LAKE COUNTY — Lake County Board of Supervisors postponed any action regarding a proposed amendment to the county”s ordinance describing the quagga mussel inspection program Tuesday. Further discussion and possible action are continued to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 18.
A primary concern expressed was for multiple boat owners and/or marine rental operators that would face substantial annual fees in relation to complying with vessel inspection and sticker requirements. The item was continued to allow staff an opportunity to develop a “fleet rate” and/or maximum annual fee per address for possible inclusion in the ordinance.
“We are trying to run a program that is protecting the future of the lake. If the quagga mussel gets in the lake, there is no eradicating it. We are working on a program here that has pretty profound impacts,” De Leon, Water Resources director said. “We all have an ownership in the protection of the lake. It”s a program we all need to participate in.”
Proposed amendments to the ordinance include an increase of penalty to a misdemeanor and $1,000 fine for entering a boat into Clear Lake that has not been properly inspected and stickered. The amendments propose an annual residential sticker and inspection rate of $10 per vessel and elimination of non-residential bands in exchange for $10 stickers good for a month.
Also proposed are revised definitions of resident boats to include DMV registration showing Lake County address; vessels that are moored or stored in a commercial facility in the county; and other means deemed acceptable by the director provided the boat is on the county tax rolls.
Additionally, screening process is proposed to require visual verification that the vessel is clean and dry and that decontamination stations are to be operated by the county at no cost to the vessel owner.
De Leon said having an annual sticker program will provide a yearly opportunity to offer further and updated information to lake users and boat owners. From a cost perspective, he said, the program is pretty reasonable given that there are no ramps in the county that collect launching fees.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call 994-6444 ext. 11.
