The cardiac risks of smoking marijuana are comparable to those of smoking tobacco, according to researchers at UC San Francisco, who warn that the increasing use of cannabis across the country could lead to growing heart health problems.
The study found that people who used cannabis daily had a 25% increased risk of heart attack and a 42% increased risk of stroke compared to non-users.
Cannabis has become more popular with legalization. Recreational use is now permitted in 24 states, and as of 2019, nearly 4% said they used it daily and 18% used it annually. That is a significant increase since 2002, when 1.3% said they used it daily and 10.4% used it annually.
“Cannabis use is increasing in both prevalence and frequency, while conventional tobacco smoking is declining,” said Salomeh Keyhani, MD, MPH, professor of medicine at UCSF and senior author of the study, which appears Feb. 28, 2024, in the Journal of the American Heart Association. “Cannabis use by itself might, over time, become the more important risk factor.”
Cardiac risks for those who never used tobacco
The researchers used data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a national cross-sectional survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to examine the association between cannabis use and adverse cardiovascular outcomes including coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
They examined whether cannabis use was associated with coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction and stroke among the general adult population and among people who had never smoked tobacco.
Among the 434,104 respondents, about 4% were daily users, 7.1% were non-daily (about five days in the month) and 88.9% had not used any marijuana in the past 30 days. Among current users, about three-fourths said they mostly smoked it.
The study found that cannabis use was independently associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, and the odds rose with the number of days per month that a person used it.
The study also examined the effects for those who had never smoked or vaped tobacco, finding that just smoking cannabis was associated both with stroke, and with the combination of coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
“This is an important public health finding, particularly given our ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of heart disease in this country,” said David C. Goff, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which is part of the National Institutes of Health.
The perception of risk needs to change
People who smoke cannabis often hesitate to disclose it to their physicians, in part because they don’t consider it as harmful as smoking tobacco, and many states, like California, first approved it for medical uses. The researchers noted it will be an uphill battle to change these attitudes.
“There is a multibillion-dollar cannabis industry that markets cannabis use as not only harmless, but good for you,” Keyhani said. “It can be a challenging discussion to have with patients because there is evidence that cannabis has some therapeutic properties. However, as suggested by this study, cannabis use also has significant cardiovascular risks.”
Co-authors: Additional UCSF co-authors include Stanton Glantz, PhD, and Amy L. Byers, PhD, MPH.
Funding: NHLBI 1R01HL130484-01A1 and National Cancer Institute (grant T32 CA113710).
Victoria Colliver writes for the University of California, San Francisco.
Community members also can participate via Zoom. The webinar ID is 848 0574 7044, passcode is 524710. The meeting can be accessed through one-tap mobile at +16694449171,,84805747044#.
On the agenda is consideration of a resolution approving an application for funding and the execution of a grant agreement from the 2023-2024 CDBG Mitigation Resilient Planning and Public Serviced Program in the Amount of $1.5 million for code enforcement services.
The council also will consider a resolution approving an application for funding and the execution of a grant agreement from the 2023-2024 CDBG Mitigation Resilient Planning and Public Services Program in the amount of $400,000 for water infrastructure planning.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
In an effort to address the fentanyl crisis and retail and community-based crime impacting communities throughout the Golden State, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) and a bipartisan coalition of Senate members today announced a comprehensive legislative package aimed at making our state a Safer California.
The legislative package is called “Working Together for a Safer California.”
McGuire’s office reported that the package is built upon months of research, input from stakeholders and experts, and feedback from Californians.
The plan focuses on both the fentanyl crisis and retail and community-based crime, and includes increasing access to treatment, offering rehabilitative services for those already in the criminal justice system, preventing trafficking of dangerous new substances, and addressing and deterring retail theft and community-based crimes.
“Alone, these bills are strategic ways to tackle these dual crises of fentanyl and retail theft. But collectively, they are working together for a Safer California. The plan includes a series of targeted policies aimed at stemming the rising tide of retail theft that’s impacting our communities, while also enhancing and protecting the quality of life for Californians and businesses up and down our state,” said McGuire.
He said the package includes a slate of legislation built on months of research and extensive outreach with all sides of the fentanyl crisis – a deadly epidemic that they propose to address through evidence-based treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation efforts.
“When there is a need at hand, as there is with the fentanyl crisis and retail theft in our state, it’s not time for politics as usual — it’s time to come together and find solutions. That’s what the Senate is aiming to do. I’m optimistic about the proposals here today and look forward to continuing to work together for a Safer California,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego).
“We are seeing unprecedented rises in overdose deaths and a rapidly changing drug supply of unregulated substances that we are struggling to keep up with. We need to tackle this crisis with what’s proven to work,” said Dr. Aimee Moulin, professor of emergency medicine in Sacramento. “Rapid access to evidence-based treatment is the only way to address the epidemic of substance use and overdose that will have a lasting and meaningful impact on people and our communities. I’m thrilled to see so many of the Senate’s Safer California policies focused on that and know that this will make a difference. It may take time but it’s important to do this right and continue to work together for a Safer California.”
Keith Humphreys, professor of psychiatry at Stanford University and former White House senior drug policy advisor in the Obama Administration added, “This data-driven plan reflects the intensive thought and study Senator McGuire and his colleagues have devoted to reducing our state's fentanyl addiction and overdose crisis. I am grateful for the strong leadership of the State Senate for their efforts to save lives. We can’t move fast enough to tackle this crisis and this Plan will deploy resources and make a difference in all corners of the Golden State.”
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, led to 6,473 deaths in 2022, according to the California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard.
Research on the science of addiction and treatment of substance use disorders has led to research-based approaches that help people stop the cycle of addiction and lead productive lives, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports.
While shoplifting saw a decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic, commercial burglary saw a sharp and sudden increase. From 2019 to 2022, commercial burglary increased by 15.7%.
In 2020, commercial burglary became a more commonly reported retail crime than even shoplifting. That, coupled with the increasing reliance on online retail, has created a massive issue for businesses and law enforcement that has been difficult to manage.
The bills in the Senate plan are aimed at stemming the rising tide of property-related crime in California.
The Safer California plan includes bills authored by Senators Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento), Dave Min (D-Irvine), Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa), Richard Roth (D-Riverside), Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana), Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), and Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco).
A list of bills and more information is available here.
But there’s more to the cost of food than what we pay at the store. Producing, processing, transporting and marketing food creates costs all along the value chain. Many are borne by society as a whole or by communities and regions.
Exploring these lesser-known costs is the first step toward reducing them. The key is a method called true cost accounting, which examines the economic, environmental, social and health impacts of food production and consumption to produce a broader picture of its costs and benefits.
Trillions of dollars in uncounted costs
Every year since 1947, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has released an important and widely read report called The State of Food and Agriculture, known in the food sector as SOFA. SOFA 2023 examines how much more our food costs beyond what consumers pay at the grocery store.
Using true cost accounting, the report calculates that the global cost of the agrifood system in 2020 was up to US$12.7 trillion more than consumers paid at retail. That’s equivalent to about 10% of global gross domestic product, or $5 per person per day worldwide.
In traditional economics-speak, hidden costs are known as externalities – spillover effects from production that are caused by one party but paid for by another. Some externalities are positive. For example, birds, butterflies and insects pollinate crops at no charge, and everyone who eats those crops benefits. Others, such as pollution, are negative. Delivery trucks emit pollution, and everyone nearby breathes dirtier air.
True cost accounting seeks to make those externalities visible. To do this, scholars analyze data related to environmental, health, social and other costs and benefits, add them together and calculate a price tag that represents what food really costs.
The Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University, which I direct, recently conducted a true cost accounting study of cow-calf operations in the Western U.S., in partnership with Colorado State University. It found that the climate costs of these operations are very high – but that solving for climate change alone could threaten the livelihoods of 70,000 ranchers and the rural communities in which they live. A true cost accounting approach can illuminate the need for multidimensional solutions.
In many ways, true cost accounting is a modern and improved version of cost-benefit analysis, a method embedded in governmental decision-making in most advanced economies around the world. This approach quantifies expected rewards and costs associated with taking a particular action and then compares them to see whether the action is likely to produce a net gain or loss for the public.
Advocates of true cost accounting assert that its more nuanced approach will address shortcomings in traditional cost-benefit analysis – particularly, failing to consider social and health externalities in depth. The hope is that because these two methods have many similarities, it should be relatively easy for governments to upgrade to true cost accounting as it becomes more widely adopted.
True costs of food vary across countries
The 2023 State of Food and Agriculture report reveals some clear patterns. Of the $12.7 trillion in worldwide hidden costs that it tallies, 39% are generated by upper-middle-income countries and 36% by high-income countries.
For wealthy countries, 84% of hidden costs derive from unhealthy dietary patterns, such as eating large quantities of red meat and heavily processed foods, which is associated with elevated risk of heart disease, cancer and other illnesses. Getting sick takes people away from work, so these health effects also reduce productivity, which affects the economy.
In contrast, 50% of the hidden costs of food in low-income countries are social costs that stem from poverty and undernourishment. SOFA 2023 estimates that incomes of poor people who produce food in low-income countries would need to increase by 57% for these workers to obtain sufficient revenue and calories for productive lives.
The fact that many U.S. farmworkers lack access to health insurance also generates costs, since hospitals treat them at public expense when these workers fall sick or are injured.
Food production also has environmental costs. Nitrogen runoff, ammonia emissions, deforestation, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions combined represent about 20% of the global hidden costs of food production. Other environmental costs, such as those associated with species loss and pesticide exposure, are not included in the SOFA analysis.
Should food cost more?
The first question people ask me about true cost accounting is whether using it will make food more expensive. Some advocates do argue for pricing food at a level that internalizes its hidden costs.
Consumers are encouraged to pay these higher prices. When they do, the store shares the proceeds with two nonprofit organizations that promote land and wildlife conservation and poverty reduction in Africa.
Rather than raising prices, I believe the most effective way to address the hidden costs of food would be to change government policies that provide $540 billion in agricultural subsidies worldwide every year. Of this amount, 87% goes to support production systems that produce cheap food, fiber and biofuels but also generate social and environmental harms. Examples include subsides that promote chemical fertilizer and pesticide use, overuse of natural resources and cultivation of emission-intensive products such as rice.
U.N. agencies have urged world leaders to redirect these subsidies to reduce negative impacts – a strategy they call “a multibillion-dollar opportunity to transform food systems.” While it may seem that eliminating subsidies would raise retail prices, that’s not necessarily true – especially if they are repurposed to support sustainable, equitable and efficient production.
Using true cost accounting as a guide, policymakers could reallocate some of these vast sums of money toward production methods that deliver net-positive benefits, such as expanding organic agriculture, agroforestry and sustainable fisheries. They also could invest in training and supporting next-generation food and agriculture leaders.
By creating transparency, true cost accounting can help shift money away from harmful food production systems and toward alternatives that protect resources and rural communities. Doing so could reduce the hidden costs of feeding the world.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The initial comment period on a new plan that includes national forests such as the Mendocino National Forest has closed.
The Forest Service said the initial comment period for the Northwest Forest Plan concluded Feb. 2.
Of note, forests in California included in the Northwest Forest Plan planning are Klamath National Forest and Butte Valley National Grassland, Lassen National Forest, Mendocino National Forest, Modoc National Forest, Six Rivers National Forest and Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
The Forest Service had been accepting comments on a notice of intent that the agency will prepare an environmental impact statement to evaluate the effects of proposed amendments to the Northwest Forest Plan.
More than 9,000 comments were received from the public which are now being analyzed to refine the proposed action, identify initial concerns, and explore potential alternatives and environmental impacts.
Using that information, a draft environmental impact statement will be drafted, posted, and available for public review and additional comments in the coming months.
In addition to public comments, the Forest Service has been actively engaging tribes, state and local leaders, community-based organizations, and other interested publics.
“The goal of this process is to contribute to sustainable, climate-adapted, wildfire-resilient landscapes designed to protect threatened and endangered species while also contributing to social and economic sustainability in the region,” said Jacque Buchanan, regional forester for the Pacific Northwest Region. “To achieve that goal, we need to hear the voices, insights and concerns of the people who value these public lands and live, work, and recreate within the Northwest Forest Plan landscape."
The proposed amendment will affect the land management plans of 17 national forest and grasslands across 24.5 million acres of federally managed lands in western Oregon and Washington, and northwestern California.
The Northwest Forest Plan was established in 1994 to address threats to threatened and endangered species while also contributing to social and economic sustainability in the region.
After nearly 30 years, the Northwest Forest Plan needs to be updated to accommodate changed ecological and social conditions.
New data from the California Highway Patrol shows a significant increase in the number of Californians applying to join the agency.
Following the launch of the CHP 1000 recruitment campaign and other recent recruitment efforts and hiring investments — including a new recruitment web series, “Cadets” — CHP reports that January 2024 saw the highest number of monthly applications in seven years, a 94% increase in total applications compared to January 2022.
“The California Highway Patrol isn’t just one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the nation, it’s also the best — delivering unparalleled safety, service, and security to all Californians,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. CHP’s successful recruitment efforts speak to the quality of this premier agency, and I encourage all Californians who wish to serve our diverse state to answer the call by visiting CHPMadeForMore.com.”
“The significant increase in the number of applications the California Highway Patrol has received since the onset of our recruitment campaign is encouraging,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee.
“To accommodate the surge of interest, the CHP has been holding three Academy classes simultaneously, for the first time in the Department's history. As we continue to uphold our mission of safeguarding California's roadways and communities, the CHP is committed to identifying and recruiting qualified candidates who represent California and its diverse demographic makeup, and we welcome all those who share our dedication to join us in making a difference,” Duryee said.
On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the CHP is conducting an online hiring seminar at 6:30 p.m. Topics of discussion include pay, benefits, the hiring process, and what to expect during the CHP Academy.
Register today and learn how to become a CHP officer.
The CHP is the largest public-facing state law enforcement agency in the United States with over 6,500 sworn officers assigned across California. As part of California’s $1.1 billion investment to improve public safety, in 2022, CHP launched a multiyear recruitment campaign to fill 1,000 officer positions by hiring qualified individuals from California’s diverse communities.
Next month, a new class of more than 100 cadets is expected to graduate from the CHP Academy and the total number of CHP cadets in training is currently 332.
Apply today and be one of the 1,000 new CHP officers ready to make a difference.
California has invested $1.1 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety.
Last month, Gov. Newsom called for new legislation to expand criminal penalties and bolster police and prosecutorial tools to combat theft and take down professional criminals who profit from smash and grabs, retail theft, and car burglaries.
In 2023, as part of California’s Real Public Safety Plan, the Governor announced the largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime in state history, an annual 310% increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, and special operations across the state to fight crime and improve public safety.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission that seeks to stop a plan by AT&T to withdraw landline phone service to residents around California, including many in Lake County.
The action by the Board of Supervisors came a week after Congressman Mike Thompson led a bipartisan letter to CPUC President Alice Bushing Reynolds urging the CPUC to reject AT&T’s petition to end access to landline services, as Lake County News has reported.
AT&T filed a document with the CPUC in December seeking relief from its “carrier of last resort,” or COLR, obligations across the state. It’s seeking an expedited process in its request.
The CPUC website for the proceeding explains a carrier of last resort as “a telecommunications service provider that stands ready to provide basic telephone service, commonly landline telephone service, to any customer requesting such service within a specified area. At least one telephone company in a specified area is legally required to provide access to telephone service to anyone in its service territory who requests it. This is known as the Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) obligation, which ensures that everyone in California has access to safe, reliable, and affordable telephone service. AT&T is the designated COLR in many parts of the state and is the largest COLR in California. Where AT&T is the default landline telephone service provider means that the company must provide traditional landline telephone service to any potential customer in that service territory. AT&T is proposing to withdraw as the COLR in your area without a new carrier being designated as a COLR.”
Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein presented the draft letter to the board on Tuesday afternoon.
He explained that AT&T’s proposed withdrawal as carrier of law resort would impact much of Lake County.
The letter notes that in rural areas where population density is low, “the market frequently leaves residents with few quality, affordable telecommunications options. For numerous Lake County residents and rural Californians, Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) is a critical lifeline, and the most reliable means to access 911 and 211 services.”
The letter raises the “considerable dangers” AT&T’s proposal creates for communities in high fire areas that don’t have “reliably continuous alternative services.”
It continues, “Plainly, COLR relief should not be considered without meaningfully addressing the vulnerabilities it would create. Winter storms of recent years have likewise left communities with damaged landlines and without cell service for periods of time. Thousands of Lake County residents living in rural communities rely on telecommunications to manage medical and other critical needs.”
The letter notes that AT&T says it will maintain service for landline customers “during a transition period to newer technologies,” but not providing “meaningful assurance service will be continually available in the future. Natural disasters and other events frequently damage communications equipment and infrastructure, and there is no guarantee of timely repair. While emerging technologies may be promising, availability and adoption in rural communities typically significantly lags more population-dense areas.”
Following that statement, the letter asks for the CPUC’s “engagement and commonsense regulation is essential to ensuring no California communities are left with zero telecommunications options.”
Another concern the letter raises is that AT&T fails “to adequately consider the relative difficulty vulnerable customers (such as those of advanced age, medically vulnerable and economically disadvantaged individuals) may have in accessing alternative services.”
The board’s letter asks that the CPUC reject AT&T’s application and insist that more adequate measures are undertaken first when it comes to planning for vulnerable communities.
“Taking away a tool that meaningfully promotes public safety without first replacing its functionality is clearly wrong, and antithetical to the State’s interest in well serving ALL residents,” the letter said, concluding with asking the CPUC to put vulnerable Californians first and reject the proposal.
Supervisor Jessica Pyska moved to approve the letter, with Supervisor Michael Greene seconding and the board approving it 5-0.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LUCERNE, Calif. — A Monday morning fire destroyed a mobile home in Lucerne.
The structure, located on 13th Avenue at Highway 20, was reported on fire at 11:45 a.m. Monday, said Northshore Fire Chief Mike Ciancio.
Ciancio said it took firefights about a half hour to control the fire.
Three engines from Northshore and one from Lakeport Fire responded, Ciancio said.
He said the structure was unoccupied, but it appeared that transients had been staying in it.
Despite being close to other structures, firefighters prevented the fire from spreading and damaging other buildings, Ciancio said.
Fire personnel units remained on scene for a few additional hours in order to conduct mop up.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors will discuss a property purchase for a new park and a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission this week.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 893 7696 3983, pass code 750003. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,89376963983#,,,,*750003#.
In an untimed item, the board will consider proposed structural changes to the Water Resources Department.
At 11 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing to discuss the purchase agreement for property at 16540 State Highway 175 in Cobb, which is slated to be a new county park.
The 13-acre site’s purchase amount is $300,000.
In an untimed item, the board will consider a letter asking the California Public Utilities Commission to Reject AT&T California’s request to be relieved of carrier of last resort obligations.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation thanking Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire and the California State Legislature for their support of Lake County’s tree mortality emergency.
5.2: Adopt proclamation celebrating First 5 Lake County’s 25 years of service in Lake County.
5.3: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2023-117 establishing position allocations for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, Budget Unit No. 8107, Water Resources and reestablishing the Water Resources director as a county classification.
5.4: Adopt Resolution to Establish Fund 427 – Kelseyville Seniors Inc. (KSI) Trust .
5.5: Adopt resolution approving Agreement No. 22-1694-0019-SF with the State of California, Department of Food and Agriculture for Insect Trapping for FY 23-24 for $41,224.
5.6: Adopt resolution approving Agreement No. 23-SD17 with California Department of Food and Agriculture for compliance with the Seed Services program for the period July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
5.7: Approve travel exceeding 1,500 miles for Behavioral Health staff to attend the annual Behavioral Health Management Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, from March 25 to 26, 2024.
5.8: Adopt resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors Authorizing the Lake County Behavioral Health Services director to sign the subcontractor agreement for the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program.
5.9: Approve memorandum of understanding between Partnership HealthPlan of California and Lake County Behavioral Health Services and authorize the Behavioral Health director to sign.
5.10: Approve the bylaws of the Maternal Child Adolescent Health Advisory Board.
5.11: Approve fourth amendment to agreement between county of Lake and Jones Towing for abandoned vehicle towing and disposal services, for an increase of $40,000, total amount not to exceed $90,000, for a term from July 31, 2023 through June 30, 2024; and authorize the chair to sign.
5.12: Adopt resolution authorizing application for, and receipt of, Local Government Planning Support Grant Program Funds (Amending RES 2020-65, to Update CAO Name to Susan Parker for Ongoing Project Activity with the LEAP Grant).
5.13: (a) Rescind Resolution 2024-08; and (b) adopt new resolution to submit the CDBG MIT - PPS Grant Application; and (c) authorize county administrative officer or her designee to submit the grant application.
5.14: Approve first amendment to agreement between county of Lake and Leonard’s Hauling and Tractor, for nuisance abatement services, for an increase of $45,000, total amount not to exceed $75,000, for a term from July 31, 2023 through June 30, 2024; and authorize the chair to sign.
5.15: Ratify year two (2024) compensation adjustment for the agreement for medical services in Lake County Detention Facility with California Forensic Medical Group (CFMG).
5.16: Adopt resolution approving the Department of Health Services’ Application to the California Department of Public Health, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch (CLPPB) Grant Program for Fiscal Years 2023/2024 through 2025/2026 and Authorize the director of Health Services to sign said application and grant in the amount of $93,043.
5.17: Approve Accela subscription annual license renewal from March 1, 2024 through Feb. 28, 2025, in the amount of $36,033.06, and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.18: Approve request to apply for and accept PATH CITED funding in the amount of $552,334.59 and authorize the department head to sign grant application and acceptance documentation.
5.19: Ratify California Home Visitation State General Fund Evidence-Based Home Visiting (CHVP SGF EBHV) Funding in the Amount of $470,413 Annually for Fiscal Years 23-24 Through 27-28.
5.20: Approve contract for services agreement for continued funding in the amount of $85,000 and authorize the department head to sign contract agreement documentation with Public Health Institute.
5.21: Approve request to close the Probation Department on Thursday, March 14, from 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m for all-staff training.
5.22: Approve the qualified list from the request for qualifications for capital project management services.
5.23: Approve the qualified list from the request for qualifications for energy consulting services.
5.24: a) Approve the general services agreement between the county of Lake and SHN Engineers & Geologists, Inc. for Landfill Environmental Services and authorize chair to sign; and (b) approve supplemental services agreement number one for the 2024 Monitoring and Reporting Program and authorize chair to sign.
5.25: (a) Approve the contract with Timekeeping Systems Inc in the amount not to exceed $25,000 and (b) authorize the chairman of the board to sign the agreement.
5.26: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District, Board of Directors, adopt resolution revising the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Adopted Budget of the County of Lake by canceling reserves in Fund 254 SE Regional Sewer System Capital Improvement Reserve Designation, in the amount of $350,000 to make appropriations in the Budget Unit 8354, Object Code 783.61-60 for the Odor Control Improvement Project on Lift Station #1 and Lift Station #2.
5.27: Approve contract between county of Lake and Backroad Hauling for hauling services, in the amount of $49,000 Per Fiscal Year from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.28: a) Waive the competitive bidding pursuant to Section 38.2 due to the unique nature of service; and, b) approve memorandum of understanding between Social Services and Behavioral Health Services for CalWORKs mental health and substance abuse services in an amount that shall not exceed the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Allocation, from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.29: Approve eighth amendment to contract between county of Lake and Ewing and Associates for the Child Welfare Services Parking Lot Located on South Forbes Street in Lakeport, for the Amount of $4,800 from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.30: Sitting as Lake County Board of Directors Watershed Protection District, adopt resolution authorizing the county of Lake Water Resources Director to accept funds from California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Flood System Repair Project (FSRP) for much-needed repairs to levee maintenance areas within the Upper Lake levee system.
5.31: Sitting as Lake County Board of Directors Watershed Protection District, (a) waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.4, Cooperative Purchases, and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake Watershed Protection District and 360 Junk Removal & Hauling in an amount not to exceed $150,000 and authorize the chair to sign the agreement.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:03 a.m.: Pet of the Week.
6.3, 9:04 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation thanking Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire and the California State Legislature for their support of Lake County’s tree mortality emergency response.
6.4, 9:06 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation celebrating First 5 Lake County’s 25 years of service in Lake County.
6.5, 9:10 a.m.: Consideration of (a) waiving the formal bidding process, per Purchasing Code 2-38.1, as this is an annual contract for services that have not increased more than the consumer price index and 2-38.2 as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) Aa five year lease of 26 Automated License Plate Reader Cameras from Flock Group Inc., 1170 Howell Mill Rd NW Suite 210, Atlanta, GA 30318 in an amount not to exceed $68,500/year or $342,500/5 year agreement and (c) authorizing the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to sign.
6.6, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of presentation of Lake County Graduates from the 2023 NACo Leadership Academy.
6.7, 9:20 a.m.: Consideration of the Dec. 31, 2023 report of Lake County Pooled Investments.
6.8, 9:30 a.m.: Presentation of Report of Summary Abatement Action Taken at 6439 Fifteenth Avenue, Lucerne (APN#034-212-10); Property Owner: Rhonda Morril.
6.9, 9:40 a.m.: Presentation of report of summary abatement action taken for a removal of one recreational vehicle on Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks (Registered Owner: Brett Hill, Jr.).
6.10, 9:50 a.m.: Consideration of (a) presentation of annual update from the Lake County Fire Safe Council; and (b) letter of support for the Lake County Fire Safe Council to apply for the County Coordinator Grant Program.
6.11, 11 a.m.: Public hearing, a) consideration of agreement for the purchase of real property located at 16540 State Highway 175 in Cobb; and b) consideration of resolution accepting and consenting to recordation of a grant deed.
6.12, 11:30 a.m.: Consideration of update from the Lake County Community Risk Reduction Authority on grant funding from the California Governor's Office of Planning and Research.
6.13, 1 p.m.: Continued from Feb. 6), public hearing – consideration of an ordinance amending the purchasing ordinance: Article X of Chapter Two of the Lake County Code to include increased purchasing limits, additional definitions, modify requirements for exemptions from competitive bidding and additional procedures for informal and formal bidding.
6.14, 1:02 p.m.: Consideration of Lake County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee's recommendation to allocate $8,000 from the Fish and Game Fund to support the 2024 Clearlake Science Symposium.
6.15, 1:15 p.m.: (a) Consideration of letter requesting support from State Department of Water Resources; (b) approval of resolution authorizing the grant application, acceptance, and execution for the Potter Valley Project Decommissioning - Lake County Water Supply Impact and Technical Assessment, authorizing the chair to sign.
6.16, 1:30 p.m.: (a) Consideration of a Brief Update from Trane US, Inc. (Trane) on the N. Lakeport Firemain Linked Auxiliary Supply/Hydraulic Energy Storage (FLASHES) Projects (Poe Mountain Upper Lake and Hartley Projects); (b) Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing Trane to Develop and Submit Two Microgrid Incentive Program (MIP) Grant Applications, at No Direct Cost to the County (c) Consideration of Agreements for MIP Application Preparation Services.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of letter of support for Clearlake’s grant application for the Dam Road roundabout.
7.3: Consideration of a letter of support for California Coastal Conservancy LiDAR Derivatives funding.
7.4: Consideration of Resolution Amending Resolution No. 2023-117 Establishing Position Allocations for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, Budget Unit No. 2111 Public Defender and establishing the Deputy Public Defender I/II/III/Sr. and Public Defender I/II as County classification.
7.5: Consideration of a letter asking the California Public Utilities Commission to Reject AT&T California’s request to be relieved of carrier of last resort obligations.
7.6: Consideration of (a) resolution authorizing Lake County Behavioral Health Services Department to Serve as the Administrative Entity for the Lake County Continuum of Care; and (b) Memorandum of Understanding Between Lake County Behavioral Health Services and Lake County Continuum of Care for collaborative applicant and lead agency services.
7.7: Consideration of Amendment Number 2 to the Agreement Between the County of Lake - Lake County Behavioral Health Services as Lead Administrative Entity for the Lake County Continuum of Care and Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital, Inc. in the Amount of $443,000 for Fiscal Years 2021-2024 and authorize the board chair to sign.
7.8: Consideration of Resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors authorizing the Lake County Behavioral Health Services Director to Sign the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (ODS) Implementation Plan.
7.9: Consideration of Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Community Behavioral Health for Specialty Mental Health Services in the aAmount of $3,200,000 for Fiscal Years 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 and authorize the board chair to sign.
7.10: Consideration of agreement between county of Lake and Adventist Health St. Helena and Vallejo for acute inpatient psychiatric hospital services and professional services associated with acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalization in the amount of $300,000 for fiscal years 2023-26.
7.11: Consideration of appointments to the Lake County Building Board of Appeals.
7.12: Consideration of appointment to the southern Lake County Seat of the Cannabis Ordinance Task Force.
7.13: Consideration of appointments to the General Plan Advisory Committee.
7.14: Consideration of first amendment to agreement between county of Lake and PlaceWorks for planning services to prepare the Lake County Climate Adaptation Plan (CAP), for an increase of $186,000, for a total amount not to exceed $2,074,954.
7.15: Consideration of updated Rule 1503 Sick Leave Policy.
7.16: Consideration of Rule 1513 Reproductive Loss Leave Policy.
7.17: Consideration of updated hiring incentive policy.
7.18: Consideration of the Lake County Library Collection Development Policy.
7.19: Consideration of Workplan for the Public Defender’s Office.
7.20: Consideration of resolution authorizing the chair of the board to approve and direct the tax collector to sell, at public auction via internet, tax defaulted property which is subject to the power to sell in accordance with Chapter 7 of part 6 of Division 1, of the California Revenue and Taxation Code and approving sales below minimum price in specified cases.
7.21: Consideration of the Award of Bid No. 23-32 to Rege Construction Inc., for the Eastlake Sanitary Landfill Phase One Cell Construction Project in the amount of $5,161,663.
7.22: Consideration of presentation on discharge of accountability — property tax.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluation: Special Districts administrator.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: Community Development director.
8.3: Public employee evaluation: Behavioral Health director .
8.4: Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1) – One potential case.
8.5: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9 (d)(1): Earthways Foundation, Inc. v. County of Lake, et al.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced that the California National Guard supported counter-drug operations in 2023 that led to the record seizure of 62,224 pounds of fentanyl in California and the state’s ports of entry.
Since 2021, fentanyl seizures supported by CalGuard have increased by 1066%.
“Fentanyl is a poison, and it does not belong in our communities. California is cracking down — increasing seizures, expanding access to substance abuse treatment, and holding drug traffickers accountable to combat the immeasurable harm opioids have caused our communities,” said Gov. Newsom.
“The California National Guard is committed to combating the scourge of fentanyl,” said Major General Matthew P. Beevers, adjutant general of the California National Guard. “These extraordinary seizure statistics are a direct reflection of the tireless efforts of the highly trained CalGuard Service Members supporting law enforcement agencies statewide.”
Total fentanyl seized has risen dramatically each year, from 5,334 pounds, valued at $64.1 million in 2021, to 28,765 pounds valued at $230 million in 2022 and 62,224 pounds valued at $649 million in 2023.
Cracking down on illegal drugs being smuggled into California, Governor Newsom last year increased the number of CalGuard service members deployed to interdict drugs at U.S. ports of entry along the border by approximately 50%.
CalGaurd’s coordinated drug interdiction efforts in the state are funded in part by California’s $30 million investment in 2022 to expand CalGuard’s work to prevent drug-trafficking transnational criminal organizations.
The amount of fentanyl seized in California in 2023 is enough to potentially kill the global population nearly twice over. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, a lethal dose of fentanyl is 2 mg.
Since Gov. Newsom took office in 2019, California has invested over $1 billion to crack down on opioid trafficking and enforce the law, combat overdoses, support those with opioid use disorder, and raise awareness about the dangers of opioids.
The Governor’s Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis provides a comprehensive framework to deepen the impact of these investments — including through a CalRx effort where California will allocate $30 million to support partners in developing, manufacturing, procuring, and/or distributing a naloxone nasal product under the CalRx label and through new legislation to address the next wave of the overdose crisis.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Another powerful winter storm is incoming, with forecasters warning of the potential for rain and even snow.
The National Weather Service said the storm will impact northwest California from Thursday to Saturday.
Snow levels are forecast to begin above 3,000 feet but gradually drop through the storm event with snow levels below 1,000 feet by Saturday morning, the National Weather Service reported.
The specific Lake County forecast predicts rain will start on Wednesday and continue into Sunday, when there are chances of both rain and snow.
On Saturday morning, the forecast shows a chance of 30 to 50% for snow to fall as low as Clear Lake.
Daytime temperatures will be in the high 40s while conditions will fall into the 30s at night.
A winter storm watch is in effect for the northern third of Lake County, including the mountainous area north of Upper Lake.
That watch remains in effect from 4 p.m. Thursday through 10 a.m. Friday.
Caltrans is reporting that the storm will create “near impossible travel conditions” in the mountains, particularly the Sierras, this week and weekend.
The agency urges motorists to avoid mountain travel if possible. If motorists must travel, Caltrans advises to pack extra supplies in the event of an emergency or if traffic is held for an extended period of time. Those supplies should include extra snacks, water, a blanket, and a flashlight. Motorists should also be prepared for road closures, chain controls, excessive delays, and reduced visibility.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Association of Realtors’ latest report shows media prices going up and the time for sales taking longer.
Over the month of January 2024, a total of 51 single family homes were sold through the multiple listing service, compared to 54 in December and 52 sold a year ago during the month of January 2023. These include traditionally built “stick-built” houses as well as manufactured homes on land.
There were five sales of mobile homes in parks in January, compared to six sold in December and compared to six sold in January last year.
For bare land (lots and acreage) 16 were sold in January, the same as in December, compared to 19 that time the previous year in January 2023.
There are 343 “stick built” and manufactured homes on the market right now. If the rate of sales stays the same at 51 homes sold per month, there are currently 6.7 months of inventory on the market. That means that if no new homes are brought to the market for sale, in 6.7 months, all of these homes would be sold and there would be no homes available for sale.
Less than 6 months of inventory is generally considered to be a “sellers’ market” while more than 6 months of inventory is often called a “buyers’ market.”
January’s inventory was slightly higher than December 2023, when there were 6.4 months of inventory available. Agents are currently reporting an uptick in offers being written.
The total percentage of homes bought for all cash in January:
• 33% (compared to 35% for December and 15% for a year ago in January 2023); • 27% were financed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (“conventional loans”) compared to 37% for December and 35% for January 2023; • 25% were financed by FHA (compared to 20% in December and 21% in January 2023); • 2% were financed by the VA or CalVet (compared to 1% in December and 15% for January 2023); • 10% had other financing such as private loans, USDA, or seller financed notes (compared to 4% in December, and compared to 6% for January 2023). None of the closed sales in January were reported as assumable loans that were assumed by the buyer.
The homes in January sold at an average of 93.1% of the asking price at the time the property went under contract, but an average of 86.1% when compared to the original asking price when the property first came on the market.
This means that the asking home prices had been reduced from their original list prices before an offer was accepted.
In December, homes sold for 94.6% of the asking price at the time the property went under contract, and 88% of the original asking price.
A year ago in January, homes were selling at 94.2% of the asking price at the time the property went under contract and at 86.9% when compared to the original asking price.
The median time on the market for residential properties in January was 92 days, compared to 62 days in December and 48 days a year ago in January 2023.
The median sale price of a single family home in Lake County in January was $292,000, which is lower than the $305,000 median sale price for December and also lower than the median sale price a year ago of $300,000 during January 2023.
This would indicate that last month, the lower priced homes were selling in greater numbers to bring the median sale price down compared to December 2023 and January 2023.
The median asking price of homes on the market right now is $369,500, compared to December’s $360,000.
In January, 41% of homes sold had seller concessions for an average concession of $11,767; the rate and amount of concessions is higher compared to December 2023’s numbers, when 37% of homes sold had seller concessions with an average concession of $7,679.
In January 2023, 52% of homes sold had an average seller concession of $9,148. This past month in January 2024, the average seller concession was highest for the largest cash transaction, which was a sale for $1,760,000 with a seller concession of $40,000.
FHA loans were next, with an average seller concession of $12,330; conventional loans had an average concession of $10,445. The only VA loan had a seller concession of $7,900.