LAKEPORT— This week at their regular Tuesday meeting, the Lake County Board of Supervisors considered a request for assistance under the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA) to mitigate pervasive tree mortality throughout the county. The board also granted the Sunrise Special Services Foundation another three-month extension to continue operating the emergency shelter located in Lakeport.
Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein and Chief Climate Resiliency Officer Terre Logsdon presented the request for assistance under the CDAA act due to tree mortality. According to Rothstein, in 2022 estimates had reached 31,000 acres and 91,000 dead trees to be cleared, 22,000 of which are in areas of high traffic or direct evacuation routes. Rothstein explained that the CDAA funding “is provided on a 75 to 25 percent reimbursement basis.” This means any funds spent would be reimbursed at 75 percent and upwards of $88 million is available. The request includes a letter requesting a waiver of the 25% local match requirement.
District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier noted some language that could be misinterpreted and could be more clearly conveyed as to get the request granted. District 5 Supervisor/Chair Jessica Pyska, who worked on this request noted, “We are kind of in new territory with this waiver request.” She continued “It is an unknown amount and there is an understanding with this application that it is an unknown amount.” The supervisors agreed that a waiver would be necessary. Logsdon noted some edits as per the supervisors request and the CDAA request was passed with corrections in a 4-0 vote with District One Supervisor Moke Simon absent.
Supervisors also heard a consideration of amendment 2 to the agreement between County of Lake and Sunrise Special Services Foundation increasing the total compensation under the agreement to $460,800 for fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24. Elise Jones, Deputy Director of Administration gave an overview of the budget to illustrate the need for an increase in funding showing the total monthly operating costs at $51,000.
Supervisor Sabatier said, “This new budget adds to more of my concerns as to how we are dealing with our shelter. I don’t want to shut down the shelter but I can’t say yes to this.” Jones suggested several changes to increase certain expenditures that did not seem appropriate to the board. District 4 Supervisor Michael Green also expressed his concern with the relationship with the Continuum of Care and the county stating, “There are red flags about shelter operations to me, there are red flags with the CoC and its status and I need some time to address that.”
Sunrise Services CEO Dr. Rayan Aava joined the conversation noting “These changes take time, and as we go through this process putting policies in place, we must be mindful there is a lot of trial and error we have to go to.” Overall the board agreed that the shelter needs to remain open while continuing to improve the functionality of the shelter and intaking more requests for proposal. The supervisors approved the amendments with changes discussed to the dates with a 3-1 vote with District Three Supervisor Eddie Crandell dissenting.
For more information including minutes and video please visit lakecountyca.gov.
