SEPTEMBER
Lakeport hires new community development director
Lakeport has filled a vacancy for the Community Development Director, with the hiring of native Joey Hejnowicz, according to City Manager Kevin Ingram on September 19.
Hejnowicz, began July 24. He graduated from Kelseyville High School and for the prior decade he has served in various capacities in Santa Rosa. Most recently he served as that city’s Zero Waste Coordinator. Prior to that, he worked as an administrative analyst for Santa Rosa.
Hejnowicz graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in hospitality and tourism management.
Finance Director, Nick Walker asked him to expedite a service management agreement to obtain assistance to procure a state and federal Community Development Block Grant. The CDBG fund the seek, for $100,000, aimed to increase residential housing.
“We are thrilled to fill the Community Development director position with an experienced administrator who has customer-focused approach to leadership,” Ingram said. “Joey is the right person at the right time in Lakeport’s growth.”
Lakeport Finance Director, Nick Walker asked him to expedite a service management agreement to obtain assistance to procure a state and federal Community Development Block Grant.
City Manager Kevin Ingram remarked, “We’ll start looking how to improve housing opportunity in Lakeport,” he said. “Rural towns struggle getting qualified consultants to work through the CDGB requirements. It’s not infrequent when we bring a proposal up, we must bring it back two or three times to get a resolution.”
“We are thrilled to fill the Community Development director position with an experienced administrator who will apply his customer-focused approach to leadership of the department,” Ingram added.
Ron Ladd, Lakeport Public Works director, also appealed to the council to revise the prohibited parking zone with the city due to the Hartley Drive Pedestrian Improvement project, which was recently completed.
Lakeport police townhall affirms rights of homeless
The Lakeport Police are on the cusp of transforming how the way they engage the houseless.
At a Town Hall Meeting in the Soper Reese Theater Sept. 28., Chief of Police Brad Rasmussen and Lt. Dale Stoebe convened a Town Hall to search best way to address the challenge. January’s Point in Time Count showed 1,200 houseless in Lake County.
But Rasmussen hoped hiring a licensed clinical social worker to make a difference.
“In July 2021, I contacted to Lisa Morrow, executive director of the Lake County Family Resource Center, to see if we can schedule a social worker work at the in-house jail population. “The aim; get the homeless into treatment, off the street and housed,” he said.
And Rassmussen illustrated an example of a young female addicted to methamphetamine and often in custody, Misty Miller, who finally turned her life around.
“Six months ago, I couldn’t carry on conversation, “confided Miller.
“I was on Methamphetamine. I tried to get a rehab program- and then I got arrested.” A police officer asked if she wanted a program.
“I said yes, and they brought me to rehab … I was terrified. But I am moving to transitional housing, getting career training and am happy with the change I’ve made.”
Rasmussen then cited Proposition 47, passed in 2014 (Safe Schools and Neighborhood Act) a ballot initiative as hindering effective law enforcement. “The significant thing it did, was reduce all drug possession from felony to misdemeanor,” he said.
Rasmussen hopes legislation can now resolve some overcrowding. The Mental Health Court offers an alternative to custody, if an offender petitions the court, they have a mental illness. If a judge is persuaded, the offender can complete sentencing in a mental health program.
OCTOBER
CWPP revision to get funds
The Board of Supervisors advanced to a final framework for a revised Community Wildfire Protection Plan October 3, including an amendment. It permits counties as well as cities to update fire safety protocols to an Appendix F, includes requirements of smaller jurisdictions to accommodate their needs, not previously cited.
In 2021/2022, updated language was adopted. Revision was made by the local Resource Conservation and Development Council, noted Terre Logsdon, chief climate resiliency officer. RCD will get $9.8 million for several mitigation action plans once BOS approves a plan before a grant application is due by October 23.
Northlake Fire Protection District Chief Mike Ciancio remarked “We’re close to finish but there’s work still,” he said. Ciancio added cities are part of the county’s Risk Reduction Authority. Talking about priorities to other county fire chiefs, they include ones on a project list and those not listed, so have flexibility to adopt projects that crop up.
“There’s a thought process that more specific communities in a fire district can identify more localized projects in those communities. Projects listed in CWPP’s Appendix (F) can be approved in almost a moment’s notice.”
District 3 Supervisor Ed Crandell favored a revision. “Where we got all this collaboration, I move we adopt with passage, recognition that cities can update revisions with an amendment to Appendix X,” he said. Item 6.10 passed unanimously.
Gov. Newsom torpedoes wheelchair repair leg. bill: as seniors hope for override
For one using a powered wheelchair in Lake County a mechanical breakdown can be costly and time consuming since there are no retail shops in county which sell the devices so, that means finding a shop in Mendocino or Napa County.
Mark and Susan Rothrock have run Lake County Mobility Service for 10 years. In a phone conversation, Susan discussed the difficulty users go, to get affordable repairs quickly. “Sometimes it’s just a matter of replacing the wiring,” Susan said. But for many residents, they must go to a retail seller of powered wheelchairs in Mendocino or Napa County since no retailers are local. For a repair, you’ll have to pay $200 for a mechanic to drive out to Lake County and may pay several hundred dollars more for parts and labor,” she said.
But State Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) would give wheelchair users the right to have their own equipment repaired, eliminating manufacturer delays that could leave them immobilized while reducing options to one of California’s most vulnerable populations. “My bill enhances quality of life for people with mobility issues,” Sen. Dodd explained. “It allows power wheelchair users to get them fixed in an efficient and timely way,” he said.
Sen. Dodd’s bill, SB 271, is supported by Sacramento disability rights activist and wheelchair user Russell Rawling. It was approved by the Senate in May. “If you have a power chair and use it daily, it needs regular maintenance,” Rawlings said, reported by Dodd’s District 3 newsletter. “But the industry has little interest in making repairs,” he added. It can be months of wait time. And power chairs are increasingly controlled by software that is currently restricted to few vendors. Owners having access to these tools would enable more freedom and ability to control their mobility.” Nonetheless, according to the state’s Legislative Information website, the bill was vetoed by the Governor in October.
“Yet the Senate could override the veto, so there may be a shred of hope there,” Betsy Cawn, sole proprietor The Essential Public Information Center, as well as a program host at KPFZ, 88.1 FM, Lake County. She went on noting that last month’s State Senate Floor Analysis explained, consumer rights advocates that lobbied to have consumers to repair products they own or enlist a repair professional.
Many unavailable services create extreme hardships for the disabled population here,” Cawn remarked. She also said, “I would have to say that the issue of local repair for life sustaining medical equipment is one of many the Governor appears to pay lip service to, as illustrated by the 2021 “Master Plan for Aging.”
Olga Steele, co-founder of Lake County Silver Foundation, noted with a growing number of seniors locally, anything that lessens hardship repairing mobility devises is welcomed. “While insurance, private and Medicare, may cover some expenses, the repair of mobility assistance equipment should be permitted – especially when there are local, less expensive options,” she said. I applaud Senator Dodd’s efforts.”
Lake County food distributors received $35K in pledged donation
NOVEMBER
Food advocates sway officials to increase donation
It could have been a change in weather or the onrush of holidays, but the Board of Supervisors dug into county coffers to help the county’s less fortunate with assistance to put food on the table this winter.
Board Chair Jessica Pyska said expanding site capacity at distributers Redwood Empire Food Bank and the Lake County Gleaners is critical because of the current high cost of food. District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier explained he and Pyska collaborated on food insecurity with Gleaners and Redwood. “We focused on how not to split the pie but how to grow the pie,” he said. He added a recent report shows 51 percent of the county does not have adequate food. Psyka said each board district has a discretionary fund to manage for specific needs. “So, I’d like to give Gleaners and Redwood $5,000 each for the holiday season,” she said. “Any other board members if you have availability in your district budget, please help with this incredible need in the winter. It sounds like we have a consensus to continue with this work.
District 4 Supervisor Michael Green noted distribution is not just based on calories but cultural awareness too. “We get foods that not only speak to hunger but speak to them in their own culture,” he said. Following Psyka’s commitment, Green added, “I will do that too- $5,000 to Gleaners and $5,000 to Redwood,” he said. “And with Gleaners I want to add $5,000 because I know they’re transitioning to a bigger facility and need support to move.”
District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon said Middletown Rancheria knows the importance of food to tribal communities. ”Hitch, acorns, rabbit ear sunflowers, Manzanita Berries- that food sovereignty, we pass to the next generation,” District 3 Supervisor Ed Crandell noted his discretionary fund is nearly all committed. Yet he proposed, if he could not offer $5,000 each, he can probably offer half.
Allison Goodwin, Redwood director of programs said they recognized poverty increased the last few years, “So, we’re looking to cooperate to get food and funding into Lake County.” Beverly Westphal, president of Clear Lake Gleaners noted they serve 1,246 individuals per month. Gleaners food distribution is the first Wednesday of the month and the third Thursday of the month. That includes main site in Finley as well as Clearlake, Middletown, Cobb, Nice and Lucerne. “We feed 700 at Finley,” she said. At some of the other sites, 165, but all sites escalated numbers they feed now. “We’ll obtain another site in Clearlake and give us another 280 families.”
David Goodman, Hunger relief worker and CEO of Redwood Empire Food Bank, said the organization cannot draw down the resources they do at state level in Lake County. “But we’re more than happy to do the work. But we need to fuel our trucks, buy the food and pay our staff. With your help (BOS) we can happily do whatever you want us to do.”
Food Distributors receive $35K donation
Hub center proposed
A promising proposal for an emergency hub, with dual role as a resilience center, and a network facility for commercial development, was tendered to the Board of Supervisors during their November 14 meeting.
The Cal Jobs First Catalyst Fund is a state program Countys can compete for. “It would be a command-and- control center to intervene for disaster,” Ben Rickelman, deputy county administrative officer said. It will be a multi-purpose hub during non-emergencies and function as an entrepreneur site researching pre-development, examining fiscal analysis, architecture and engineering work.
“There’s no space like that now,” Rickelman said. “It’s done Ad Hoc, so this can be a real opportunity.” And it can host network events and showcase high tech demos.” The Catalyst Fund, formerly, Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) will allocate $600 million for the entire California Jobs First initiative (CJF). There’s 13 CJF regions in state. Lake County, in Redwood Region RISE, includes Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte. The region will get $9 million. “So, for Lake County about $350,000 ” Rickelman said.
” What the state needs by November 30 is our plan for projects. “It’s early in the process, he said. “Funding is not guaranteed but Lake Co. has a good shot for a grant,” he also said. District 4 Supervisor Michael Green noted that if Lake County draws entrepreneurs or startups, he pledged his support. “But it is not central to the Resiliency Hub and Spoke (model) we spoke about when Terry Logsdon (chief climate resiliency officer) was here,” he said. “Will private sector contribution be tempted by this proposal?”
Susan Parker, County Administrative Officer noted she urged Rickelman to make a proposal now, “January, we’ll look at federal earmark projects, and then a next round of CDBG funding,” she said. Rickelman noted if start-ups initiate growth, in a rural area, it encourages the state to award a grant. District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon noted the board had discussed an emergency center and the area is vulnerable to wildfires and floods. “But we need to prepare for economic development,” he said. “It’s a positive thing, and I’m supportive of it. Yet it’s intended for information only presently. But we don’t have specific projects, hopefully Mr. Rickelman can work on it.”
DECEMBER
Lakeport Shelter transitions from overnight to 24/7 operation
Starting December 1, the shelter formerly used as a warming center for local houseless residents will soon operate as a 24/7 center. Mathew Rothstein, chief deputy county administrative officer dispatched an email informing stakeholders of the changeover on Dec. 4.
Funding comes through the county Continuum of Care by way of the state through the state noted Victoria Kelly, RCS CEO. A three-year contract of $2,417,489, covers shelter service only. “There’s unfunded expenses of $73,000 a month on average as a deficit,” Kelly said.
Redwood Community Services will work with 35 current shelter guests. “We want to support guests with getting stable,” Sage Wolf, MSW, and RCS’ Integrated Health Director, said. “To assist us with that process, we will not be taking in new guests for at least the next week. We’re striving to make it as client centered as much as possible,” Kelly said. “We’ve already contracted for ECM services and linkage services.”
But RCS is not just a shelter service. Staff are trained to handle mental health disorders and substance abuse problems.”
New people who present to the shelter, they encourage to come back the week of December 11, for further information, Rothstein noted.
PG&E draft plans for Scott Dam pilloried
The Board of Supervisors excoriated PG & E for bulldozing through a tentative plan to demolish a dam and whose absence can harm Lake County financially and ecologically. Treasurer Sullivan, on Dec. 8, speaking for Matthew Rothstein, chief deputy executive administrative officer, conveyed an urgent message, a letter in response to, PG&E’s initial Draft Surrender Application and Conceptual Decommissioning Plan, called for the removal of Scott Dam.
District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier, “We believe based on the first 10 years of drought we’ve experienced, there will be no more water to divert, especially in droughts,” he said. “It will have stability issues for 600,000 who rely on drinking water from Lake Pillsbury
“Lake County faces a loss of $750,000 of tax revenue a year from decommissioning,” Sullivan said. “And there’ll be a loss of $140 million of property values,” he added.” Lake County is responsible for what happens to Lake Pillsbury, and it will result in a burden on Lake County from the loss of assets in the area.”
Among other concerns the letter criticized PG&E for:
-[Not having concern for residents and property owners in the Lake Pills
-The loss of personal investments and property value decommissioning would in all probability have brought, nor the Tule Elk and other animal populations that have adapted to the Lake Pillsbury-dependent, ecosystem for over 100 years
-A project with soil disturbance at this scale that is potential for catastrophic loss of cultural artifacts significant to the county’s Tribal Nations,
-A PG&E Draft Plan that envisions reliance on the State Historic Preservation Officer, instead of direct dialogue with Lake County Tribes.
Two means of removal of Scott Dam; proposed without detailed discussion of environmental implications or even a clear plan for disposal of 115,000 tons of debris, which PG&E must adequately mitigate since potential for environmental disaster, and also includes: management of 12 million cubic yards sediment built up behind Scott Dam.
“Lake County faces a loss of $750,000 of tax revenue a year from decommissioning,” Sullivan said. “And there’ll be a loss of $140 million of property values,” he added.” Lake County is responsible for what happens to Lake Pillsbury, and it will result in a burden on Lake County from the loss of assets in the area.”
So, if the dam is lost it’s not just tax revenue, the county has that’s lost but, sales tax, occupancy tax and other entities paying for the Potter Valley Project itself noted Sullivan. “All that goes away,” he said. Yet he qualified his answer explaining it may be too early to know the true cost of dam removal. He also pointed out, there are efforts underway to limit PG&E’s responsibility.
