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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Lake County Public released the new demographics on Monday afternoon, based on the 175 positive cases current at that time. That’s an increase of 24 cases since the last demographics update on July 20.
This week’s numbers show that females continue to lead males among COVID-19 patients, 94 to 81. Cases among females have increased by 14 since last week while there were 10 new cases involving males.
Lake County’s gender case numbers flipped earlier this month, at that point going opposite of the state trend which had shown more cases in males. But based on numbers provided by the California Department of Public Health, the state’s gender trend last week also changed and now matches Lake County’s, with more cases now confirmed in females.
This is the second week that Lake County Public Health has given a wider number of age ranges for cases.
The age range that continues to lead with the most cases is 25 to 34, 44 cases, up by nine over last week; 35 to 44, 27 cases, up by one; 13 to 24, 30 cases, up by five; 45 to 54, 22, up by two; 55 to 64, 20 cases, up by two; 65 and older, 17, up by four; and birth to age 12, 15 cases; up by one. Since last week, the 65 and above age group surpassed the birth to 12 group.
Regarding cases by source, for the first time this week, the demographics report attributes the source of three cases to presumed community transmission.
The largest number of cases have been traced to close contacts to a known case, which are responsible for 88 cases, up by 16 over the previous week; followed by 53 cases that are listed as under investigation, up by two; out of county contacts, 18, up by one; and other/unknown source, seven, up by two.
Two sources that showed no change in numbers over the previous week are presumed occupational contacts, four, and congregate living situations – in this case, the Lake County Jail – two.
This week’s numbers by supervisorial district shows the following:
– District 1, Middletown and the south county along with portions of Clearlake: 17 cases, an increase of two over the week;
– District 2, Clearlake area: 61 cases, up 11;
– District 3, Northshore area: 34 cases, up by three;
– District 4, greater Lakeport area: 31, increase of three;
– District 5, Kelseyville, Loch Lomond and Cobb: 29 cases, up by two.
– Three cases are labeled “unknown” for location.
This week’s case breakdown by zip code shows the first cases reported in Clearlake Park and Finley.
The breakdown, with the increased number over last week in parentheses, is as follows:
– 95422, Clearlake: 60 (10);
– 95453, Lakeport: 30 (2);
– 95451, Kelseyville: 25 (3);
– 95423, Clearlake Oaks: 11 (no change);
– 95457, Lower Lake: 9 (no change);
– 95485, Upper Lake: 9 (1);
– 95458, Lucerne: 8 (no change);
– 95467, Hidden Valley Lake, 8 (2);
– 95464, Nice: 6 (2);
– 95426, Cobb: 4 (no change);
– 95435, Finley: 1 (1);
– 95424, Clearlake Park: 1 (1);
– Unknown: 3 (2).
Public Health said the next set of data will be released on Monday, Aug. 3.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
“For more than half the Californians receiving unemployment benefits, that extra $600 has boosted their benefit amounts above the threshold for ‘Very Low Income’,” explained Till von Wachter, a co-author of the analysis, UCLA economics professor and faculty director at the California Policy Lab. “Given the low benefit amounts for those particularly hard hit by the current crisis, reducing this amount to $200 could put a lot of unemployed in serious financial difficulties.”
Among its key findings, the analysis determined that Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, or FPUC, payments have been made to Californian recipients from the start of the program to late June, totaling $26 billion.
Because lower-income workers have been the most impacted by job losses during this pandemic, it's likely most of these benefits have helped support the state's economy as these workers used this money to pay for necessary household expenses like food and rent.
The analysis also found that without the $600 FPUC payment, California’s median unemployment insurance benefit amount will drop down to $339 per week.
In comparison, California’s Median Family Income is $86,165, on a weekly basis, that equals $1,657. Without the FPUC payment, the median payment of $339 would be less than a quarter of California’s Median Family Income.
The study reported that the average actual payment in California without FPUC is $270.
While each Unemployment Insurance claimant is assigned a weekly benefit amount based on their prior earnings when they file their claim, for claimants who report income from part-time work, their benefit payment is reduced accordingly, and they receive a payment less than their WBA.
When looking at actual payments received while FPUC has been in effect, the average actual payment was $270, the difference arising to some claimants receiving reduced payments because they are working, incomplete certifications, or payments deemed ineligible for other reasons.
Average actual benefit amounts are even lower for the workers who have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including women workers ($253); young workers aged 20-24 ($215), Black workers ($255) and Asian workers ($263). See the Data Point for a table with demographic breakdowns.
The study also determined that the most impacted are women workers, Black workers, younger workers and lower-educated workers.
These groups have been hardest hit by COVID-19 related layoffs and will be most harmed if the $600 extension is not renewed or is reduced.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
David Sittig-Wattson, 34, Rohnert Park turned himself in on Monday afternoon, according to a report from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office’s community engagement liaison, Misti Wood.
Wood said the Rohnert Park Public Safety Officers Association previously requested that the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office start a financial crimes investigation related to the association.
Property crimes detectives conducted a thorough investigation and submitted it to the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office. After reviewing the investigation, the District Attorney’s Office filed charges and issued a warrant for Sittig-Wattson’s arrest, Wood said.
Sittig-Wattson, who is the association’s former treasurer, is being charged with embezzlement over a four-year period, according to Wood’s report.
On Monday, Wood said Sittig-Wattson was booked on one felony count of grand theft by embezzlement.
Wood said Sittig-Wattson was released on $5,000 bail to appear in court at a later date.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 28.
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, please join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link at 9 a.m. The meeting ID is 942 2859 6865, password 185629.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item 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.
In an untimed item, the supervisors will consider an agreement between the county of Lake and Elijah House for temporary COVID-19 homeless shelter operations for a contract maximum of $234,550.
For several months, a COVID-19 homeless shelter has been operated by Hope Harbor at 2150 S. Main St. in Lakeport.
With that organization winding down its operations and the building itself reported to not be available past the end of July, the county last month issued a request for proposals seeking an organization to take over shelter operations in a portion of the former juvenile hall facility in north Lakeport.
The proposed contract said that Elijah House, based in Oroville, will operate the center from July 30 through Sept. 30.
Also on Tuesday’s agenda, at 9:02 a.m., Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace will update the board on the local COVID-19 situation.
At 1 p.m., the board will hold an economic development workshop with county department heads.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings on May 28, June 9 and July 7, 2020.
5.2: Second reading, consider and approve Guenoc Valley Mixed Use Planned Development Project (AM 18-04; DA 18-01, GPAP 18-01; RZ 18-01 & RZ 20-01; GPD 18-01; SD 18-01, SD 20-01, UP 18-49 and UP 20-02).
5.3: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and the county of Tehama to house juvenile wards for the period from April 1, 2020, through March 31, 2022, for an amount not to exceed $380,000 annually; and authorize the chair to sign.
5.4: Approve Task Order No. 1 with MGE for on-call construction management services for various HBP-Funded Bridge Projects in Lake County in the amount of $302,248.98 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.5: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, per Ordinance #2406, Purchasing Code 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve agreement between the county of Lake and Helico Sonoma Helicopters for Fiscal Year 2020/21 in the amount of $50,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.6: Approve submission of the FY20 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program Application in the amount of $12,898, to provide funding for an extra help employee to assist with forensic processing and data collection services; and authorize the chair to sign all grant documents.
5.7: Approve contract between the county of Lake and Lake Transit Authority for local public transportation services in the amount of $45,600, from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.8: Adopt resolution authorizing Special Districts administrator to sign and submit all award documents, certifications, and assurances required for a funding agreement for Prop 1 Integrated Regional Water Management Implementation Grant funds in the amount of $4,758,552.
5.9: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, adopt resolution revising the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Adopted Budget of the County of Lake by canceling O & M Reserves in the amount of $49,085 for Lands End/South Lakeport Sewer to make appropriations in Budget Unit 8351, Object Code 783.23-80 to pay for increased administration costs.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:02 a.m.: Consideration of Update on COVID-19.
6.3, 10 a.m.: Consideration of the complaint of Ms. Bridget McQueen, owner of Lakeshore Estates Mobile Home Park.
6.4, 1 p.m.: Economic development workshop with county department heads.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of agreement between the county of Lake and Elijah House for temporary COVID-19 homeless shelter operations for a contract maximum of $234,550.
7.3: Sitting as Lake County Sanitation District, consideration of Change Order No. 1 with Mercer Fraser Co. for Anderson Springs Sewer Project, for an increase of $23,688 and a revised contract amount of $1,950,683 and authorize board chair to execute.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing Litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9 (d)(1) – John, et al. v. County of Lake, et al.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1) – Ugorji v. County of Lake, et al.
Email Elizabeth Larson at