LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A long-disputed building project at Hidden Valley Lake received a unanimous vote from the Lake County Planning Commission on Thursday that will allow construction to move forward.

The Hidden Valley Lake Homeowners Association’s Hartmann Complex received a 4-0 vote approving a mitigated negative declaration and the granting of a major use permit during a discussion that ran less than 45 minutes on Thursday morning.

The discussion can be viewed in the video above, starting at the 2:08:20 mark.

The association plans to build the new 12,483 square foot Hartmann Complex at 19210 Hartmann Road, a short distance away from the 7,200 square foot building that currently houses the Greenview Restaurant and pro shop.

Once the new building is completed, it will house the restaurant and pro shop. The older building will then be demolished.

Planning documents said the new building will have expanded banquet facilities and a 3,180 square foot covered patio, with its proximity to the golfing facilities requiring new netting on driving range tees, the relocation of practice greens and repositioning of the first hole golf tees, more parking, a dedicated drop-off area and new sidewalk, curb and gutter.

Associate Planner Eric Porter said the county received a lot of feedback on the project in 2015 not long after it was initially proposed, and on Thursday morning received a petition with 28 property owners objecting to it, along with about 10 other letters raising concerns.

“My job is to look at it in terms of compliance with the code, the general plan and the area plan that applies,” Porter said, adding that’s what he did.

He reviewed the plan with the commission, and explained construction of the new building and demolition of the old one should take a total of four to six months.

An environmental review was conducted and Porter said the county didn’t receive any adverse comments from local or state agencies. The Middletown Rancheria expressed interest and has entered into a contractual agreement with the homeowners association, with the tribe notifying Porter of its support for the project proceeding.

“I couldn't find a reason to recommend anything but approval” of the mitigated negative declaration and use permit, Porter said.

Despite Porter’s stated expectation during the meeting of receiving a large amount of public comment, only four community members spoke about the project, in addition to Hidden Valley Lake Association General Manager Randy Murphy.

“The project is a long time coming. It’s been in the works over 10 years,” said Murphy.

He said there is a “small but vocal contingent” that has stalled it and delayed it through recalls and other actions. Murphy blamed those delays for costing the association several million more dollars to build the complex than it would have cost to build it five or six years ago.

Murphy said the current building was designed and built in the late 1960s when the community was much smaller. “The new project will be the crown jewel for our association.”

He said the demand for property in Hidden Valley Lake is higher than it’s been in years, and he asserted that new residents are very supportive of the project.

Commissioner Lance Williams asked how many people live in the community. Murphy said the most recent population estimate is between 6,000 and 6,500 residents. There are just under 3,300 lots, of which about 2,400 are developed.

Residents raise concerns

Hidden Valley Lake homeowner Elizabeth Montgomery told the commission she opposes the project, which she said the homeowners association can’t afford.

“We are struggling financially already,” and don’t have the $8 million to $10 million to build the complex, Montgomery said. She suggested the building could start and then not be completed.

“Urgent wildfire safety needs are being neglected in my neighborhood, they are being neglected in favor of this project,” said Montgomery, who also raised issues about the building being located in a flood zone, the need to consider climate change and inadequate stormwater drainage infrastructure.

Resident Lisa Kaplan told the commission that the community is “pretty much divided” over the project. She said that after 10 years – with a wildfire in the middle – people are exhausted due to the fight.

“When it comes to our pocketbooks, this is a real problem,” she said, adding, “All of our real public spaces are being neglected in favor of this building.”

Lakeport resident Bobby Dutcher said he’s served on boards and they never get 100-percent approval on issues. He suggested giving the association the benefit of the doubt and supporting the project, allowing the association to upgrade itself.

In response to objections raised during public comment, Murphy said none of the concerns about flooding or the homeowners association’s financial status are real. He said they’re ready to break ground as soon as they get the permit.

Commissioner John Hess, who lives in Hidden Valley Lake, asked if the current building is in the floodplain. Staff said it is.

He referred to a picture of the Greenview Restaurant parking lot in 2017 – which was included in public comment documents – that showed it flooded and asked how to avoid such a situation for the new facility.

Murphy said it was his understanding that the 2017 flooding was the result of a tree blocking a culvert under Hartmann Road. He said the final finished floor elevation for the existing building is a couple of feet above flood elevation and the new building will be 3 feet higher than the old one.

Hess asked about the parking lot. Murphy said the design has drainage improvements but he said “all bets are off” if the creek is blocked off due to a tree.

When Hess asked if that issue had been fixed with the tree, Murphy said the tree was removed but added it could happen again.

Williams, who said he’d also seen the flooded parking lot picture, understood there were to be mitigations, but Murphy said mitigations aren’t part of the project.

“To me, mitigating it would be improving the drainage,” Williams said.

Hess, noting he had lived through the 2017 flood and the 2015 Valley fire evacuation, said, “I don’t see a strong enough reason to oppose the entire major use permit.”

He said he’s well aware of a number of recall elections and the criticisms targeting the homeowners association board and management, as well as subsidies for the restaurant and golf shop.

However, “Those are not part of our purview,” Hess said, explaining that he wanted to make that distinction in his own mind and for the public.

Commissioner Christina Price said she appreciated Hess sharing that.

Community Development Deputy Director Toccarra Thomas told the commission that there are further mitigations that can go along with the parking lot and staff can work with the applicant on those. She said there are some cool innovations for dispersing water quickly.

In reading through the mitigations, Williams said the drainage is adequately sized for the proposed site runoff. “I don’t know if we can ask for it to go bigger.”

Price offered separate motions for the commission to approve the mitigated negative declaration and the major use permit, with the commission approving both motions 4-0. Commissioner Everardo Chavez Perez had to leave the meeting before the votes.

Commission Chair Batsulwin Brown said there is a seven calendar day appeal period.

Porter told Lake County News later on Thursday that if the project isn’t appealed, and he said that’s “a very big ‘if,’” it is eligible for its permit seven days following the appeal period.

Lake County News reached out to the leadership of one local group that has voiced opposition to the project, HVL Now, to ask if there are plans to appeal, but did not receive a response.

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 Unified School District Board of Trustees on Thursday night selected its newest member.

During its regular meeting, held at the Marge Alakszay Center on the district campus, the board selected Jennifer Williams-Richardson to fill a board vacancy created last month when Trustee Jeannie Markham moved to Oregon.

Williams-Richardson was one of two community members who submitted a letter of interest to Superintendent Jill Falconer. The second was Wendy Mondfrans.

However, Falconer told the board on Thursday night that since the agenda had been posted earlier in the week, Mondfrans had withdrawn from consideration.

Board Chair Dan Buffalo said that in filling a board vacancy, the board can choose either to go to a special election or to appoint.

Noting that three of the board members – including Buffalo himself, Markham and Phil Kirby – had been reelected in the fall with no opposition, Buffalo said he was comfortable with appointing a new member.

With only one candidate to interview, the board reduced the number of questions they had planned to ask from 10 to six and took turns asking Williams-Richardson about her background, interests, experience and goals.

Williams-Richardson and her family moved from Santa Rosa to Lakeport in May. She has two children who attend school in the district.

She was the parent teacher association president at her children’s previous school, has served on a school site council and also said she has a wealth of knowledge about safety. She is employed as a bookkeeper.

So far, COVID-19 has prevented her from doing the kind of volunteer work she wants to do in the district, and she said she’s looking forward to helping in a classroom as soon as possible.

Asked about her experience in public schools, Williams-Richardson said there are a lot of things to be gained in public schools, noting that being around diverse groups prepares students to be more compassionate and open to other cultures. She added that she is mixed race herself.

Buffalo asked her about what she believes are the district’s biggest challenges. Williams-Richardson said she thought the district is doing an excellent job in its response to COVID-19. “Nobody knew what to expect.”

In response to another question from Buffalo, Williams-Richardson said her goal for her first year on the board is to find out the goals of other board members and discover where she can fit in.

Kirby said being a board member takes a lot of dedication, and after reading Williams-Richardson’s letter and hearing her responses, he was confident that she would be a valued board member.

Kirby then moved to approve Williams-Richardson’s provisional appointment to the board, which Carly Alvord seconded.

Before the vote, Buffalo noted that one of the most important things the board does is hire and fire the superintendent, and they’re now in the middle of hiring the successor for Falconer, who retires this summer.

Kirby asked if Williams-Richardson could be part of the superintendent candidate interviews the board has scheduled for all day Friday at the district office. Falconer said yes, if she’s available, adding that she had understood Williams-Richardson had to work that day.

In the roll call vote, the board unanimously voted for Williams-Richardson’s appointment.

Falconer then administered the oath of office to Williams-Richardson before she took a socially distanced seat next to Kirby.

The board finished up business in open session shortly before 7:30 p.m. and adjourned into closed session. Board members reemerged at 7:45 p.m. to announce they had voted to hire the candidates for several jobs and then Buffalo adjourned the meeting.

On Friday morning, the board will convene in closed session at 8 a.m. to interview superintendent candidates, discuss salary and benefits for the new superintendent, as well as the contract with that individual.

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.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Mendocino National Forest staff are seeking input on a proposed multiphase, forestwide prescribed fire and fuels management strategy.

The project would use low intensity fires ignited under controlled conditions, along with manual and possibly mechanical removal methods to reduce debris and vegetation that could fuel more extreme wildfires in the future.

Forest officials issued a letter on Thursday requesting feedback on the proposed project.

Comments citing specific concerns that are submitted during the comment period allow the commenter legal standing to object to the final decision whether to proceed with the project.

Comments are due by Saturday, May 8.

The public is invited to attend one of two virtual open houses on Tuesday, April 20, to learn more about the project and to ask questions.

The first meeting is from 3 to 4 p.m. via Microsoft Teams at http://bit.ly/RxFire1. A call-in-only option is also available at 202-650-0123 (conference ID: 920 502 883#).

The second meeting is from 7 to 8 p.m. via Microsoft Teams at http://bit.ly/RxFire2. A call-in-only option is also available at 202-650-0123 (conference ID: 312 405 752#).

Both meetings will be identical in content and format.

The Mendocino Prescribed Fire and Fuels Management Project would allow for a landscape-scale environmental analysis for the explicit purpose of prescribed burning and fuel-reduction treatments across the entire forest, excluding designated wilderness areas.

This would afford additional opportunities for the Mendocino National Forest to treat more acres in a timely fashion by taking advantage of geographic and seasonal conditions while avoiding delays and inefficiencies associated with developing individualized, smaller-scale proposals.

Reducing the buildup of hazardous fuels supports forest officials’ goals of promoting healthier, more resilient forest stands.

“Taking a condition-based, landscape-scale approach to fuel reduction and fuels management will allow the forest to more quickly and effectively mitigate wildfire risks where it’s needed most and when conditions are most beneficial,” said Mendocino Forest Supervisor Ann Carlson.

The project also includes an alternative proposal to use mechanical methods, in addition to manual treatments, to remove vegetation or thin dense stands of trees in combination with prescribed fire.

A project description and maps can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xHC52.

The California Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom have reached an agreement that invests nearly a half-billion dollars into California’s wildfire prevention and resiliency efforts.

On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) announced the $536 million funding plan to help improve California’s resilience to wildfires.

“With California facing another extremely dry year, it is critical that we get a head start on reducing our fire risk. We are doing that by investing more than half a billion dollars on projects and programs that provide improved fire prevention for all parts of California,” the governor and legislative leaders said in a joint statement.

The $536 million funding package, which is consistent with the Senate’s “Blueprint for a Fire Safe California” released last month, includes $125 million from Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds and $411 million from the General Fund. State leaders said they also hope to draw federal disaster prevention grants to match money spent on home hardening.

The package includes multi-year funding on projects with both wildfire and drought resilience benefits, and Senate priorities such as Cal Fire grants for small landowners, funding for home hardening, urban greening and forestry, and funding for immediate, shovel-ready projects by conservancies from the Sierras to the Lower LA River and San Diego.

Highlights include:

· More than $280 million to create resilient wildlands and manage forest health;
· $200 million for development of wildfire fuel breaks;
· $30 million for community and home hardening;
· $25 million for forest sector economic stimulus;
· $3 million for science-based forest management.

The early action budget item will be amended into a budget bill and taken up by the Legislature in coming days. Details on this funding package can be found in SB 85 and AB 79.

“For every dollar we spend on wildfire prevention, our state saves $6 to $7 in damage. But it’s not just about saving money – this is about saving Californians’ lives, their homes, and their livelihoods,” Pro Tem Atkins said.

In the Thursday joint statement, state leaders said the key parts of the administration’s initial proposal have been supplemented by legislative ideas that they said will pay dividends over the years.

Those ideas include greater investments in forest health projects, improvements on defensible space, home hardening against fires, fire prevention grants, and prevention workforce training. The plan includes public and private lands vegetation management, community-focused efforts for prevention and resilience and economic stimulus for the forestry economy.

“Because we know that California’s fires are not limited to forested lands, we have built in attention to all kinds of vulnerable terrain and vegetation, with incentives for prevention that protects larger numbers of residents,” the group said.

They added, “We are pleased to have reached an agreement to get California quickly on the road to strong wildfire prevention, but we know more work is needed. This plan could not have been developed without the hard work of Assemblymembers Richard Bloom and Phil Ting, and Senators Bob Wieckowski, Susan Rubio and Mike McGuire, among others. We anticipate additional benefits from discussions on the 2021-2022 budget.”

“California is experiencing a never-ending crisis every summer and fall, losing tens of thousands of homes over the last decade and millions of acres of land burned over by mega fires,” said McGuire (D-Healdsburg), the Wildfire Working Group co-chair whose district includes Lake County.

“The Legislature and governor are moving with speed to pass the largest early budget action in state history investing in wildfire prevention and response. We know this half-of-a-billion-dollar investment will help make communities safer. And, there’s more work to come with a second round of funding this summer and a bold legislative package from the Senate that will focus on keeping California fire safe. We’re grateful to Pro Tem Atkins and Governor Newsom for their leadership on this critical issue, there’s much more work to come,” McGuire said.

“Wildfire prevention and response is a top priority in California, especially with drier conditions expected from this year’s drought. This plan makes sound investments in what we need to safeguard life and property. I applaud my fellow lawmakers for taking this proactive step toward avoiding the devastation we’ve seen over the past five years,” said Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa), formerly Lake County’s representative in the Assembly.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On April 2, the Konocti Unified School District announced its teachers of the year for each school site.

“These teachers embodied the dedication, creativity, and good humor that makes learning possible even in the most challenging of times – and this year has certainly been challenging,” said district Superintendent Becky Salato.

Teachers are selected for this honor by their peers.

Konocti Unified School Districtwide Teacher of the Year: Andrea Pullman

Burns Valley Elementary School chose instructional coach Andrea Pullman as their teacher of the year.

In her role, Pullman supports all teachers and students at Burns Valley Elementary. She is known for her willingness to speak up for what is right and as someone who does not shy away from a challenge.

Colleagues called her “a phenomenal coach who [they] were proud to have as part of the BVS team and family.”

Pullman was not only honored by her school; she also received the Konocti Unified School District Teacher of the Year Award.

Alternative Education: Kim VanHorn

The Alternative Education teacher of the year is Kim VanHorn who teaches English language arts and science at Blue Heron School.

VanHorn is a strong student advocate and a nurturing educator who collaborates with her colleagues and works hard to implement top-quality teaching strategies.

Although this is only her second year as a teacher, VanHorn’s ability to build relationships with students and families has helped students succeed academically and contributed to their social and emotional wellbeing.

East Lake Elementary: Kaytlin Zolensky

At East Lake School, first-grade teacher Kaytlin Zolensky was named teacher of the year by colleagues who described her as an energetic and motivational classroom teacher determined to help every single one of her students learn to read.

Zolensky was the first teacher to bring students back on campus in small groups during the pandemic when allowed to do so by Public Health.

Zolensky’s colleagues also lauded her as a leader who “is always willing to train others on technology, collaborate, or lend an ear to brainstorm solutions.”

Konocti Education Center: Babette Wellock

The KEC teacher of the year is sixth-grade teacher Babette Wellock.

A 15-year veteran of Konocti Unified, Wellock’s colleagues said she leads her students by example as a life-long learner.

“She is always seeking to improve her practice and is not afraid to try new things,” they said.

She also encourages and uplifts colleagues with compliments and fun stories. As in years past, this year Wellock’s dedication to her students stood out in a competitive field.

Lower Lake Elementary: Suzy Tucker

Lower Lake Elementary announced teacher Suzy Tucker as teacher of the year.

Principal Tara Bianchi said Tucker went out of her comfort zone this year to provide the best education possible for her students.

Tucker developed meaningful relationships with her students and their families and collaborated well with her team and other teachers on campus, which was no simple task through video conferencing, mask-wearing, and social distancing.

Lower Lake High School: Tracy Lahr

Associated Student Body Director and long-time Konocti Unified veteran Tracy Lahr was honored by her Lower Lake High School peers as teacher of the year.

During a difficult year, they said she made the school a better place to be.

“No matter the obstacles, she has continued to have a positive attitude about the school and her students. She works effectively with fellow staff members to get them engaged in school spirit, and one of her biggest strengths is her love of students,” said LLHS Principal Victor Uribe.

Uribe noted that Lahr is particularly gifted in establishing and maintaining open lines of communication with all her students, and that her rapport with her Associated Student Body students was instrumental in developing a safe and secure learning environment focused on school spirit this year.

Pomo Elementary: Janelle Schneider

Second-grade teacher Janelle Schneider is Pomo Elementary’s teacher of the year.

Schneider embraced distance learning and helped her colleagues do the same.

Throughout the school year, she created YouTube video clips and Boom Card decks for her students, and then shared them with other teachers who said both they and Schneider’s students “love the online resources she creates and shares.”

The second-grade team credited Schneider’s Boom Cards for their students' mastery of addition with regrouping.

While creating highly effective resources for students and colleagues, Schneider has also been busy working on her master's degree in curriculum and instruction.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council last week approved the project to upgrade the Austin Park bus stop and build a section of promenade.

During its April 1 meeting, the council awarded the $552,662 project bid to Granite Construction.

The city’s construction plans show that work will include sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, new LED flashing traffic signage, crosswalk warning pavement lights, signage, an electric utilities vault in the sidewalk and irrigation control, along with the new bus stop.

Public Works Director Dale Goodman said the city had to put the project out to rebid.

On March 18, the city opened bids from Granite, the low bidder; as well as Darren Taylor, $556,915; M3 Integrated, $607,200; and Team Ghilotti, $877,141.

Goodman said they were satisfied with the Granite Construction bid.

City Manager Alan Flora said the promenade and bus stop projects were combined in order to get better bids. He said the Lake Transit Authority will reimburse the city for the bus stop project.

The cost breakdown in city documents shows that the city’s cost share is $475,000 while Lake Transit’s is $138,427.

Flora told Lake County News that the promenade was originally bid as part of the larger Austin Park project, “but we didn’t have enough money to tackle it at that time so we cut it out.”

Staff recommended the city council approve the contract with Granite Construction. There was no public comment, and the council approved the contract unanimously.

Also during the April 1 meeting, the council approved a resolution approving responsibilities and guidelines for Measure V Citizen Oversight Committee members, got an update on the Hope Center, and presented proclamations declaring Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month.

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 jobless rates in Lake County, the state of California and the nation edged down in February, according to the latest reports on unemployment.

Lake County registered an 8.3-percent unemployment rate in February, down from 8.9 percent in January, according to the Employment Development Department. Lake County’s February 2020 rate was 5.8 percent.

The February jobless rate is the second-lowest Lake County has experienced since the pandemic began last spring. It recorded a 7.4-percent rate in November and October also was 8.3 percent.

The EDD’s report said the state’s overall unemployment rate dropped 0.5 percentage points to 8.5 percent in February as employers gained 141,000 jobs. The February 2020 unemployment rate in California was 4.3 percent.

On the national level, February’s unemployment rate was 6.2 percent, down from 6.3 percent in January. The February 2020 rate ws 3.5 percent.

In Lake County, farming jobs in February were up by 27.5 percent over January and were 1 percent above the previous year, EDD data showed.

Total nonfarm jobs are up by 0.9 percent in a month-over comparison but down by 4.4 percent when compared to last year, based on the data.

Job categories or subcategories showing growth over this time last year include federal government jobs, up 13.3 percent; retail trade, up 4.5 percent; and trade, transportation and utilities, up by 3.2 percent.

All industries and subcategories in Lake County showed positive job growth or no change over the month, with the exception of financial activities, which was down by 3.4 percent, according to the report.

Lake’s neighboring counties’ jobless rates and ranks in the latest report are Colusa, 15.9 percent, No. 57; Glenn, 7.6 percent, No. 25; Napa, 7.1 percent, No. 18; Sonoma, 6.4 percent, No. 8; and Yolo, 6.8 percent, No. 12.

The statewide snapshot

In California, the EDD said December and January combined for a two-month total of 155,400 jobs lost, but February’s gain recovered nearly 91 percent of that loss, the state said.

California has now regained nearly 39 percent of the 2,714,800 total nonfarm jobs lost in March and April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In California payroll jobs totaled 15,998,900 in February 2021, up 141,000 from January 2021 but down from 1,662,000 from February 2020.

The number of Californians with jobs in February was 17,334,300, an increase of 345,600 jobs from January’s total of 16,988,700, but down 1,253,500 from the employment total in February of last year, the report said.

The EDD said the number of unemployed Californians was 1,610,200 in February, a decrease of 69,600 over the month, but up by 764,900 in comparison to February of last year.

Statewide, the number of jobs in the agriculture industry increased by 2,900 from January to 423,100 jobs in February. The agricultural industry had 2,300 more farm jobs in February 2021 than it did the February prior.

Among industries, leisure and hospitality led the gains, with 102,200 new jobs over the month, followed by other services, 14,100; education and health services, 13,000; manufacturing, 8,900; trade, transportation and utilities, 8,200; professional and business services, 5,400; and construction, 600.

Industries that showed declines included government, which the EDD said lost 6,000 jobs, mainly due to reductions in federal government jobs such as census and postal workers; followed by information, -2,800; financial activities, -1.900; and mining and logging, -700.

In related data that figures into the state’s unemployment rate, there were 794,348 people certifying for Unemployment Insurance benefits during the February 2021 sample week. That compares to 818,589 people in January and 351,766 people in February 2020, EDD said.

Concurrently, EDD said 90,662 initial claims were processed in the February 2021 sample week, which was a month-over increase of 32,285 claims from January, as well as a year-over increase of 55,533 claims from February 2020.

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 U.S. Small Business Administration will officially open the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, or SVOG, application portal on Thursday, April 8.

The portal will open at 9 a.m. Pacific Time.

The grants are for operators of live venues, live performing arts organizations, museums and movie theatres, as well as live venue promoters, theatrical producers and talent representatives.

Those eligible entities are some of the first that had to shutter their doors a year ago in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Concerts, plays, dance performances, movie premieres, museum exhibits – these are the lifeblood of culture and community, and often the anchor for travel, tourism and neighborhood food and retail stores. We know that for the stage and venue operators across the nation that help make this culture happen, the pandemic has been devastating. Too many have been forced to lower the final curtain on their businesses. Today, with more than $16.2 billion available through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants, help is here,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “The SBA is committed to moving as quickly as possible to deliver this vital funding effectively and equitably - ensuring relief goes to those venue operators whose revenues have been most impacted by the pandemic.”

The SVOG program was appropriated more than $16.2 billion for grants via the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act and the American Rescue Plan Act. Of these funds, at least $2 billion is reserved for eligible SVOG applications with up to 50 full-time employees. Eligible applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue up to a maximum amount of $10 million for a single grant.

The SBA is accepting SVOG applications on a first-in, first-out basis and allocating applicants to respective priority periods as it receives applications.

The first 14 days of SVOG awards, which are expected to begin in late April, will be dedicated to entities that suffered a 90 percent or greater revenue loss between April and December 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The second 14 days (days 15-28) will include entities that suffered a 70% or greater revenue loss between April and December 2020.

Following those periods, SVOG awards will include entities that suffered a 25% or greater revenue loss between one quarter of 2019 and the corresponding quarter of 2020.

Prior to the opening for SVOG applications, the SBA has hosted a national informational webinar – which can be viewed above – to highlight the application process for potential eligible entities.

The agency also provided recurrent program updates and information via frequently asked questions, additional video tutorials, an application checklist, eligibility requirements and applicant user guide through SBA’s dedicated SVOG website and targeted outreach to potential applicants.

As the SBA built the SVOG program from the ground up, it worked closely with its federal partners, including those dedicated to the affected industries such as the National Endowment for the Arts and Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Congressional authors in analyzing the legislation and Congress’ intent.

The agency also consulted industry partners, such as the National Independent Venue Association, National Association of Theatre Owners, National Independent Talent Organization, Performing Arts Alliance, Broadway League, American Alliance of Museums and the Associations of Art Museum Directors, Children’s Museums, Science and Technology Centers, and Zoos & Aquariums.

The SBA’s collaboration with these organizations has been vital to SBA’s understanding of and guidance for potential SVOG applicants and the agency looks forward to their continued partnership during the launch of the program.

In addition, SBA’s resource partners, including SCORE Mentors, Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers and Veterans Business Outreach Centers, are available to provide entities with individual guidance on their applications.

Applicants can find a local resource partner via SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/local-assistance or via a zip code at www.sba.gov/localassistance.

Per federal grant program guidelines that the same and equal information needs to be provided to each applicant, SBA’s team members are limited on responses they can provide to individual, specific questions regarding SVOG eligibility, potential grant amount, or other detailed information.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Members of the Board of Supervisors and Sheriff Brian Martin on Tuesday discussed their concerns over new state legislation that would repeal the eligibility requirements for candidates running for the office of sheriff.

During their Tuesday meeting, the supervisors agreed to pull the letter of opposition to Senate Bill 271 from the consent agenda in order to discuss it further, ultimately voting unanimously to send the letter to the bill’s author, State Sen. Scott Wiener.

In February, Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced SB 271, the Sheriff Democracy and Diversity Act, which he said is meant to allow all registered voters to run for sheriff, reverting back to the eligibility requirements in place from 1850 until 1989.

Under current law, candidates must have Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST, certificates to qualify, which Wiener asserts limits those eligible to a “tiny pool” and results in sheriffs being “effectively insulated from political accountability and are only accountable to the law enforcement officers who are authorized to challenge their reelection.”

In his announcement on the legislation’s introduction, Wiener said that sheriffs have aggressively cooperated with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to facilitate deportations, have ignored and refused to endorse COVID public health orders, and have failed to be responsive to community demands for police and jail reform. He said 49 of 58 of the state’s sheriffs are white men.

Board of Supervisors Chair Bruno Sabatier said he worked with Sheriff Martin on the proposed letter, the text of which is published below.

The letter focuses on the key issues of training and experience, which also were focal points of Tuesday morning’s discussion.

“My heart in this is really to make sure we have good public policy in California,” said Martin.

He explained that, with the exception of the supervisors, all county elected offices – such as judge, district attorney and assessor-record – have minimum requirements for candidates.

In 1988, a law passed to require sheriff’s candidates to have some professional experience and qualifications in order to hold the office, Martin explained. “These current qualifications are not an unattainable bar.”

California Government Code Section 24004.3, which the bill aims to repeal, requires that those running for sheriff meet one of the following criteria:

– Has an active or inactive advanced certificate issued by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
– One year of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience, at least a portion of which must be within five years of the date of filing to run for office, and a master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
– Two years of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience within five years prior to the date of filing, and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
– Three years of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience within five years prior to the date of filing, and an associate in arts or associate in science degree, or the equivalent, from an accredited college.
– Four years of full-time, salaried law enforcement experience within five years prior to the date of filing, and a high school diploma or the equivalent.

Candidates don’t have to be in the sheriff’s office to run, with Martin pointing out that many former California Highway Patrol and police officers, district attorney investigators and state peace officers are eligible to run for a sheriff’s post.

SB 271 would essentially strip all the requirements, said Martin.

He said arguments for the bill have looked at larger, urban counties like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, where the functions of sheriff are much different than in rural counties. Those supporting the bill based on the urban model argue that the sheriffs in those areas don’t go out and conduct patrol.

But in Lake County, Martin does do patrol, just like other rural sheriffs do, he said.

He said the bill would institute a blanket policy by someone in an urban area who doesn’t understand rural areas.

Martin suggested it could have “a great effect,” especially with issues of civil rights, searches, evidence collection and protecting the innocent.

“You don’t learn these things by simply getting more votes” but by years of experience, Martin said.

He also was concerned that the bill could have a large impact on rural sheriffs specifically. “I think we’re going to have some poor outcomes,” he said, adding he’s let Lake County’s state representatives know where he stands on the bill and thanking Sabatier for bringing it forward.

Sabatier said the law change would mean that literally anybody, no matter their criminal background, would have the eligibility to run for sheriff. “That does not make sense to me.”

Supervisor Jessica Pyska said the county relies on the sheriff to manage its disasters, and a high level of expertise is needed.

Supervisor Tina Scott said she supported the letter and asked if other counties are writing similar letters.

Martin said other jurisdictions and employee organizations are registering their opposition, but the bill is getting support in urban areas.

“I can see the reasons people might think it’s not that bad of an idea,” Martin said, noting that in an urban area, a sheriff is unlikely to be out interacting with the community like he does. “The vast majority of counties in California are rural like ours.”

Sabatier said the California State Sheriffs’ Association also has submitted a letter opposing it.

“I just think that we should be looking to raise the bar, never lower the bar,” said Sabatier.

Acknowledging the motivations about diversity and inclusion, Sabatier said he believes they can be increased while raising the bar for sheriffs.

Supervisor EJ Crandell noted of Martin in particular that he has always worked with the Native American community and people of color.

In response to a question about the bill’s status, County Counsel Anita Grant said it has passed the Senate’s Public Safety Committee by a 4-1 vote and is headed to the Senate Governance and Finance Committee.

As such, Sabatier noted, “It’s got legs.”

The Senate Governance and Finance Committee is chaired by Sen. Mike McGuire, who represents Lake County. Martin said that hearing is scheduled for later this month.

Pyska asked how McGuire feels about the bill. Martin said so far McGuire hasn’t made that known.

Martin said his concerns aren’t about him but who eventually comes after him to hold the office, explaining that experience is key.

“This is about doing what’s best for our community,” and getting the best person for the job, he said.

Scott moved to approve sending the letter, with the board voting 5-0.

See the letter’s text below.

RE: Senate Bill 271 (Wiener) – Oppose As Introduced January 28, 2021

Dear Senator Wiener,

We are writing this letter in opposition to SB 271, County Sheriffs: Eligibility Requirements. This bill would in essence, and as currently presented, eliminate all eligibility requirements to become a County Sheriff.

We understand that this is part of the social justice movement to help diversify the sheriffs in our state, and to help broaden the scope of the conversation on what policing is, and what policing should be. We never want to shy away from these conversations. Diversity helps us understand each other better, and better serve the public in a more meaningful and understanding position. Policing, while fundamentally similar to when it first began, has changed over the course of our social evolution. We support the conversation on how best to serve our communities and how best to ensure the safety of our communities. Reinforcing that appropriate processes and protocols are utilized is paramount to building trust within our communities in regard to policing. These conversations are continuous and productive.

However, there is one aspect of policing that should not change: training and experience. Obtaining the appropriate educational and certification requirements are all part of ensuring that we evolve in a best practice approach. Rural counties, such as Lake County, commonly rely on their elected Sheriff to actually perform law enforcement functions. If police-community interactions are a concern now, what kind of outcome would we expect when a person with no
training or real-world experience with respecting civil rights decides to engage in law enforcement as the county’s senior law enforcement officer?

In larger counties, it is true that the elected sheriff may not perform tasks as they have many support personnel and staff with requisite experience to handle things such as administrative and personnel matters, policy updates, community engagement, and a myriad of other responsibilities. The reality for small and medium sized counties is that sheriffs themselves often perform these functions. The experience and training required to carry out these tasks properly and effectively comes after many years. It doesn’t occur simply because you get more votes than someone else. A county which has a sheriff that needs to go through a learning curve that takes years to attain will be disserved.

We seek experienced and knowledgeable candidates who understand the law and the Constitutions to which they take an oath. While experience and training does not always speak to the character of the individuals that are elected to the position of Sheriff, it speaks to an understanding of the legal processes and the rights that they are meant to preserve.

We believe strongly in quality policing in Lake County and strive to be better in how we interact with our communities and how we keep them safe. SB 271 will not help us in this endeavor. In fact, we fear that it may do just the opposite. This is why we oppose SB 271, and hope that this bill will not continue its path to the Senate Floor.


Respectfully,
COUNTY OF LAKE
____________________________ ____________________________
Bruno Sabatier, Chair Brian Martin, Sheriff
cc: Honorable Assembly Member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Honorable State Senator Mike McGuire


Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s amazing bird life is the inspiration for a proclamation offered by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning.

The supervisors have declared April as “Bird Appreciation Month” in Lake County.

District 5 Supervisor Jessica Pyska brought the request for the proclamation to the board on behalf of the Redbud Audubon Society in order to honor the importance of the bird life in Lake County and on Clear Lake and to focus on efforts that every person in the county can do to make life better for birds.

“April 22, 2021, is Earth Day and a bird appreciation proclamation seemed like a fitting way to honor this event as well,” said Redbud Audubon President Roberta Lyons, who wrote the proclamation.

Pyska read the proclamation, which highlights the more than 300 species of birds that make their home in Lake County, including the second-highest concentration in California of breeding Clark’s and Western Grebes.

The birds also are an important attraction for tourists and a benefit to the local economy, the proclamation said, adding “there is much that individual homeowners, businesses and residents can do to provide safe passage and habitat for both migrating and resident birds.”

Lake County plays a critical role on an international scale for migratory birds that have no boundaries. As such, both the National Audubon Society and Bird Life International have recognized Clear Lake and surrounding areas as a Globally Important Bird Area, the proclamation said.

Pyska, who lives on Cobb Mountain, said that in the weeks after the 2015 Valley fire – in which she and thousands of others lost their homes – they started to have community meetings about how to get the ecology jumpstarted and repair the fire’s damage to the environment.

She said they invited a local ecologist, Larry Ray, to come to an early meeting. “The very first thing that you need to do is invite the birds back,” Pyska recalled Ray as saying.

That included providing food and habitat, because with the birds come the rest of the ecology, Pyska said.

As a result, a community project to build bird houses began, with people building them or bringing them from out of the county. Hundreds were built or given, she said.

Pyska said people also brought food – mostly acorns – to feed the birds.

“It was one of those sparks in our community that brought everybody together,” she said.

At the same time, Pyska said they could see the environment responding to the birds.

“That’s a really special memory for me,” Pyska said, adding that it marked the beginning of the regrowth of the area.

Lyons, who attended the meeting virtually, thanked the board.

“We’re just hoping that it helps to raise awareness of the fabulous bird life that we have here in Lake County,” she said.

She also hoped it would encourage people to do more and to do what they can to make sure our birds are safe and have habitat available to them.

Lyons said people need to think about how what they do impacts the wildlife around us.

She added that she hopes everyone gets out there and watches the fabulous bird life.

As part of Redbud Audubon’s efforts throughout the month, the organization will provide information on how to improve habitat in your own yard, how to insure the safety of birds and also information about the group, which was founded in 1976 and is the oldest conservation organization in Lake County.

The text of the proclamation follows.

WHEREAS, Birds are present everywhere in our environment, including our cities and towns, wetlands, the Clear Lake Shoreline, oak woodlands, and Chaparral and

WHEREAS, The Local Redbud Audubon Society has worked for over 40 years to raise the awareness of the importance of the local bird population here, including presenting the annual Heron Days bird tour event almost every year for the last 20 years and

WHEREAS, April 22, is officially designated as Earth Day and birds are a vital part of the environment in Lake County and worldwide and

WHEREAS, Lake County’s rich natural resources support more than 300 species of birds, including the second-highest concentration in the State of California of breeding Clark’s and Western Grebes on Clear Lake and

WHEREAS, The presence of such a large number of birds here is an important attraction for tourists and a benefit to the local economy; there is much that individual homeowners, businesses and residents can do to provide safe passage and habitat for both migrating and resident birds and

WHEREAS, Lake County plays a critical role on an International scale for migratory birds that have no boundaries and the National Audubon Society and Bird Life International have recognized Clear Lake and surrounding areas as a Globally Important Bird Area (IBA).

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Lake County Board of Supervisors hereby proclaims April, 2021 as Bird Appreciation Month in Lake County.

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.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Area Town Hall will meet this week to get an update from Pacific Gas and Electric and hear about a scotch broom abatement event that took place last month.

MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 8, via Zoom. The meeting is open to the public.

To join the Zoom meeting click on this link; the meeting ID is 935 1671 5770. Call in at 888-788-0099.

At 7:08 p.m., the group will consider correspondence and get an update on stop signs in Middletown.

At 7:15 p.m., there will be an opportunity for public input on items not already on the agenda.

At 7:25 p.m., Supervisor Moke Simon will give his monthly update.

The group also will hear from PG&E representative Tracy Craig, who is scheduled at 7:35 p.m. to give an update on the monitoring and enforcement at the sequestration area on Butts Canyon Road.

There also will be a followup report at 7:50 p.m. by Laurel Bard on the March 27 Middletown BroomBusters Event, which will be followed up by a review of the community wildfire protection plans, also led by Bard.

The MATH Board includes Co-Chairs Rosemary Córdova and Monica Rosenthal, Secretary Lisa Kaplan, and Ken Gonzales and Paul Baker.

MATH – established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 – is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.

For more information email 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.

Snowpack measurements across California continue to show below-normal depth, a concern because of the amount of water supply stored in mountain snow.

The Department of Water Resources on Thursday conducted the fourth snow survey at the Phillips Station snow course.

The manual survey recorded 49.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent, or SWE, of 21 inches, which is 83 percent of average for this location. The SWE measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast.

Measurements from DWR’s electronic snow survey stations indicate that statewide the snowpack’s SWE is 16.5 inches, or 59 percent of average for the date. April 1 is typically when California’s snowpack is the deepest and has the highest SWE.

“While there is some snow on the ground today at Phillips Station, there is no doubt California is in a critically dry year. State agencies, water suppliers and Californians are more prepared than ever to adapt to dry conditions and meet the challenges that may be ahead,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “With climate change impacting how precipitation falls in California, ongoing water efficiency and long-term efforts like recycling water, capturing stormwater, and planting water-friendly landscapes are essential to securing California’s water future.”

While the Southern Sierra remains well below average for both rain and snow, the picture is somewhat different in the Northern and Central part of the state where California typically receives 75 percent of the State’s annual precipitation.

The few storms that impacted California this year have been colder, bringing more snow than rain.

This is a positive sign for the Sierra snowpack which accounts for 30 percent of California’s fresh water supply in an average year.

In the Mendocino National Forest, snowpack levels also are below normal.

DWR’s California Data Exchange Center shows that the 6,200-foot Anthony Peak, located in the Stony Creek river basin on the forest’s Covelo Ranger District, recorded 24 inches of depth and 11 inches of water content, for a density of 46 percent as of March 30. That’s up from the 32 percent density recorded at the site at the end of March 2021.

At Plaskett Meadows, located at 6,000 feet elevation on the Eel River basin, recorded snow depth of 10 inches and 4.5 inches of water content for a density of 45 percent on March 31, compared to 42 percent density in a year-over comparison.

For Water Year 2021, the snowpack in the Northern and Central Sierra peaked at 70 percent of average, however rain is below 50 percent of average, which ties this year for the third driest year on record.

The severity of dry conditions is particularly evident in the Feather River watershed where water levels at Lake Oroville, the State Water Project’s largest reservoir, are currently at 53 percent of average.

Statewide, following a below-average 2020 water year, California’s major reservoirs are at just 50 percent of overall capacity. The amount of water expected to enter California’s reservoirs when the snowpack melts is projected to be just 58 percent of average.

With dry conditions continuing to impact California’s water supply, DWR recently announced an adjustment to the State Water Project allocation for 2021. The department now expects to deliver 5 percent of requested supplies this year, down from the initial allocation of 10 percent announced in December.

Officials said California is better prepared for drought than in the past. Following the 2012-2016 drought, DWR enacted many programs focused on managing the state’s water through a strategic, integrated approach with a strong emphasis on water use efficiency and conservation. The state provides assistance and tools to local water agencies to help them reduce their drought vulnerability.

DWR’s Water Use and Efficiency Branch provides agencies and individuals with assistance for improving water use efficiency and developing and meeting efficient water use requirements.