Lakeport Police want to make sure you know about the new state law that kicked in January 1 about street parking. Known as California’s Daylighting Law, drivers are now prohibited from parking in a way that obstructs visibility for areas where people cross streets. You can no longer park within 20 feet of the approach to a marked crosswalk or within 15 feet of where there’s a curb extension. The goal is to give drivers and pedestrians a clearer view of each other and reduce accidents. Lakeport Police say they will focus their enforcement on school zones and the downtown business corridor.
Dan Grebil has officially taken the helm as Interim Chief of the Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire Department. As we reported last week the RVCFD Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Chief Kerry Robinson and approved his voluntary request to return to his previous position of Captain. They then appointed Retired Fire Chief Dan Grebil to serve as Interim Chief. Grebil has more than 40 years in the fire service and the Board says in a statement that his experience in leadership and management is exactly what they need during what will be a transitional period. They say Grebil will assess their management and operational systems, work with the Board, paid staff and volunteers to implement necessary changes and help them recruit a permanent Fire Chief.
Some new federal legislation has been introduced to help communities develop stronger protections from wildfires. U.S. Representative Jared Huffman says he and Representative Jay Obernolte have introduced the Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act aimed at helping local communities defend themselves from the growing danger of wildfires. Huffman says the bill would help communities implement science-based methods for reducing wildfire damage and would provide funding to create resiliency plans. It dovetails with the 2022 Community Wildfire Defense Grant program but creates a plan for what they call home hardening through FEMA.
Sonoma State University has announced some massive cuts, eliminating several academic departments and degree programs and all athletics. On Wednesday SSU revealed a plan to make up a nearly $24 million budget deficit they say was caused by increased personnel costs, inflation, and a 38% decline in enrollment in the last 10 years. The Press Democrat reports cuts include 46 faculty members, four managers, 12 staff members and several lecturers as they close down degrees and programs in economics, art history, geology, philosophy, theater and dance, and gender studies. Officials say all athletic programs will end as of the 2025-26 academic year.
Mendocino National Forest officials want your opinion on a proposed land exchange in eastern Mendocino County. They are currently going through a draft environmental assessment for what they call the McIsaac Ranch Land Exchange Project west of Forest Highway 7 and Mendocino Pass. Under the proposal the National Forest would evenly swap 560 acres with a rancher that would consolidate land within the National Forest’s Management Area 26 at Twin Rocks. They say consolidation makes it more efficient to manage the wildlife, fish and recreational resources. You can make comments on the National Forest website. There’s also a public meeting in February.
