LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Due to a concern about an impending surge of COVID-19 Omicron variant cases in the county, the Board of Supervisors will consider once again closing the board chamber to in-person meetings and directing employees who can to work remotely.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, 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.
The meeting ID is 968 2763 6631, pass code 023705. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,96827636631#,,,,*023705# .
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 pass code information above.
To submit a written comment on any agenda item 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.
In an untimed item, the board will reconsider a temporary closure of the board chambers for in-person meetings.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson is asking the board to consider taking the action.
Later, in the spring and summer months of 2021, as conditions improved, your Board reopened the Chambers, and most County employees returned to working in-office full-time.
“At this time, in light of the impending omicron surge, I am again recommending your Board temporarily close the Board of Supervisors Chambers, and remind Department Heads of their authority, under our Remote Work Policy, to direct employees to work remotely, to the extent possible and reasonable, until conditions improve,” Huchingson wrote in a memo to the board.
“During this time, as was the case last January, County offices would remain open, but in-person density should be reduced, where feasible, to decrease the likelihood of virus transmission,” Huchingson said.
“I further recommend that your Board re-evaluate this direction no less than once every thirty days,” she concluded.
In timed items on Tuesday, the board will present a proclamation at 9:06 a.m. designating the month of January 2022 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and at 9:10 a.m. will get an update from Public Health staff on COVID-19.
At 9:45 a.m., the board, sitting as the Board of Directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District and acting as the Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency, will hold a public hearing to receive stakeholder comments on the final draft of the Big Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan and technical appendices and consider a resolution adapting the plan and authorizing staff to submit it to the California Department of Water Resources in compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
In another untimed item, the board, sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, will consider an agreement with Mendocino County Air Quality Management District to have Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart provide it with services.
On Tuesday evening, the board will meet jointly with the Lakeport City Council to discuss the draft tax exchange agreement for the South Lakeport Annexation Project.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Approve grant application submission for the Public Defense Pilot Program to receive a yearly allotment of $81,403.94 from March 1, 2022, to March 1, 2024, to provide indigent defense services.
5.2: Adopt proclamation designating the month of January 2022 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
5.3: Adopt resolution authorizing joint application to and participation in the Homekey Program.
5.4: Approve continuation of resolution authorizing teleconference meetings during a state of emergency continue to exist.
5.5: Approve continuation of a local health emergency by the lake county health officer for the Cache fire.
5.6: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency related to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) as proclaimed by the Lake County Public Health officer.
5.7: Approve the continuation of a local health emergency and order prohibiting the endangerment of the community through the unsafe removal, transport, and disposal of fire debris for the LNU Complex wildfire.
5.8: Approve the continuation of a local emergency in Lake County in response to the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire event.
5.9: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Mendocino Complex fire incident (River and Ranch fires).
5.10: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to COVID-19.
5.11: Approve the continuation of an emergency declaration for drought conditions.
5.12: Approve the continuation of a local emergency due to the Pawnee fire incident.
5.13: Approve continuation of a local emergency by the Lake County Sheriff/OES director for the Cache fire.
5.14: a) Adopt resolution authorizing an application for funding through the California Department of Parks and Recreation Rural Recreation & Tourism Program for Hammond Park and authorize the Public Services director to sign the application, grant agreement and other necessary documents; b) adopt resolution authorizing an application for funding through the California Department of Parks and Recreation Regional Park Program for Trailside Park and authorize the Public Services director to sign the application, grant agreement and other necessary documents.
5.15: a) Waive the competitive bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it would produce no economic benefit to the county due to the unique nature of the services; and b) Authorize the Public Services director to issue a purchase order to Stearns, Conrad and Schmidt, Consulting Engineers DBA/SCS Field Services not to exceed $35,000.
5.16: Adopt resolution to amend the adopted FY 2021-22 budget by adjusting the building and infrastructure reserve (Fund 153) for temporarily funding the purchase of a property in the Middle Creek Restoration Project.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:06 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of January 2022 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
6.3, 9:10 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.
6.4, 9:45 a.m.: The Board of Directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District, acting as the Big Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency, will a) hold a public hearing to receive stakeholder comments on the final draft of the Big Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan, or GSP, and technical appendices; and b) consider adoption of a resolution adopting the Big Valley GSP and to authorize the director of the Lake County Water Resources Department or designated appointee to submit the adopted documents to the California Department of Water Resources in compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
6.5, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of resolution regarding vacating a roadway known as Dillard Avenue.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of amendment to the County of Lake COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Worksite Protocol.
7.3: Reconsideration of temporary closure of the Board of Supervisors chambers for in-person meetings.
7.4: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, consideration of agreement with Mendocino County Air Quality Management District for air pollution control officer services.
7.5: Consideration of the following advisory board appointments: Cobb Municipal Advisory Council.
JOINT MEETING WITH THE LAKEPORT CITY COUNCIL
8.1, 5:30 p.m.: Roll call.
8.2, 5:31 p.m.: Consideration of the tax exchange agreement for the South Lakeport Annexation Project.
CLOSED SESSION
9.1: Public employee appointment pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957(b)(1): Interview of agricultural commissioner and appointment of agricultural commissioner.
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