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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Pacific Gas and Electric said it is preparing to move thousands of Lake County customers into a new rate plan, but there remains the chance to opt out.

As part of a multiyear, statewide energy policy to create a cleaner energy future for California, PG&E said it will move approximately 7,140 eligible residential electric customers in Lake County currently on a tiered rate plan called E-1 to a time-of-use, or TOU, rate plan in April 2022.

On the time-of-use — peak pricing from 4 to 9 p.m. daily — rate plan when customers use energy is as important as how much they use.

The transition to this time-of-use rate plan will occur by geographical region and affect approximately 2.5 million customers in PG&E’s service area in stages through 2022.

PG&E spokeswoman Deanna Contreras told Lake County News that the 7,140 customers in Lake County who will be transitioned to the TOU rate plan are residential customers who are eligible.

To help manage use and cost, customers can see hour-by-hour use via their online account and can view an estimate of their bill, compared to the previous year’s use, Contreras said.

Customers in Lake County will receive a series of notifications by mail starting this month to allow them ample time to make a choice if they prefer another rate plan. Customers can choose another rate plan at any time.

All California investor-owned electric utilities are required to automatically transition customers to the time-of-use rate plan to support a cleaner, healthier, and more reliable energy grid. PG&E does not profit from this change.

Customers can choose an alternate time-of-use rate plan or another rate plan, including the tiered rate plan, at any time. Customers enrolled in the Medical Baseline program will not be part of the automatic transition.

“To ensure our customers are fully aware of the transition to the time-of-use rate and how the program works, we’re communicating this change more than 90 days ahead, and we’ll continue to share information before each regional transition takes place,” said Marlene Santos, PG&E’s chief customer officer. “And, customers can choose the rate plan that best fits their needs and lives at any time.”

Customers who automatically transition to this time-of-use rate plan will receive risk-free bill protection for the first 12 months on the delivery portion of the bill.

If a customer pays more on the TOU rate plan than they would have on their current rate plan, PG&E will also automatically credit the customer the difference for the first year on the generation side.

More about time-of-use rate plans

Customers on these rate plans can choose to shift and reduce some energy use to lower-cost time periods (19 hours) every day, including weekends and holidays. The hours of 4 to 9 p.m. are higher priced (peak times). All other times are lower priced (off-peak). Environmental advocacy groups such as the Natural Resources Defense Council support the transition to TOU rates as the plans help build healthier communities.

“TOU rates help Californians take advantage of less expensive, cleaner and more plentiful electricity during periods when a greater share of renewable energy is flowing through the grid. Combined with energy efficiency, electrification, and demand response programs, TOU helps customers reduce energy costs and their carbon footprints by using appliances when more emissions-free electricity is available,” said Alejandra Mejia Cunningham, NRDC building decarbonization advocate.

Starting in 2018, approximately 150,000 residential customers from across PG&E’s service area representing diversity in climate, household size and energy use were randomly selected as part of the first phase of transitions.

Eighty percent of those customers stayed on the new time-of-use rate plan for more than a year. PG&E incorporated feedback from this initial group into the plans for the full rollout.

For more information about the transition to time-of-use rates and bill protection eligibility, customers can visit www.pge.com/toutransition. To view a customized rate plan comparison, customers can visit their account online at www.pge.com/TOUchoice.

Dedicated rate plan specialists are available at 1-866-743-7945 to answer questions and help customers choose a rate plan.
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A new mural honoring essential workers will be located on the side of the Meals on Wheels Thrift Store in Lakeport, California. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Another mural is being planned in downtown Lakeport, this one in honor of the community’s essential workers.

The Lake County Arts Council, in collaboration with the city of Lakeport, Lake County Rural Arts Initiative and the Lake Family Resource Center, is planning the installation of the new mural.

The Meals on Wheels Thrift Store at 120 N. Main St. has been selected for its prominent location with a large wall facing First Street.

“The COVID pandemic has hit our community hard in so many ways since March 2020,” according to Lakeport Mayor Pro Tem Mireya Turner, a leader in the effort to express appreciation for the service, strength and fortitude of our local essential workers.

“Some of us were able to shelter in place, while others could not do so because we depended on them to keep our economy and community moving. Many of us left home every day to keep our supermarkets open, our gas stations operating, to treat our sick, make deliveries, and harvest our gardens, orchards and vineyards,” Turner said.

“As we return to a sense of normalcy, now is the perfect time for our community to come together and express gratitude to our residents who have given so much of themselves to get us all through this pandemic,” she added.

Barbara Clark, executive director of the Lake County Arts Council, announced an award of $8,000 to cover an artist’s labor and materials will be made available through a competitive process.

A call for artists to submit proposals will be published and distributed locally and outside Lake County.

The selection of an artist or artists will be made by March 1 with mural completion expected by May 1.

As part of the selection process, local essential workers will be able to vote for their favorite from among the qualified proposals.

Artists will be encouraged to be creative and submit works that are inspiring to the entire community.

“We are calling on our community to financially support this mural project to recognize our friends, neighbors and family members who, through their actions, kept us strong through the pandemic,” said Clark. “All funds collected will be used for the mural and related expenses. When the $8,000 goal has been reached, the donation button will be removed from the Arts Council’s website. Any excess funds will be retained for the next public mural project.”

“Help us thank the police officers, the firefighters, the doctors and nurses and health care professionals, the people who kept food on our tables and gas in our cars; help us show all these essential workers and others how much we appreciate them and their service,” said Clark.

More information about the essential workers mural project is available from Clark at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-263-6658.

Donations may be made online through the Lake County Arts Council, https://lakearts.org/joingive/donate/.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission said Monday that it has completed and approved final maps for the state’s congressional, Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization districts, work which will see some changes to the districts in which Lake County is placed.

The commission drew four Board of Equalization districts, 52 congressional districts, 40 Senatorial districts and 80 Assembly districts.

All districts were drawn within the permissible population deviation.

The maps can be seen here.

The commission is scheduled to meet Tuesday and give a report on the process.

Redrawing the district lines for state and federal representation occurs every 10 years based on Census data.

The 14-member commission’s work to produce new maps began in earnest earlier this year after the final Census data was released.

“We have reached the finish line for the people’s redistricting process in California. When voters approved the Voters FIRST Act, it created a monumental shift in this decennial process,” stated Commission Chair Alicia Fernandez. “As Californians, my colleagues on this commission and I answered the call to serve for this great state we honor and love. We conclude our map drawing responsibilities with pride in our final product. We started this process leaving politics out of the equation in hopes of achieving fairer and more equitable maps. I think I speak for my colleagues when I say mission accomplished! Thank you to all that participated in this process.”

The final map for congressional districts puts Lake County into one district, District 4, whereas over the past 10 years it was split between Districts 3 and 5.

The new District 4 includes all of Lake and portions of Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties. Based on the map it also appears there is a very small portion of Sacramento County in that new district.

Congressmen John Garamendi and Mike Thompson, serving the third and fifth congressional districts, respectively, have represented Lake County over the past decade.

The new map suggests Lake County’s new district will be represented by Thompson, whose home base is Napa County.

Also on Monday night, Garamendi, who has been in Congress since 2009, announced he will run for reelection to Congress in the new Solano-North Contra Costa Eighth Congressional District.

On the state level, Lake County will be included in the new Senate District 2, which stretches along the North Coast from Marin in the south to Del Norte County in the north. The state senator for the district is expected to be Mike McGuire.

For the State Assembly, Lake will be part of District 4, which also includes Colusa, Napa and Yolo, and a portion of Sacramento County. Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, who currently represents Lake County, lives within the newly created district and also is expected to continue to represent the county.

In accordance with the California Constitution, the commission followed criteria to draw the maps, including ensuring they are of equal population to comply with the U.S. Constitution; complying with the Voting Rights Act to ensure that minorities have an equal opportunity to elect representatives of their choice; drawing districts contiguously; minimizing the division of cities, counties, neighborhoods and communities of interest to the extent possible; and making districts geographically compact.

Where practicable, the commission said each State Senate district should be composed of two complete and adjacent Assembly districts, and the Board of Equalization districts should be composed of 10 complete and adjacent State Senate districts.

The place of residence of any incumbent or political candidate may not be considered in the creation of a map, and districts may not be drawn for the purpose of favoring or discriminating against an incumbent, political candidate, or political party, the commission reported.

The California Constitution requires public comment to be taken for at least three days from the date of public display of any final statewide maps.

Additionally, the commission shall not display any other map for public comment during that period.

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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Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced new booster requirements and testing measures to better protect all Californians as the Omicron variant becomes the dominant COVID-19 strain in the nation.

Newsom’s office said the COVID-19 booster requirement for health care workers will mitigate potential staffing shortages while helping to safeguard the state’s hospital capacity and protect the health and safety of Californians.

Combined with the new federal policies announced on Tuesday, the Governor’s Office said these actions will help ensure everyone in California has access to testing throughout the holiday season and that K-12 public school students can return to school safely.

“As the Omicron variant spreads rapidly across the country and circulates in all regions of the state, we’re taking immediate, proactive steps to protect Californians with boosters and expanded access to testing,” said Newsom. “The state is also redoubling our efforts to keep kids safe and keep schools open. We will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities by making at-home testing kits available to every K-12 public school student as they head back to the classroom from winter break.”

By February 1, 2022, health care workers and all employees in high-risk congregate settings, including nursing homes, will be required to get their booster. In the interim, all health care staff that have not received their booster must test for COVID-19 twice weekly until they are up to date on their vaccines.

To help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our schools, the state is also increasing the availability of at-home COVID-19 tests across California so K-12 public-school students can be tested as they return to school from winter break.

In early December, the California Department of Public Health, or CDPH, distributed approximately two million tests to schools for this purpose.

CDPH will expand those efforts by providing one to two rapid tests for every student. The agency also will work with local education and health partners to distribute those test kits as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“As we fight Omicron, there is nothing more important for our kids than keeping schools safely open — that means deploying rapid tests,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. “Over the holiday break, CDE will be working closely with the governor and California's public health and emergency management personnel to get testing supplies to families, districts and schools.”

To ensure every Californian has access to testing, the state will also be expanding antigen test availability and expanding hours of operation at state-sponsored OptumServe sites that are already at capacity.

Today, 90% of the population lives within a 30-minute driving distance of a site. Over the course of the pandemic, the state has established 6,288 testing sites statewide, comprising 31% of the nation’s testing sites.

In support of this effort, since August, the state has purchased over 12 million over-the-counter tests. CDPH is distributing an additional six million tests to community partners serving disproportionately impacted Californians and four million to local health jurisdictions.

California has implemented the most robust vaccination and testing programs in the country. To date, California has administered over 64 million vaccination doses and over 116 million tests, with an average turn around of just 48 hours.

In recent months, Gov. Newsom implemented a series of measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, including first-in-the-nation vaccine and masking measures requiring that workers in health care settings be fully vaccinated, announcing plans to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of vaccinations required to attend school in-person when fully approved, requiring masking in schools and implementing a standard that all school staff and all state workers either show proof of full vaccination or be tested.

As a result of these actions, California has been labeled the safest state to live in during COVID-19 and a national leader in preventing school closures.

"California’s determination to use every available tool to keep our children safe during this pandemic has allowed us to keep schools open and case rates low — a key to their physical and mental health as well as learning,” said Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, State Board of Education president. “Ensuring boosters and testing in the new year will continue this commitment to keeping our children’s welfare front and center."

While we are still learning about the severity of illness caused by Omicron, it is clear that individuals who are up to date on their vaccines, including a booster, are most protected, the Governor’s Office reported.

To help slow the spread of COVID-19, Californians are encouraged to get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a mask indoors and get tested if sick.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Upper Lake Unified School District is inviting interested community members to apply to fill a vacant seat on its board of trustees.

The district intends to appoint a qualified candidate to the seat rather than pursue a special election.

Community members interested in applying for the position may obtain an application online at www.ulusd.org or applications are available to pick up at the district office at 675 Clover Valley Road, Upper Lake.

Completed applications must be received in the district office no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7.

The current members of the board of trustees will interview applicants in open session at a meeting to be determined.

Qualified applicants will be notified of the meeting date after Jan. 7.

For questions please contact Dina McCrea at 707-275-2655.
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Caltrans announced Monday its new policy for all new transportation projects it funds or oversees to include “complete street” features that provide safe and accessible options for people walking, biking and taking transit.

This policy will expand the availability of sustainable transportation options to help meet the state’s climate, health and equity goals.

“California must reduce dependence on driving without sacrificing mobility and accessibility,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “As Caltrans and local transportation agencies prepare for the influx of new federal infrastructure funding, it is important that we provide safe, convenient, sustainable and accessible alternatives to driving to achieve our climate goals while equitably serving all Californians.”

A complete street provides mobility for people of all ages and abilities, particularly those who are walking, biking, using assistive mobility devices and riding transit.

Complete streets offer several benefits, including enhancing safety and creating more sustainable transportation options to decrease dependence on driving and improving public health by encouraging active transportation like walking and biking.

As part of the new policy, Caltrans commits to remove administrative barriers and partner with communities and local agencies to ensure more projects on state and local transportation systems improve the connectivity to pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities, and accessibility to destinations.

If not appropriate to the context or community of the project, projects must receive approval from Caltrans before complete streets features are excluded.

View the new policy here.
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With the new year around the corner, the California Highway Patrol is educating the public on traffic safety laws that were passed during this year’s legislative season and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The laws take effect Jan. 1, 2022, unless otherwise noted.

Sideshow Definition and Penalties (Assembly Bill 3, Fong)

This new law strengthens penalties for those convicted of exhibition of speed if the violation occurred as part of a sideshow.

Beginning July 1, 2025, a court will be permitted to suspend a person’s driver’s license between 90 days and six months if the person is convicted of exhibition of speed and if the violation occurred as part of a “sideshow.” Section 23109(c) of the California Vehicle Code (exhibition of speed) will define sideshow as an event in which two or more persons block or impede traffic on a highway for the purpose of performing motor vehicle stunts, motor vehicle speed contests, motor vehicle exhibitions of speed, or reckless driving for spectators.

The courts will be required to consider a defendant’s medical, personal, or family hardship that requires a person to have a driver’s license before determining whether to suspend a person’s driver’s license.

Equestrian Safety Gear (AB 974, L. Rivas)

Requires a person under the age of 18 to wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet when riding an equestrian animal, such as a horse, mule, or donkey on a paved highway. This bill also requires all riders or their equines to wear reflective gear or a lamp when riding after sundown.

A person riding an equestrian animal in a parade or festival, or crossing a paved highway from an unpaved highway, is exempt from all helmet, lighting, or reflective gear requirements.

Tribal Emergency Vehicles (AB 798, Ramos)

This bill provides that any vehicle owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe is considered an authorized emergency vehicle as defined by Section 165 CVC when responding to an emergency, fire, ambulance, or lifesaving calls.

Class C Drivers Allowed to Tow Trailer (Senate Bill 287, Grove)

Effective January 1, 2027, drivers with a class C driver’s license may operate a vehicle towing a trailer between 10,001 pounds and 15,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, or gross vehicle weight with a fifth-wheel and kingpin or bed mounted gooseneck connection, provided that the trailer is used exclusively for recreational purposes for the transportation of property, living space, or both.

The driver will be required to pass a specialized written examination demonstrating the knowledge of the CVC and other safety aspects relating to the towing of recreational vehicles on the highway and possess an endorsement on their class C driver’s license.

Currently, this exemption is in place for drivers towing a fifth-wheel travel trailer provided the driver passes a specialized written exam and obtains a recreational trailer endorsement.

As a reminder, the following law took effect on July 1, 2021:

License Points for Distracted Driving (AB 47, Daly; 2019)

Using a handheld cellphone while driving is currently punishable by a fine. As of July 1, 2021, violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to a driver’s record.

This applies to the violations of talking or texting while driving (except for hands-free use) and to any use of these devices while driving by a person under 18 years of age.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The holiday season is upon us and the California Highway Patrol is reminding everyone to put safety first and follow the rules of the road while traveling California’s roadways.

According to data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, at least 38 people were killed in crashes in California throughout the Christmas holiday enforcement period last year.

During that 78-hour maximum enforcement period, CHP officers made 573 arrests for driving under the influence.

“The CHP will be out on California’s roadways while the public travels to join friends and family this weekend,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “Our goal is the same as yours, to make certain you arrive safely at your destination. From our family to yours, we wish you all a safe and happy holiday.”

The CHP will begin its maximum enforcement period at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24, and continue it through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 26.

During that time, all available officers will be on the road for enhanced enforcement and to assist any motorists or pedestrians in need of help.

Wherever your holiday travels take you, remember to plan ahead, buckle up, avoid distractions and never drive while impaired.
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Workers prepare to install new water pipes in Walnut Creek, California, on April 22, 2021. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Biden administration has released a plan to accelerate removal of lead water pipes and lead paint from U.S. homes. As a geochemist and environmental health researcher who has studied the heartbreaking impacts of lead poisoning in children for decades, I am happy to see high-level attention paid to this silent killer, which disproportionately affects poor communities of color.

Childhood lead poisoning has declined significantly in the U.S. over the past 50 years. That’s largely due to the elimination of leaded gasoline in the 1980s and the banning of most lead-based paints.

But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that up to 10 million households and 400,000 schools and child care centers have service lines or other fixtures that contain lead. These pipes are ticking time bombs that can leach toxic lead into drinking water if they corrode. As long as they remain in service, children and families are vulnerable.

The same is true of lead paint, which is still present in many homes built before consumer use of lead paint was banned in 1978. Because it tastes sweet, children sometimes chew on paint chips or painted wood.

The Biden administration will spend US$15 billion from the recently enacted infrastructure bill to replace lead service lines, faucets and fixtures over the next five years and is seeking additional money in the pending Build Back Better Act to reduce lead hazards in public housing and low-income communities. I see this as a key priority, since Black children and children living in poverty have average blood lead levels that are 13% higher than the national average.

 

Lead poisoning does permanent damage

Lead poisoning is a major public health problem because lead has permanent impacts on the brain, particularly in children. Young brains are still actively forming the amazing network of neurons that comprise their hardware.

Neurons are designed to use calcium, the most abundant mineral in the human body, as a transmitter to rapidly pass signals. Lead molecules look a lot like calcium molecules, so if they are present in a child’s body, they can penetrate the brain, impair neuron development and cause permanent neural damage.

Children with lead poisoning have lower IQs, poor memory recall, high rates of attention deficit disorder and low impulse control. They tend to perform poorly at school, which reduces their earning potential as adults. They also face increased risk of kidney disease, stroke and hypertension as they age. Research has found strong connections between lead poisoning and incarceration for violent crimes.

Today researchers estimate that about 500,000 U.S. children still have elevated blood lead levels. Health experts widely agree that there is no known “safe” blood lead concentration.

Where are the lead pipes?

The Biden administration’s plan calls for replacing 100% of lead service lines across the nation – a goal that the EPA aims to write into regulations by 2024. Step 1 is finding the pipes.

Most U.S. cities have countless miles of lead service lines buried beneath streets and sidewalks and feeding into people’s homes. Utilities don’t know where many of these aging lines are and don’t have enough data to map them. Replacing them will require significant analysis, modeling, data and some guesswork.

Old service lines have caused lead poisoning outbreaks in such places as Washington, D.C.; Flint, Michigan; and Newark, New Jersey. The chemistry is a bit different in each case.

Worker standing in a trench dug in the street hands a piece of pipe to a colleague.
Workers remove water service lines in Trenton, New Jersey, on Jan. 9, 2020. The city is replacing 37,000 lead pipes over five years. AP Photo/Mike Catalini


Lead service lines typically develop a protective “plaque” of minerals on their inside walls after a short time, which effectively separates the toxic lead pipe from the water flowing through it. This coating, which is called scale, remains stable if the chemistry of the water coursing through it doesn’t change. But if that chemistry is altered, disaster can ensue.

In 2002, Washington, D.C., shifted from chlorine to chloramine for treating its water supply. Chloramine is a more modern disinfectant that does not form dangerous reactive chlorinated byproducts as chlorine can.

This rapidly corroded the protective plaque lining the city’s pipes, flushing highly absorbable lead into homes. Tens of thousands of children were exposed over two years before the problem was adequately identified and fixed.

In Flint, state-appointed managers decided to save money during a fiscal crisis in 2014 by switching from Detroit water to water from the Flint River. But regulators did not require enough chemical analysis to determine what additives should be used to maintain the pipe plaque. And they skipped the typical step of adding phosphate, which binds chemically with lead and prevents it from leaching out of pipes, in order to save about $100 per day.

Corrosion chemistry is well controlled in many U.S. cities, but it is not a perfect science. And utilities don’t always have detection systems that adequately alert water suppliers to dangers at the tap. That’s why removing lead pipes is the only sure way to avoid the threat of more water crises.

Households can use some basic tests to identify water pipes that may be made of lead.


Cities will need to innovate

While $15 billion is a big investment, experts agree that it’s not enough to replace all lead pipes nationwide. For example, the estimated cost of replacing all of Flint’s lead service lines is about $50 million – and there are thousands of U.S. cities to fix.

My own city, Indianapolis, has a population of about 850,000 – about 10 times larger than Flint – and officials have only a rough idea of where to find the lead service lines. There are ways to statistically model the likelihood that a given portion of the water system has lead service lines, using information such as water main sizes, locations and construction dates, but they are imperfect.

Cities will need to get creative to make whatever funds they get go as far as possible. As one example, I am working with colleagues to develop a citizen science project that will provide thousands of tests for lead at taps around Indianapolis. This effort, a partnership with the University of Notre Dame funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, may augment modeling with real data on levels of lead in homes, and will increase public awareness of this issue.

[Over 140,000 readers rely on The Conversation’s newsletters to understand the world. Sign up today.]

In spite of these challenges, I believe more urgency on this issue is long overdue. Every lead pipe that’s replaced will pay off in higher lifetime earnings and lower rates of illness for families that gain access to safer tap water.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on May 4, 2021.The Conversation

Gabriel Filippelli, Chancellor's Professor of Earth Sciences and Executive Director, Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute, IUPUI

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday decided to take no action on a proposal from the County Administrative Office to consider once again splitting the Water Resources Department off from the Department of Public Works.

County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said she agendized the discussion because the county is anticipating a “considerable amount of infrastructure funding” in the next year or two thanks to the federal infrastructure bill.

She said the discussion was brought forward to enable the board to consider whether it would make sense to have the two departments separate in order to allow Public Works to focus on projects.

Huchingson said it’s a topic that the board has discussed before, noting that the two departments have been combined several times.

Most recently, the board voted to reconsolidate the two departments in August 2019. In July 2016, the board had split the two agencies.

Scott De Leon, director of both Public Works and Water Resources, appeared via Zoom. He made clear he didn’t support the idea.

“I appreciate the discussion however we’ve got a pretty good team up here and we have a system in place,” he said.

De Leon explained that Water Resources is covered by Public Works’ administration, which provides them with accounting, clerical and other administrative duties, and is handling that work without any trouble.

“The federal funding opportunities are certainly welcome,” and are a top priority for him, said De Leon.

He is working with a consultant from the Area Planning Council and is drafting a five-year plan for his department. De Leon added that Huchingson’s office has been working with a member of Congress on projects for specific funding.

“Personally I feel like we’re in good shape. I feel like we’re able to handle the workload and really would not like to see the disruption from the separation of the departments,” he said.

De Leon said he is still trying to fill jobs in the Department of Public Works and just completed a recruitment for assistant director. The recruitment yielded a good candidate who declined the job offer.

He said he wants to focus on filling jobs instead of separating the two departments.

Supervisor Moke Simon supported pursuing a split, pointing to climate change and the importance of water, and the work that needs to be done on the county’s roads. As such, he said it was important to have focused departments.

Supervisor Jessica Pyska said one of her big questions was whether the county had an understanding of the kind of funding it will be seeing from the infrastructure bill. She wanted to know what the workload would be and how the county would ramp up.

“We don’t know,” Huchingson said, explaining that the county hasn’t been advised of how much money will come, just that a lot is coming.

Supervisor EJ Crandell recalled that when the previous Water Resources director left, the board chose to have De Leon lead the department because of his knowledge, adding a lot of employees work well under De Leon’s leadership.

Supervisor Tina Scott questioned when the money might come in.

Board Chair Bruno Sabatier said he expected it will be six months before guidelines are set by the federal government. In the meantime, he said the county needs to have shovel-ready projects.

Sabatier said he appreciates the forward progress he’s seen in Water Resources, including matters dealing with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and moving the Middle Creek Restoration Project ahead.

He wanted to see the five-year plan completed and provide expectations to staff. “I don’t mind the conversation but I think it’s a little premature,” he said.

Sabatier also emphasized the importance of filling positions. De Leon said that he had been hopeful that with the county’s recent changes in compensation, there would be increased interest in jobs in his department.

They’ve done recruitments where no one has applied. De Leon said in this last recruitment, they had two applicants. One was very good, and despite him working with Human Resources to make the best offer the county could — including a signing bonus and moving costs — the applicant declined.

During public comment, Betsy Cawn, who has been a Clean Water Program volunteer since 2009, said she thought the proposal was disruptive, especially when De Leon said the department is working well.

Cawn suggested that before the board makes a decision to split the department, it should allow De Leon to work on the five-year plan, make a continued effort to recruit for an assistant director and advise the board what needs to be done, rather than making a decision based on big dollar signs.

She added that she thinks De Leon has done an excellent job, and that the board should let him make the decisions.

Ultimately, when it came time to suggest an action, board members sat silent, prompting Huchingson to ask if there was no direction.

Simon said he would like to pursue the split, but there was no consensus.

Sabatier said he wanted to wait for the five-year plan and set expectations.

“That’s where I am too,” said Pyska, and Crandell agreed.

Huchingson asked about the timeline to complete the five-year plan.

De Leon said it’s to be completed by February, and he will bring the plan and a summary to the board at that time.

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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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Negotiations between the county of Lake and the city of Lakeport over the city’s proposed annexation of the South Lakeport area have taken an important step forward.

On Monday, the city and county issued a joint announcement saying their negotiation teams have developed a draft sales tax agreement for the Lakeport City Council and Board of Supervisors to jointly consider next month.

The area the city proposes to annex is approximately 137 acres, composed of 50 parcels, adjacent to South Main Street and Soda Bay Road.

It’s reported to be the most lucrative commercial area in county jurisdiction.

The city of Lakeport has long had an interest in adding the area to the city limits, having included it in its sphere of influence since at least the 1980s.

Over the past decade, the city and county have had major disagreements over Lakeport’s annexation effort.

The city had wanted to have the annexation completed in 2019, at which time county officials indicated they were not willing to give up the corridor.

In August 2019, the Lakeport City Council approved submitting an application to the Lake Local Area Formation Commission, or LAFCO. Four months later, LAFCO sent letters to the city and county to ask them to participate in a good faith process to resolve the ongoing dispute over the proposed annexation.

City and county officials said in their joint Monday statement, “Negotiations were undertaken in good faith, and focused heavily on two priorities: 1) sustainably delivering the best possible public services and governance to residents, businesses and property owners in the project area; and 2) ensuring efficient use of public funds.”

Officials said residents and businesses in the annexation area can expect improved fire protection, access to public water, emergency resiliency through installation of fire hydrants and municipal law enforcement.

The proposed draft sales tax agreement will be considered at a joint hybrid meeting of the county and city leadership at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park Street.

Community members are strongly urged to attend and may participate in person in the chambers or via Zoom.

The meeting can be accessed at this link.

The webinar ID is 870 8745 5679, pass code is 122127. To participate via one tap mobile, dial +12532158782,,87087455679#,,,,*122127# or +13462487799,,87087455679#,,,,*122127#.

Additional information about the annexation may be found at www.lakeportannexation.org.

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.
The area of the South Lakeport Annexation Project in Lakeport, California. Courtesy image.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Forecasters are calling for a week of wet weather ahead, including the potential for a rainy and chilly Christmas thanks to an incoming cold storm system.

The National Weather Service’s forecast for Lake County anticipates the potential for showers every day this week.

The forecast says as much as an inch and a quarter of rain could fall during the day and night on Tuesday, with about an inch possible on Wednesday.

Specific rainfall estimates for the rest of the week are not available.

The rain will be accompanied by cold temperatures in the 40s during the day and dropping into the low 30s.

On Christmas day, daytime temperatures are forecast to be in the low 40s, reaching the low 30s at night, the coldest temperatures forecast for this week.

While it’s still too early to be certain, the National Weather Service’s forecast says there are indications that “much more impactful and widespread winter weather” is on the way, with the potential for heavy snow at lower elevations during the holiday weekend.

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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