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace said the proposal is not about penalizing people for not opening their business, but enforcing proper and safe behavior that allows the county to move forward in a good way.

He said they’re not trying to fund their department through citation funds.

Supervisor Bruno Sabatier opposed taking punitive measures against businesses, offering instead that the county needs to talk about masks and lead by example. He said for businesses, some customers are more difficult than others.

“In my opinion, we should be finding ways to help our businesses, not ways to push them in a corner to make sure that they’re following the rules,” he said, noting that he’s observed that the majority are following the rules and regulations for reopening.

“There’s different ways to make this happen. I’m not in favor of penalizing. I’m in favor of continuing the conversations,” he said.

Crandell said that his concerns about rules arose from finding out that some local vacation rentals are continuing to be rented in violation of the county health order.

“As of Friday, that’s a moot point,” Sabatier replied, referring to the next phase of reopening that will include tourism amenities like vacation rentals to reopen.

Simon said the issue wasn’t just with masking but with social distancing and large gatherings. “Education is No. 1,” but Simon said there needed to be a conversation about the next step if there is noncompliance.

“The majority of our businesses are doing the right thing,” said Supervisor Tina Scott.

Scott said she wanted to see businesses requiring employees to wear masks, but she wouldn’t agree to penalizing businesses for the behavior of their customers.

Brown said he didn’t think they needed to have the conversation, as he maintained the county can’t enforce requirements like masking.

“It’s more wasted time and pretending that we’re doing something that’s going to make a difference,” Brown said, adding that they needed to trust people to run their own businesses.

So far, complaints submitted to the county about businesses or other organizations and their lack of adherence to county public health orders have been forwarded to board members, who in turn have reached out to educate businesses.

Sabatier said he wasn’t sure what other board members’ experiences were, but noted of the complaints, “There’s a strangeness to almost a majority of them,” with personal issues attached to the general issues of noncompliance. He said people have complained about coworkers and in one case an individual complained about their church.

“I wouldn’t want to see staff wasting their time on this,” Sabatier said.

He said Lake County has an elderly and medically fragile population whose members had to be careful about where they went and what they did before the pandemic, and will continue to have to do so for quite some time.

Unless the county starts to see a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Sabatier said they shouldn’t be having a discussion about penalizing businesses. “We need to reopen the economy, not open ‘em so we can slap them.”

County Counsel Anita Grant asked if the board wanted monetary sanctions included in the draft. Simon said he wanted staff to return to the board with an enforcement document that includes penalties.

“An ordinance without teeth isn’t an ordinance,” said County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson.

Crandell said all of the entities on the reopening committee wanted to see a document with teeth.

During public comment, the board heard a mixture of reactions.

Lakeport resident Michael Green suggested they should focus on flagrant and repeat offenders and that it didn’t need to be punitive. “What nobody wants to do is close this county down again.”

Business owner Amy Crook said she worried about a blanket policy for all businesses, explaining that one size doesn’t always fit all, especially in the small business world.

Cathleen McCarthy told the board that she feels like continuing with masks is the best thing to do to protect businesses from closing again. She said she’d like for businesses to stay open and make progress and recover, and suggested the best way to ensure that is for people to wear masks.

There were three board members – Crandell, Scott and Simon – who supported bringing back the matter for further discussion.

However, Grant said the board ultimately will need to have four of its members vote in support of the urgency ordinance to have it go into effect.

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.

Urgency Ordinance Covid-19 ... by LakeCoNews on Scribd

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council this week will consider awarding the design contract for the new lakefront park and get an update on police policies.

The meeting will take place via webinar beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 16.

The agenda can be found here.

To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here or join by phone by calling 213-929-4221 or toll-free, 877-309-2074. The access code is 723-557-820; 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 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16.

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.

A closed session will be held at 5:30 p.m. to discuss labor negotiations with the city manager and with unrepresented employees.

During the meeting, the council will present a proclamation honoring Chief Building Official Tom Carlton on his retirement from the city after 20 years of dedicated service to the community.

On Tuesday, staff will ask the council to authorize City Manager Margaret Silveira to execute a professional services agreement with SSA Landscape Architects Inc. for the planning, design, engineering and project management of the seven-acre lakefront park project, located at the former Natural High School property on North Main Street.

Assistant City Manager Kevin Ingram’s report to the council explained that the city received 13 proposals and ultimately chose SSA, which a selection committee determined to be the most qualified firm.

“Staff recommends the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate costs and select a firm for the design of the Lakefront Park,” Ingram wrote in his report.

In other business, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen will present a report regarding his agency’s policies and procedures that’s being provided in light of current national events, and Ingram will offer a resolution declaring dry weeds, brush and similar vegetation creating a fire hazard upon lands throughout the city to constitute a public nuisance in order for staff to be able to use the administrative citation procedures outlined in Chapter 8.30 of the Lakeport Municipal Code to abate said public nuisance weeds.

Also on Tuesday, the council will consider adopting a resolution and authorize the city manager to submit the Local Early Action Planning Grant, will consider authorizing the city manager to develop, maintain and revise a Lakeport Community Center Facility Rental Policy and adopt a resolution approving use and rental fees for the Lakeport Community Center, and discuss classification and salary schedule updates relating to the classifications for Public Works superintendent and building inspector, and revising of the master pay schedule.

On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular meeting of June 2 and the special meeting of June 9; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the Mendocino Complex fire; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the February 2019 storms; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the October 2019 public safety power shutoff; confirmation of the continuing existence of a local emergency for the COVID-19 public health emergency; the June 9 warrant register; adoption of a resolution
accepting construction of the Library Park Seawall Replacement Project by West Coast Contractors Inc. and authorize the filing of the notice of completion; approval and authorization for the city manager to execute the professional services agreement with Polestar Computers for the provision of IT support services; approval and authorization for the city manager to execute the professional services agreement with NHA Advisors LLC; approval and authorization for the city manager to execute the professional services; rejection of all bids for the 2020 Sewer Main Replacement Project because doing so best serves the interests of the city; introduce the proposed ordinance to the Lakeport Municipal Code and schedule a
public hearing for July 14, 2020; and adoption of a resolution approving the Compensation and Benefits Program for the City of Lakeport Unrepresented Employees for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.

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 Board of Supervisors will consider measures to enforce compliance with public health rules, discuss the coming fiscal year budget and the draft housing element this week.

The board will meet virtually beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, 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.

Because the meeting will be held virtually, members of the public are asked to submit comments on items to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please note the agenda item number addressed.

In an untimed item that is the result of a discussion from last week’s meeting, the board will consider an urgency ordinance to establish temporary compliance officers to assist local businesses and members of the public in the gradual reopening of Lake County during the continuing public health emergency.

That ordinance will include assessing administrative fines for those who violate state and local public health orders.

At 11 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing to consider the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Recommended Budget.

In other business, at 10 a.m. the board will consider the draft Lake County Housing Element and at 10:30 a.m. will hold a public hearing to consider a proposed two year extension to the Valley Oaks Subdivision vesting tentative subdivision map.

The full agenda follows.

CONSENT AGENDA

5.1: Approve addition of special meeting to the board’s annual meeting calendar for 2020.

5.2: Approve to waive the 900 hour extra help limit for Samuel Euston, senior videographer, for Fiscal Year 2019-20.

5.3: Adopt resolution establishing 2020-2021 appropriations limit for the county of Lake and Special Districts governed by the Board of Supervisors.

5.4: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to the Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Hardeep Singh, MD to fulfill the responsibilities of the substance use disorder medical director for Fiscal Year 2020-21 for a contract maximum of $90,000 and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.5: (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 state of emergency: and (b) approve first amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and CrackerJack Cleaning LLC for the cleaning of the Child Support office at 3980 Gard St., Kelseyville, for Fiscal Year 20-21 for a maximum increase of $26,400 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.

5.6: Approve resolution of the city council of the city of lakeport calling for and providing for and giving notice of the general municipal election to be held in the city of Lakeport, county of Lake, state of California, on the third day of November, 2020, for the purpose of electing three (3) city council members, each to hold office for a term of four years, or until their successors are elected and qualified, requesting consolidation of that election with the state general election and requesting approval of the Lake County Board of Supervisors for election services to be provided by the Lake County Registrar of Voters.

5.7: Adopt resolution approving the AIDS Drug Assistance Program site enrollment agreement between the California Department of Public Health and the county of Lake Health Services department for Fiscal Years 2020-2023 and authorize the Health Services director to sign.

5.8: Approve contract between the county of Lake Health Services and Sheila McCarthy for occupational therapy services in support of the California Children’s Services Program and the Medical Therapy Program for a term starting July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, and a maximum amount of $33,436.80; and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.9: Approve agreement amendment between the county of Lake Health Services Department and Sheila McCarthy, occupational therapist to increase total hours worked and total compensation for contracted occupational therapy services in support of the California Children’s Services Program and the Medical Therapy Program and authorize the board chair to sign.

5.10: Approve the continuation of local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health office.

5.11: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex Fire Incident (River and Ranch fires).

5.12: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire Incident.

5.13: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.

5.14: (a) Approve rental agreement between the county of Lake and Paul and Shery Loewen for Hangar No. 1 at Lampson Field for the Monthly Amount of $300, and authorize the chair to sign; and (b) approve the rental agreement between the county of Lake and Paul and Shery Loewen for Hangar No. 2 at Lampson Field for the monthly amount of $500 and authorize the chair to sign.

5.15: Adopt resolution to amend the Adopted Budget for FY 2019/2020 Fund 168 Budget Unit 5011 Social Services Administration by appropriating unanticipated revenue in the amount of $100,000 awarded to Lake County for COVID-19 non congregate sheltering and authorizing the Social Services director to sign award related documents.

5.16: (a) Approval of agreement with International Business Information Technologies Inc; (b) 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 and (c) authorize the sheriff/coroner or his designee to sign the agreement.

TIMED ITEMS

6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Public input.

6.2, 9:02 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.

6.3, 9:45 a.m.: Consideration of 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.

6.4, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of the Draft Lake County Housing Element as an interim housing element to bring Lake County back into compliance with state regulations.

6.5, 10:30 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of Valley Oaks Subdivision Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map Extension, SDX 19-02.

6.6, 11 a.m.: Public hearing, a) consideration of the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Recommended Budget; b) consideration of the proposed resolution amending the position allocation chart for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 to conform to the recommended budget; and c) consideration of authorization for affected department heads to proceed with purchasing selected capital assets prior to the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Final Recommended Budget.

UNTIMED ITEMS

7.2: Consideration of update to return to work protocol.

7.3: Consideration of a resolution amending Resolution No. 2020-32, revising and extending the county of Lake COVID-19 interim policy for working remotely.

7.4: Consideration of urgency ordinance establishing temporary compliance officers to assist local businesses and members of the public in the gradual reopening of Lake County during the continuing public health emergency and to provide a process for the assessment of administrative fines for violators of state and local public health orders.

7.5: Consideration of resolution of the Board of Supervisors of the county of Lake, state of California, authorizing the Konocti Unified School District to Issue its Konocti Unified School District general obligation bonds, election of 2016, Series 2020.

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.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – As the nation continues to respond to the killing of George Floyd, members of Congress are presenting legislation meant to help dismantle racism, racial inequality and systemic injustice.

Bay Area Congresswoman Barbara Lee is helping lead the charge on a package of bills meant to address racial inequality and its broader social impacts.

One of the key efforts is Lee’s legislation to establish the first United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation.

It’s an approach that Lee said 40 other countries – including Rwanda – have taken to transform their countries by effecting social change and addressing racial disparities.

Lee’s announcement on the legislation said the commission’s purpose is to properly acknowledge, memorialize and “be a catalyst for progress toward jettisoning the belief in a hierarchy of human value based on race, embracing our common humanity and permanently eliminating persistent racial inequities.”

She said the commission will examine the effects of slavery, institutional racism, and discrimination against people of color, and how history impacts laws and policies today.

Members of Congress included in the coalition signing on to support the legislation include Rep. John Lewis (GA-05), a legendary Civil Rights leader; Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; Rep. Deb Haaland (NM-01), co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus; as well as Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05), who represents the southern portion of Lake County.

Lee discussed the proposal and answered questions from North Coast residents during a virtual June 4 town hall meeting hosted by Thompson, her colleague and longtime friend, and a co-author of the legislation.

Lee and Thompson have served in government beginning with their time in the California Legislature. Both were elected to Congress in 1998.

Thompson’s virtual town hall on June 4, one in a series that has been used to discuss current issues, focused on Floyd’s killing, which he said “has rocked the nation, from one corner of the country to another.”

He said it’s a reminder about the discrimination that some people in the community face every day and, for the rest, a reminder that we need to do a better job.

During the discussion, he recounted how a member of his own staff, who is Asian American, told him recently about an encounter with an individual who acted in a bigoted and threatening way toward her in a store.

Bigotry and prejudice, he said, are "alive and well in every corner of my district, in your district, in this country and people are real quick to point out that that it's not them but it's there. It is absolutely there. We see it all the time."

Thompson said he and his colleagues have been discussing providing legislative responses to fix some of these systemic problems that have been plaguing the United States.

“I’m heartened that our colleagues are focused on this and they want to do something,” he said.

He added, “Congressional action is going to happen and it’s going to happen quick.”

In addition to working on legislation to collect data on bad cops, Thompson said they will also focus on areas including education, justice and civil rights, health care, labor and employment, and housing.”

On Monday, the Justice in Policing Act was introduced, with Thompson an original coauthor. The bill includes four main categories to allow for structural change that will begin the process of reforming policing nationwide. Thompson’s office said the bill includes accountability for police through the judiciary; improved transparency, widespread changes to the training programs that will address bias, ban practices such as chokeholds, and change the use of force standards; and making lynching a federal crime.

On Thursday Lee also reintroduced a bill to remove Confederate statues from the US Capitol.

A convergence of injustices

During the June 4 town hall – the same day that Lee’s legislation to create the Commission on Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation was formally introduced, with 114 cosponsors – Lee recounted how that when she and Thompson were in the California Legislature, they started the California Commission on the Status of African American Males, the first commission of its kind in the United States.

They worked on that effort for seven years, studying gaps and disparities in health care, and coming up with specific policy recommendations on what to do in California, which has one of the biggest prison populations.

“I hope people resurrect that here in California because we did quite a bit of work on that,” said Lee.

Despite this being a moment when people are sad and angry, “I see a lot of hope with our young people,” said Lee, describing protesters of different backgrounds and races coming together to call for change, not a return to the old ways.

“The old ways for some of us have been deadly,” she said.

At the same time, Lee said the black community is in a counter pandemic, with blacks dying at higher rates of COVID-19. She said the health system has been discriminatory and blacks have higher rates of underlying conditions.

African Americans and Latinx people also tend to be essential frontline workers and so more exposed to the virus, she said.

“We’re at that moment, that moment where we see a convergence of all of these injustices coming together,” she said.

In response, she and her colleagues are putting forward a package of bills that include her commission, as well as legislation to promote accountability and transparency for police departments, and a bill to establish the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys.

“Forty countries have done it, we’ve never done it,” she said of her proposed commission, explaining that most people don’t understand what has taken place when it comes to slavery and a wide range of other human rights violations against groups including Native Americans and Chinese immigrations.

She said many people also don’t see the connection between the past and historical context and George Floyd’s murder.

Lee was asked by a member of the virtual audience about how she would measure progress in reducing racism and discrimination in the United States.

She said that first it would be measured in a reduction of deaths involving police and health disparities, expunging records of African Americans and Latinx young people disproportionately impacted by marijuana arrests and offering them restorative justice, and seeing more of the tech industry include African Americans.

“The measurements would be clear. We would see more racial equity everywhere in the country and we would see less discrimination,” she said.

Lee also noted the huge wealth gap, with measures of success to include seeing more of the country’s low-wage workers making a living wage that allows them to take care of their families.

“So there are clear measures that we could see and it wouldn't take long if in fact we have the political will to do this,” Lee said.

In her final comments, Lee noted that the essence of patriotism is “liberty and justice for all.”

“I think we’re witnessing the birth of a new nation,” she said.

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. – Like so many others sheltering at home lately, I find myself looking more closely at flowering plants whether they grow in the garden or are found in the wild.

Each flower is like a cup of light, illuminating miniature worlds occurring on the asterisks of honeysuckle or within the nectary of a bright blue Ithuriel's spear inflorescence.

I've been taking a number of classes online, via Zoom, such as the free webinars offered by Sonoma State University's Center for Environmental Inquiry, California Native Plant Society and also by Pepperwood Preserve, etc.

In the webinar, "A Match Made in Evolution: Plants and Pollinators" presented by professional botanist and instructor of botany at Santa Rosa Junior College and Napa Valley College, Caprice Disbrow discussed the diversity and evolution of California native plants.

The up-close-and-personal relationships between flowering plants and their pollinators happen all around us during this time of profuse flowering, and presents a free show entailing both active and passive pollination.

Then, as Darwin outlined in his publications, the special coevolution between flowering plants and pollinators continues with the transfer of pollen grains from an anther to the stigma of each flower.

We all know that the great Central Valley is the fruit basket of the country, and without plant pollination, a significant portion of which occurs by honey bees, we would not eat as well as we do.

Our own gardens' zucchinis, tomatoes and peppers profit from the most critical events of their flowering lives with the help of a variety of native bees, honey bees, butterflies, wasps, beetles and birds' assistance.

Moths and bats also get in on the action of pollination, but they visit during the night hours when they scope out flowers that contain long corolla tubes and are, usually, white in color.

Mother nature did not waste energy providing night-blooming flowers with color, however, when they open during the night their scents attract many pollinators.

The California native soap plant is one such plant. Although plenty of passive pollination in plants occurs via wind or water, over time plants evolved from simple structures to those that encouraged pollination by insects. The pollen transfers in those cases proved to be more efficient and less pollen was needed.

Several differing methods of pollination evolved over time with generalist pollinator plants developing which encouraged a variety of insects to visit such as the aforementioned bees, butterflies, wasps, beetles, etc.

The generalist pollinators developed strategies for proliferating with colorations such as yellow, white, green-tinted and scented flowers.

Along with generalist pollinators there are those that specialize in order to invite hummingbirds and other visitors to sip their nectar and which, while the bird is imbibing on a treat, they also provide a pollen transfer service.

Now botanists know that bees can see ultraviolet along with yellow and blue pigments, and butterflies are also endowed with photoreceptors that allow them to see in ultraviolet.

This specialized behavior encouraged floral traits to occur over time as they were driven by natural selection between pollinator and plant.

To encourage native pollinators, Bay Nature Magazine recommends planting a garden incorporating wildflowers that are native to our area.

It's important to select flowers with differing sizes and shapes and those with staggered bloom times. Bees are especially attracted to the colors yellow, white, blue and purple.

You may want to think of leaving a portion of the garden bare to encourage beneficial ground-nesting bees, and of course, steer clear of pesticides and herbicides.

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, freelance writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.”

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has more new dogs of different ages and breeds ready to go to new homes

Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of cattle dog Catahoula Leopard Dog, Chihuahua, German Shepherd, Lhasa Apso, pit bull and West Highland White Terrier.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm for information on visiting or adopting.

Female Chihuahua

This female Chihuahua has a short tan coat.

She has been spayed.

She’s in kennel No. Q1, ID No. 13659.

‘Lady’

“Lady” is a female pit bull mix with a short tan coat.

She has been spayed.

She is in kennel No. 22, ID No. 13703.

West Highland White Terrier

This senior female West Highland White Terrier has a medium-length white and tan coat.

She is in kennel No. 23, ID No. 13744.

Catahoula Leopard Dog

This young female Catahoula Leopard Dog has a short white coat with black spots.

She is in kennel No. 27, ID No. 13752.

Catahoula Leopard Dog

This young male Catahoula Leopard Dog has a short white coat with black spots.

He is in kennel No. 28a, ID No. 13751.

Catahoula Leopard Dog

This young male Catahoula Leopard Dog has a short black and white coat.

He is in kennel No. 28c, ID No. 13753.

Female Lhasa Apso

This female Lhasa Apso has a long tan and white coat.

She is in kennel No. 29, ID No. 13747.

Male German Shepherd

This young male German Shepherd has a fully brown and black coat.

He is in kennel No. 31, ID No. 13706.

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.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Authorities in Sonoma County on Saturday made an arrest for a hate crime, taking into custody a Ukiah man with a violent criminal history who also is under investigation for similar incidents in Mendocino County.

Sgt. Juan Valencia of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said Anthony James Pelfrey, 43, was arrested in the case.

Valencia said Sonoma County deputies, working together with the Ukiah Police Department, arrested Pelfrey for a hate crime, felon in possession of pepper spray and illegal use of pepper spray.

The incident unfolded at approximately 10:18 a.m. Saturday when deputies were dispatched to Pinnacle Gulch Trail in Bodega Bay for a male intentionally pepper-spraying people, Valencia said.

Valencia said the first victim, an Asian male, was sprayed in the face with bear deterrent spray by Pelfrey for no apparent reason in the parking lot. The second victim, a Hispanic male, was walking out of the restroom and was sprayed as well.

Pelfrey walked to his car, a white Honda Civic, as witnesses took photos of him and his car, Valencia said.

Witnesses at the scene recognized the male as Pelfrey from their yoga class. Pelfrey was at the location, attending an outdoor yoga session. Pelfrey left the scene in his car, Valencia reported.

A records check revealed the car belonged to Pelfrey with an address in Ukiah. Valencia said the Ukiah Police Department was notified and conducted surveillance at Pelfrey's home, where. Pelfrey subsequently was arrested.

Ukiah Police Department and Mendocino County Sheriff's Office were both investigating two similar incidents involving Pelfrey last week in which he used bear deterrent spray on people, Valencia said.

Valencia said Pelfrey was convicted of attempted murder in Mendocino County in 2009 after attacking two men with a machete.

Pelfrey was arrested and later transported to the Sonoma County Jail and booked for a hate crime, felon in possession of pepper spray and illegal use of pepper spray. Pelfrey is currently in custody and being held on $50,000 bail after a judge approved a bail enhancement, Valencia said.

Jail records show Pelfrey is due to be arraigned on Tuesday afternoon.

“We want to thank the community members who called us with information. This case is another example of how we can better protect our community when we all work together,” Valencia said.