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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – For the first time in more than a decade, Lake County was not ranked among the best locations in the United States for air quality due to the impact of wildland fire smoke over the past several years.

The American Lung Association released its 21st annual “State of the Air” report this week.

“The report finds the air quality in some communities has improved, but the ‘State of the Air’ finds that far too many people are still breathing unhealthy air,” said American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer.

“This year’s report shows that climate change continues to degrade air quality and increase the risk of air pollution harming health. To protect the advances in air quality we fought for 50 years ago through the Clean Air Act, we must again act today, implementing effective policies to protect our air quality and lung health against the threat of climate change,” Wimmer said.

Wimmer added that air pollution is linked to a greater risk of lung infection. “Protecting everyone from COVID-19 and other lung infections is an urgent reminder of the importance of clean air.”

In creating the report, the association analyzed data from 2016, 2017 and 2018, the three years with the most recent quality-assured air pollution data.

The report found that nearly half of the nation’s population – 150 million people – lived with and breathed polluted air, placing their health and lives at risk.

The association said climate change continues to make air pollution worse, with many western communities again experiencing record-breaking spikes in particle pollution due to wildfires.

Lake County is one of the areas that has been heavily impacted by wildland fires over the past several years.

In 2016, the Clayton fire ravaged Lower Lake, the Sulphur fire hit Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks in 2017, and in 2018, the Mendocino Complex – a combination of the Ranch and River fires – became the largest wildland fire since California began keeping records.

In past years, Lake County has been among the top-ranked areas in the nation. However, because of the wildland fire impacts – particularly in 2017 and 2018 – this year’s report is the first since 2007 that doesn’t rank Lake County, according to Lake County Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart.

“We didn’t miss it by much even with the fires, there were only 4 days in 3 years (during the fires) that made our average high enough to miss the top 25,” Gearhart said.

Gearhart said that, because the report relies on three years of data, he believes it will take at least two years for Lake County to get back to the top 25, especially since 2017 had the highest particulate matter levels from the fires.

“Additionally, with the shelter in place orders all around the US right now, there are a number of counties that are in the top 25 that will see even better numbers in 2020 due to the reduced activity in their area, so it will be a challenge to get there in the next two years,” said Gearhart, who is working to develop a picture of the shelter in place’s impacts on Lake County’s air quality.

How the rankings work

Each year, the State of the Air reports on the two most widespread outdoor air pollutants, ozone pollution and particle pollution. Each is dangerous to public health and can be lethal, the association reported.

Particle pollution comes from sources like wildfires, wood-burning stoves, coal-fired power plants, diesel engines and other sources. Technically known as PM2.5, these microscopic particles lodge deep in the lungs and can even enter the bloodstream.

The report said particle pollution can trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes and cause lung cancer. New research also links air pollution to the development of serious diseases, such as asthma and dementia.

The report has two grades for particle pollution: one for “short-term” particle pollution, or daily spikes, and one for the annual average, “year-round” level that represents the concentration of particles day-in and day-out in each location.

Lake County registered a “D” grade for particle pollution.

Neighboring Yolo county received a “C,” and other counties around the region registered even worse grades, with Colusa, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma all receiving an “F.” No monitoring was collected for Glenn County.

Lake County got an “A” for ozone pollution, also known as smog, as did Colusa, Glenn and Mendocino counties. Napa and Sonoma counties received a “B” and Yolo County a “D.”

The report said ozone pollution is a powerful respiratory irritant whose effects have been likened to a sunburn of the lung. Inhaling ozone can cause shortness of breath, trigger coughing and asthma attacks, and may shorten life.

Additional findings

The report also made the following findings:

– More than 20.8 million people lived in counties that had unhealthy levels of air pollution in all categories from 2016 to 2018.

– More cities experienced more days with spikes in particle pollution, with nine western cities reaching their most days ever reported. Those notable spikes were driven in large part by smoke from major wildfires in 2018, especially in California, and some locations also saw spikes from woodsmoke from heating homes.

– Twenty-four of the 25 most polluted cities were located in the western region of the U.S.

– Nationwide, more than 53.3 million people experienced these unhealthy spikes in particle pollution.

– More than 21.2 million people lived in counties with unhealthy levels of year-round particle pollution, which is more than in the last three “State of the Air” reports.

– Thirteen of the 26 most polluted cities faced worse levels of year-round particle pollution. Some cities had so many days of short-term particle pollution spikes that the sheer number led to them having higher annual averages as well.

– Many cities experienced their cleanest ever annual average, yet remained on the nation’s most polluted list. Despite making the top 10 most polluted list, both Fresno-Madera-Hanford, California and Pittsburgh metro area tied with their previous record of cleanest air in the 21-year history of the report. And while Chicago, Cincinnati and Indianapolis made the top 25 most polluted list, each hit their cleanest ever annual average.

– Significantly more people suffered unhealthy ozone pollution in the 2020 report than in the last three “State of the Air” reports.

– More than 137 million people lived in an area earning a failing grade for ozone pollution. This shows the changing climate’s impact on air quality, as ozone pollution worsened during the global record-breaking heat years tracked in the 2020 report. However, despite making the top ten list of most ozone-polluted cities, San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, California experienced its best-ever air quality for ozone.

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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The story has been updated to show that the new addendum has a June 1 expiration date.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A month after the Lake County Public Health officer instituted a countywide shelter in place order to protect against the spread of COVID-19, he has issued revisions that allow some businesses to reopen and loosened restrictions on recreation and nonmotorized use of the lake.

On Thursday afternoon, Dr. Gary Pace released a statement reporting the changes to his shelter in place order, which was issued on March 18, went into effect on March 19 and had additional modifications several days after its issuance.

The shelter in place order has a May 3 deadline, but the Thursday addendum said it is in place until June 1, and the language does not make clear if it cancels out the previous order.

Pace’s statement was released by the county at 1:35 p.m. Thursday, 25 minutes before the loosened restrictions became effective.

“Since the anticipated surge in coronavirus cases has not materialized, we are taking the first steps toward loosening up some of the restrictions that limit social mobility and business activity in Lake County. The Governor’s Orders have the ultimate authority, however; local Public Health Orders can be more restrictive, but not less,” Pace wrote.

As of Tuesday, Lake County’s confirmed COVID-19 cases remain at six, with five of them recovered.

Pace said that if infection numbers begin to rise, the county will be prepared to tighten restrictions back down in order to prevent big case surges.

His changes to the order followed a spirited discussion at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting in which board members debated easing the rules while trying to protect the public, as Lake County News has reported.

Pace’s Thursday addendum to his shelter in place order “is not intended to further restrict the ability of families living within the same household to engage in essential activities. The intent is to enable additional opportunities for individuals and business to resume relatively low risk activities, while observing social distancing, and gathering in groups no larger than two,” he said.

He also noted that the economy is a primary concern now, due to the terrible impact the county’s public health measures have had on business.

“Once the governor makes some changes in the order, we can begin to loosen some restrictions. These will happen on a step by step basis, with a lot of planning. A few groups are already working on plans to begin to relax the restrictions in a safe and equitable way,” Pace said.

The order allows for the following activities.

Recreational activities that will be allowed include:

– Limited opening of golf courses.
– Hiking and jogging at parks that are open.
– Canoeing, kayaking and other paddle-propelled, hand-launched watercraft are allowed in the lake, excluding sailboats.
– Highland Springs shooting ranges can open.
– Other solitary recreational activities that do not involve physical contact or group activity (like shooting baskets, Frisbee golf, archery) will be allowed.
– Fishing from the shore.

Certain businesses will be allowed to reopen:

– Pet grooming.
– Real estate transactions can be pursued. They should be done as much as possible virtually but can be done in person when necessary.

While there has been public interest, hair salons and cosmetology are still not permitted to operate under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order, Pace said.

While the county can be more restrictive than the governor’s order, it cannot be less restrictive, officials reported.

Pace said this loosening of restrictions “will hopefully allow the community to get some relief from staying inside all the time.”

“However,” he added, “significant health risks associated with COVID-19 do remain.”

As restrictions begin to loosen, Pace said it is essential that people follow guidelines that include maintaining social distancing, keeping good hygiene and preferably wearing masks when out in public.

The county has still not made masking mandatory, as is the case in neighboring Sonoma County and in certain situations in Mendocino County.

Mandatory masking was a point of discussion for board members on Tuesday, at which point Pace said masking may be necessary as more businesses are reopened.

On Thursday he said vulnerable populations – including those over age 65 and those with chronic medical conditions – should continue to stay safe at home.

In addition, Pace discouraged people from crossing county lines. He said that is an important way that the virus spreads. To date, Lake County’s confirmed cases have had out-of-county origins, based on Pace’s previous reports.

The shelter in place addendum is published below.

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.


2020-04-23 Shelter-In-Place... by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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NORTH COAST, Calif. – On Friday, April 24, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) will hold a virtual town hall from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

This is the second in a series of virtual town halls where Thompson and experts from across the district are answering questions on the response to the fallout from novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.

All constituents of California’s Fifth Congressional District – which includes southern Lake County – and members of the press are invited to join.

For this week’s virtual town hall, Thompson will be joined by Sonoma County Public Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase and Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chair Susan Gorin.

This event will be held over Zoom and interested participants must email Thompson’s office in order to join, as the platform has a capacity of 500 people.

Interested participants will be notified via email with instructions on how to join.

The event will also be streamed on Facebook Live via Thompson’s page, https://www.facebook.com/RepMikeThompson/ .

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As the US Census Bureau adjusts in response to COVID-19, it’s asking community members to be sure to participate in this year’s Census, as Lake County’s response rate to date is well below the state and national averages.

The most recent response information available from the bureau said that, so far, 51.8 percent of households nationwide have responded, while the response rate in California is 53.2 percent.

The national Internet response is 44.8 percent as of the latest available data on April 22, with 47.6 percent of Californians filling out the questionnaire online.

The Census Bureau said Lake County’s response rate is below the state and national averages.

Lake’s total response rate is 34 percent, while its online response rate is 23.6 percent, the Census Bureau reported.

Within the county, the city of Clearlake’s total response rate is 30.5 percent, while 17.6 percent of Clearlake residents have responded online.

The city of Lakeport has a 55.2 percent overall response rate, with an Internet response rate of 22 percent.

To take the 2020 Census, visit https://2020census.gov/ .

Much of the bureau’s work has gone online over the past month.

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau adjusted its 2020 Census operations to temporarily suspend field data collection activities in March.

However, earlier this month it announced that it is taking steps to reactivate field offices beginning June 1, in preparation for the resumption of field data collection operations as quickly as possible following that date.

The agency is seeking statutory relief from Congress of 120 additional calendar days to deliver final apportionment counts.

The bureau’s plan calls for extending the window for field data collection and self-response to Oct. 31.

Once the 2020 Census data collection is complete, the Census Bureau said it begins “a lengthy, thorough and scientifically rigorous process” to produce the apportionment counts, redistricting information and other statistical data products that help guide hundreds of billions of dollars in public and private sector spending per year.

The extended deadline will allow the Census Bureau to deliver apportionment counts to President Donald Trump by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than July 31, 2021.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Following a discussion with the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, the county’s Public Health officer and other county officials are reported to be working to come up with new rules associated with the shelter in place order, now in effect for more than a month.

Talk of easing restrictions in Dr. Gary Pace’s shelter in place order – which went into effect on March 19 with additional restrictions that closed local waterways, hotels and vacation rentals several days later – took place at Tuesday’s board meeting.

The shelter in place order remains in effect until May 3.

The number of Lake County COVID-19 cases has held at six since last week. Five of the cases are recovered, according to Lake County Public Health.

Pace told the board on Tuesday that COVID-19 cases appear to be dropping off statewide and regionally and the state is working to increase testing supplies and laboratory capability.

As such, attention is now turning to loosening restrictions. Pace said the end game is, how can restrictions be eased and the community be allowed to get back to a semblance of normal.

He said large gatherings probably will not be happening any time in the near future, and possibly not until there is a vaccine available.

If the restrictions are pulled back too soon, Pace said there could be a surge in cases again. The idea is to be methodical and loosen restrictions in a way that allows activity while protecting vulnerable people.

He suggested taking an approach of loosening restrictions, waiting a few weeks and then loosening some more. If things get bad and cases increase, that may lead to another clamp down.

Pace added that vulnerable people will need to be on lockdown indefinitely, adding that society has been shut down to protect that group of people.

He said wearing masks and continuing to observe social distancing will continue to help the situation going forward.

Another action Pace suggested is trying to limit people coming from out of town, acknowledging, “So much of the economy is based on that.” However, if the lake is opened up, Pace said visitors are likely to bring in infections.

With the order set to expire on May 3, Pace said he plans to have updated regulations in place by then. By that point, Gov. Gavin Newsom also has indicated he will have new rules in effect.

Pace indicated a desire to loosen some recreational restrictions by Friday. Possible changes could include hiking with social distancing, fishing on the side of the lake, and use of nonmotorized boats like kayaks and canoes. Then, Pace said he will watch what the governor does as he considers more changes.

Supervisor Rob Brown wanted to move forward with easing restrictions on Tuesday rather than waiting for Friday. Pace said he needed time to coordinate with the different agencies involved in enforcing the shelter in place order.

Still to be decided are measures to begin easing restrictions on businesses.

Referring to rules Sonoma County has for mandatory masking, Pace said the county may need to do that when opening up more businesses. However, he said he’s reluctant to take that step, and during the discussion Supervisor Bruno Sabatier opposed a masking requirement, questioning how such a rule would be enforced.

Brown said he still hadn’t heard any logical or factual reasons why the county couldn’t open up on Tuesday. “I think we’ve gotten too restrictive for too long without justification. It’s not working out.”

He said no one was laying out any facts, just a hypothesis.

That kicked off a brief verbal sparring exchange between Brown and Board Chair Moke Simon, who said it wasn’t a hypothesis, with more than 40,000 deaths in the United States by that point.

Brown replied that it was a hypothesis and Simon said it’s a very deadly pandemic, to which Brown said that wasn’t a fact, and that more people die from doctors’ mistakes than COVID-19.

Simon said he disagreed, as do most health officials.

“I’m nervous about what the state is going to do and I think we need to take back some control,” Sabatier said.

Sheriff Brian Martin told the board, “I’m in favor of getting things back to normal as quickly as possible,” but added that he realized there is a balance to keeping safe.

Martin said he wanted a few days to talk about how the changes would be worked out.

He said he felt very strongly that the steps the county took early on helped. The sheriff added that he liked the idea of reopening recreational opportunities and letting some businesses also reopen.

The board took no formal action on the matter, which was discussed during Pace’s weekly update.

In a video posted on Facebook on Wednesday, Sheriff Martin indicated work was underway on changes to the order and some easing of restrictions are anticipated in the coming days, but he added that he could not get into specifics.

There’s both a desire to lift restrictions and to keep the community safe, Martin said.

He encouraged people with suggestions about the restrictions to write Public Health at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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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Plans for an interregional transit center proposed to be built in Clearlake, California. Courtesy image.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake Transit Authority has received a major grant award that will allow it to build a new transit hub and modernize its fleet with the purchase of new hydrogen buses.

Lake Transit received $13 million in grant funding through the state of California’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, or TIRCP, to fund the construction of a new transit center and supporting infrastructure in the city of Clearlake.

“The grant program is extremely competitive and, historically, rural applicants have seen little success,” said Lake Transit Executive Director Lisa Davey-Bates.

The California State Transportation Agency said Tuesday it awarded $500 million to 17 recipients in TIRCP grants for transformative transit and rail projects.

“The $500 million in grant awards made today will increase transit service on new and existing routes, provide for a more integrated transit system, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support jobs,” California State Transportation Agency Secretary David S. Kim said Tuesday. “Although the current COVID-19 pandemic is putting tremendous stress on transit agencies, these funds support long-term capital projects to be completed in the years to come, and will help support the economic recovery in the years ahead.”

The TIRCP was created by Senate Bill 862 to provide grants from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to fund transformative capital improvements that will modernize California’s transit systems and significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, vehicle miles traveled and congestion, Lake Transit reported.

The transit hub is proposed to be built on a portion of county-owned property at 7175 South Center Drive in Clearlake, near the Clearlake courthouse and the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College. Its current bus depot is located in the parking lot between Big 5 and Walmart.

At its Jan. 14 meeting, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution declaring its South Center Drive property as surplus and authorizing the sale of a portion of the land to Lake Transit for its new hub, as Lake County News has reported.

The board passed the resolution to help Lake Transit access the TIRCP grant funding, and also sent a letter in support of Lake Transit’s grant application. Lake Transit applied for the grant that same week.

Lake Transit was among 45 other transit agencies across the state that applied for a total of $2.45 billion in TIRCP funding, according to a February list of applications published online by the California State Transportation Agency.

In its application for the funding, Lake Transit sought approximately $12,994,264 for the project and received the entire amount.

The grant will fund the new transit center’s construction, along with four zero-emission buses, and fueling and maintenance infrastructure at its Lower Lake operations facility. It also will provide funding for workforce development in coordination with local community colleges, Lake Transit said.

The buses will use hydrogen fuel cell technology in order to allow extended range services to be operated, contributing to increased ridership, according to the award announcement.

Lake Transit said the project will expand service to out-of-county destinations and provide a new connection to the North State Intercity Bus System, which received a 2018 TIRCP award for $8.6 million, according to state records.

The North State Intercity Bus System’s 2018 grant was submitted by the Shasta Regional Transportation Agency in cooperation with the North State Super Region, an alliance of 16 northern California counties that includes Lake County.

That system is meant to provide transportation between Redding and Sacramento, and will create more efficient bus routes, improve safety and security for riders, and increase ridership.

Through the North State Intercity Bus System, Lake Transit will travel to out-of-county destinations, including the Sonoma County Airport and the Santa Rosa Bus Terminal in downtown Santa Rosa, as well as to locations in the north, including Shasta County.

Lake Transit said its transit hub project is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2020 – once the grant funds become available – and is anticipated to take several years to complete. Project updates will be available on the Lake Transit Authority website.

Lakeport City Councilwoman Stacey Mattina, also a member of the Lake Area Planning Council Board of Directors, reported the grant award during the city council’s Tuesday evening meeting.

Mattina congratulated Davey-Bates and her staff.

“It’s going to be a big deal for the county,” Mattina said of the transit project.

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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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake said it’s planning to begin reopening city parks this week.

City Manager Alan Flora, acting as the director of emergency services for the city of Clearlake, announced the lifting of certain restrictions to permit fishing along open park shorelines and hiking and jogging within open parks in the city.

The rule changes will be effective at 8 a.m. Friday, April 24, at Redbud Park, Highlands Park and Austin Beach, Flora reported.

City parks have been closed since late March as part of the effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Clearlake’s announcement follows revisions to the Lake County Health Officer’s shelter in place order, released on Thursday afternoon.

“We are happy to see the Lake County Public Health officer announce the relaxation of some restrictions of public activities,” said Flora. “Social distancing, frequent hand washing and wearing a mask in public are still recommended. We hope that the community enjoys this opportunity to spend some time outside while remaining diligent against the spread of COVID-19.”

The order does not apply to the Austin Park playground, basketball courts and skatepark, or the areas of Austin Park that are still currently under construction or Thompson Harbor, as access to Clear Lake by boat has not been authorized by the Public Health officer. Flora said those areas remain closed to the public.

No person shall enter any closed park or park area. No person shall remain in a closed park or closed area of a park after having been notified of the closure and having been requested to leave by any peace officer or other person so designated by the city manager or chief of police, Flora said.



042320 City of Clearlake re... by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport Police officer on Tuesday night discovered a stolen senior center van and arrested a man who previously had been cited for violating the county’s shelter in place order for stealing the vehicle.

Robert Ed Taylor, 60, of Lakeport, was arrested after Officer Kaylene Strugnell found him driving the stolen van, police said.

At about 10 p.m. Tuesday Strugnell was on patrol when she located an occupied suspicious box van in the parking lot of Savings Bank of Mendocino County on Main Street, police said.

Police said Strugnell identified the van’s driver as Taylor and found that the van was registered to the Lakeport Senior Center.

With the assistance of Officer Tyler Trouette, Strugnell conducted further investigation and determined that the van was an unreported stolen vehicle, taken from the senior center without anyone’s knowledge. Senior center staff responded to recover the vehicle, the department reported.

Police said Taylor was arrested for felony vehicle theft and possession of stolen property.

Due to current Judicial Council of California rules that are remaining in effect during the COVID-19 emergency, these charges would not trigger a booking and custody hold with bail. As such, police said Taylor was given a notice to appear in court at a later date and released.

Last week, police arrested Taylor at the same location for violating the Public Health shelter in place orders after he repeatedly harassed employees and customers and had no lawful business at the location.

The Lakeport Police Department reported that its officers have conducted thousands of miles of patrol and hundreds of business and neighborhood checks to keep the community safe during the shelter in place order.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – While the full scope of the financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic is yet to be fully seen or understood, Clearlake’s city manager gave his analysis to the council at its last meeting about what it could mean in the short-term.

City Manager Alan Flora offered the council his update on the situation at its meeting on Thursday.

In comparison with previous recessions, the pandemic is already having a quicker impact on the economy, Flora said, noting the dramatic rise in unemployment numbers nationwide.

California is in a better financial position than it was more than a decade ago when the Great Recession hit, but Flora pointed to economic factors that could impact not just local but state coffers.

He said transient occupancy tax, or bed tax, and sales tax are likely to see impacts, and noted a reduction in travel that will drop gas tax revenue.

In the current financial quarter, across California there has been a 30 to 37 percent decline in sales tax receipts, he said.

There are nuances to the overall picture, Flora explained, noting that online sales are up but fuel and auto sales are down.

At the same time, there is more activity at grocery stores. However, Flora said a lot of food at grocery stores is not taxable unless it’s processed or cooked.

“We’ll see how that plays out,” he said of sales tax.

Flora also reported an 80- to 90-percent decline in transient occupancy tax receipts, a result of closures of hotels and vacation rentals.

He said that, hopefully, that will be a more temporary decline, but it will depend on how long the pandemic and its effects continue. It could take a significant period of time for travelers to feel comfortable again.

There are other revenues as well, including business licenses, that are likely to see declines, Flora said.

The governor announced that small businesses have a 12-month deferral to pay sales taxes of up to $50,000, which will impact cities. While Flora said there are questions if the state has the authority to do it, state leaders and the League of California Cities believes it can.

In addition, collection of the city’s special taxes – including Measure P, which benefits police, and Measure V, which is for roads – also will be affected, Flora said.

Flora said there is hope that local governments will be able to get direct relief in a new stimulus bill. The last bill, the CARES Act, provided help primarily for municipalities with populations of 500,000 or more, which left out rural areas, although the city will get about $130,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding.

Looking ahead, Flora said he’s making some financial assumptions that include the expectation of a general fund impact in the current fiscal year of $538,000 in lost revenue due to a reduction in activity or deferral in taxes. For the next fiscal year, he’s estimating $500,000 in impact. Those figures total about 20 percent of the city’s general fund.

“Take those with a little bit of a grain of salt,” he said of his figures.

Flora said the city is likely to experience cash flow issues rather than a loss of revenue. The city doesn’t have a level of reserves to sustain it but it can use special revenue funds for cash flow as long as it doesn’t extend across fiscal years. Those sources include Series A and Series B funds, which have several million dollars in them.

With the situation continually developing, Flora said he’s now trying to pare down any expenditures the city doesn’t have to make.

He said they’ve stopped filling positions except for at the police department, which is down three officers with hiring in the process.

The city also is freezing Measure V road projects and working with contractors to see how long they will hold out on prices, he said.

He said the city’s dump truck and water truck no longer meet state requirements and rather than buying trucks he’s directed Public Works to find a lease, which may be brought to the council later this month.

Flora said the city needs to do everything it can to keep cash available and not make expenditures it doesn’t have to.

“This is something that worries me more than anything else right now,” Flora said of the city’s financial situation.

He added that he wants to make sure to maintain adequate service to the community during a difficult time for everyone.

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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NORTH COAST, Calif. – On Thursday night, Mendocino County confirmed three new cases of COVID-19.

Mendocino County Public Health reported that three Round Valley residents within the same household tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.

The new cases bring the total number of positive cases in Mendocino County to eight. Of the eight cases, four have recovered.

The testing of the three new cases was performed at Round Valley Indian Health Center and the health care workers used proper personal protective equipment, officials said.

Following protocol, the Round Valley Indian Health Center reported the positive cases to Mendocino County Public Health.

Public Health has initiated a contact tracing investigation and is working with Round Valley Indian Health Center on additional testing of individuals potentially exposed to the individuals that have tested positive.

All three individuals are in stable condition, in isolation at home with active public health monitoring and did not require hospitalization. Officials said asymptomatic close contacts of the cases are in quarantine.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to collaboratively work with the Round Valley Indian Tribes and the Round Valley Indian Health Center and applaud the clinic staff for the exemplary manner in which these cases were cared for,” said Mendocino County Health Officer Dr. Noemi Doohan.

Doohan thanked Congressman Jared Huffman, Sen. Mike McGuire, Assemblyman Jim Wood and California Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sonia Angell for their rapid response and assistance in mobilizing additional resources.

“I deeply care about our tribal communities and we are here to respond and provide support to contain the spread of COVID-19,” Doohan said.

If you are a resident of Round Valley and have concerns about exposure or have COVID-19 symptoms such as cough, fever or flu-like symptoms please contact the Round Valley Indian Health Center Triage Nurse at 707-983-6181, Extension 142. Please call the clinic prior to arriving.

The Mendocino County Health Officer, Round Valley Indian Health Center and Round Valley Indian Tribal Council urge residents to follow the health officer’s shelter in place order and stay home unless essential travel is required for groceries, medicine or other necessary items.
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Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol and the California Office of Traffic Safety are urging drivers in the state to slow down given a recent 87-percent increase in citations for speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour that coincides with decreased traffic volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

From March 19 when the state’s stay-at-home order began to April 19, the CHP reports issuing 2,493 citations statewide for speeding more than 100 miles per hour, as compared to 1,335 during the same period last year.

This increase in citations occurred as Caltrans has measured an average decline in traffic volume on state roads of approximately 35 percent as compared to this time last year.

“Excessive speed and unsafe driving threaten everyone using our highway system,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “Viewing less congested roads as an invitation to drive dangerously jeopardizes the safety of construction and maintenance crews who are working to maintain reliable access to our highways when people need it most.”

“It is alarming to see the number of citations officers are writing for excessive speeds on California roadways,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley. “Higher speeds can lead to much more serious injuries and significantly increase the chance of death should a crash occur. Keep yourself and those on the road around you safe. Slow down and drive at a safe, legal speed.”

California’s “Move Over” law continues to be in effect and requires all drivers to move over a lane or, if unable to do so safely, slow down when they see amber flashing lights on Caltrans vehicles, law enforcement and emergency vehicles, and tow trucks.

“Fewer cars on the road doesn’t give drivers the green light to travel over the speed limit,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “Driving at a safe speed when you must go out is one way to keep you and your family safe during this pandemic.”

California’s more than 700 electronic highway signs will also soon display the following types of safety-related messages: “If you must travel, do not speed,” and, “Keep essential workers safe, do not speed.”

During the COVID-19 emergency, Caltrans said it continues to provide the general public with a safe and reliable transportation system.

The department is maintaining all critical functions during this crisis, including ensuring roadway access to medical facilities and the convenient transport of essential goods and services throughout the state.

Some non-essential work has been deferred to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but maintenance and construction crews are still addressing hazards, safety concerns and other critical functions on the highways.

Please slow down and "Be Work Zone Alert."

For more information about COVID-19 https://covid19.ca.gov/ .
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This year has brought the community still another unique challenge, and to meet it Shakespeare at the Lake’s organizers are planning a new approach to everything from auditions to performances.

Over the past several years as Lake County performances were rescheduled or relocated due to fires, air quality or power outages, the group held to the old adage, “The show must go on.”

Now, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated need for social distancing, the group’s approach is, “The show must go on … line.”

This year’s Shakespeare at the Lake production of the Bard’s famed love story, “Romeo and Juliet,” will be auditioned, rehearsed and performed completely online.

“We’ve never done anything like this before,” said director John Tomlinson. “We’re going into uncharted territory, but we feel it’s better to try to put on some sort of production rather than cancel it altogether. People need the arts now more than ever.”

Romeo and Juliet is a joint production of Mendocino College and the Lake County Theatre Co.

There is no experience necessary to be a part of this production and anyone, high school age and up, is encouraged to participate.

Online auditions will be held May 14 and 16 with performances scheduled for July 24 and 25. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule an audition time.

Audition materials are posted on the Lake County Theatre Co. website.

Actors will need to register for the THE 220 class at Mendocino College. Scholarships are available.

For more information, call 707-278-9628.

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