It’s a no from the California Coastal Commission for a proposed desalination plant to turn sea water into drinking water. The proposal was for Huntington Beach, but the Commission says it’s not a bellwether of what may happen elsewhere if a similar proposal comes forth. Coastal Commission staff advised the Commission to say no saying, there’s too high a cost for water and not much local demand for it, plus risks to marine life and the possibility of coastal flooding if sea levels rise more. The developer, Poseidon Water, said it would have created a sustainable, drought-tolerant source for water. They also thanked the Governor who supposedly supported the idea.
Minimum wage is already supposed to be going up, but with inflation, it could be sooner, rather than later. The Governor’s office says they want the $15 rate to hit $15.50 by January 1st of next year. That was part of the preview of the Governor’s $18.1 billion inflation relief package. Separately there’s a proposed ballot measure out there with one million signatures on its petition to raise the minimum wage to $18/hour. The ballot measure needed only 623,000 signatures to get onto the November ballot. Currently state law says inflation raises minimum wage 7%, which takes it to $15.50.
The governor says he’s giving UC and CSU campuses way more money in his budget, calling the investments, a “game-changer”. On Friday he spoke about the 5% raises in giving to the University of California and California State University systems over the next five years. And for the money, the systems are going to have to meet certain benchmarks, like reporting yearly on the progress they’ve made on certain goals, which includes better graduation rates, more enrollment, making college more affordable and making sure a certain number are ready after college for high-demand careers. The Governor previously hinted there would be more money for the campuses, then Friday detailed it out more.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has a busy week ahead. Their packed schedule for the meeting tomorrow includes doling out thousands of PG&E settlement funds to various fire districts. Each will get over $45,000 to buy new water tenders. They’ll also consider the full version of the Strategic Plan and with the plan, approve payments to consultants for that. They will take the matter of creating a stand-alone water agency, look to seriously commit to reduce the amount of litter in Coastal Watersheds by educating visitors and working with neighboring Sonoma and Marin Counties and local jurisdictions and Tribal Partners. The Board will also consider sending a request to the Governor to work with the Office Of Energy Infrastructure Safety to temporarily stop PG&E’s enhanced vegetation management program in Mendocino County.
The Bikers Against Childhood Abuse group has their fundraiser on the horizon. This Saturday, May 21st, the 100 mile ride takes off from the Ukiah Elks Lodge. Registration is at 9am and the event starts at 11. It’s $25 for a single rider and $35 for two or more in a group, plus another $10 for a meal after.
A woman in Willits has been arrested after a reported assault on another woman. Deputies say one woman was parked in a car and the other woman, Tesla Hencz, drove past her, then pulled back around and rammed the front of her car. The victim says she also heard a single gunshot ring out, and soon after she had a deflated tire. She told Deputies it was Hencz who did it, then took off towards Highway 162. Deputies didn’t find her and put out a BOLO alert. Hencz was found in Laytonville and arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism and an active misdemeanor warrant. They found a spent shell casing in her car, and damage that was consistent with the damage to the other car. It’s believed the two were dating the same person. Hencz was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where she was to be held in lieu of $32,500.00 bail.
After two years without, the Lake County Weed Management Area is hosting their yearly “Invasive Weeds Tour.” The event this year is one week from Wednesday, May 25th, as it should be great weather, and there should be a lot of weeds probably still flowering. It’s free to attend, and they encourage the public to be there. They’re meeting up at 9am at the Ranch House at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park between Clearlake and Lower Lake for a leisurely guided walk for about a mile to check out the invasive plants in the park and look at what controlled burns and other control mechanisms can create. There will be a discussion after. A reminder too, to wear sturdy shoes, and bring snacks or lunch if you like.
This event is sponsored by the Lake County Department of Agriculture and the Lake County Resource Conservation District. Please contact the Agriculture Department at (707) 263-0217 if you have any questions.
Two men in Willits has been arrested for trying to sell marijuana. Deputies say they saw a car towing a trailer on Highway 101 and conducted a traffic stop because of multiple vehicle code violations. Jesus Paredes and Juan Marquez-Diego were found with as much as 128, 2 foot tall growing marijuana plants. They say the pair were going from Covelo to Clearlake without paperwork to show they legally owned the plants. They were both arrested for transportation for sale of marijuana and conspiracy to commit a crime and held on $20,000.00 bail each.
A man from Washington has been arrested in Mendocino County, accused of assaulting a woman in March in his home state. Mendo Fever reports Jack Waldrop has a history of violence and spent 21 years in an Oregon prison for strangling and beating his girlfriend to death. He’s accused of attacking another woman who escaped by locking herself in a gas station bathroom. Mendocino deputies patrolling near Willits saw a pickup truck idling on the shoulder, sticking out onto the highway. They went after Waldrop for 12 miles. He had taken off without the woman after other people in the gas station reportedly heard him yelling at her and police got a call. The woman ended up in the hospital with broken ribs and a fractured sternum. And Waldrop is charged with kidnapping and assault in Washington state.
Some endorsements announced in the run for Mendocino County Superintendent of Schools. Mendo Fever reports the Mendocino County Office of Education labor union has endorsed Nicole Glentzer and they’re encouraging employees in the union to do the same. A county Board of Education member is endorsing Superintendent Michelle Hutchins to continue on the job. Marilyn Puget mostly touted Hutchins work during the first days of the pandemic as her reason for support.
A small fire has been stomped out in Lakeport. Firefighters got a call yesterday to the area of Willow Point, on the shore of Clear Lake. When they got there, they found a 20’ x 20′ active burn with a slow rate of spread. After they got there, the Incident Commander canceled other resources who were called because it was small enough for those on scene to control. No damage or injuries were reported.
There’s a vacancy on the Lake County Board of Supervisors. We’ve been telling you about the member, Tina Scott, who’s leaving to take a teaching job, come July, so the rest of the board has to figure out how to fill the spot. They may put the seat up on the November ballot. They’re also discussing an appeal of a major cannabis project that the Planning Commission denied. WeGrow was denied the major use permit in Middletown to grow, process and have a distribution operation on nine-acres of a 309-acre property. A group of neighbors appealed the permit, then the Board of Supervisors upheld that appeal after the Planning Commission first said yes.
The state of the city report in Lakeport is being discussed along with some new outdoor dining areas or “parklets”. The meeting tomorrow night in council chambers is open to the public, with masks highly encouraged to be worn. You can also catch it online, on Zoom. The state of the city report will cover the budget, strategic planning, and this year, they’ll consider six priority areas the council decided on. They are public safety and crisis response; disaster resilience; good governance and fiscal stability; capital infrastructure improvement; safe, sustainable and attractive neighborhoods; and economic development. They will also go over prior goals and accomplishments and their relation to the new priorities they’ll be discussing.
