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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 14.
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 982 7061 0716, password 520497.
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.
In an untimed item, Board Chair Moke Simon will ask the supervisors to consider closing the board chambers for in-person meetings due to concerns about rising COVID-19 case numbers.
Simon’s memorandum to the board explains that when they made the decision to reopen the chambers for meetings on June 30, countywide cases totaled 41. “Unfortunately, things have changed,” he said.
As of the last Public Health update over the weekend, countywide cases totaled 108.
“Allowing members of the public in the Board Chambers invites the kind of large gatherings we are seeking to avoid, in order to slow the spread of the virus,” said Simon, noting that people have continued to participate remotely through Zoom.
“I believe we were premature in reopening. Continuing to host hybrid meetings, with some people on-site, has the potential to place members of the public, our employees and ourselves at unnecessary and avoidable risk of contracting the virus,” Simon said.
He noted that on July 6 the California State Capitol was closed and the Legislature has been indefinitely delayed following an Assembly member testing positive for the virus. “Rather than waiting for someone to test positive as a result of attending one of our meetings, we should be proactive and close our Chambers until conditions improve.”
He said meetings will continue to be accessible remotely through online platforms or over the phone.
“Bottom line, we can make the public’s business very accessible to the public, without creating unnecessary public health risk. In my opinion, that’s exactly what we should do,” Simon wrote.
In timed items, at 9:02 a.m. the board will get its weekly COVID-19 from Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace and at 1 p.m. the board will hold an economic development workshop with county department heads.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation recognizing Kelseyville High School K-Corps graduating class of 2020.
5.2: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings April 3, 2020, June 23, 2020, June 30, 2020.
5.3: Approve the continuation of local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.4: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex Fire Incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.5: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
5.6: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.7: Adopt proclamation commending Lyle Thomas for his 26-year career in public service.
5.8: Approve master agreement between the county of Lake and MGE Engineering Inc. for on-call construction management services for various HBP-Funded Bridge Projects in Lake County in the amount not to exceed $2,500,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.9: Adopt resolution to establish a list of projects proposed to be funded in FY 2020/2021 pursuant to the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB1).
5.10: (a) Approve the issuance of a purchase order to ModUCom for a radio dispatch equipment upgrade in the Central Dispatch facility (b) waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.5, as the purchase is a patented and proprietary upgrade to existing equipment; and (c) authorize the sheriff or his designee to sign.
5.11: (a) Approve agreement effective 5/1/2020, lowering the scale pricing for the reduction of inmates due to COVID-19; (b) approve agreement effective 5/4/2020 increasing the costs per meal by .06 due to addition of one sandwich and (c) approve agreement effective 8/1/2020 extending the food services agreement with Trinity Services Group Inc., to supervise the preparation and service of meals at the Lake County Jail/Hill Road Facility and authorize the sheriff to sign the letter for the CPI increase.
5.12: Approve contract between county of Lake and Chabot-Las Positas Community College District for Title IV-E Training in the amount of $1,000,000 from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.13: Approve fourth amendment to the lease agreement between county of Lake and Lillian Allen Trust for the property located at 1216, 1222 and 1228 South Main St. in Lakeport, for the amount of $19,140 per fiscal year, from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, 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, 9:15 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, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program presentation and consideration of resolution approving applications for funding and the execution of grant agreements and any amendments from the 2019-2020 funding year of the State CDBG Program.
6.5, 10:30 a.m.: (a) Presentation of proclamation commending Lyle Thomas for his 26-year career in public service; and (b) presentation of a proclamation recognizing Kelseyville High School K-Corps graduating class of 2020.
6.6, 1 p.m.: Economic development workshop with county department heads.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of closing the Board of Supervisors Chambers for in-person meetings.
7.3: Consideration of update to return to work protocol.
7.4: Discussion and consideration of next steps for filling the Special Districts administrator position upon the retirement of the incumbent.
7.5: Consideration of an update on the County’s COVID-19 interim policy for working remotely.
7.6: Consideration of (a) certification for receipt of funds pursuant to paragraphs (2) or (3) of Subdivision (d) of Control Section 11.90 of the Budget Act of 2020 for the County of Lake, and (b) Certification for Receipt of Funds Pursuant to Provision 3 of Item 9210-110-0001 of the Budget Act of 2020.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – FERC Project No. 77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1) – one potential case.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Doohan said Mendocino County Public Health staffers worked all weekend, conducting case investigation and contact tracing.
By Sunday, the number of Mendocino County COVID-19 cases had risen to 132. That includes 91 who are recovered, one hospitalized and 40 on home isolation, Doohan reported.
Of the 40 who are in home isolation, Doohan said 24 are in the Ukiah Valley, eight are in the north county, six are on the North Coast and two are in the south county.
Of the 19 new cases, Doohan said three are residents at Sherwood Oaks Skilled Nursing Facility in Fort Bragg.
On July 7 an employee of the facility tested positive for COVID-19 and was promptly placed into isolation. Following the positive case, Doohan said an immediate plan was made in collaboration with Public Health to test all the employees and residents.
The results of the tests included three positive tests for COVID-19, all of whom were residents of the facility and all of them currently asymptomatic. Doohan said those results were reported to Public Health on July 11.
Once the COVID-19 status of the employee was reported to the skilled nursing facility on July 7, the facility went immediately into outbreak response with full personal protective equipment for all staff and isolation of residents in their rooms, said Doohan.
In addition, Doohan said the facility was following her medical masking order, which provides additional protections to skilled nursing facilities.
Case investigation and contract tracing were immediately initiated. The recent death at the facility tested negative for COVID-19 and the cause of death at this time is presumed to be unrelated to COVID-19. Public Health is doing further investigation and awaiting the death certificate, Doohan said.
In addition, Doohan said Mendocino County Public Health has reported this outbreak to the state as required and will be working with the state in support and review of the actions to contain the outbreak.
Additional testing will be conducted Monday in an effort to monitor and continue timely response to this outbreak, Doohan said.
Doohan said the COVID-19 incubation period is up to 14 days and Public Health is concerned that Mendocino County may experience an additional spike in cases resulting from increased activity county-wide over the July 4 weekend.
She continued to urge people to wear facial coverings to stop the spread of the virus, practice social distancing, and avoid gatherings, confined spaces and close contact with others.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, Assembly Bill 629 (Smith and Gonzalez) went into effect on Jan. 1, 2020, making human trafficking victims eligible for up to $10,000 of income loss per year, for up to two years.
The bill required the board, on or before July 1, 2020, to adopt regulations that allow it to rely on evidence other than official employment documentation in considering and approving applications for compensation.
The board adopted the regulations in May. The Office of Administrative Law approved the final regulations, ahead of the July 1 deadline.
“It’s clear the trauma of human trafficking extends far beyond the time having been trafficked — survivors often have faced homelessness, addiction and mental health issues stemming from their exploitation,” Assemblywoman Christy Smith said. “My bill with Assemblywoman Gonzalez removes a loophole in the victim compensation system that required survivors to obtain a note from their employer — often times this was their trafficker. The regulations adopted remove these barriers to justice and provide critical support for victims rebuilding their lives.”
“Survivors of human trafficking face unimaginable obstacles when they work to put their lives back on track. They are typically on their own and have to figure out how they will pay for housing and food, apply for work, and get treatment for medical and mental health,” Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez said. “Most human trafficking survivors don’t have the formal documentation CalVCB had previously required to collect lost income, such as a W-2 form. CalVCB’s new rules, now in effect thanks to our legislation AB 629, are a just and fair way to help survivors get back on their feet and get the help they need.”
“CalVCB recognizes the challenges human trafficking victims face as they work to rebuild their lives,” said Executive Officer Lynda Gledhill. “By providing financial support, along with options for medical and mental health treatment and other compensation, CalVCB is able to play a small part in victims’ recovery.”
As with all claims, victims will need to provide CalVCB with evidence of a crime, including, but not limited to, a statement under penalty of perjury from the applicant, a caseworker, a licensed attorney or a witness, or a law enforcement report. Victims brought from other countries and trafficked in California may also qualify.
Before AB 629 became law, victims could only prove income loss with formal employment documentation or voluntary cooperation from their traffickers, meaning most could not qualify.
AB 629 became law on Jan. 1, 2020, allowing victims to submit income loss applications, even as CalVCB drafted the required regulations. In the months that followed, CalVCB has approved five income loss claims and compensated those survivors more than $70,000.
Victims, advocates, representatives, and attorneys can apply for compensation in several ways:
· Create an application using CalVCB Online — a secure and private portal that can be easily accessed from a smartphone, tablet or computer.
· Contact a local county Victim Witness Assistance Center.
· Call the CalVCB Help Line at 800-777-9229.
· Download an application from CalVCB's How to Apply page.
· E-mail CalVCB at
Victims must apply within seven years of the date of the crime. Minor victims must apply by their 28th birthday. CalVCB will release funds for minor victims after their 18th birthday.
If you are a victim of human trafficking, or you suspect someone you know is being trafficked, there are a number of local, national and international organizations that offer and provide help and services, including temporary shelter, legal assistance and medical and mental health treatment.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters on Saturday contained a fire that started on a county supervisor’s property.
The fire in the area of 9100 Bottle Rock Road at Cole Creek Road in Kelseyville was first dispatched just before 11:50 a.m. Saturday, according to radio traffic.
Supervisor Rob Brown confirmed to Lake County News that the fire occurred on land he owns, which he’s been leasing for some time to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. for the processing of trees and vegetation that the company is continuing to remove from the Valley fire area.
A Cal Fire engine that arrived just before noon found a log pile that was estimated to be 100 feet long and 12 feet high fully involved and a threat to the wildland. There were multiple spot fires.
Among the air and land resources responding was Copter 901, which dipped its water bucket into a pond at nearby Beckstoffer Vineyard so that it could conduct drops on the fire.
The copter’s pilot estimated the fire was about half an acre upon arriving at the scene.
Firefighters were able to make quick progress on the fire, getting line around it and containing it, based on radio reports.
Shortly before 4:30 p.m., incident command reported the fire’s final size at 1.3 acres.
Brown said that PG&E has taken every precaution to avoid wildland fire at the site.
He said the company has completed clearing 1,000 feet of defensible space and the contractor working for PG&E has a water truck on scene at all times.
Officials have so far not reported on the fire’s cause.
In April 2014, Brown had a contractor conducting a control burn on his property when the wind shifted and drove it onto a neighbor’s property. That fire burned close to 10 acres and destroyed a structure.
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