Denny Bungarz. Courtesy photo. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Mendocino National Forest and officials around the region are honoring the memory of a longtime National Forest Service employee and former Glenn County supervisor who died last month.
“It is with a heavy heart that the Mendocino National Forest announces the loss of former Forest Aviation and Staff Officer Denton “Denny” Bungarz who passed away June 25, 2020,” Forest officials said in a statement.
Bungarz came to the Mendocino in 1978 and retired in December 1989. Altogether, he gave the USDA Forest Service 37 years of committed service.
His Forest Service career started in 1955 with a 10-month appointment at the Trinity National Forest. In 1958, he served as a prevention technician at the Hayden Flat Guard Station. He had ideas about becoming a smokejumper but never pursued that career. He graduated from Humboldt State in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in forestry.
The next year, Bungarz and his family moved to the Plumas National Forest where he worked as a district resource advisory. He also became qualified as an air attack supervisor or (spotter) for the north region in addition to obtaining his personal pilot’s license.
From the Plumas, Bungarz’s career took him to the Los Padres National Forest in 1973 and he was promoted to the district ranger of the Santa Barbara District. He had a fond friendship with Ronald Reagan during his time on the Los Padres.
Then in 1978, he moved to the Mendocino National Forest where he served as the forest aviation and staff officer (now known as forest fire and aviation management officer).
Denny Bungarz, at left, served as a Type 1 Incident commander on the 1988 Yellowstone Fire in Yellowstone National Park. Courtesy photo. While on the Mendocino, he was instrumental in introducing and developing the aerial ignition program, not only to the forest and the region, but also to the rest of the lower 48 states. Aerial ignitions (or helitorch) were first used on the Mendocino in 1979.
Bungarz took his leadership skills to a new level when he was selected as an incident commander for the California Team 4 Incident Management Team in 1987. He demonstrated his extensive incident management skills in the summers of 1987 (Siege of 87 fires) and 1988 on the Yellowstone Fire where he was one of many Type 1 Incident commanders.
After retiring, Bungarz was hired to develop the National Wildfire Apprentice Program in 1990. The Forest Service assumed this program in 1997. He remained an integral part of this program and was invited to speak at some of the graduations including the one from which his soon-to-be stepdaughter Shilo Springstead graduated.
In addition to his illustrious Forest Service career, Bungarz made a huge mark within the community of Willows in Glenn County. He was elected to the Willows City Council, served on the Glenn County Board of Supervisors, was the co-founder of the Westside Domestic Violence Shelter and helped obtain funding through the Glenn County Rural Conservation District for needed projects in the community and within the Mendocino National Forest.
He is survived by his wife, Judi Bungarz; daughter, Joyce Trammel; son, Doug Bungarz; brothers, Bob and George Bungarz; four stepchildren; eight grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be planned in the future. Any donations in the name of Denny Bungarz can be made to Willows Auxiliary, Wildland Firefighter Foundation or the National Museum of Forest Service History.
“The passing of Denton (Denny) Bungarz is a tremendous loss for the Forest Service and the community. He will be sorely missed,” the Mendocino National Forest concluded in its statement.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council is set this week to take up a proposal by a development firm to purchase a portion of the city’s former airport property.
The council will hold a closed session at 5 p.m. to discuss existing litigation against Pacific Gas and Electric Co., discuss the sale of a city-owned property as well as two potential cases of anticipated litigation before it meets virtually at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 16.
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/forum_home . 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, July 16.
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 Thursday the council will meet July’s adoptable dogs and present a certificate of appreciation to the Lakeshore Lions Club for the July 4 celebration.
On the agenda is a discussion regarding a proposed letter of intent between the city and King Management LLC, which is interested in purchasing a four-acre portion of the 27-acre city-owned airport property, located off of Highway 53.
City Manager Alan Flora’s report to the council explained that the two parcels the company wants to purchase are located at 6356 Armijo Ave. and 6393 James St.
“King Management is interested in expanding their portfolio of hotels into the Clearlake area,” Flora wrote.
Flora said city staff is working on a number of options and ideas related to the overall development of the airport property and they believe that the best path forward is to enter into a letter of intent, or LOI, while negotiations continue.
“King Management would like an executed LOI in a timely manner in order to obtain development incentives from a national hotel brand for the site,” Flora said. “This agreement would provide King Management a six-month window to perform due diligence and work though infrastructure and other planning items with the City. If adequate interest exists, the parties would negotiate a purchase and sale contract, or possibly a long-term lease agreement.”
In other business, the council will discuss and consider giving staff direction regarding the implementation of a residential rental housing registration and inspection program.
Thursday’s agenda includes several public hearings for abatement orders and to consider acceptance of the State Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act in the amount of $122,279, and a proposal to close multiple roads for 18 months in an effort to reduce illegal dumping.
The council also will discuss and consider an agreement with Hinderliter De Llamas and Associates for tax and fee administration solutions, including short term rental operations management and commercial hotel transient occupancy tax administration services; consider an amendment to the city’s employment agreement with Police Chief Andrew White; and consider a response to the Lake County Civil Grand Jury’s report on tax default auctions.
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 June meetings; minutes of the June 10, 2020, LC Vector Control District Board meeting; consideration of a memorandum of understanding with the Konocti Unified School District for a school resource officer authorize the city manager to execute the MOU with KUSD; award of a construction contract for the 2020 Double Chip Seal - South West Avenues Project to Pavement Coatings Co. in the amount of $98,650 and authorize the city manager; consideration of acceptance of the property located at 16034 26th Ave. and authorize the city manager to sign the certificate of acceptance; and notification of expiring committee appointments.
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 Public Health has reported more than a dozen new positive cases of COVID-19 in the county.
On Monday, Public Health reported that cases countywide had risen from 108 to 121.
By early Monday evening, county Public Health departments across California were reporting a statewide total of more than 332,000 positive cases and nearly 7,060 deaths due to the virus.
The latest available case totals for neighboring counties are Colusa, 129; Glenn, 176; Mendocino, 132; Napa, 518; Sonoma, 1819; and Yolo, 966.
Of the 121 cases reported in Lake County on Monday, 30 are active, 90 have recovered and one person has died, according to the Public Health COVID-19 dashboard.
Lake County Public Health said four patients are hospitalized, an increase of one based on numbers the agency reported over the weekend. Total hospitalizations have risen to 10.
“The recent cases tend to be following the general trend – one is hospitalized, one person got sent to a higher level of care,” Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace told Lake County News. “Cases generally contracted from contacts of a previously known case, or are being traced back to a family or social gathering.”
Tests conducted in Lake County total 5,322. Based on the number of positive cases and negative tests – now at 4,636 – the results of an estimated 565 tests are pending.
On Monday, the California Department of Public Health reported that 5,544,365 tests have been conducted in the state, an increase of 137,766 over the prior 24-hour reporting period.
As of July 12, local health departments have reported 17,774 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 100 deaths statewide, the state 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.
Freedom of the press is one of the foundations upon which America was born, but those freedoms are under attack in 2020.
Intentional attacks or detainments of reporters and members of the press in the United States in 2020 have increased significantly, particularly during the nationwide anti-racism protests, according to the US Press Freedom Tracker, the Freedom of the Press Foundation and the Committee to Protect Journalists.
During recent protests, reporters have been hit by rubber bullets, struck with batons, sprayed with tear gas, and detained, all while performing their critical role of documenting and informing the public of current events.
State Sen. Mike McGuire introduced SB 629, which will enhance and extend access and protections to members of the media who are attending demonstrations in order to gather vital information.
“Members of the press risk their personal health and safety each time they attend protests or rallies to get the public the information they need and deserve. Rubber bullets, tear gas, and even detainment cannot be the new norm for an essential pillar of our nation’s democracy. California must lead the way to ensure the right of the press and the First Amendment are protected and held to the highest standard,” Sen. McGuire said. “SB 629 – The Press Freedom Act – will help ensure journalists can perform these critical roles while being protected under the law from any law enforcement officer intentionally assaulting, obstructing or interfering with their duties while they are gathering the news.”
SB 629 will ensure that journalists are protected as they attend demonstrations, marches, protests, and rallies. It will prohibit law enforcement officers from obstructing, detaining, assaulting or otherwise preventing the press from fulfilling their constitutional mandate in reporting on these events by making it a misdemeanor for any peace officer to do so.
Recent police action demonstrates that these statutory protections are critical to ensure our democratic system has access to newsworthy information to inform the discussion on the crucial issues that California and the nation face.
During protests throughout California in May, numerous reporters were injured during incidents with law enforcement.
For example, a reporter for KCRW, a Santa Monica NPR affiliate, was reporting at Beverly Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue when she was hit by a rubber bullet. She was holding her press badge above her head at the time.
A Buzzfeed News reporter was detained by the Santa Monica Police while documenting a protest.
A KPIX CBS affiliate reporter was detained by law enforcement while reporting on protests in Oakland.
A San Diego Union-Tribune reporter was shot with pepper balls while he was documenting protests in La Mesa.
While California law allows reporters and members of the press to enter natural disaster emergency areas for the purpose of gathering information, these protections do not expressly extend to protests. SB 629 provides these protections.
The legislation is supported by the California News Publishers Association, The California Broadcasters Association, California Black Media, Impremedia, Ethnic Media Services and the First Amendment Coalition.
The legislation is co-authored by Senators Hertzberg, Hill, Wiener, Gonzalez, Portantino and Skinner and Assemblymember Wicks.
SB 629 will be heard in the Assembly Public Safety Committee in the coming weeks.
The county has issued a correction to its statements regarding the rules for bars, brewpubs, breweries and pubs.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continuing to rise in the region and throughout California, on Monday Gov. Gavin Newsom announced an immediate statewide reclosure of indoor operations in certain business sectors.
The sectors impacted are restaurants, wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos and museums, and cardrooms.
These new restrictions apply to Lake County, and more information is available here.
Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace explained that California businesses in the industries singled out by the governor are allowed to continue to operate to the extent they are able to provide services outdoors and/or offer to-go orders, curbside pickup and delivery.
Bars, brewpubs, breweries and pubs were ordered to immediately close all operations – both indoor and outdoor – statewide, unless they are offering sit-down, outdoor dine-in meals. Alcohol can only be sold in the same transaction as a meal.
In other words, indoor sit-down meals and/or beverage service and on-site seating for alcoholic beverage service, only, even if outdoors, are prohibited.
Breweries with restaurant operations, for example, are able to continue offering outdoor dining, takeout, and curbside pickup. Shipping and delivery-based operations may continue, as well.
The order was also not intended to prohibit breweries from brewing beer, which is considered an essential food manufacturing activity.
More information on the new statewide restrictions added by Gov. Newsom is available here.
Pace said that, in light of the governor’s order, effective immediately, the three Lake County-owned museums will be closed to the public: Historic Courthouse Museum in Lakeport, the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum and the Gibson Museum and Cultural Center in Middletown.
The new restrictions announced on Monday, Pace said, signal that the state government is taking a statewide and regional approach to pandemic response in consideration of the movement of people and patients across county lines.
For the 30 counties on the state’s “watch list,” restrictions were added to further business sectors and activities.
Lake County is not currently on the list, but Pace said the neighboring counties of Colusa, Glenn, Napa, Sonoma and Yolo are listed.
In his Monday message, Gov. Newsom referred to Lake County in a discussion that included the possibility of adding additional counties to the watch list in the coming days. At that point, Lake County’s confirmed cases stood at 121, with 30 active, 90 recovered and one death reported.
“We do not anticipate Lake County will be added at this time, but we must remain vigilant in taking precautions, as regional COVID-19 activity is considerable,” said Pace.
On Monday Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health expanded statewide its indoor closures for businesses that encourage mixing of individuals beyond immediate households and make physical distancing and wearing face coverings difficult.
Affected businesses include restaurants, wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos and museums, and cardrooms.
These sectors may modify operations to provide services outside or by pick-up.
The state is similarly expanding statewide its order for brewpubs, breweries, bars and pubs to close, both indoors and outdoors, unless they are offering sit down meals outdoors and comply with guidance issued on June 28.
Monday’s order is effective immediately and the closures will remain in effect until the state Public Health officer determines it is appropriate to modify the order based on public health conditions.
Counties on the County Monitoring List for three or more consecutive days – currently 29 counties accounting for 80 percent of the state’s population – must close indoor operations for additional activities including:
– Gyms and fitness centers; – Places of worship; – Indoor protests; – Offices for non-critical infrastructure sectors as identified at www.covid19.ca.gov ; – Personal Care Services (including nail salons, massage parlors, and tattoo parlors); – Hair salons and barbershops; – Malls.
The 29 counties impacted by Monday’s order include:
– Colusa; – Contra Costa; – Fresno; – Glenn; – Imperial; – Kings; – Los Angeles; – Madera; – Marin; – Merced; – Monterey; – Napa; – Orange; – Placer; – Riverside; – Sacramento; – San Benito; – San Bernardino; – San Diego; – San Joaquin; – Santa Barbara; – Solano; – Sonoma; – Stanislaus; – Sutter; – Tulare; – Ventura; – Yolo; – Yuba.
“Due to increased COVID-19 transmissions statewide and rising hospitalization numbers in many communities, we are taking more actions today to slow transmissions of the disease," said Gov. Newsom. "Each of us has the power to slow the spread of the virus. Here’s how you can help: Avoid mixing with people who are not in your household. If you can’t avoid it, wear a mask, move indoor activities outside, stay physically distant and wash your hands.”
Community spread of COVID-19 continues to be a concern for counties on the County Monitoring List.
Further, officials said rates in counties not on the list have also been increasing at “an alarming rate,” supporting this expanded state action.
As community spread increases, vulnerable populations, including older Californians and those who have chronic conditions or compromised immune systems, are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill due to the virus. Higher cases counts can also threaten the state’s care delivery system capacity.
“Moving outside when you’re at a restaurant, winery or gym is a key step to helping reduce the risk for yourself and others, but that doesn’t mean your actions don’t matter. Letting your guard down around people who don’t live with you, even a family member or close friend, puts you at risk,” said Dr. Sonia Angell, state health officer and director of the California Department of Public Health. “When you go out, wear a face covering, keep physical distance, and wash your hands. The decisions we make today will determine how COVID-19 impacts our communities and families tomorrow.”
Sectors included in today's announcement are all at higher risk of transmission because they promote mixing with others outside of one's household. In addition, some of these sectors are centered on eating and drinking, compliance with face coverings is not possible for the full duration of time someone spends in these establishments.
All industry or sector guidance documents that have been issued to date, including all infectious control measures outlined in those guidance documents, apply in outdoor settings, and must be adhered to.
The state will work closely with counties to ensure businesses are complying with guidance and are modifying operations to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19.
California will continue to update and issue guidance based on the best available public health data and the best practices currently employed.
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly has announced new plans for COVID-19 testing in California, including updated testing guidance, new requirements for health plans to cover testing, and the new co-chairs of the state’s COVID-19 Testing Task Force.
“Testing is a critical tool that helps us diagnose and treat those who become infected by COVID-19. Testing also helps us understand how COVID-19 moves through our communities so we can identify areas where transmission is occurring. Today we are redoubling our commitment to ensure testing remains a top priority for California,” Dr. Ghaly said Tuesday.
“Our testing capacity has increased exponentially in recent months. At the same time, new national supply chain challenges and large volumes of specimens sent to commercial laboratories have resulted in growing delays in processing times,” Ghaly said.
“Consequently, it is critical we continue to be deliberate and creative about testing. We must do this so that testing is readily available and affordable to those who need it, especially those communities experiencing the worst impacts of COVID-19 and those who are at the highest risk. Testing is a responsibility of our entire healthcare delivery system. Clinics, doctors, and other care sites should provide convenient testing to their patients who need a test,” Ghaly added.
The new plans Ghaly announced include the following.
Testing prioritization
The California Department of Public Health released updated testing guidance that focuses on testing hospitalized individuals with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and people being tested as part of the investigation and management of outbreaks, including contact tracing.
The testing guidance also prioritizes individuals who have COVID-19 symptoms and individuals without symptoms who fall into high-risk categories, including people who live and work in nursing homes, homeless shelters and prisons, healthcare workers, and patients in hospitals.
The new guidance will ensure that Californians who most need tests get them even if there are limited supplies.
New Testing Task Force co-chairs and goals
Two new co-chairs will lead California’s Testing Task Force, the state’s private-public partnership that has taken the lead role in expanding both the collection and processing of specimens for COVID-19 testing.
Leading the task force starting immediately are Dr. Gilbert Chavez, founding chief of the California Department of Public Health’s Center for Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Bechara Choucair, senior vice president and chief health officer for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc.
Chavez, the state’s former epidemiologist who has led the response to disease outbreak and emerging health threats, is coming out of retirement to help lead the task force.
Dr. Choucair oversees Kaiser’s efforts focused on addressing the social health of its 12.4 million members and the 68 million people who live in the communities it serves.
The task force, which was launched in April, created testing locations where there were none, expanded laboratory capability and helped build a testing supply pipeline, scaling up from just 2,000 tests per day to more than 100,000 tests per day.
Under the leadership of Chavez and Choucair, the task force will recommend testing priorities, continue to create equitable access to testing and support for state-operated community testing sites, and review options to lower overall testing costs.
Health plan coverage of testing
To help ensure that testing is widely available to all Californians, the state is working collaboratively with health insurers to provide reimbursement for testing and with private providers to create additional in-office testing capacity.
With more providers performing tests in the office rather than referring patients to labs or testing sites, the state would have more resources to focus on underserved and high-risk populations.
The state is preparing to file emergency regulations that will classify COVID-19 testing as medically necessary urgent care for essential health workers and people with symptoms of or possible exposure to COVID-19.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake residents interested in running for a seat on the Clearlake City Council can now file to run.
The general municipal election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, for three seats with four-year terms.
The seats up for election currently are held by Phil Harris, Joyce Overton and Russell Perdock.
The candidate filing period opened on Monday and will continue until Friday, August 7, at 5 p.m. Filings can be made by appointment only.
Should one or more incumbent council members not file for reelection, the filing period will be extended to 5 p.m., Wednesday, August 12, for nonincumbents.
If no one or only one person is nominated for each elective office, appointment to the elective office may be made as prescribed by Section 10229, Elections Code of the State of California.
Candidate packets will be available in the Administrative Services/City Clerk’s Office, 14050 Olympic Drive, Clearlake.
Candidates are asked to contact the Administrative Services/City Clerk’s Office at 707-994-8201, Extension 106, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule an appointment time convenient to the candidate’s schedule as the packet disbursal process will take approximately one hour.
For more information about running for city council, visit the city of Clearlake’s website.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council has directed staff to begin the process of renaming a city street in honor of a man whose efforts were key to creating Westside Community Park.
At its meeting on July 7, the council approved a resolution to begin the application process to change Westside Park Road – which leads into the park from Parallel Drive – to Charlie Jolin’s Way.
Jolin, who died June 29 at age 96, was instrumental in creating the park.
City Manager Margaret Silveira, in presenting the proposal to the council, said that Westside Community Park Committee Chair Dennis Rollins asked the city to consider the gesture as a way to honor Jolin.
The resolution offered historical background on the park, noting that on Jan. 15, 1997, a group of community members met under Jolin’s direction to discuss the park’s development.
More than two years later, on Nov. 1, 1999, the Westside Community Park Committee was incorporated and received its nonprofit status.
Silveira said Jolin worked with the city staff and council to approve and dedicate the land which would eventually become the park. After that, he took the reins of the project and drove the park’s development.
She said he was always ready to take people on tours, and his Ford Bronco – a classic 1960s model – hauled many people out to see the park.
The resolution explained that, after getting the land dedicated, Jolin personally recruited most of the first committee and board members.
“He wanted representation from youth sports leaders in all sports, business and community minded people. He was not shy about talking the Park up to anyone and everyone,” the resolution explained.
Silveira said Jolin never lost interest in the project, even after retiring from leading the park committee and the development effort. He took pride in seeing the park develop into a major recreational facility for the region.
She said Jolin contributed to the community in other ways too, including the development of Library Park, serving as a member and chair of the Lakeport Planning Commission and as the chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee to update the city’s general plan. He also was a long-time Boy Scout leader and was awarded the Stars of Lake County Man of the Year in 2014.
The park committee, Silveira added, believes that if it were not for Jolin, there would be no Westside Park.
Silveira sought direction from the council on starting the application process. The Lakeport Municipal Code says city streets may be officially named or the official name of an existing street may be changed after submittal of the proposed name to the city planning commission and city council.
She said the process includes notifying anyone whose property abuts the road in order to offer them a chance to comment. It would then go to the Lakeport Planning Commission.
“Charlie was a really great man and this is a really great way to commemorate the work he did out there,” said Councilwoman Stacey Mattina.
She said she regretted not doing it while he was still here. “He would have been thrilled.”
Rollins thanked Silveira for getting the proposal on the agenda right away.
He said he talked to Jolin on a regular basis but that Jolin was never forthcoming about his health, so Rollins didn’t realize he was so close to the end of his life.
While he said Jolin never really wanted anything named after him, Rollins said he spoke with Jolin’s son Tom and his wife Sandy and they thought it was a great idea. Jolin’s son also told Rollins that Jolin’s late wife Ruthie also would have thought it was a great idea.
Rollins suggested a change to the original proposal, from “Charlie’s Way” to “Charlie Jolin’s Way.”
“We think this would be a great thing to do to honor Charlie,” said Rollins.
Rollins said they also would like to put a plaque under an oak tree at the park explaining the naming.
Councilman Kenny Parlet said he considered Rollins’ recommendation a strong one.
The council agreed to the recommendation, and Mattina moved to approve the resolution to begin the process of renaming Westside Park Road to Charlie Jolin’s Way, which Councilwoman Mireya Turner seconded.
The council approved the resolution 4-0, with Mayor George Spurr absent from the meeting.
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.
Jessica Heiges, University of California, Berkeley and Kate O'Neill, University of California, Berkeley
Volunteers load plastic bags for a weekly food pantry service in Everett, Mass., May 10, 2020. Everett has some of the highest COVID-19 infections rates in the state. Joseph Prezioso /AFP via Getty Images
COVID-19 is changing how the U.S. disposes of waste. It is also threatening hard-fought victories that restricted or eliminated single-use disposable items, especially plastic, in cities and towns across the nation.
Our research group is analyzing how the pandemic has altered waste management strategies. Plastic-Free July, an annual campaign launched in 2011, is a good time to assess what has happened to single-use disposable plastics under COVID-19, and whether efforts to curb their use can get back on track.
California banned single-use plastic bags in 2016, but state officials waived the ban during COVID-19 quarantines because plastic was perceived as more sanitary.
From plans to pandemic
Over several decades leading up to 2020, many U.S. cities and states worked to reduce waste from single-use disposable objects such as straws, utensils, coffee cups, beverage bottles and plastic bags. Policies varied but included bans on Styrofoam, plastic bags and straws, along with taxes and fees on bottles and cups.
Social norms around plastic waste have evolved quickly in the past several years. Pre-COVID-19, “Bring your own” tote bags, mugs and other foodware had become part of daily life for many consumers. Innovative startups targeting reusable foodware niches include Vessel, which partners with cafes, enabling customers to rent stainless steel to-go mugs, and DishCraft, which picks up dirty dishes from dine-in restaurants and to-go food outlets, cleans them with high-tech equipment and returns them ready for reuse.
Just before COVID-19 lockdowns began in March 2020, the New Jersey senate adopted a bill that would have made the state the first to ban all single-use bags made of either paper or plastic. And U.S. Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico and U.S. Rep. Alan Lowenthal of California introduced the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act – the first federal measure limiting use of single-use disposable items.
COVID-19 shutdowns drastically changed all of this. In just a few weeks, plastic bags returned to grocery stores in states that had recently banned them. Even before lockdowns were official, restaurants and cafes started refusing personal reusables such as coffee mugs, reverting to plastic cups and lids, wrapped straws and condiment packets.
By late June, cities and states had temporarily suspended almost 50 single-use item reduction policies across the U.S. – mainly bans plastic bag bans. The pandemic also spurred demand for single-use personal protective equipment, such as masks and plastic gloves. These items soon began appearing in municipal solid waste streams and discarded on streets.
The plastic pandemic
With legislation restricting disposables suspended, many food vendors and grocery stores have shifted entirely to disposable bags, plates and cutlery. This switch has raised their operating costs and cut further into their already-low margins.
The recycling industry has weighed in on the impacts of more single-use bags and higher residential waste volumes. Waste industry workers, who have been uniformly declared essential, work in closed spaces with many other people, so even if surface transmission of coronavirus is not a serious risk, the pandemic has increased person-to-person transmission risks in the waste industry.
Hygiene: A red herring
The main rationale that states, cities and vendors have offered to justify switching from reusables back to disposables is hygiene. Plastic packaging, the argument goes, protects public health by keeping contents safe and sealed. Also, discarding items immediately after use protects consumers from infection.
This narrative handily dovetails with the plastics industry’s ongoing effort to slow or derail bans and restrictions. The industry has loudly supported turning the clock back toward single-use disposable products.
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In a March 2020 letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Plastics Industry Association argued that single-use items were the “most sanitary” option for consumers. Industry representatives are actively lobbying against the Break Free From Plastics Act.
However, studies show that these products are not necessarily safer than reusable alternatives with respect to COVID-19. The virus survives as long on plastic as it does on other surfaces such as stainless steel. What’s more, studies currently cited by the plastics industry focus on other contaminants such as E.coli and listeria bacteria, not on coronaviruses.
Viewed more holistically, plastics generate pollutants upstream when their raw materials are extracted and plastic goods are manufactured and transported. After disposal – typically via landfills or incineration – they release pollutants that can seriously affect environmental and human health, including hazardous and endocrine disrupting chemicals.
All of these impacts are especially harmful to minority and marginalized populations, who are already more vulnerable to COVID-19. In our view, plastic goods are far from being the most hygienic or beneficial to public health, especially over the long term.
States with enacted plastic bag legislation as of Jan. 24, 2020. Preemption means a state has adopted a law barring state or local regulation of plastic bags – measures often promoted by the affected industry.NCSL, CC BY-ND
Building resilience
Crises like the COVID-19 pandemic make it hard to see the bigger picture. No longer having to remember reusable tote bags or coffee mugs can be a relief. But the quick return of single-use disposable products shows that recent restrictions are precarious, and that industries don’t cede profitable markets without a fight.
Waste reduction advocates, such as Upstream Solutions and #BreakFreeFromPlastic, are working to gather data, educate the public and prevent decision-making about plastics that is based on perception rather than scientific reasoning. On June 22, 115 health experts worldwide released a statement arguing that reusables are safe even under pandemic conditions.
Some governments are taking notice. In late June, California reinstated its statewide ban on single-use plastic bags and requirement for plastic bags to contain 40% recycled materials. Massachusetts quickly followed suit, lifting a temporary ban on reusable bags.
For the longer term, it is unclear how COVID-19 disruptions will affect consumerism and waste disposal practices. In our view, one important takeaway is that while mindful consumers are part of the solution to the plastics crisis, individuals cannot and should not carry the full burden.
We believe that at the local and federal levels, policymakers need to build cross-jurisdictional alliances, recognizing shared interests with the waste management industry and emerging businesses like Vessel and Dishcraft. To make progress on reducing plastic waste, advocates need to reinforce measures in place before the next crisis hits.
Two-way reflective markers show red to wrong-way drivers. Courtesy photo. Caltrans and the UC Davis Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology, or AHMCT, Research Center have released two reports highlighting ways to prevent rare but often deadly collisions involving wrong-way drivers.
One of the prevention measures included in the three-year pilot program – reflectors that alert drivers they are entering the roadway in the wrong direction – was so successful at deterring wrong-way drivers that Caltrans has already installed the reflective markers on hundreds of miles of highways in California, including a portion of Highway 29 in Lakeport.
In San Diego, the number of wrong-way drivers decreased by 44 percent after the reflectors were installed.
“Adding the two-way reflective markers proved to be so effective that Caltrans updated its statewide design standards,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “It’s a low-cost measure we can use throughout the state to deter wrong-way drivers and potentially save lives on California’s highway system.”
During the pilot program, Caltrans installed and tested different ways to deter wrong way drivers along exit ramps in Sacramento and San Diego, including:
– Two-way reflective pavement markers that show white or yellow to right way drivers, and red to wrong-way drivers; – “Wrong Way” signs at the off-ramp; – “Do Not Enter” signs equipped with LED lights flashing 24 hours a day; – Active monitoring systems that use radar to detect wrong way drivers. These systems activate a secondary set of LED signs when a wrong way driver enters the ramp and sends real-time alerts and photos to Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol.
Caltrans monitored the exit ramps throughout the pilot and learned the two-way reflective pavement markers were an effective measure against wrong-way drivers. The department is installing them as it performs maintenance or repaving.
The flashing LED signs showed promise at preventing wrong-way collisions and Caltrans will continue to monitor their impact to determine whether to expand use at exit ramps across the state.
The pilot was developed following 10 wrong-way driver-related collisions on Sacramento and San Diego area freeways in the first six months of 2015.
During the three-year pilot program, UC Davis AHMCT researchers partnered with Caltrans to conduct a second study using a Vision-Based Site Monitoring, or VBSM, system in Sacramento to better understand the actions that lead to wrong-way driving incidents.
“Our hypothesis was that some of the causes of wrong-way driving start before a driver enters the ramp,” said researcher and AHMCT co-director Ty Lasky, who helped lead the study. “In order to test this, we wanted to extend our field of view to capture as much of the roadway around the exit ramp as possible.”
The VBSM system consisted of a camera, analytical software, solar panels, and a modem mounted on poles near exit ramps. The system recorded video when the camera detected a wrong-way driver, which allowed the team to study a vehicle’s path before, during, and after a wrong-way driving incident.
“The video gave us a more comprehensive understanding of driver behavior and factors that contribute to wrong-way driving,” said UC Davis Distinguished Professor and AHMCT co-director Bahram Ravani. “This opens the door for further deployment of our system across the state as counties and municipalities try to mitigate wrong-way driving.”
Wrong-way collisions on divided highways in California are rare – accounting for about 1 percent of all crashes on the state highway system.
“Wrong way crashes do not happen very often but when they do occur, they are typically head-on crashes, resulting in death or severe injuries,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley. “Information obtained through this pilot program is being used to help prevent these crashes and save lives on California roadways.”
On average, 37 people are killed in wrong-way collisions each year on California’s highways. Most wrong-way incidents are caused by drivers who are severely impaired and occur in the left-hand lane for vehicles traveling in the correct direction.
“Seeing someone driving the wrong direction is a scary sight and a clear danger to other road users,” said Office of Traffic Safety Director Barbara Rooney. “Maintaining safe driving behaviors is critical in preventing crashes that have tragic consequences.”
The Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology Research Center is part of the UC Davis Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The center develops and tests new and advanced technologies to improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of highway maintenance and construction tasks.
Wrong-way signs equipped with 24-hour flashing LED lights warn drivers not to enter the exit ramp. Courtesy photo.
Read the Caltrans and UC Davis AHMCT studies here.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will consider closing its meetings to in-person participation due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in Lake County.
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.
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.
