NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Every 10 years, following the federal Census, the boundaries of the areas by which the Yuba Community College District Governing Board is elected is subject to change.
At the Oct. 14 regular board meeting, the governing board received a presentation from Cooperative Strategies, YCCD’s demographers, highlighting changes in the YCCD population since the 2010 Census.
Cooperative Strategies also informed the governing board that due to population growth within YCCD’s boundaries since the 2010 Census, under state and federal voting rights laws, the governing board should redraw its trustee area boundaries to satisfy population variance standards between the most and least populated trustee areas.
At the Nov. 10 regular board meeting, the YCCD Governing Board will review and consider map options that ensure compliance with state and federal voting rights laws.
Any changes to the YCCD trustee areas need to be approved by the YCCD Governing Board by Feb. 28, 2022.
The Governing Board encourages public participation throughout this process.
The public can view the current trustee area maps and the draft maps outlining change options the Board will consider on Nov. 10 here.
Two public hearings are planned to receive public input on this process.
The hearings are scheduled for Nov. 10 and Dec. 16, at regular monthly board meetings.
For the first public hearing, the YCCD Governing Board will meet virtually on Nov. 10 at 5 p.m.
The agenda and zoom link can be accessed here after Sunday, Nov. 7.
State Controller Betty T. Yee has published the 2020 self-reported payroll data for fairs, expositions and First 5 commissions on the Government Compensation in California website.
The data cover 1,429 positions and a total of close to $44.8 million in 2020 wages.
The newly published data include 679 positions at 27 fairs and expositions, and 750 positions at 40 First 5 commissions.
Lake County First 5 Commission reported having 12 employees, including nine unpaid commissioners.
For the three paid positions — executive director, secretary and temporary or extra help — wages totaled $112,753, with total retirement and health contributions of $18,588.
The Lake County Fair, or 49th District Agricultural Association, reported having 13 employees, including eight unpaid board members.
The fair in 2020 had five paid employees: chief executive officer, business assistant, maintenance worker, seasonal clerk and maintenance worker. Wages paid totaled $164,755, while retirement and health contributions totaled $59,298.
California law requires cities, counties, and special districts to annually report compensation data to the state controller.
Controller Yee also maintains and publishes state government and California State University salary data.
No statutory requirement exists for superior courts, UC, community college districts, fairs, expositions, First 5 commissions, or K-12 education providers; their reporting is voluntary.
A list of entities that did not file or filed incomplete reports is available here.
Since the website launched in 2010, it has registered more than 12 million pageviews. The site contains pay and benefit information on more than two million government jobs in California, as reported annually by each entity.
As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Yee is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The controller has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds.
By some estimates, California’s alternate or gig work economy makes up to 40% of the state’s workforce.
Most of these project- and task-based work situations do not provide workers with job security, health and retirement benefits, or legal protections, yet little is known about how these working conditions affect workers’ health.
The California Labor Laboratory is a new initiative of UC San Francisco, UC Berkeley, and the California Department of Public Health to design and inform policies, programs and practices that advance worker well-being.
Funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the center will address the health of California workers in both traditional jobs and other employment arrangements, including gig workers, subcontractors, independent contractors, consultants, seasonal and temporary workers.
“The California Labor Lab is focused on understanding the implications for the health and welfare of workers even when workers are not afforded systematic protections that have come from traditional employment,” said Ed Yelin, Ph.D., the director of the new center and a professor with UCSF’s Institute of Health Policy Studies. “Alternative work arrangements have led to the diffusion of responsibility for the welfare of workers, with potentially harmful consequences for their health.”
The lab’s research includes a longitudinal study of 5,000 working-age Californians; an examination of gender and race/ethnicity disparities in working conditions in the service sector; and an education and prevention campaign to prevent silicosis, a lethal lung disease that afflicts an increasing number of stone industry workers who are exposed to silica dust.
In addition to researching the health impacts of alternative employment situations, the lab will develop interventions to help improve working conditions.
“Work has changed so much and it’s time to take an accounting of it, especially for these new forms of work,” said Cristina Banks, Ph.D., director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces at UC Berkeley, who will serve as associate director of outreach for the lab.
Policy and regulatory changes will be necessary, but Banks said she will also explore forms of protection and empowerment such as worker cooperatives and associations, and tangible tools and solutions for employers.
The pandemic, which undermined the social support system, has spurred many workers to assert their needs. In some states gig workers are organizing themselves into cooperatives so they can get some of the same legal protections and benefits as permanent employees.
“Workers want more, they want better, they want respect,” Banks said. “Before the pandemic, we had people accepting the terms and conditions by which they worked.”
Banks said she’s optimistic about the situation these employees face.
“Healthy workplaces benefit employers and employees alike — by increasing productivity and supporting well-being,” she said, “The way we do business, the way we hire people, the way we treat people, our economic model of getting the most out of an individual per unit of time, is a well-worn path I’d like to erase.”
Participating organizations include UCSF’s Institute for Health Policy Studies, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and School of Dentistry; UC Berkeley’s Center for Occupational & Environmental Health, Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces, Labor Center, and Labor Occupational Health Program; the state of California Department of Public Health; and consultants from UCLA, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Public Policy, and PolicyLink.
Rebecca Wolfson works for the University of California, San Francisco.
Following the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup’s review of the federal process and conclusion that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is safe and effective for children 5 years of age and up, the state is rolling out a vaccination program with the resources to vaccinate every newly eligible Californian.
“Vaccines are how we end this pandemic, and they’re how we keep our kids safe – it’s time to get our children the protection they need from this deadly virus, especially as we head into the winter season,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “California is leading the nation in vaccinations with 54 million administered and 87% of the eligible population with at least one dose, and we’re moving swiftly to implement a robust and equitable vaccination program that will cover this newly eligible age group.”
California will begin vaccinating children ages 5 to 11 immediately, with 500 organizations across the state receiving their first shipments through Monday.
The state was allocated 1.2 million pediatric doses from the federal government, with adequate supply to vaccinate all newly eligible Californians becoming available in the coming weeks.
The state has more than 4,000 locations ready to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 as supply increases, and is leveraging existing infrastructure and partnerships used to administer vaccines to teens and young adults.
This includes working closely with medical providers, local health departments, schools, community partners and others to administer vaccines safely and equitably through mobile clinics and vaccine pop-ups in the hardest-hit communities across the state.
For example, California has brokered partnerships with after-school programs – including the Sierra Health Foundation and the Alliance for Boys & Girls — to set up 84 pop-up clinics statewide.
Already, there have been over 3,100 school-located clinics covering over two million students, with another 800 planned for November and December, covering 450,000 students.
The state has mobilized an unprecedented multi-pronged paid media campaign to get all Californians vaccinated, including children. In November alone, this campaign will make 800 million impressions across multiple platforms to emphasize the importance of getting vaccinated. The campaign will continue to focus on our hardest-hit communities with an in-language approach and an emphasis on equity.
To date, California has administered 54 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, with 87% of the eligible population having received at least one dose.
California has taken nation-leading actions to protect the youngest Californians during the pandemic by implementing bold school safety and public health measures.
California was the first to require masks in K-12 settings, vaccine verification or weekly testing for school staff, and has added the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required vaccinations for students.
State officials said these public health measures have resulted in California keeping more children out of the hospital and keeping more schools open than other states.
Parents are encouraged to call their child’s health care provider to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
Parents can also visit http://MyTurn.ca.gov or call the hotline at 833-422-4255 beginning Thursday to find a nearby vaccination site.
Sheril Kirshenbaum, Michigan State University and Douglas Buhler, Michigan State University
Free bagged lunches are ready for distribution at a public school in Fayette, Miss., on March 3, 2021. AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis The Conversation, CC BY-ND
COVID-19 has made food access more challenging for many communities. In Michigan State University’s Fall 2021 Food Literacy and Engagement Poll, 31% of the people we talked to said the pandemic had affected their household’s ability to obtain food. This included 28% of households earning less than $25,000, and 38% of those earning more than $75,000 annually.
We surveyed 2,002 representative Americans between Aug. 27 and Sept. 1, 2021, to explore how the pandemic influenced the food landscape and shaped people’s food resources, choices and diet.
Millions of Americans left the workforce during the pandemic, so it may not be surprising that 53% of those with limited food access reported having fewer financial resources than they did before then. To make matters worse, food and gasoline prices surged during the same period. This made decisions about where and how to spend fewer dollars even more challenging for families already struggling to make ends meet.
Rising food insecurity
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as having limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Households with low food security have trouble affording enough food and eating balanced diets.
In 2018, the department estimated that over 37 million Americans were food insecure. By December 2020 that figure had risen to 38.3 million people, or 10.5% of U.S. households.
Among the subset of our survey respondents who reported that financial constraints limited their food access, 74% said they chose different brands of food in response. Nearly half (47%) consumed less food, and 31% received support from government programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). One in 6 (17%) reported visiting food banks more often.
Money wasn’t the only factor. Among respondents who experienced limited food access, 37% said they did not feel comfortable shopping at the grocery store, and 32% reported not having reliable transportation. It is likely that the risk of illness led many people to avoid public transportation or ride sharing to limit their chance of exposure to disease.
Regardless of financial constraints, 50% of respondents said the pandemic has changed the way they purchase and store food. Among that group, 51% now look for food with a long shelf life, 50% are storing more food at home and 48% are taking fewer trips to the grocery store. Aside from concerns about the virus itself, these trends may be associated with uncertainty, speculation and highly publicized supply chain disruptions.
At the time of our survey, 69% of respondents had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine. Among those vaccinated, 67% reported visiting the grocery more often after receiving their first shot. Similarly, 33% spent more time in the grocery store after getting vaccinated, and 29% reported that they could more easily transport and access groceries. Only 15% of vaccinated respondents had stopped wearing masks where they were not required.
Our poll results demonstrate how the pandemic has transformed many Americans’ lives and behaviors in complex and interconnected ways. While these changes may not be permanent, we can predict that Americans’ food access and choices will undoubtedly continue to shift, along with the state of the pandemic.
NORTH COAST, Calif. — Every year since 1970, federal officials have designated a tree from one of the United States’ national forests to be showcased during the holiday season as the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree.
This year, this tremendous honor has been bestowed on the great state of California.
Affectionately known as “Sugar Bear,” the 84-foot white fir originated from the Six Rivers National Forest on the North Coast.
Sugar Bear is making its way across the state, visiting communities in all corners of the state, before it officially hits the road for our nation’s Capitol.
The US Capitol Tree will pull into the State Capitol this Wednesday where the state of California will host its official celebration of the US Capitol Christmas tree starting at noon. This festive event will be led by the North Coast Sen. Mike McGuire.
“We are proud to join with our tribal and federal partners to showcase the beauty of Northern California this Wednesday,” Sen. McGuire said. “We invite all Californians to take part in this festive event at the State Capitol or virtually to celebrate the US Capitol Christmas tree. We’ll be joined by some special guests including Santa Claus and Smokey Bear, there will be plenty of holiday cookies and of course — Christmas carols.”
California state officials will also be participating, including remarks by California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, Chairman John Elgin of the Lassic Band of the Wylacki-Wintoon Family Group will perform a blessing ceremony, Visit California’s President and CEO Caroline Beteta will provide remarks, students from both Del Norte and Humboldt County schools will present handmade ornaments and Sacramento State’s Vocal Jazz Choir will be on hand singing Christmas carols.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday night offered its congratulations to the city’s retiring Public Works director, looked at redistricting scenarios for state and federal elected offices, and discussed COVID-19 safety measures the city has taken.
Among the council’s first items of business on Tuesday was honoring Public Works Director Doug Grider, who is leaving his post after 17 years with the city of Lakeport.
Grider, a Willits resident and an avid outdoorsman who often sports camouflage attire — “camo” is reputed to be his favorite color — appeared before the council for his last meeting on Tuesday evening with more color than normal, in the form of a shock of pink-dyed hair.
He said the pink hair was in honor of his 29-year-old daughter-in-law, Taylor, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Councilwoman Stacey Mattina read a proclamation commending Grider on his retirement, which noted key highlights from his service, beginning with his hire as Public Works superintendent on July 6, 2004, and his promotion to Public Works director in 2016.
In that role, he led six Public Works divisions — administration and compliance, roads and infrastructure, parks, buildings and grounds, the former Westshore Pool, water operations and maintenance and sewer operations and maintenance.
During the meeting, council members also lauded Grider for his careful use of city funds and equipment, and for taking an approach like a businessman.
He implemented the pavement management system to track the condition of the city’s roads and streets; created a process to recycle aggregate materials from city projects; acquired heavy equipment to enable more projects to be completed using city staff; led the replacement of the Library Park sea wall, a lengthy and complex project that required coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency; advocated for implementing emergency management practices which qualified the city for disaster aid grants; oversaw the Downtown Improvement Project; and has been a key player in developing the Westside Community Park and the Lakefront Park.
Grider and his staff have been central to the city’s response to floods, fires, power outages and other emergencies.
In 2017 and 2019, the city sustained significant damage from winter storms and flooding, with the 2017 flood ultimately undermining the sea wall in Library Park to such a degree that it led to Grider’s efforts to get a more substantial long-term fix.
In 2018, the entire city was evacuated for about a week due to the Mendocino Complex, which it had been feared would burn through Lakeport.
Since then, Grider and his staff have had to keep city facilities running as Pacific Gas and Electric Co. began implementing proactive public safety power shut-offs to avoid fires. At one point in late 2019, power was off in the entire county for nearly a week due to the shut-offs.
In response to these challenges, Grider earned an Emergency Management certification through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
Grider also took an active role in assisting with the planning and operation of the city’s popular lineup of events, from concerts, festivals and street fairs to the Seaplane Splash-In.
During the annual July 4 celebration, Grider was consistently on hand to help oversee the event, with he and his crew carrying out a fast cleanup of the parks in the hours after the participants went home.
Grider also was involved with the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission, the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee and the Measure Z Advisory Committee, and was credited for his collaborative work with many community groups and residents.
The proclamation noted that Grider is a devoted family man who enjoys fishing and Reggae on the River, and that the city would miss his common sense and tenacity.
Reading from the proclamation, Mattina said the council extended its sincere and best wishes for whatever comes next for “one of our all-time favorite people.”
The council and the audience then offered Grider a standing ovation.
“It’s been an honor. That’s about all I can say,” Grider said.
“Thank you so much for all your support,” he said, adding that without council supporting staff like it does, all the wonderful things happening in Lakeport wouldn’t be happening.
City Manager Kevin Ingram said it was fitting that one of Grider’s last acts in his job was another agenda item that night, a mutual aid agreement with the Lakeport Fire Protection District.
Grider has championed the agreement, said Ingram. “It really has paid off in keeping the community safe.”
Ingram said he doesn’t think most people appreciate the mountains of bureaucracy needed in response to disasters — not just recovering from them but mitigating them.
He used the sea wall replacement as an example, noting it wasn’t just a repair project but also a mitigation against future floods, and one which will continue to support the community.
Grider worked “closely and carefully” with FEMA, Ingram noted. The agency paid for the majority of the project, which cost nearly $1 million.
Ingram said Grider puts on a “growly bear” front but deeply cares for the city of Lakeport. “Doug has certainly left the city in a much better place than he has found it.”
The council received an email from Mary Claybon from the Lake County Community Development Department congratulating Grider on his retirement. She said it was a pleasure to attend multiple emergency management training courses with him and that she always looked forward to his insight, knowledge, expertise and ability to lead groups with a smile on his face.
Former Councilman George Spurr said he appreciated Grider always having an open door and being willing to answer questions.
Cloverdale Police Chief Jason Ferguson, who was a longtime Lakeport Police Department employee, also was on hand to honor Grider, recalling working with him in the city’s emergency operations center during the Mendocino Complex. He learned a lot from Grider and also laughed a lot with him.
He wished Grider a happy retirement and said he hoped they could go fishing together.
Businesswoman Nancy Ruzicka also praised Grider. “I”m not here tonight to complain about anything,” she said, noting his door was always open to her as well. “He would allow me to vent my frustrations.”
Council members individually offered Grider their thanks, and Michael Green noted he appreciated Grider’s service not just for the things he knew he had done, but for what he guessed was a mountain of things Grider had accomplished that he didn’t know about.
Mattina said she had learned a lot from Grider, that she would miss him and hoped they would see him around. “Don’t just disappear on us.”
Councilman Michael Froio said he appreciated Grider and the hard work he’s done for the city. “What says a lot about you is how many people love you.”
Froio said Grider’s retirement is both happy and sad at the same time.
Mayor Kenny Parlet, who continues to attend the meetings via Zoom, said he was impressed with Grider’s care of equipment and fiduciary responsibility with city funds.
Later in the meeting, Ingram recounted how when he arrived to work at the city from the county, Grider was a huge help to him from day one and taught him a lot. He thanked Grider for his mentorship and said he would miss him a lot.
The city has so far not announced who Grider’s successor will be as Public Works director.
Council approves mutual aid agreement with Lakeport Fire Protection District
Grider’s last official business before the council was the presentation of the mutual aid agreement between the city of Lakeport and the Lakeport Fire Protection District.
He reported that the fire district and the city have been operating without a formal mutual aid agreement since the city fire department was annexed by the Lakeport Fire Protection District in 1999. Such an agreement is needed to meet the current protocols for external agency assistance and also sets up reimbursement.
The agreement Grider presented had a slight modification to remove reference to a map that he said wasn’t necessary.
The joint agreement will be managed by both agencies, he said.
“As small agencies and small rural areas, we all really need to start working together,” Grider said, adding that trying to stand as an island alone doesn’t help anybody.
Over the last five years, as he has gotten into emergency management, Grider said it became apparent, “we need to all work together,” which goes for all the cities and counties in the area, which need to work as a team.
“This is one step in that direction,” Grider said.
The Lakeport Fire Protection District Board is expected to consider and approve the agreement on Nov. 9.
During the discussion, Grider explained that the city also responds to offer mutual aid assistance — in a support capacity — to other parts of the county, as it did in August when the Cache fire burned in Clearlake.
All of the resources in the Clearlake area were depleted, so Grider said the city sent its water truck, which acted as a water tender for fire trucks. The city’s water truck can fill up to five fire engines before needing to refill itself.
Green moved to approve the agreement with the proposed changes, which Turner seconded and the council approved 5-0.
“I think this is a perfect example of what Doug has done for the city,” Ingram said after the vote.
He said getting these formal agreements in place is “so crucial when we’re trying to recover costs or trying to file for grants or other mitigation pieces.”
Mattina said it’s a lot of extra work and she appreciated it.
“I’ve worked really hard because I understood that no individual on their own can make great things happen,” said Grider, who acknowledged his staff as being exceptional. “They made it possible for me to be successful.”
Grider said the city has a unique group of individuals working for it, and he’s worked hard on succession planning over the last year and a half to make sure the city wouldn’t be left in the lurch when he retired.
He said he’s confident the city won’t miss a beat, and that his staff will carry on with the same honor and tradition he did.
“The city is in good hands,” Grider said, adding he hoped the council would give Public Works staff the same support it has given him.
Council consider redistricting commission’s work, COVID-19 measures
In other business during the council’s nearly two-hour meeting, the council discussed the work of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, which is putting together mapping scenarios that will lead to draft maps for congressional, and state Assembly and Senate seats.
Last week, the commission had released initial visualizations that the Board of Supervisors wrote a letter complaining about because Lake County was grouped in ways that would have meant it was losing all of its current representation.
On Tuesday, the commission released updated visualizations that showed Lake County grouped with Napa and Marin counties for Congress, with Napa, Yolo and portions of Sonoma County for State Assembly, and with Napa, Solano and Yolo counties for State Senate.
Ingram said they had just become aware of the new scenarios on Tuesday evening.
“I think this looks better,” Turner said of the new scenarios. Froio agreed.
Ingram said he felt that, ultimately, the changes were good, noting it was most important for Lake County to remain in the same districts. That’s been a challenge since the last redistricting 10 years ago, as Lake County was split in half over two congressional districts.
The council voted to direct Ingram to write a letter to the commission — which is meeting this week to continue working on the scenarios — offering support for the latest iteration of the visualizations and emphasizing the importance of keeping the county together.
The council also considered implementing a mandate for weekly COVID-19 testing for city employees but ultimately took no action, with two motions offered by Green — to have Ingram bring back future agenda items to support a voluntary testing program and a vaccination incentive program — dying for lack of seconds.
The majority of the council voiced support for the work the city’s administrative staff has already done to implement workplace safety measures as well as making efforts to keep the community safe when visiting city facilities.
Turner said that, from the very beginning, city staff had taken a proactive approach to protect staff and the public. “They just went ahead and did it,” he said.
She said she also was encouraged to learn of the high vaccination rate of staff, and council members also noted the fact that there have been no outbreaks among city personnel.
Turner said the city will continue to pivot its response as the science directs.
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.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council this week will discuss a local program that has been operating in the city distributing clean syringes and glass smoking pipes for drug use, and also will consider appointing a new planning commissioner.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
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..
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4.
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.
The council will get Thursday’s meeting started by meeting one of the adoptable dogs from Clearlake Animal Control.
On Thursday, Police Chief Andrew White will seek direction regarding regulation of a syringe services and drug smoking supply distribution program in the city.
The Board of Supervisors is also set to discuss the program on Tuesday.
In White’s report to the council, which begins on page 40 of the council packet published below, he explains that late last year his agency sought feedback on a proposed renewal of the program authorization for Community Outreach Matters, or COM, in the city by the California Department of Public Health, or CDPH.
“Concerns raised by the community included the impact on our neighborhoods, issues regarding the sites, our youth, and an increase in discarded needles despite the intent to be an ‘exchange,’” White wrote. “This feedback was shared with the CDPH along with a request for the applicant to better address the disposal issues, reduce the distribution sites and engage with service providers like The Hope Center.”
He said the city also asked CDPH whether an environmental impact report was done pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
White said COM ultimately was not reauthorized by CDPH and ceased operation in April.
“A recent change in state law exempted these programs from environmental review, however, during the legislative process, a provision to exempt the providing of these services from being deemed a public nuisance was removed from the final legislation,” he said.
White said last week he learned that Any Positive Change was conducting syringe exchange operations in the city of Clearlake and that its operation expanded to include the distribution of glass smoking pipes for drugs, including methamphetamine.
He said city staff contacted CDPH to inquire regarding the status of Any Positive Change with respect to the city and learned that it is not a state syringe services program, but operates under authorization granted by the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
He said the city obtained the 2008 enabling resolution for a needle exchange from the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
“The authorization refers specifically to a clean needle and syringe exchange program. The resolution requires an annual report regarding the status of the program, including statistics on blood-borne infections associated with needle sharing activity and an opportunity for public comment, including from law enforcement, so that potential adverse impacts on the public welfare are addressed and mitigated,” he wrote.
White said the last update was presented in March 2016, and it focused on the needle exchange as well as naloxone, which is now widely carried by law enforcement personnel in Lake County for responding to drug overdoses.
The state has expanded the supplies made available for syringe exchange programs to include “glass pipes, foil and copper wire filters, among other materials” as a harm reduction service, White said, noting these items support the smoking of methamphetamine, crack cocaine and heroin. Those supplies may help people avoid drug injection.
White said Any Positive Change reported to the city that it received a large number of pipes at the end of fiscal year 2020-21 from the California Clearinghouse. They’ve reported the number of syringes they changed has dropped roughly in half but have not provided data on reduction of communicable diseases.
He recently posted an update about the situation on the police department’s Facebook page that reached more than 41,000 people and received more than 600 comments.
“There were a variety of concerns raised as well as information provided from proponents of the program regarding a community benefit. Resoundingly, significant concerns were expressed, including feedback from persons who have recovered from addiction, regarding the harms this expansion can cause. Numerous comments indicated a desire for community members to be able to voice their concerns at a City Council or Board of Supervisors meeting,” White wrote.
White reported that the owner of the Clearlake property where Any Positive Change had been conducting its operations in the city recently severed that relationship.
He’s asking for direction from the council, with options including not taking any action; directing staff to prepare an ordinance regarding syringe distribution programs with respect to public nuisance provisions and land use, noting several cities across the state have enacted complete bans for the programs; enacting a moratorium to provide time for further study; or enacting a regulatory framework.
In other council business, staff will offer an update on the ongoing Cache fire recovery.
Council members also will hold interviews and consider appointing a new planning commissioner for a term ending in March 2025.
Planning Commission Chair Kathryn Davis resigned in September.
The city received three timely applications, with one of the applicants later withdrawing. The two candidates who remain up for consideration are Jim Scholz and Thomas Burnett.
Also on Thursday, the council will consider possible action to staff regarding the state redistricting process and an appointment to the vacant marketing committee seat.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants; approval of a temporary road closure for the annual Christmas drive — thru dinner; authorization to execute an amendment to the agreement with Adams Ashby Group to increase the not to exceed contract amount to $150,000, extend the contract to July 2022, and to further define the scope of services to include additional assistance in managing the city’s Community Development Block Grant and other state and federally funded grants; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and ratified by council action on March 19, 2020; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Aug. 18, 2021, and ratified by council action on Aug. 19, 2021; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Aug. 23, 2021, and ratified by council action on Sept. 16, 2021; continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017; minutes of the October meetings; continuation of authorization to implement and utilize teleconference accessibility to conduct public meetings pursuant to Assembly Bill 361.
The council also will hold a closed session after the public portion of the meeting to discuss property negotiations for 6452 Francisco and 6461 Manzanita, and a lawsuit against the county of Lake and the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office.
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. — The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider approving an agreement to give a wage increase to In-Home Supportive Services workers, discuss a syringe exchange program that’s now distributing glass pipes for drug smoking and hold the third of its redistricting hearings.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 946 8496 5839, pass code 310792. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,94684965839#,,,,*310792#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
At 9:20 a.m., the supervisors, sitting as the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Board of Directors, will consider a memorandum of understanding between the authority and SEIU Local 2015 Union.
Social Services Director Crystal Markytan’s report to the board said the agreement will be in effect from the date of final ratification by all parties to Dec. 31, 2023. The union ratified it on Oct. 15.
Markytan said it will increase base wages by $0.65 an hour and provide $5,000 per year to be used by IHSS workers, through SEIU, for training and $5,000 per year to be used for cleaning and safety supplies.
At 10:15 a.m., the board will discuss the county’s syringe exchange program and consider either establishing an urgency ordinance to temporarily halt it or a resolution to establish new guidelines for it.
In his report to the board, Chair Bruno Sabatier said he’s bringing the matter forward after it was discovered that, in addition to syringes, the program also is providing glass pipes for use in smoking drugs such as methamphetamine.
While the language of state rules for syringe exchange programs suggest that it’s an allowable activity if it’s deemed necessary by a local or state health department for preventing the spread of communicable diseases, Sabatier said this specific program is not sanctioned by the state but the county under a resolution, and the county hasn’t given that approval.
“Our law enforcement was not told prior to initiating this new exchange and our Statement of Understanding has been breached by adding activities that are not specifically allowed in the Syringe Exchange Program locally. Therefore no public comment was received on this new outreach and expansion of the program,” Sabatier wrote in his report.
Due to what he called “the breach of trust between the county, law enforcement, and the program coordinators,” Sabatier is asking the board to consider two options.
One is an urgency ordinance to put a 45-day pause on the program in order to discuss with stakeholders how it might continue.
The second, in consideration of what Sabatier said was Public Health staff’s concern about pausing the program, is a resolution that would allow for the syringe exchange program to continue.
“In this Resolution, all jurisdictions, cities, and Tribal Land would need to provide approvals of their own for this program to be allowed in their jurisdictions,” he wrote.
The resolution also requests that any changes to the original 2009 Statement of Understanding needs to be approved by the board, and it specifically restricts the exchange of glassware such as meth pipes.
Both the resolution and the urgency ordinance request staff return to the board at a later time to provide an annual report “as well as strategies on how to proceed with the program to ensure that outcomes and trust of the program from the public, law enforcement, and the Board of Supervisors can be regained,” Sabatier wrote.
At 6 p.m., the board will convene an evening session to present the draft maps for new supervisorial districts. The maps can be found here.
In an untimed item, the board will consider amending an urgency ordinance requiring all persons, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, wear face coverings in county facilities.
The proposed changes including having the masking mandate remain in effect when the COVID-19 case rate exceeds 10 per 100,000 and when the testing positivity rate exceeds 8% and both indicators have remained at or above said rates for a minimum of seven days.
Other untimed items of note include establishment of the Financial Oversight Committee, appointment of two board members to serve on an ad hoc committee to work on enhancements to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard and consideration of timeliness of the Earthways Foundation’s appeal of its property tax bill for the Lucerne Hotel due to the county’s assessing it for $8.5 million.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve Board of Supervisors meeting minutes for Aug. 17, Sept. 14 and Oct. 7.
5.2: Adopt resolution appointing directors of the Scotts Valley Water Conservation District Board in lieu of holding a general district election on Nov. 2, 2021.
5.3: Approve the continuation of a 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 health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transport, and disposal of fire debris for the LNU Complex wildfire.
5.5: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.6: Authorize the IT director to issue a purchase order to Zoom Video Communications Inc. for Zoom video conferencing licenses in the amount of $25,063.36.
5.7: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.8: Approve the continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions.
5.9: Approve the continuation of a local emergency in Lake County in Response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.10: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
5.11: Approve continuation of a local health emergency by the Lake County Health officer for the Cache fire.
5.12: Approve continuation of a local emergency by the Lake County sheriff/OES director for the Cache fire.
5.13: Approve purchase orders for the purchase of two ¾-ton pickup trucks for the Central Garage Fleet, and authorize the Public Works director/assistant purchasing agent to sign the purchase order.
5.14: Approve memorandum of understanding between Social Services and Behavioral Health Services for CalWORKs mental health and substance abuse services in an amount that shall not exceed the California Department of Social Services allocation, from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.15: Approve contract between county of Lake and North Coast Opportunities Inc. for the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Children in foster care, in an amount that shall not exceed the California Department of Social Services allocation, From July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2024, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.16: Sitting as the board of directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District, adopt Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Program FY 2020/2021 application and funding agreement resolution and approve Water Resources director as signature authorization to execute agreement.
5.17: Sitting as the board of directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District, a) waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of the goods or services, and b) approve agreement with Ramboll Consulting Engineering Group for AEM Survey Services not to exceed $50,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.18: Approve Amendment No.1 of agreement with Luhdorff & Scalmanini, Consulting Engineers (LCSE) and Stantec Consulting Services for the professional consulting services for Big Valley Groundwater Basin (5-015) Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Lake County, and authorize the chair to sign.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: a) Presentation of Big Valley Groundwater Basin Sustainable Groundwater Management Act progress and b) call to action for review, input, recommendation and approval of the proposed Sustainable Management Criteria for the draft Big Valley GSP as recommended by the Big Valley GSP Advisory Committee.
6.3, 9:20 a.m.: Sitting as board of directors, In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority, consideration of memorandum of understanding between In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority and SEIU Local 2015 Union.
6.4, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of a presentation by Sonoma Clean Power Chief Executive Officer Geof Syphers on a geothermal opportunity zone and invitation for Lake County to join.
6.5, 9:50 a.m.: Consideration of presentation by Caltrans regarding the Clean California Program and the Nov. 20 Bulky Item Free Dump Day in Lake County.
6.6, 10:15 a.m.: Consideration of either A) urgency ordinance establishing a moratorium on the syringe exchange program approved by Resolution 2008-42 for 45 days or B) resolution amending Resolution 2008-42 establishing new guidelines for the syringe exchange program.
7.2: Consideration of establishment of Financial Oversight Committee.
7.3: Consideration of ordinance amending Urgency Ordinance No. 3108 requiring all persons, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, wear face coverings in county facilities.
7.4: Consideration of proposed 2022 Board of Supervisors regular meeting calendar.
7.5: (a) Consideration first amendment to the agreement for professional services, epidemiologist services; and (b) consideration of appointment of two board members to serve on an ad hoc committee to work on enhancements to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard.
ASSESSMENT HEARING
8.1: Consideration of timeliness of Assessment Appeal 03-2020 through 10-2020 Earthways Foundation.
CLOSED SESSION
9.1: Public Employee Appointment Pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): (a) Interviews of Health Services director (b) appointment of Health Services director.
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. — Adventist Health and Blue Zones have announced the launch of the Blue Zones Project to help everyone in Lake County live better, longer lives.
Blue Zones Project Lake County joins the recently launched Blue Zones Project communities of Upper Napa Valley, Mendocino County and Tuolumne County as Northern California areas where Adventist Health is introducing this unique community-driven well-being improvement initiative as part of its commitment to the communities it serves.
Lake County is supported locally by Adventist Health Clear Lake, which will work in close collaboration with other local stakeholders to promote healthy choices and lifestyles in the region.
“At Adventist Health, our values call for us to transform the health experience of the communities we support by improving physical, mental and spiritual health. Clearly, the transformative capabilities of Blue Zones Project align closely with those values,” said David Santos, president and CEO for Adventist Health Clear Lake. “The Blue Zones model lifts well-being at the population level by making healthy choices easier in all the places people live, work, learn, pray and play, and by introducing Blue Zones Project Lake County we will empower all members of this community to live longer lives by enhancing the built environment.”
Based on research on the world’s longest-lived communities by National Geographic Fellow and best-selling author Dan Buettner, Blue Zones Project is the leading nationwide well-being improvement initiative.
Blue Zones Project is a first-of-its-kind population health initiative that helps entire communities get healthier by optimizing public policy, social connections and the places and spaces where people spend the most time so that healthy choices are easy and accessible.
Participating communities have seen double-digit drops in obesity and smoking rates, economic investment in downtown corridors, grant funding awards to support policies and programs aimed at improving health equity, higher well-being levels, increased productivity and measurable savings in health care costs.
Blue Zones Project and Adventist Health initiated the site assessment of Lake County earlier this year, meeting with community leaders from across the county to begin to understand readiness for and scope of a Blue Zones Project in Lake County.
The assessment covered areas that a Blue Zones Project engages, including the built environment, food and tobacco policy, worksites, schools, faith-based organizations, and civic and nonprofit groups.
Local leaders from many of these sectors as well as healthcare and tribal communities participated and expressed support for the Blue Zones Project in Lake County.
Multiple opportunities for alignment of the community’s current initiatives and strategic plans with Blue Zones Project were also noted.
“In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the need has never been greater for a proven solution that will help entire communities get healthier and happier with higher well-being, reduced healthcare spending, and better health outcomes for current and future generations,” said Ben Leedle, CEO of Blue Zones and co-founder of Blue Zones Project. “By partnering with Blue Zones Project, Lake County demonstrates how a community can come together in a powerful and strategic way to advance their own health and well-being. We look forward to collaborating with the community leaders, our partners and the people of Lake County in achieving this vision of a better tomorrow, when everyone there is living better and longer with a higher quality of life."
All residents of Lake County are welcome and encouraged to take part in Blue Zones Project programs and offerings, including signing up for the newsletter, following the Blue Zones Project Lake County Facebook page, and taking a well-being assessment.
“The decision to introduce Blue Zones Project to Lake County comes at a critical juncture for our community and offers a unique opportunity to elevate our collective well-being through lasting societal change,” added Jamey Gill, executive director of Blue Zones Project Lake County. “We strongly encourage everyone in Lake County to join us in our community’s journey to better health by engaging with Blue Zones Project, as the data and feedback they provide will help identify specific points of emphasis for the initiative to consider.”
The launch of Blue Zones Project Lake County represents the beginning of a multi-year collaborative effort that involves the entire community working together towards one common goal — to support and inspire community health and well-being.
The local implementation team will begin the leadership planning phase this month, with a kickoff event to follow early in 2022.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Middletown Unified School District is accepting applications from community members interested in serving on the board of trustees.
The board has one vacancy which came about on Oct. 15 when Trustee LaTrease Walker tendered her immediate resignation to Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.
At a school board meeting on Oct. 13 during which community members confronted trustees about COVID-19 mandates, Walker — who was elected in 2018 — said she was resigning.
Walker’s term expires on Dec. 9, 2022.
The district reported that because the remainder of Walker’s term is longer than four months, protocol requires that the position be filled by election or provisional appointment. The board decided to make a provisional appointment to fill the seat.
An applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Middletown Unified School District Trustee Area 3, at least 18 years old and a registered voter in California.
The deadline to apply 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15. Candidates must submit a completed candidate information sheet to the district office at 20932 Big Canyon Road.
Applicants must be available for interviews with the board at a public meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17.
The district said the board expects to make the selection and seat the new board member that night.
To apply, get a candidate information sheet from the district office. For more information, contact superintendent’s assistant Janel Woodruff at 707-987-4100 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
A full description of board responsibilities and how to apply is here.
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. — The Lakeport City Council this week will honor the city’s retiring Public Works director, discuss scenarios produced by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, and consider a mutual aid agreement with the Lakeport Fire Protection District and a COVID-19 testing program for staff.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. In accordance with updated guidelines from the state of California and revised Cal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards, persons who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are required to wear a face covering at this meeting.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the City Clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that are read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council before the meeting.
At the start of the meeting, the council will present a proclamation to Public Works Director Doug Grider, who is retiring after 17 years of service to the city.
Under council business, City Manager Kevin Ingram will ask the council to consider giving direction to staff to prepare a response to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission either supporting or opposing proposed changes to Congressional, State Senate and State Assembly visualization maps.
The commission released the visualizations last week, and concerns over how Lake County could potentially be grouped with several other North Coast counties caused the Board of Supervisors to send a letter to the commission asking it to reconsider.
Also on Tuesday, in one of the last items Grider will take to the council as Public Works director, he will ask the council to approve an agreement for mutual aid between the city of Lakeport and the Lakeport Fire Protection District.
Grider’s report explains that the fire district and the city have been operating without a formal mutual aid agreement since the city fire department was annexed by the Lakeport Fire Protection District in 1999.
“Since 2000 the City of Lakeport and Lakeport Fire Protection District have worked together in times of natural disasters, fires, environmental emergencies and other times of need,” Grider wrote in his report. “In current times the need for small agencies to assist each other is paramount as budgets decrease, resources decrease and cost increase.”
By having a formal mutual aid agreement, both the city and the fire district will have met the current protocols for external agency assistance, Grider said.
In other business on Tuesday, Ingram and Administrative Services Director Kelly Buendia will present an item for the council to consider implementing a mandate for weekly COVID-19 testing for city employees.
A majority of council members at the Oct. 19 directed staff to bring the matter back for consideration.
Ingram and Buendia note in their report that testing isn’t currently mandated for the city’s employees by any federal, state or local authority, that the city hasn’t had any outbreaks among its staff and most city employees are vaccinated.
If council members want to mandate vaccinations, Ingram and Buendia are urging them to consider the cost of testing, availability of tests, ease of administration and overall staff morale. “If mandated, staff recommends that all employees receive testing since both vaccinated and unvaccinated alike can carry and spread the virus,” they wrote.
On the consent agenda — items usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the council’s regular meeting on Oct. 19 and the special meeting on Oct. 26; adoption of a resolution authorizing continued remote teleconference meetings of the Lakeport City Council and its legislative bodies pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e); and receipt and filing of the draft minutes from the Oct. 20 Measure Z Advisory Committee 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.
