Ukiah has a new mayor starting in January. The Ukiah City Council voted to appoint Council Member Josefina Duenas as mayor. She was nominated by Council Member Douglas Crane who will replace her as vice mayor. Crane told MendoFever that Duenas fulfills the city’s state obligations to diversity, equity and inclusion and that the city can do more to incorporate technology to help the public understand Duenas who is deaf. She was voted in to the position in a 3 to 2 vote during the council meeting last week. There will be a reception to welcome the new Mayor Duenas at the Civic Center in Ukiah on December 6th.
The Ukiah Transit Center Feasibility Study will be presented to the Mendocino Transit Authority Board of Directors at their meeting on December 6th at 1:30 pm. The project focuses on working with community residents to define transportation needs and explore innovations in mobility to connect people with the places they need to go. It includes a recommended site north of Kohls on North Orchard Avenue in Ukiah. The final plan is set to be complete in January.
The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is hosting its annual Festival of Lights beginning on Friday. In an announcement issued in MendoVoice, the Botanical Gardens will present their 13th year with thousands of lights throughout the garden. Rain or shine, the exhibit will be open Friday through Sundays starting Friday through the 17th of December from 5pm to 7pm. This year’s show features a new route, displays and more. Hot cocoa and other goodies will be available at the Friends of the Gardens’ Holiday Café with Santa appearing each Sunday. There is a free parking shuttle each night that leaves from just north of the gardens in Fort Bragg.
The California Public Utilities Commission has approved rate hikes for PG&E. The Ukiah Daily Journal reports the utility says the increase will go toward funding its project to underground power lines. The commission approved putting over 1,200 miles of lines underground in the utility’s highest fire risk areas. They say the work is a permanent risk reduction that eliminates nearly 98 percent of the risk of wildfire sparks from electrical equipment and increases electric reliability in reducing power shutoffs. PG&E also says it will save customers billions in reduced annual tree trimming and overhead line maintenance costs. The utility says people can get a personalized rate plan to help, enroll in budget billing and get Bill Forecast Alerts to help manage bills. They report the average increase next year will be about $21.
AAA estimates there will be about 55.5 million people traveling at least 50 miles this Thanksgiving. It’s higher than last year and the third highest number of travelers in its history. The Press Democrat reports the North Bay is expected to be the busiest today. They recommend staying put between 2 and 6pm and traveling this morning or later tonight. Good news for drivers this year, as gas prices are down nearly half a dollar from last year. Domestic flights are also a bit less expensive this year. Airports are the busiest this holiday weekend today as well with nearly 50,000 forecasted flights. Air travel authorities say you should get to the airport early.
As CHP announces a maximum enforcement period starting tonight at 6, the department along with the California Department of Justice are dealing with people driving under the influence of marijuana. The California Department of Motor Vehicles reports alcohol involved deaths have trended down in recent years, drug involved crash deaths have nearly quadrupled. KCRA reports the DMV annual report does not break down specific drugs. There is a legal limit for driving drunk at .08, but there is no specific measure for cannabis. There is no specific vehicle code for marijuana in the state. Officials are looking to the feds for research on the impact of weed on driving. Mother’s Against Drunk Driving recommend parents talk to their teens about driving high or getting into a car with someone who is.
The Mendocino County Department of Cannabis Control is reminding people to apply for the equity grant, the eligibility window closes this week. The Department also wants residents to know they, along with most county offices will close on the 22nd , the last day applicants can apply for the grant who qualify for the program. The department and most other county offices will reopen next Monday the 27th. They are also announcing they’ll be accepting Fallowing applications from December 1st through the end of the year for those who want to fallow all or a portion of their canopy in 2024.
PG&E’s Initial Draft Surrender Application and Conceptual Decommissioning Plan for the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project is available for review and comment. The public comment period will be open until December 22, 2023. PG&E will address comments as appropriate before distribution of the Final Draft Surrender Application in June 2024. In the Russian River Water Forum update this week, the utility says the initial draft includes a conceptual decommissioning plan and a third-party proposal for modifications of the former Cape Horn Dam site and Van Arsdale Diversion, as necessary, to construct a New Eel-Russian Facility. PG&E has not accepted the proposal at this time but is including it as an option for Cape Horn Dam. PG&E’s Plan will be included on the agenda for the next Water Forum Planning Group meeting on Thursday, December 7th in Ukiah.
The California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas is appointing Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry as the Assembly majority leader. Lake County News reports Rivas made the nomination yesterday. Aguiar-Curry has been the speaker pro tempore since July and served in the State Assembly since 2016.
An earthquake shook the Eel River Valley this morning before 8am. KymKemp reports it was a 3.3 magnitude quake that hit north of Ferndale. The USGS reports the quake was east of the triple junction, near the mouth of the Eel River, and notes the depth was about 20 kilometers deep. Over a hundred people reported they felt the earthquake, with some feeling it in the northern part of Mendocino County.
Dogs are getting sick and UC Davis says symptoms of a new illness spreading across the nation includes coughing, decreased activity and not eating their food. The mystery sickness hasn’t yet been documented in California, but it’s in Oregon and other neighboring states and is destined to be on the way. Veterinarians urge people to keep your pets away from dog parks, and are asking kennels and other places with multiple dogs to not use a community water bowl.
The new mobile app launched for EBT users is increasing protection for cardholders. Mendocino County says the platform will increase surety and access for beneficiaries of CalFresh and Cash Assistance. The California Department of Social Services launched the ebtEDGE this month that has features to manage your PIN, can freeze and unfreeze benefits and allows users to see their account balance in real time. It also has biometric access to help stop fraud. For current users, you can deploy the app on your Apple or Android phones. You can reach out to the Mendocino County Office of Social Services in Ukiah or Fort Bragg for help and more information.
