Friday, 29 March 2024

Budget, stray cat policy, mental health leases go to supervisors Tuesday

LAKEPORT – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider a budget tabulation for the next fiscal year, look at a new policy for stray cats and consider a request from the Mental Health Department to terminate some of its rental leases.


The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the board chambers at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. The meeting will be broadcast live on TV Channel 8. Agendas can be found at www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Board_of_Supervisors/BOS_Agendas.htm .


County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox will take to the board for its approval the budget tabulation for the fiscal year 2009-10, along with position allocations and authorization requests for certain fixed assets. The item is untimed.


Cox's report to the board states that public budget hearings will take place on the full budget in August.


Despite the budget downturn, Cox noted, “the County's traditionally strong financial position and absence of general fund debt enables us to weather the current economic storm without the need to lay off general fund employees or eliminate general fund programs.”


He said the board can be proud of that, since it was the result of years of financial management by the board.


The recommended total budget appropriation is $194 million, with 935 proposed employee positions, down from 969 in last year's budget. That net decrease came from midyear budget adjustments, the elimination of vacant positions and reorganizations in certain departments, Cox reported.


The proposed budget's impact on Lake County Animal Care and Control is prompting Director Denise Johnson to take to the board a proposed change in policy on stray cat pick ups. The discussion is untimed.


Johnson's report to the board explains that, due to the county's projected budget for the coming fiscal year, her department is having to cut back in several areas of service and staffing.


A staff shortage, coupled with an increased intake of stray, sick and feral cats, “is creating an overwhelming and unhealthy environment for our shelter population,” she said.


Johnson reported that the shelter currently is so overcrowded with cats that they're having to place them in cages in the shelter's carport, outside of the building, to try to slow the spread of disease.


She estimated that 45 percent of her officers' days are spent driving around to pick up stray cats, when their time can better be spent elsewhere.


To increase productivity and reduce the number of cats the shelter will deal with, Johnson is proposing a new policy that will require all stray cats be brought into the facility, and that officers only will pick up the animals for a $30 pickup fee.


At 10:45 a.m., the Mental Health Department will ask the board to consider issuing a termination notice on its lease agreements for property located at 991 Parallel Drive in Lakeport and 15145 Lakeshore Blvd. in Clearlake. Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug Services currently occupy the buildings.


Mental Health, which received the board's permission last month to eliminate 18 positions and also got rid of three extra help spots, has had to borrow money from the county due to budget difficulties emerging from having to pay back the state for overpayments as well as state funding decreases.


By terminating the leases, Mental Health plans to consolidate its office facilities and reduce rental expenses.


Mental Health Director Kristy Kelly's report to the board estimates that, if the termination of the rental agreements is given by July 1, the department will save a total for $204,504 for the 2009-10 fiscal year and $237,060 for the 2010-11 fiscal year.


Other items on the agenda include the following.


Timed items:


9:30 a.m.: Status report and consideration of alternatives to address the Southeast Regional Collection System clean-up and abatement order and request for board direction regarding the use of the city of Clearlake’s consultant selection process; and proposed transfer of surplus bond funds to LACOSAN Capital Improvement Designation in Fund 250.


10:15 a.m.: Public hearing – discussion/consideration of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for funding of a Special Victims/Vulnerable Persons Unit.


10:30 a.m.: Hearing on a notice of nuisance abatement for 5677 Nason Road, Lucerne, Ulrich Wasem on property belonging to Kenneth Woo.


1 p.m.: Presentation and board workshop to be led by the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) on the topics of economic development success factors, observations on specific projects and discussion/consideration of recommendations to attract investment to Lake County.


Non-timed items:


– Update on the emergency action taken on Dec. 9, 2008, regarding the prohibition of fish stocking by the Department of Fish and Game in water bodies of Lake County.


– Consideration of proposed contract between the county of Lake and Jeri E. Owens, M.D. for specialty mental health services (maximum reimbursement in the amount of $144,000).


– Consideration of proposed resolution approving the standard agreement between the county of Lake and the state Department of Mental Health for state hospital beds, for fiscal year 2009-10, and authorizing the director of Mental Health to sign Agreement Number 07-77250-000 (total liability in the amount of $289,516).


– Consideration of recommendation for award of Bid No. 09-30 for the construction of State Street (Main Street to Gaddy Lane), Kelseyville, for pavement rehabilitation and accessibility improvements.


The board also will hold a closed session to discuss labor negotiations and hold conference with legal council regarding Francisco Rivero's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claim against the county.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Second annual Bunny Brunch
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lake County poet laureate inauguration
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
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1Apr
04.01.2024
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04.15.2024
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