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Local and state authorities served a search warrant at an illegal cannabis enforcement operation in Lake County, California, on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. Photo courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A massive illegal cannabis operation that included more than 51,000 plants was eradicated last week following the service of search warrants by state and local officials.

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, wildlife officers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, with support from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, California Department of Food and Agriculture and other allied agencies, served a search warrant spanning two parcels in the Scotts Valley area of Lakeport in Lake County.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the warrant stemmed from an investigation involving environmental damage associated with illegal commercial cannabis cultivation. The operation involved personnel from six separate agencies.

A records check confirmed that neither of the parcels were licensed by the state for commercial cannabis cultivation.

On the site, officers and staff eradicated 51,799 illegal cannabis plants, confiscated seven firearms, seized over $27,000 in cash and documented approximately 40 Fish and Game Code crimes.

Violations included garbage piled up near various waterways, numerous unpermitted water diversions, illegal grading of the landscape resulting in sediment discharge and stockpiles of chemicals near waterways, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife report.

One cultivation site was built over an existing stream resulting in a modified channel into a ditch with polluted water.

Each violation alone can have a detrimental environmental impact but combined, are degrading entire watersheds at the expense of California's diverse fish, wildlife and plant resources.

Twenty-six individuals were detained during the operation including two minors – a 16-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy.

Criminal charges will be filed with the Lake County District Attorney’s Office.

No further information on the case was available on Wednesday.

CDFW encourages the public to report environmental crimes such as water pollution, water diversions and poaching to the CalTIP hotline by calling (888) 334-2258 or texting information to “TIP411” (847411).
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The same day that the Board of Supervisors voted to pass the first reading of an ordinance to enforce COVID-19 Public Health orders, more than a dozen new cases of the virus were confirmed.

Total cases rose to 253 on Tuesday, an increase of 13 over the previous day, as the results of another 259 tests were reported, according to the Public Health COVID-19 dashboard.

The total active cases – those being monitored by Public Health – on Tuesday numbered 30, with 221 recovered, no current hospitalizations and two deaths, the dashboard showed.

Statewide, about 586,000 cases and more than 10,600 deaths were reported by county Public Health departments across California as of Tuesday night.

The California Department of Public Health said local health departments have reported 26,676 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 137 deaths statewide.

On Tuesday night, Lake’s neighboring counties reported the following caseloads: Colusa, 396 cases, five deaths; Glenn, 396 cases, three deaths; Mendocino, 478 cases, 10 deaths; Napa, 1,129 cases, 11 deaths; Sonoma, 3,825 cases, 51 deaths; and Yolo, 1,898 cases, 45 deaths.

Lake County’s tests on Tuesday totaled 8,036. The California Department of Public Health reported there have been 9,186,279 tests conducted in the state, an increase of 187,926 over the prior 24-hour reporting period.

Lake County’s increase in cases was reported as the Board of Supervisors was discussing an ordinance to enforce Public Health order requirements, including masking and social distancing.

After a lengthy hearing, the board passed the ordinance’s first reading in a 3-2 vote, with Rob Brown and Bruno Sabatier voting no.

The second reading of the ordinance is set for Aug. 18.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Health reported that 20 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in county residents.

The Public Health COVID-19 dashboard showed on Monday that the local caseload had risen to 240, up from 220 from the last update on Friday.

Of those 240 cases confirmed on Monday, 25 are active, 213 are recovered and two have died, the dashboard showed. None currently are hospitalized.

Lake County’s positivity rate on Monday remained at 4.6 percent.

Public Health departments in the state’s 58 counties reported more than 574,000 cases and more than 10,470 deaths as of Monday night.

The California Department of Public Health said local health departments have reported 26,544 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 137 deaths statewide.

In Lake’s neighboring counties, the following numbers were reported on Monday: Colusa, 391 cases, four deaths; Glenn, 360 cases, three deaths; Mendocino, 472 cases, 10 deaths; Napa, 1,071 cases, 11 deaths; Sonoma, 3,753 cases, 50 deaths; and Yolo, 1,834 cases, 44 deaths.

To date, 7,777 tests have been completed in Lake County, Public Health reported. Statewide, there had been 8,998,353 tests conducted as of Monday, an increase of 172,234 over the prior 24-hour reporting period, the California Department of Public Health reported.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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NORTH COAST, Calif. – Authorities in Mendocino County are investigating a series of fires they believe were intentionally set in Ukiah on Wednesday and they’re seeking leads and security camera footage from the fire areas.

Altogether, seven fires were set in a two-hour period late on Wednesday afternoon and early in the evening, according to Capt. Greg Van Patten of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office

Van Patten said that at 4:55 p.m. Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a fire on South Dora Street near the intersection of Fircrest Drive in Ukiah.

As deputies were arriving at the scene, a separate fire was reported on Gobalet Lane near South Street Street approximately a mile and a half to the south, Van Patten said.

At that time, Van Patten said the deputies saw another fire on Highway 253 near South State Street, approximately half a mile to the south.

Van Patten said deputies began providing evacuation warnings to the public in these areas when another fire was reported on Plant Road near Taylor Drive in the approximate area of the fires on Gobalet Lane and Highway 253.

As deputies were contacting the public they learned several people had seen a person who they believed was intentionally starting the fires, Van Patten said.

Van Patten said the male subject was described as a Native American or Hispanic adult male with a ponytail, wearing black clothing and riding a bicycle.

Deputies began searching the area for the person with the assistance of the Ukiah Police Department, California Highway Patrol, County of Mendocino Marijuana Enforcement Team and Mendocino County Major Crimes Task Force, Van Patten said.

For approximately two hours, several people matching the person's description were contacted by law enforcement personnel but Van Patten the contacts did not yield the person suspected of committing the acts of arson.

During the two-hour period, there were three additional fires with two being located at the end of Airport Park Boulevard and one being located on Babcock Lane near the Talmage bridge, Van Patten said.

Personnel from Cal Fire, the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority and Hopland Fire Department responded quickly to each fire scene, Van Patten said.

Just before 7 p.m., Cal Fire issued a call for an immediate need strike team from Lake County to respond to Mendocino County to assist with the firefighting effort, according to scanner traffic.

Once arriving, Van Patten said firefighters were able to quickly contain the spread of the fires and were successful in extinguishing them.

Van Patten said Mendocino County Sheriff's detectives are continuing investigations into the fires, which at this time are believed to be acts of arson.

He said investigators are asking for the public's assistance in identifying the person who is believed to have set the fires.

If anyone living in the following areas has security camera footage of the outside of their home depicting the responsible subject, during the time frame of 4:50 p.m. to 6:57 p.m. on Wednesday, they are asked to contact the Sheriff's Office Tipline by calling 707-234-2100.

Van Patten said the areas of interest for security camera footage are:

– South Dora Street from Fircrest Drive to Meadowbrook Drive;
– Fircrest Drive to South State Street;
– Oak Knoll Road to South State Street;
– Fairview Court to South State Street;
– South State Street from Fircrest to Highway 253;
– Gobalet Lane;
– Plant Road;
– Airport Park Boulevard;
– Babcock Lane.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This week Congressman Mike Thompson will hold another in his ongoing series of virtual town halls, this one to discuss Congress’ response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The virtual town hall will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Pacific Time Thursday, Aug. 13.

Thompson will be joined by special guest Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Member of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, for a discussion about the Congressional response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

This is the 13th in a series of virtual town halls. All constituents of California’s Fifth Congressional District and members of the press are invited to join.

This event will be held over Zoom and interested participants must email Thompson’s office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in order to join, as the platform has a capacity of 500 people.

Interested participants will be notified via email with instructions on how to join. The event will also be streamed on Facebook Live via Thompson’s page.

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means where he chairs the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures. Rep. Thompson is Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus and a member of the fiscally-conservative Blue Dog Coalition.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council on Thursday reached consensus to pursue a salary increase for its members and supported having staff work on the implementation of a tobacco retail license program.

During public comment at the start of the meeting, city staff read numerous comments from residents of Pond Road who were concerned about the possible relocation of the city’s corporation yard to their neighborhood.

Earlier this year, after the council determined that a city-owned property on Ogulin Canyon Road wasn’t suitable for the corporation yard – currently located at the former Pearce Field airport property which the city wants to see used for a shopping center – the city began looking at other locations, including co-locating the yard at the Special Districts facility on Pond Road.

Pond Road residents who submitted comments raised issues with traffic, noise, lighting, crime and a host of other concerns.

City Manager Alan Flora told the council that city staff held a neighborhood meeting with residents, with both Mayor Russ Cremer and Vice Mayor Dirk Slooten in attendance, to hear their concerns.

“Just so all of you know, we’re looking at other additional sites within the city,” said Flora, nothing that when staff has an analysis prepared, they will bring the matter to the council for an agendized discussion.

The two main items on the agenda included a discussion requested by Councilman Phil Harris regarding raising council members' salaries. Harris, in his first term, is not seeking reelection this fall.

City Attorney Ryan Jones gave the council an overview of council compensation. “It is set very clearly in government code,” and is based on population size.

The current council salary is $300 per month, which was approved in 1989. While statute sets the maximum salary for cities with a population of fewer than 35,000 people at $300 per month, Jones said the state law also allows an annual salary adjustment of 5 percent per calendar year above that amount.

If the council wanted to catch up with the 5 percent for each of the past 31 years, it would raise total monthly salaries to $765, staff reported.

The written staff report from Flora and Jones said the city’s current total cost for council salaries is $18,000. They also get health care benefits, the total costs for which average between $30,000 and $40,000 per year.

If the council implemented the $765 per month stipend, total costs would increase from $18,000 to $45,900 or from $3,600 to $9,180 per year for each council member, Flora and Jones’ report said.

The increase wouldn’t go into effect until after the November general election, Jones said.

Harris asked if, beyond the stipend, there is the ability to provide the same benefits packages to council members as offered to employees. Jones said yes, and that some other councils also offer benefits like life insurance.

Harris said medical benefits are one aspect, and he also wanted life insurance and retirement to be considered.

Comments from community members on the item questioned whether it was wise to proceed.

“This does not seem like a good time to discuss an increase,” said local Realtor Dave Hughes in a letter to the council.

Others on the city’s Town Hall site questioned the raise, suggesting it wait a few years.

One city resident, Terry Stewart, said he thought the raise was “long overdue” and suggested that the compensation be doubled to $600. “I think this amount would be more in line with other small cities in our area, as compared with the maximum available increase.”

“We’re not necessarily doing it for ourselves, we’re doing it for the future,” said Councilwoman Joyce Overton.

Overton said it costs money to go to the council meeting, and during the discussion she said early in her council career she had considered quitting because of the out-of-pocket expenses, which she estimated totaled $60,000 in her first eight years.

“I think this is the wrong time to do this,” said Slooten.

Cremer said he agreed with Harris about the need to do it. “The cost of living has gone up,” he said, adding the council members aren’t going to get rich off the increased salary.

Harris suggested increasing the monthly salary for council members from $300 to $500. He said it’s a way of making sure they get the right people, who truly care, and not just those who have the means to serve. Overton agreed.

Harris, noting he wasn’t seeking reelection, said, “There’s an ongoing commitment I have to make sure the right people take the seats on the dais.” He added he wanted to make sure the city is reaching out to as many people as possible.

He suggested an increase to $500 per month, with the additional 5 percent raise per year.

Councilman Russ Perdock said he came to the meeting on the fence about the issue. He said when he was initially on the council and working on commission as an insurance agent, he lost a lot of money. At the same time, he said he thinks it’s a tough time to ask for a raise.

Cremer agreed with Harris on the $500 per month amount, calling it “reasonable” and saying it was supported by a League of California Cities analysis of city council salaries included in the staff report.

“I really believe this is the wrong time to do it,” said Slooten, noting local businesses are struggling. He said an additional $200 per month isn’t going to bring in higher quality people.

Jones ultimately received consensus from the council to bring the matter back. Jones said he will draft an ordinance with options and come back at the next meeting later this month.

“The council can decide at that point,” he said, noting the ordinance would need to pass two readings.

In other business, the council supported staff working to create a tobacco retail license program, with Flora reporting that there is grant funding available to implement it.

On Aug. 13, a moratorium expires which the council put in place on retail tobacco outlets like smoke shops and vapor lounges. Flora said that moratorium has been extended as long as it can.

During the discussion, Supervisor Bruno Sabatier said the county has discussed a similar program, but it’s been put on the backburner since Public Health – which was directing it – has been dealing instead with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flora said funding should be available after the end of the year, and staff will bring back details to the council.

He said the staff had been waiting for funding availability to implement the program. “That’s why you’re seeing it now.”

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – For those who still need to fill out their census questionnaire, there is local help available.

The U.S. Census Bureau said this week that it has begun following up with households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. Door-to-door visits are now taking place nationwide.

Based on the current self-response rate of 63.3 percent, the Census Bureau estimates it will need to visit about 56 million addresses to collect responses in person.

Up to 500,000 census takers across the country will go door to door to assist people in responding to the 2020 Census.

You may still be able to avoid a door-to-door visit by completing your census today.

Your response determines funding for health programs and services that your community relies on to stay healthy. It’s just nine easy questions.

Call 844-330-2020, go to www.my2020census.gov or mail back your survey if you received one. Everyone should respond.

Don’t have reliable internet access? Visit a local questionnaire assistance kiosk or questionnaire assistance center to complete your 2020 Census online. Computers or tablets with internet access are available, private and secure. Masking, social distancing, and extra cleaning precautions are being taken to ensure public safety at these locations.

At questionnaire assistance kiosks, equipment is set up for you to use on your own. If you have questions, you may want to visit a questionnaire assistance center.

A local questionnaire assistance kiosk is available at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Local questionnaire assistance centers can be found at the following locations:

– Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday.

– Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake; 10 a.m. t o5 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday.

– Middletown Library, 21256 Washington St. Please call 707-987-3674 to schedule a time.

Library staff at the questionnaire assistance centers can answer questions from the public regarding how to complete the 2020 Census, such as who is considered a household member.


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Building upon the success of California’s first-in-the-nation earthquake alert system, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced, in partnership with Google, that the forthcoming update to the company’s Android operating system will incorporate California’s earthquake early warning technology into all Android phones.

The system will use the same data feed to receive and distribute alerts as the state’s Earthquake Early Warning System, which was announced by the governor and Office of Emergency Services last fall.

“It’s not every day that Silicon Valley looks to state government for state-of-the-art innovation, but that’s exactly what is happening today,” said Gov. Newsom. “This announcement means that California’s world-class Earthquake Early Warning System will be a standard function on every Android phone – giving millions precious seconds to drop, cover and hold on when the big one hits.”

Last October, on the 30th anniversary of the deadly Loma Prieta earthquake, Gov. Newsom announced the launch of the nation’s first statewide Earthquake Early Warning System, which marries a new smartphone application dubbed “MyShake” with traditional alert and warning delivery methods such as Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEA.

“Google is building on what we have done with MyShake,” said Richard Allen, director of the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory and professor of earth and planetary science, who led the development of MyShake.

MyShake provides Californians with early warning of ground shaking through the ShakeAlert system, which was rolled out last year by the governor’s Office of Emergency Services in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey, UC Berkeley and the California Institute of Technology.

But the app also collects shaking data from cellphones and feeds it to UC Berkeley for analysis and research. Currently, MyShake has been downloaded by more than one million users around the world.

While the state’s application has been downloaded more than a million times since being launched, the new Google technology will automatically be included in millions of Android phones used in California, without the need to download a separate app.

Earthquake early warnings can come seconds to minutes before the ground begins to shake, giving MyShake users — and now Android users — time to duck, cover and hold on.

Warnings delivered through the system are based on a computerized program called ShakeAlert, operated by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the U.S. Geological Survey that analyzes data from seismic networks in California, calculates preliminary magnitudes, and then estimates which areas will feel shaking.

The ShakeAlert system more broadly gives the state’s businesses, utilities, first responders and others time to secure equipment, pause activities or shut off equipment that could be damaged or incapacitated in a quake — or that could cause injuries.

Allen and UC Berkeley researcher Qingkai Kong consulted with Google over the past year to help the company develop and implement the Android Earthquake Alerts System.

“It's a great project that allowed academic researchers to participate and help Google build the system,” Kong said. “It’s goal is to make an earthquake early warning system available globally that can benefit a lot of people and reduce a lot of casualties in the future. That is always the ultimate goal, to serve society and reduce earthquake hazards.”

Android’s built-in system works similarly to MyShake: Accelerometers in every phone detect shaking and send the data to Google, which uses massive processing to determine the pattern and estimate the spread of shaking.

In a blog post on Tuesday, Marc Stogaitis, a principal software engineer with Android at Google, noted, “We’re essentially racing the speed of light (which is roughly the speed at which signals from a phone travel) against the speed of an earthquake. And lucky for us, the speed of light is much faster!”

According to Kong, Android will only source ground-shaking data from phones that are plugged in and charging and have not moved for a fixed period of time, in order to weed out shaking due to normal movement or to being carried in a pocket or bag.

Allen is hopeful that what Google learns from its crowdsourced earthquake detection network will be applicable to the MyShake experiment, even if outsiders cannot access the data because of privacy concerns.

“Google has great resources, but they are behind a wall,” he said. “I hope we can continue our partnership, so that we can continue to make advances, some inside Google, from which we can learn and apply these lessons outside Google to improve early warning and also better understand earthquake processes.”

Earthquake-prone countries like Mexico and Japan have long had earthquake early warning systems, with alerts typically delivered through cell phones or public address systems. However, California is the first state in the nation to offer earthquake early warning.

Gov. Newsom and the Legislature made significant investments to fund disaster planning and preparedness – including earthquake early warning – in the 2019 Budget Act.

Last year’s enacted budget included $16.3 million one-time general fund to finish the build-out of the system, including finishing seismic stations installation, adding GPS stations to the network, improving telemetry and launching an education campaign.

The governor’s budget this year includes an additional allocation of $17.3 million, supported by a one-time loan of the same amount from the School Land Bank Fund, for full operation and maintenance of the system.

To learn more about earthquake preparedness and download the earthquake early warning application, visit www.earthquake.ca.gov .



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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – New demographics data for Lake County’s COVID-19 cases shows continuing trends with regard to source, gender and communities having the largest caseloads.

The new demographic report is based on a total of 240 cases, the caseload Public Health reported on Monday. That’s a 32-case increase since the last data report on Aug. 10.

This week’s report shows that, once again, the category of close contacts to known cases – at 116, up by 11 from last week – continues to lead all other sources for how Lake County residents contract COVID-19.

Another 54 cases are classified as “under investigation,” up by three from last week; 33 cases are listed as “other/unknown,” up by 16; 24 are from out of county contacts, up by one; seven are presumed community transmission, up by one; four are presumed occupational contact, no change; and two are in a congregate living situation, specifically, the Lake County Jail, with no change since last week.

For gender, cases in females continue to lead, with 133, up by 20 over last week, compared to 107 in males, an increase of 12 cases.

Regarding age range, the largest number of cases continues to fall into the 25 to 34 age group, with 54 cases, up by six over the previous week.

Tied for second place at 40 cases are the 13 to 24 and 35 to 44 age groups, having risen by five and four cases, respectively; followed by age 45 to 54, 33 cases, up six; age 55 to 64, 30, up by two cases; age 65 and above, 22 cases, up by one; and birth to age 12, 21 cases, up by three.

The case breakdown by supervisorial district for the week is as follows:

– District 1, Middletown and the south county along with portions of Clearlake: 32 cases, an increase of nine over the week;
– District 2, Clearlake area: 91 cases, up by 12;
– District 3, Northshore area: 42 cases, up by six;
– District 4, greater Lakeport area: 35, up by two;
– District 5, Kelseyville, Loch Lomond and Cobb: 38 cases, up by two.
– Two cases are labeled as “unknown” for location, a decrease of one since last week.

The caseload breakdown by zip code shows, with the increased number over last week in parentheses, is as follows:

– 95422, Clearlake: 90 (12);
– 95453, Lakeport: 34 (2);
– 95451, Kelseyville: 34 (2);
– 95423, Clearlake Oaks: 15 (3);
– 95457, Lower Lake: 15 (2);
– 95467, Hidden Valley Lake, 11 (2);
– 95485, Upper Lake: 9 (no change);
– 95458, Lucerne: 9 (1);
– 95461, Middletown: 6 (5);
– 95464, Nice: 8 (2);
– 95426, Cobb: 4 (no change);
– 95435, Finley: 1 (no change);
– 95424, Clearlake Park: 1 (no change);
– 95493, Witter Springs, 1 (no change).
– Unknown: 2 (1).

Public Health will release its next demographics report on Monday, Aug. 17.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Following more than three hours of discussion that illustrated deep divisions not only amongst supervisors but the county’s residents, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday narrowly approved the first reading of an ordinance to enforce Public Health orders issued in the spring to address COVID-19.

Supervisor EJ Crandell put forward the enforcement ordinance, telling his colleagues on Tuesday that it would first emphasize education before enforcement.

Crandell was joined by Board Chair Moke Simon and Supervisor Tina Scott in passing the ordinance, while Rob Brown and Bruno Sabatier voted against it.

The ordinance places the authority for enforcement in the hands of the county’s Health Services director and Community Development director or their designees, and any official designated by the Board of Supervisors.

It focuses on violations including failure to adhere to masking, social distancing and mandated hygiene requirements, and failure to close specific business sectors when required.

Enforcement officers are first to request correction and offer training and information, allowing a “reasonable time” of not less than five days to make corrections. If compliance isn’t achieved, the administrative fine structure, based on Government Code section 25132, subdivision (b), allows up to $100 for a first violation, up to $200 for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year of the first violation and not more than $500 for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year of the first violation.

Those who receive violation notices can appeal to the Board of Supervisors, which would make the final decision about imposing fines.

Unless the board takes action to extend it, the ordinance would sunset on Oct. 1, 2021.

The ordinance applies in the unincorporated county and not the cities of Clearlake or Lakeport, where they have their own mechanisms – including the administrative citation process – to enforce Public Health orders.

Crandell said the ordinance is meant to protect against the county’s funding through the CARES Act – the coronavirus relief bill Congress passed in March – from being jeopardized, as the state had indicated it would withhold that funding from counties that did not comply with its health orders.

“I feel it is an olive branch to show that we are moving towards compliance,” said Crandell.

This was the third time an enforcement ordinance has been presented to the board.

In June, Simon brought forward a proposed urgency ordinance that similarly would have used administrative fines to enforce Public Health orders. After a contentious discussion, the matter wasn’t even put to a vote as it was clear that it wouldn’t get the minimum requirement of four aye votes.

Last week, Crandell had brought forward a different iteration of an urgency ordinance which also would have enforced fines for failure to comply. That was pulled at Crandell’s request after a brief discussion and before a vote.

While an urgency ordinance requires at least a four-fifths vote, a regular ordinance only needs three supporting votes. Both Brown and Sabatier raised issues with the ordinance being presented in such a way that it could get the needed votes.

“It doesn’t feel right. Something’s strange to me,” Sabatier said.

Sabatier said he had trouble with enforcing penalties, wanting instead to focus on offering incentives for compliance – in his words, a carrot – rather than the stick of fines and enforcement.

He questioned if penalties would give the desired outcomes, and proposed that the county offer complying businesses with funding assistance for masks and sanitation efforts. “I think this is the time that we help each other,” he said.

Both Brown and Sabatier also would point to the county’s COVID-19 case data, which doesn’t show businesses as being a major source of cases. Only four of the county’s cases so far have been attributed to occupational contacts, and Public Health hasn’t specified if those are people who work in Lake County. Close contacts with known cases and social gatherings have proved bigger case sources.

Brown said doing the right thing is very subjective. “I’m not the right thing police.”

He said the ordinance was about appeasement and symbolism. “We’re making decisions that ultimately affect businesses,” he said, adding that not only are existing businesses harmed but that the situation has led to others deciding not to open businesses here.

Brown said the state Legislature is taking advantage of the situation to do everything from releasing close to 10,000 prisoners to limiting volunteer and inmate firefighters, as well as using legislation like AB 5 and SB 10 to force out mom and pop businesses.

“We’re not social engineers,” he said, adding, “I’m done with this.”

Scott said she was concerned because Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace told the board the county was teetering on the edge of being placed on the state’s watch list, which would lead to stricter regulations and impacts on some industries.

As of Tuesday, Lake – with 253 cases and two deaths – was one of 20 counties that have so far not had high enough case rates to be added to the list.

“We’ve seen it blow up in other counties and other states,” said Scott.

She added, “I’m just concerned that people are starting to ease up,” also pointing to the in-person opening of some local schools and local businesses not following the health orders.

Simon said an enforcement ordinance is a step meant to help the county maintain local control of its reopening. As a tribal member, Simon said he’s a part of a vulnerable community.

“It’s getting closer to each and every one of us,” he said.

Simon maintained that the ordinance will be a tool to help the Public Health officer, the community and businesses. “Not everyone is going to be affected.”

Sabatier said they always knew that reopening would lead to higher case numbers, with management important. “We need to continue on the same path.”

He said that Mendocino County started enforcing its orders with fines on July 1 and Sonoma County began its enforcement on Aug. 6. Both of those counties have far higher caseloads than Lake County; as of Tuesday, Mendocino had 478 cases and 10 deaths, with Sonoma reporting 3,825 cases and 51 deaths.

Community members divided

The board heard comments from numerous community members, some urging them to take action, others suggesting it was an overreach.

Those who supported the ordinance said it was needed to protect the community and keep local control of the reopening.

Several of those who opposed it spoke in support of allowing herd immunity to develop or questioned the effectiveness of masks. A few challenged whether COVID-19 actually rises to the level of a pandemic. Three speakers made reference to Nazis or Adolph Hitler in speaking against the enforcement ordinance.

Paul Marchand, a practicing emergency room doctor who lives in Kelseyville, said he’s dealt with COVID-19 patients in his work, seeing some with symptoms and some without.

Marchand said being reactive is not the best approach, and told the board, “You need a carrot and a stick to get the best possible learning.”

Lakeport resident Nathan Maxman said big gatherings are a problem for passing the virus, but the ordinance does nothing to address it. He said there needs to be a tool to address those gatherings more immediately.

Michael Green of Lakeport offered his strong support, saying it was too bad it had taken so long. He said the ship had sailed on the urgency ordinance and it was best to move forward with the current document.

He added that a $100 fine isn’t going to hurt businesses and that he was over the argument about the ordinance violating constitutional rights.

Frank Dollosso of Lakeport asked the board not to pass it. “I don’t see where the emergency is. Not saying the virus isn’t real, not saying the virus hasn’t killed anybody.”

He said there is no emergency, the county already is under stress and it has low case numbers.

Middletown resident Monica Rosenthal told the board, “I’m so lost, I don’t even know what the purpose of this ordinance is anymore.”

She said it seemed overly punitive to businesses. “Do we really need this ordinance?” she asked, noting they already have a mask mandate.

Rosenthal asked about the percentage of Lake County businesses that are out of compliance with current health orders.

“My vote is for positive, proactive action, rather than this ordinance, which appears to be proactive but negative in its approach,” she said.

Brown said her question about the percentage of complying businesses was a fair one and asked if anyone had an answer. Pace said he didn’t have a specific number.

Darrell Davis of Lakeport told the supervisors that they opened a big can of worms and that it was clear to him that three of them already had their minds made up. “You’ve brought a lot of misery on yourselves and other people by even bringing this to the board.”

Davis said people in Lake County have pretty good sense, but that the board has them running around scared. He asked who would enforce the ordinance and if they would wear brown shirts, a reference to a paramilitary group attached to the Nazi party.

Sabatier asks for future review

Maintaining that education is a type of enforcement, Sabatier told fellow board members that they needed to be sincere in what they were discussing – which was just adding penalties.

He asked that the document return to the board for review, noting they are reviewing their protocol for employees and remote work, and that he wanted to make sure it’s doing what is anticipated and not going overboard or not going far enough.

“I just think that passing this and walking away and expecting everything to be great is a little naive and we need to make sure that this comes back to us so we’re very aware of what’s going on with it and how it’s impacting our community or impacting our numbers,” he said.

He also asked if the enforcement would start with the courthouse, pointing out that many county offices aren’t complying with the rules.

“We are talking about others when we really should be looking at us first and how are we doing because we should be leading by example if we’re going to be setting up this type of ordinance and I do not believe that we are leading by great example,” he said.

Ultimately, however, the majority of the board didn’t take his proposal for having a future review of the document.

Brown wanted to know who is responsible for enforcement. County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said the county’s intention is to use CARES Act funding to hire additional staff under the health officer.

Brown said the county can’t fill the vacancies it already has. “If it passes, you’re creating an expectation that is unfulfillable, and I think not being able to admit that is a sign of weakness, it’s not a sign of leadership or strength.”

Crandell said the ordinance included a lot of compromises. “It’s not always about winning. It’s about compromise for the greater good.”

He said it wasn’t about politics but about the health and safety of others.

Crandell moved to waive the full reading of the ordinance and read it in title only. The vote was 3-2, with Sabatier voting no and Brown saying, “Hell no.” To which Simon responded, “Hell, yeah,” when it was his term to vote.

The board then voted 3-2 to pass the first reading of the ordinance.

The ordinance will come back for its second and final reading on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

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.


081120 Lake County Board of Supervisors COVID-19 enforcement ordinance by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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NORTH COAST, Calif. – A bill authored by Sen. Mike McGuire that seeks to protect journalists from being physically attacked and detained has passed an Assembly committee.

Sen. Mike McGuire’s legislation, SB 629, which will enhance and extend access and protections to members of the media who are attending demonstrations in order to gather vital information, passed another hurdle last week with a 7-0 vote in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

“Members of the press risk their personal health and safety each time they attend protests or rallies to get the public the information they need and deserve. Rubber bullets, tear gas, and even detainment cannot be the new norm for an essential pillar of our nation’s democracy. California must lead the way to ensure the right of the press and the First Amendment are protected and held to the highest standard,” McGuire said. “SB 629 - The Press Freedom Act - will help ensure journalists can perform these critical roles while being protected under the law from any law enforcement officer intentionally assaulting, obstructing or interfering with their duties while they are gathering the news.”

Freedom of the press is one of the foundations upon which America was born. In 2020, that freedom has been under attack more than ever before.

According to the Freedom of the Press Foundation and the Committee to Protect Journalists, there have been approximately 600 incidents in the United States of reported aggressions against the press in the last several months. These aggressions include detainments, arrests and attacks against members of the press attempting to do their jobs at First Amendment protests, marches and events.

During protests this year, reporters have been hit by rubber bullets, struck with batons, sprayed with tear gas, and detained by law enforcement, all while performing their critical role of documenting and informing the public of current events.

While California law allows reporters and members of the press to enter natural disaster emergency areas for the purpose of gathering information, these protections do not extend to first amendment protests, marches or events. SB 629 provides these protections.

The legislation is supported by the California News Publisher’s Association, The California Broadcasters Association, California Black Media, Impremedia, Ethnic Media Services and the First Amendment Coalition.

The legislation is co-authored by: Senators Dodd, Hertzberg, Hill, Wiener, Gonzalez, Portantino and Skinner and Assemblymember Wicks.

SB 629 will move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, then to the Assembly floor for a full vote later this month.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Parks and Recreation Committee will hold a special meeting this week to discuss items including plans for the city’s new Lakefront Park development.

The commission will meet via webinar beginning at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12.

The agenda can be found here.

To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here or join by phone by calling toll-free 877-309-2074 or 213-929-4221. The access code is 335-523-379; 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 prior to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

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 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 prior to the meeting.

On the agenda is the review of proposed plans for the Lakefront Park design, with the commission to make recommendations to the Lakeport City Council.

Earlier this year, the city received a $5.9 million grant to develop the park, which will be located on land that includes the former Natural High School property in the 800 block of N. Main Street.

The commission also will receive an update on activities at the Silveira Community Center, the former Bank of America building on N. Main Street that is named for newly retired City Manager Margaret Silveira, whose work resulted in the building being donated to the city.

In other business, the commission will get updates on the Westside Community Park, completion of items for the city’s walking path and activities at Library Park.

The commission includes citizen members Suzanne Lyons, Jen Hanson, Cindy Ustrud, Ben Moore and Wayne Yahnke, and staff members including City Manager Kevin Ingram, Public Works Director Doug Grider, Parks Lead Worker Ron Ladd and Deputy City
Clerk/Secretary Hilary Britton.

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

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