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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday took action against Pacific Gas and Electric for what the commission called “insufficient progress” in the utility company’s efforts to reduce wildfire risks in its service territory.

The CPUC voted to place PG&E into the first of the six steps in the Enhanced Oversight and Enforcement Process, which was created specifically to hold the company accountable for improving its safety record after it emerged from bankruptcy in 2020.

The resolution to take the action shows that the process allows the commission “to take additional steps to ensure PG&E is improving its safety performance” if specific “triggering events” occur.

The resolution notes, “The steps range from Step 1, which contains enhanced reporting and oversight requirements, to Step 6, involving the potential revocation of PG&E’s ability to operate as a California electric utility.”

The CPUC’s resolution invokes Step 1, “with regard to PG&E’s insufficient progress with risk-driven wildfire mitigation efforts,” and requires PG&E to submit a corrective action plan
within 20 days of the resolution effective date.

Both the CPUC’s Public Advocates Office and The Utility Reform Network, or TURN, asked the CPUC to take stronger action against PG&E.

“We’re glad the CPUC took this step but it should have included closer oversight of PG&E’s other shortcomings in its resolution,” said Maya Chupkov, the Public Advocates Office’s director of strategic communications and outreach, on Thursday afternoon.

In a statement issued to Lake County News, PG&E said its most important responsibility is the safety of its customers and the communities it serves.

“We take today’s vote and the feedback from the Wildfire Safety Division and others seriously, and as a result we have already implemented significant improvements to our Enhanced Vegetation Management program and will continue to do so as outlined in our 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan. It is in all of our best interests to work together to improve our safety performance for the benefit of our customers and the communities we are privileged to serve,” the company said.

PG&E said is already has implemented a new 2021 wildfire distribution risk model and elevated its transparency and oversight, explaining that its newly formed Wildfire Risk Governance Steering Committee is responsible for approving the selection of enhanced vegetation management work locations “and monitoring regular reporting of work completed to ensure actual work is aligned with the planned risk reduction and performed with the highest level of quality.”

The company said this year it’s tripling the number of its work verification inspectors that are performing post-tree work inspections on work performed in high fire-threat districts to make sure work is getting done in its enhanced and routine vegetation management programs.

It’s using ground-based LiDAR in vehicles as a post-inspection review of completed circuits for vegetation management work and has staffed a centralized team of arborists to investigate any concerns or findings raised by the CPUC, the Federal Monitor, the Governor’s Operational Observer or any of our external stakeholders to ensure timely follow-up and resolution any issues that are identified.

PG&E said it’s also implementing a more effective operating structure that establishes daily operating reviews to improve visibility into all facets of its performance.

PG&E’s went into bankruptcy in 2019 following several catastrophic wildfires in its service territory – among them, the 2017 North Bay firestorm that included the Sulphur fire in Clearlake Oaks in Lake County and the 2018 Camp fire that destroyed Paradise in Butte County.

The CPUC later approved PG&E’s reorganization plan and allowed it to emerge from bankruptcy, but the company had to follow specific financial and operational conditions, the CPUC’s document shows.

The Enhanced Oversight and Enforcement Process was instituted because of the need to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildland fires caused by PG&E’s infrastructure, the commission reported.

‘Triggering event’ involves vegetation management

The CPUC resolution explains that the triggering event that led to the action was that PG&E has made “insufficient progress toward approved safety or risk-driven investments related to its electric business.”

Specifically, the commission said PG&E has not sufficiently prioritized its vegetation management based on risk.

“PG&E ranks its power line circuits by wildfire risk, but the work performed in 2020 demonstrates that PG&E is not making risk-driven investments. PG&E is not doing the majority of EVM [enhanced vegetation management] work – or even a significant portion of work – on the highest risk lines,” the document says.

The document goes on to explain that over the course of 2020 and early 2021, PG&E provided the CPUC’s Wildfire Safety Division with three different lists ranking its power lines by risk. Each risk ranking differed from the others in material respects, the commission said.

On each of the lists, the CPUC said it showed that less than 5 percent of the enhanced vegetation management work that PG&E completed in 2020 was on the 20 highest-risk power lines. This failure to appropriately prioritize and conduct the vegetation management on the highest-risk power lines is a triggering event under step one of the process.

Pertinent to Lake County, the Middletown circuit is featured on one of those lists, issued in September of last year, ranking the top 20 highest risk circuits.

At that time, PG&E reported 59 miles of enhanced vegetation management was completed on those circuits, with nearly 20 miles on the Middletown circuit alone, the most of any of the circuits.

The CPUC is requiring PG&E to submit its corrective action plan for approval by the commission’s executive director. The plan is to consist of reporting starting on day 20 following the resolution’s approval and every 90 days afterward until the CPUC no longer requires it.

Among the many items required in that plan, PG&E has to explain what contributed to its failure to adequately prioritize the highest risk lines; a detailed list of vegetation management projects for this calendar year and the subsequent one, if available; changes to its risk models; and a detailed description of the circumstances that contributed to PG&E management’s inconsistent reporting on the details of its risk modeling and risk ranking lists.

In the resolution’s conclusion, it notes, “Nothing in this Resolution precludes the Commission from placing PG&E into another Step of the EOE Process if warranted.”

Separately, on Tuesday, PG&E submitted a response to the Public Advocates Office’s recommendation that the CPUC’s Wildfire Safety Division reject PG&E’s proposed wildfire safety plan due to “numerous significant deficiencies.”

In response, PG&E said it has so far conducted more than 1,800 miles of enhanced vegetation management and 342 miles of system hardening; installed more than 600 weather stations and high definition cameras; and also installed 603 sectionalizing devices, which allowed for a reduction in the scope and impact of PSPS events in 2020.

“We also recognized some gaps in 2020 and offered specific plans for addressing those gaps in 2021,” the company said.

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

377568108 - CPUC resolution on PG&E by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The attorney for a Novato woman facing vehicular manslaughter charges for a March drunk driving crash that killed two Clearlake residents has raised issues with her mental competency.

Keilah‌ ‌Marie‌ ‌Coyle,‌ ‌22,‌ had a hearing in Lake County Superior Court on Tuesday for the initial appearance of counsel.

She’s charged with two counts each of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, negligent vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence causing injury, with special allegations for great bodily injury and an enhancement that would give additional prison time on conviction for causing death to more than one person.

At the Tuesday hearing, Coyle did not enter a plea. Instead, her attorney, Tim Hodson of Sacramento, declared a doubt about her competency, which requires a separate process before the criminal case can move forward.

On the night of March 13, Coyle was driving her 2003‌ ‌Ford‌ ‌F-250‌ pickup on Highway 29 north of Middletown when she crossed the highway’s solid double yellow lines and collided head-on with a 2000 GMC van driven by 53-year-old Cassandra‌ ‌Elaine‌ ‌Rolicheck.

Both Rolicheck and her passenger, Miguel‌ ‌Maciel‌ ‌Dominguez,‌ ‌47, died in the wreck.

The CHP’s Clear Lake Area office confirmed to Lake County News that a chemical test was conducted and found that Coyle was under the influence of alcohol.

Hours before the fatal wreck, Coyle had been involved in a noninjury hit-and-run crash on Highway 101 in Sonoma County, the CHP said.

With Coyle’s attorney raising the matter of competency, the court must now evaluate it.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said the criminal proceedings are now suspended pending an evaluation of Coyle for competency by a doctor.

If Coyle is found to be incompetent, the criminal case can’t continue until she regains competence, said Hinchcliff.

In other cases in Lake County where mental competency has been an issue, defendants have undergone treatment – sometimes at state mental hospital facilities – before being returned to continue the legal proceedings.

Hinchcliff said the court is scheduled to receive the doctor’s report on whether or not Coyle is mentally competent on May 11.

Coyle remains in custody at the Lake County Jail, with bail set at $2 million, according to jail records.

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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Stop signs and street signs like these pictured in Lakeport, California, will be replaced thanks to a major new grant the city has received. Photo courtesy of Public Works Director Doug Grider.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport has received a major grant in the latest round of state funding to conduct roadway safety projects.

Caltrans said it has awarded more than $227 million to fund safety projects designed to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries on city and county roads. Funding is provided through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program.

Lakeport Public Works Director Doug Grider said the city applied last year for the competitive grant to replace the signs identified in a sign inventory the city had performed in 2020.

The grant – which he called “a big one” – is for $261,000. The city received notification last week.

It will replace 547 signs and prevent the city from having to spend general funds on the project.

To be replaced are warning signs – yield, curve and slippery road conditions – along with regulator, guide and city-specific signs, such as street signs, Grider said.

According to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, nearly 64 percent of traffic deaths in California occur on city or county roads, underscoring the significance of funding local safety improvements.

Caltrans selected a total of 266 projects statewide for funding for safety enhancements that include new traffic signals, roundabouts, turn lanes, rumble strips and guard rails, and projects focusing on safety improvements at intersections. There were reported to be 469 grants applications submitted.

“Safety is always our No. 1 priority,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “These projects will enhance systemwide safety features, including expanded access to protected walkways and bikeways, and will move us closer to our goal of reducing serious injuries and fatalities on California roadways.”

“In addition to the upgrades Caltrans is making along state highways, I’m pleased that our district was able to identify and provide funding for local projects to bring safety improvements for communities in Humboldt and Lake Counties,” stated Matt Brady, Caltrans District 1 director.

Grider said the Lake Area Planning Council’s Technical Advisory Committee, which includes the county and the two cities, has work elements like studies that they need to complete, such as the pavement management program.

In addition, the state mandates that every three to five years they come out and check the reflectivity of street signs. “That was coming up due,” Grider said.

The Lake Area Planning Council hired a consultant to do the sign survey for the county, the city of Clearlake and Lakeport, Grider said. That survey listed all of the defective signs.

He said that study was necessary in order to seek the funding. “If you want to get any money, you have to have a study.”

Ukiah-based Davey-Bates Consulting, which works with the Lake Area Planning Council, helps administer the work elements and also assisted the city of Lakeport with putting together its application, Grider said.

Grider credited the firm with helping his staff work through the process, noting the company regularly works with state transportation staff. “That is just a huge help.”

There are still some steps to complete, including sending in some additional paperwork to request the funding. He said there will be environmental rules to follow even for existing signs. “We’re not doing any digging, we're just replacing existing signs.”

He said they will have to put out a bid package for a contractor to complete the project. “This is too big for city staff.”

That contractor bid will need to be approved by the Lakeport City Council, Grider said.

Grider said the city has completed sign replacement before, but he doesn’t think it’s ever been done on this magnitude.

With many Public Works projects now underway, Grider said he expects the sign replacement work will take place next year.

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. – The California Citizens Redistricting Commission will hold a livestreamed event next week to share information about the work it will be doing this year to redraw local and state government representative boundaries.

The commission will host the “Redistricting Basics” presentation with a live question and answer period from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 20.

Watch the livestream at www.WeDrawTheLinesCA.org under the “meetings” tab, where the commission’s regular meetings also can be viewed, and sign up to let them know you’re attending here.

Attend to find out about what redistricting is, fair representation and why it’s important, what factors the commission will consider when drawing the maps and how Californians can have a say in the process.

The commission was created by the VOTERS FIRST Act in 2008.

It uses Census data to redraw Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly and State Board of Equalization districts every 10 years so that the districts correctly reflect the state’s population.

In carrying out their work, commissioners must follow “strict, nonpartisan rules designed to create districts of relatively equal population that will provide fair representation for all Californians,” the commission website explains.

The 14-member commission, seated in 2020, is made up of five Republicans, five Democrats and four not affiliated with either of those two parties.

Commission representatives told Lake County News said they expect to receive the Census data this summer, with the goal of being finished with the process by the end of this year.

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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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is urging community members to use precautions as vehicle thefts are on the rise.

The agency said it’s noticing “a significant increase” in vehicle thefts in the city.

As of Wednesday, the police department has taken 11 vehicle theft reports in only the first 4 months of the year.

“If this trend continues it is likely that we will respond to even more stolen vehicle reports than we did in 2020,” the department said in a Wednesday night report.

Last summer, in the early months of the pandemic, the department also reported seeing a spike in vehicle thefts increasing as compared to previous years.

Over the past two years and four months, Lakeport Police said they’ve logged the following vehicle theft numbers:

– 2021: 11 stolen, six recovered;
– 2020: 31 stolen, 28 recovered;
– 2019: 21 stolen, 14 recovered.

The department is urging residents to take measures to protect their vehicles from being stolen, including the following:

• Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
• Park in well-lit areas.
• Do not leave the area while your vehicle is running.
• Do not leave your keys in your vehicle.
• Always remove or place your valuables out of sight.

Police also are asking the community to work with them to prevent criminal activity from occurring in Lakeport.

“We ask that the public report all suspicious activity and persons to us,” the department said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we often hear of examples where persons saw suspicious activity in a neighborhood, including subjects checking door handles for unlocked vehicles, but it was never reported at the times of occurrence. Getting reports of suspicious activity as it occurs gives our officers a better opportunity to prevent crime and apprehend offenders.”

Contact the department at 707-263-5491 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or on its Facebook page.

Visit the Lakeport Police Department website at https://www.cityoflakeport.com/police/index.php.
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Kelseyville Unified School District will provide in-person summer school for all interested students weekdays July 6 through 30.

Classwork will take place from 8 a.m. to noon, then a half-hour lunch with dismissal at 12:30 pm.

Depending on enrollment, summer school will be offered at the following school campuses with transportation provided: Kelseyville High, Mountain Vista Middle, Kelseyville Elementary and Riviera Elementary.

Kelseyville Learning Academy students may also participate in summer school, either by attending a school-site program or continuing with the independent study homeschool model.

On-campus COVID safety protocols will remain in place, including required face coverings and social distancing.

For Kelseyville Elementary and Riviera Elementary, summer school will focus on critical skills in math, reading, and writing to bridge learning gaps and help prepare students for the next school year.

Mountain Vista Middle School will offer two programs: The Summer Math Academy, designed to address targeted math standards, and the AVID Excel Summer Bridge program for English Learner students.

Kelseyville High will offer credit-recovery and learning-loss programs based on the number of students who register.

Those interested in registering their student should do so by May 17.

Visit the Kelseyville Unified website at www.KVUSD.org for access to the registration form or contact your child’s school for more information.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Friday, the Lake County Board of Supervisors will host its annual governance workshop.

The workshop will begin at 9 a.m. in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The meeting can be viewed at this link: https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. The agenda also is located on that page, and written eComments can be submitted there.

This workshop will be broadly accessible to the community via the “hybrid meeting” approach recently used for regular board meetings.

Public participation is invited in the Board of Supervisors’ chambers, although capacity is limited to 23 persons, due to COVID-19 precautions.

To encourage broad and safe participation, electronic options (Phone, Zoom, Facebook, YouTube, written Granicus eComment, Lake County PEG TV) are also available.

To participate via Zoom, click this link. The webinar ID is 978 7624 1197, passcode 191027.

To participate by any landline or mobile phone, dial 669-900-6833 and enter the webinar ID and passcode above. If you have a comment, dial *9, and the Board Chair or Zoom host will recognize you at the appropriate timing. Dial *6 to unmute your phone, once called on.

The annual governance workshops are an important priority-setting activity in the county’s annual budget cycle, with board members building on and promoting actions in support of their Vision 2028 Statement, developed in collaboration with the community in 2018.

During this year’s workshop, board members will each present at least two proposed goals and related justification, including any known challenges associated with translating each goal into action.

The county said these goals will be “realistic and measurable,” and focused on promoting:

– Better quality of life for Lake County residents;
– A cleaner, safer Lake County; and
– Staff development, leading to more effective use of public funds.

Public input will be taken, and the board will then work to gain consensus support for at least two “top priority goals,” which will be advanced in the coming fiscal year. The second half of the session will feature open discussion with county department heads.

“We really appreciate all of those that have engaged in local government in person and via electronic means over the past year, and we’re looking forward to a substantive governance workshop,” said Board Chair and District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors will hold its annual governance meeting this week.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Friday, April 16, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌can‌ ‌be‌ ‌watched‌ ‌live‌ ‌on‌ ‌Channel‌ ‌8,‌ ‌online‌ ‌at‌ ‌https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx‌‌ and‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌county’s‌ ‌Facebook‌ ‌page.‌ ‌Accompanying‌ ‌board‌ ‌documents,‌ ‌the‌ ‌agenda‌ ‌and‌ ‌archived‌ ‌board‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌videos‌ ‌also‌ ‌are‌ ‌available‌ ‌at‌ ‌that‌ ‌link.‌ ‌

To‌ ‌participate‌ ‌in‌ ‌real-time,‌ ‌join‌ ‌the‌ ‌Zoom‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌by‌ ‌clicking‌ ‌this‌ ‌link‌ ‌at‌ ‌9‌ ‌a.m.‌ ‌

The‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌ID‌ ‌is‌ 978 7624 1197,‌ ‌passcode 191027.‌ ‌The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,97876241197#,,,,*191027# US.

All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and passcode information above.

To‌ ‌submit‌ ‌a‌ ‌written‌ ‌comment‌ ‌on‌ ‌any‌ ‌agenda‌ ‌item‌ ‌please‌ ‌visit‌ ‌https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx‌‌ and‌ ‌click‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌eComment‌ ‌feature‌ ‌linked‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌date.‌ ‌If‌ ‌a‌ ‌comment‌ ‌is‌ ‌submitted‌ ‌after‌ ‌the‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌begins,‌ ‌it‌ ‌may‌ ‌not‌ ‌be‌ ‌read‌ ‌during‌ ‌the‌ ‌meeting‌ ‌but‌ ‌will‌ ‌become‌ ‌a‌ ‌part‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌record.‌ ‌

During the meeting, the board will meet with county department heads.

Friday’s meeting is a workshop only, and no action will be taken.

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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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is encouraging drivers to put down their mobile devices and focus on the road in April, which is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Throughout the month of April, Lakeport Police officers will be focusing on educating the public on the dangers of distracted driving and enforcing distracted driving laws.

Current California laws make it illegal for drivers to hold a phone or other electronic device while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

Drivers who are under the age of 18 are not allowed to use a phone for any reason, including hands-free.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2019 distracted driving killed 3,142 people, a 10-percent increase from 2018.

To help allied agencies across the state in the collective mission of reducing the number of distracted driving-related collision deaths, the department is asking the community to take action against distracted driving and drive responsibly.

If you need to send a text you should wait until you can pull over at a safe location and park. Don’t scroll through any smartphone apps while driving. If you have any passengers in your vehicle you should designate one of them as your “texter.”

Remind your friends and family when they are in the driver’s seat that driving is where their focus should be. If your driver is texting or otherwise distracted, tell them to stop and focus on driving.

Ask your friends to join you in pledging not to drive distracted.

The Lakeport Police Department said it’s committed to educating the public on the dangers of distracted driving and enforcing California law, and asked the community to join its staff in working to make the community and all of California safer.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – City officials said this week that ongoing issues with the restrooms at Lakeport’s Library Park are resulting in additional security measures.

The city reported that its Public Works Department staff has been dealing with an increase in maintenance and upkeep at the public restrooms at Library Park and the nearby boat ramps.

Officials said the city also has received complaints from the public regarding some people using the restrooms for extended periods – for 30 minutes or more – and leaving behind hazardous items like used needles.

There have also been confirmed reports of individuals locking the doors and sleeping in the restrooms overnight, the city said.

To help resolve some of these ongoing problems, all of the public restrooms at Library Park and the nearby boat ramps will be closed and locked at midnight each night, the city said.

The city said the restrooms at the First, Third and Fifth Street launch ramps will be locked at midnight. The primary restrooms, next to Carnegie Library at Library Park, are locked at approximately 4:30 p.m. each day.

In addition, the city said Lakeport Police officers will be increasing patrols in the area to enhance public safety.

The city said staff will open all of the restrooms to the public each morning, seven day sa week.

The Fifth Street restroom will be unlocked at approximately 6 a.m. and the Third Street, First Street and primary restrooms will be unlocked by approximately 8 a.m., the city reported.
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With approval on Wednesday by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, a measure to allow state and local court employees to receive a paid holiday in celebration of California Native American Day will go to the full Assembly.

Assembly Bill 855 was introduced by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland).

“This is one more step forward in statewide recognition of the history, culture and contributions of California’s Native Americans,” Ramos said.

AB 855 would amend the Code of Civil Procedure to recognize California Native American Day as a judicial holiday to provide proper recognition for Native American people and celebrate their history in the state.

It would not create an additional paid holiday for Judicial Council employees but would exchange Columbus Day for California Native American Day.

Court personnel are currently the only state workers receiving the paid Oct. 12 holiday.

“Our state Judicial Council brought the idea for this bill forward, and I thank them for their initiative,” Ramos said. “For more than 20 years, I have worked to help create a day that recognizes California’s First People and their history. California has the greatest number of Native Americans residing within its boundaries, and it is fitting that we begin to expand our commemoration of this holiday.”

The Judicial Council, which is sponsoring AB 855, voted in January to seek authority to ensure California Native American Day is designated as a judicial holiday.

Ramos noted paid judicial holidays are designated in a different code section from holidays recognized by other state agencies. Non-judicial holidays are designated in the Government Code, but court holidays are established in the Code of Civil Procedure.

“The Judicial Council of California and its chair, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, are committed to providing equal access and fairness in our justice system,” said Judge Marla O. Anderson, chair of the Judicial Council’s Legislation Committee. “By recognizing the importance of Native Americans we not only acknowledge our shortcomings in our state’s past treatment of them, we also celebrate their past and current contributions to our state.”

Co-authors are Assemblymembers Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park), Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) and Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Riverside).
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Gov. Gavin Newsom tours the Oroville East site in Butte County, California, on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office.

Ahead of peak fire season, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed a $536 million wildfire package enabling the state to take urgent action on projects that support wildfire suppression, improve forest health and build resilience in communities to help protect residents and property from catastrophic wildfires in diverse landscapes across the state.

The governor signed SB 85 alongside legislative leaders at a fuels management project in the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area that helped protect a Butte County community from last year’s North Complex Fire.

The legislative package builds on Gov. Newsom’s early action funding for wildfire resilience proposed in his 2021-2022 state budget.

It funds projects to restore the ecological health of forests and watersheds, fuel breaks around vulnerable communities, statewide fire prevention grants targeting projects to advance community hardening, and improvements to defensible space to mitigate wildfire damage.

This early action plan is part of the governor's overall proposed $1 billion investment in forest health and community fire resilience.

“California is taking bold, early action to protect our high-risk communities from the upcoming wildfire season before it starts,” said Gov. Newsom. “This crucial funding will go towards efforts including fuel breaks, forest health projects and home hardening. I thank the members of the Legislature for their partnership as we do more than ever before to build wildfire and forest resilience across the state.”

The administration is spearheading sustainable approaches to thinning California’s vulnerable landscapes, half of which will be funded under the early action legislation.

One of these approaches is to develop a comprehensive framework to expand the wood products market in California to create economic opportunities for the use of forest materials that store carbon, reduce emissions and contribute to sustainable local economies.

Furthermore, the state’s iBank will partner with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, Governor's Office of Planning and Research and other agencies to advance forest- and agricultural-related applications to the Climate Catalyst Fund.

The fund will provide loans, loan guarantees and other credit support to encourage the development of businesses that utilize wood and forest biomass; encourage private-sector innovations in technology, business models, infrastructure and supply chains in woody biomass markets; and promote optimization of state grant funds in the sector.

The Oroville East site is a joint project by Cal Fire, the Department of Water Resources and the Department of Parks and Recreation to thin vegetation around the park, which helped slow the North Complex Fire and prevent it from spreading into the community of Kelly Ridge.

“As the Senate passed the wildfire prevention and resiliency package yesterday, members spoke about the many fires that have torn through their districts. From the coast to inland, north to south, Paradise to San Diego, each of us have watched our communities burn, evacuate, and work to rebuild far too many times,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego). “Together, we are just 40 people, but each of us represent the millions of Californians who said goodbye to homes, loved ones, and livelihoods. This bill will help protect those who have lost so much to wildfires and prevent fresh pain from being inflicted across the state. This is an investment in Californians, and it will not be the last. I appreciate the dedication my colleagues, particularly Senators Bob Wieckowski, Susan Rubio, and Mike McGuire, have shown to this critical issue.”

"This wildfire prevention package is a big deal, but it’s not enough. We are not out of the woods on this issue, and we need to act like the woods are in flames. I'm grateful that the Administration and the senate see it the same way,” said Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood). “Thank you to my colleagues, in particular Assemblymembers Richard Bloom, Phil Ting, Luz Rivas, Laura Friedman, Jim Wood and Cecilia Aguiar-Curry for their hard work on this important issue."

Gov. Newsom last week announced that he is expanding and refocusing the Forest Management Task Force to deliver on key commitments in the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan issued in January, including the $1 billion in investments.

The Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force of federal, local and tribal leaders builds on the state’s collaborative effort to improve the health of forests and reduce wildfire risk to communities.

In March, Gov. Newsom authorized $80.74 million in emergency funds for 1,399 additional firefighters with Cal Fire to bolster fuels management and wildfire response efforts.

For the full text of the bill signed today, visit http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signs early budget action for wildfire resilience at fuels management project in Butte County, California, on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office.

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