SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Whether it is two-wheeled transportation or hitting the road by foot, safety is a two-way street.  To help fund the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) yearlong effort to drive the message home, the Department was awarded the California Pedestrian and Bicyclist Enforcement and Education Project VII grant, which began October 1 and enables officers to conduct enhanced-enforcement patrols and public awareness campaigns. 
 
“Pedestrian and bicyclist safety are a priority for the CHP,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said.  “This grant provides us additional resources to enhance the safety of the most vulnerable roadway users.”
 
Pedestrian and bicycle fatalities account for nearly 28 percent of all traffic-related deaths in California.  Approximately one-half of all pedestrian crashes in the state occur at a crosswalk.   The CHP reminds motorists that every corner is a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked.   
 
On October 2, National Walk to School Day, the CHP will focus on locations with high numbers of pedestrian and bicyclist crashes.  Officers in plain clothes will work with uniformed officers to monitor crosswalks for motorists and pedestrians who fail to yield the right-of-way or who take unsafe and illegal actions. 
 
School zone enforcement operations will take place throughout the year.  To improve pedestrian safety in school bus zones, officers will ride school buses to watch for drivers who fail to stop for flashing red lights.  When they spot a driver who has not stopped, they will relay the vehicle description to an officer in the vicinity. 
 
The educational component funds traffic safety rodeos and educational presentations related to safe and courteous traffic safety behavior.  The grant also supports safety publications, bicycle helmets, reflective gear, and other safety equipment.  
 
Funding for this program was provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
 

​Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative will experience two brief outages for PG&E system maintenance in the Feather River Canyon on 10/6 and 10/9 at 11:30 p.m. The outages will affect members from Delleker Road in Portola to Janesville, including Sierraville, Chilcoot, Helong, Milford, Standish, Leavitt, Litchfield and surrounding areas. The outages will last approximately 30 minutes each. The first outage will take place on 10/6/19 at 11:30 p.m. and the second outage will take place on 10/9/19 at 11:30 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Receive major, systemwide outage notices via text message, text “PSREC” to 800-555-2207.

by Melinda Myers
There’s no doubt that managing critters in the landscape can be a challenge especially as food supplies start to dwindle or you change out your garden for the winter season. If you are battling with rabbits, deer, groundhogs or other wildlife, don't let down your guard as the growing season begins to wind down.
Be proactive. Start before they get into the habit of dining on your landscape. It is easier to keep them away than break the dining habit.
Fence them out. Fencing is the best defense against most wildlife.  A four feet tall fence around a small garden will keep out rabbits.  Secure the bottom tight to the ground or bury it several inches to prevent rabbits and voles from crawling underneath.  Or fold the bottom of the fence outward, making sure it’s tight to the ground. Animals tend not to crawl under when the bottom skirt faces away from the garden.
Go deeper, at least 12 to 18 inches, if you are trying to discourage woodchucks. And make sure the gate is secure. Many hungry animals have found their way into the garden through openings around and under the gate.
A five-foot fence around small garden areas can help safeguard your plantings against hungry deer. Some gardeners report success surrounding their garden with fishing line mounted on posts at one- and three-foot heights.
Break out the repellents. Homemade and commercial repellents can be used.  Apply before the animals start feeding and reapply as directed. Consider using a natural repellent that’s safe for people and wildlife.
Scare ‘em away. Blow up owls, clanging pans, rubber snakes, slivers of deodorant soap, handfuls of human hair and noise makers are scare tactics that have been used by gardeners for years. Consider your environment when selecting a tactic. Urban animals are used to the sound and smell of people.  Alternate scare tactics for more effective control.  The animals won't be afraid of a snake that hasn't moved in weeks.
Combine tactics. Use a mix of fencing, scare tactics and repellents.  Keep monitoring for damage. If there are enough animals and they are hungry, they will eat just about anything.
Don’t forget about nature.  Welcome hawks and fox into your landscape. Using less pesticides and tolerating some critters, their food source, will encourage them to visit your yard. These natural pest controllers help keep the garden-munching critters under control.
And most importantly, don't give up.  A bit of persistence, variety and adaptability is the key to success.  Investing some time now will not only deter existing critters from dining in your landscape, but will also reduce the risk of animals moving in next season.


Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment segments. Myers is also a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ web site, www.melindamyers.com, offers gardening videos, podcasts, and garden tips.  

6:00 PM – CITY HALL AUDITORIUM
605 SCHOOL STREET
OCTOBER 7TH , 2019
LOYALTON, CA.
AGENDA AND PACKET AVAILABLE ON CITY WEB SITE
cityofloyalton.org
 
NEXT ORDINANCE #423
NEXT RESOLUTION #3-2019
 
CALL TO ORDER:
 
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
 
ROLL CALL:
 
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
 
STAFF REPORTS:
 
 
PUBLIC COMMENT:
This is an opportunity for members of the public to address the Council on items which are not on the agenda.  Please state your name for the record.  Comments are limited to three minutes.  Written comments should be submitted to the Board Clerk 24 hours prior to the meeting to allow for distribution.  Under Government Code Section 54954.2 – Brown Act, the Council cannot take action on any item not on the agenda.  The City Mayor may choose to acknowledge the comment or, where appropriate, briefly answer a question, refer the matter to staff, or set the item for discussion at a future meeting.
 
A SPECIAL MEETING IS BEING HELD TO CONDUCT THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS:
 
Town Hall Meeting- The City of Loyalton will hold a Town Hall/Public Workshop in response to the Grand Jury Report recommending Disincorporation by the City of Loyalton that will include discussion and possible action on the following:
 
1. Receive Public input and opinion regarding the Grand Jury recommendation.    
    (Attachment)
 
2. Review Steps to Disincorporation (Attachment)
      a. Initiation of Proceeding
      b. Consideration by LAFCO
      c. Election
      d. Completion of Proceedings
 
3. Explore costs associated with the disincorporation process. (Attachment)
 
4.  Review benefits to remaining an incorporated City. (Atttachment)
 
5. Review benefits to disincorporation of the City. (Attachment)
 
6. Review Case Studies of cities that disincorporated or seriously considered
    Disincorporation in California.
 
7. Next Steps, which may include attempting to determine the community’s
    Interest in or desire to disincorporate or remain incorporated through a variety of
    Public outreach methods, such as sending a survey or advisory ballot to the registered
    voters of the City of Loyalton. (Attachment)
 
Agenda Imput of Upcoming Meetings
 
Council Member Closing Remarks
 
ADJOURNMENT
​

Oroville – On October 1, 2019 at approximately 7:00 am, CAL FIRE Law Enforcement Officers arrested Jeremy Gendreau, age 35, of Oroville, for allegedly committing multiple counts of arson to forest land during a proclaimed State of Emergency*. Gendreau was booked into Butte County Jail and is being held on 1.95 million dollar bail. Gendreau is suspected of lighting multiple wildland fires in the Oroville area during the month of September 2019. Investigation of Gendreau began after a tip to the CAL FIRE Arson Hotline. Investigators apprehended the suspect while he was travelling to work. Butte County Districts Attorney’s Office, California State Parks, and Oroville Police Department all assisted CAL FIRE in the investigation.

Butte Unit Chief David Hawks said, “We will not tolerate arson of any type and will track down those suspected of causing harm to our communities.”
Residents should be vigilant in their preparedness and aware of suspicious persons when a fire does start. Suspicious activity should be reported including the time, individual’s physical description, and a vehicle description, including the license plate number. Always contact law enforcement, never approach a suspicious person. Anyone with information about arson is urged to contact the CAL FIRE Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408. Callers can remain anonymous.
(See attached Picture)
For more information, visit the CAL FIRE website at www.fire.ca.gov. * There is still a declared State of Emergency in Butte County for the Camp Fire. 

​

 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California begins a new water year today with significantly more water in storage than the previous year thanks to above-average snow and precipitation.
Lake Oroville, the State Water Project’s (SWP) largest reservoir, is currently at 102 percent of average for the date compared to just 62 percent of average at this time last year. Shasta Lake, the Central Valley Project’s (CVP) largest reservoir, is at 126 percent of average compared to 88 percent of average last year. San Luis Reservoir, the largest off-stream reservoir in the United States where water is stored for the SWP and CVP, is at 132 percent of average compared to 117 percent of average last year. In Southern California, SWP’s Castaic Lake is at 112 percent of average compared to 108 percent last year.
“The significant rainfall and snowpack made for a great water year in 2019, so we start the new year in a good place,” said Department of Water Resources (DWR) Director Karla Nemeth. “However, we all know too well that California’s weather and precipitation is highly variable. What we could have today could be gone tomorrow. Conserve. Recycle. Recharge. People and the environment depend on it.”
Water Year 2019 highlights include:

• There were more than 30 atmospheric rivers with many making landfall in northern California.
• The state’s snowpack on April 1 was 175 percent of average.
• Statewide reservoir storage is 128 percent of average through the end of September which is approximately 29.7 million acre-feet.

The water year runs from October 1 to September 30. Rainfall and snow amounts help determine annual allocations for the State Water Project. State Water Project contractors received 75 percent of requested supplies this year, up from an initial allocation of 10 percent due to above-average precipitation.

Emergency Guardrail Repairs Necessitate Intermittent Lane Closures
 
NEVADA/SIERRA COUNTIES – Beginning Monday, traffic limitations will be in place for vehicles heading westbound on Interstate 80 from the Nevada state line to Boca.
 
Maintenance crews will be replacing damaged guardrail between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday, October 7 through Friday, October 11. Interstate 80 westbound lane reductions will be in effect during these periods for the safety of highway workers.
 
During guardrail repair periods, permit loads will not be allowed on Interstate 80 from the state line to Boca. Wide-load trucks are advised to use alternate routes or wait until work is completed for the day before traveling. Motorists should anticipte travel delays in the area and slow for work zones.
 
Weather or unexpected events may delay or prolong the work. Caltrans advises motorists to “Be Work Zone Alert.” The department will issue updates on Twitter @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.
 

 
Pike Fire Hall – October 4 10:30am – 11:30am
Alleghany Fire Hall– October 4 1pm-2pm
 
Loyalton Drive-Thru – October 9
Wednesday 4pm -6pm High School Parking Lot
Downieville Drive-Thru – October 10
Thursday 11am -1pm Behind the Community Hall
 
Sierra City Library – October 14 10am-11am
Sierraville Ranger Station – October 15 10:30am -11:30am
Calpine Community Center – October 15 12:30pm- 1:30pm
Verdi Von Schmitt Park – October 30 11am till Noon

 
RELEASE DATE:
September 26, 2019


Sacramento – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) announced the availability of over $80 million for Forest Health and Fire Prevention projects. CAL FIRE is soliciting applications for projects that work to proactively prevent catastrophic wildfires and restore forests to healthy, functioning ecosystems while also sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

CAL FIRE’s Forest Health Grant Program seeks to significantly increase reforestation, fuels management, fire reintroduction, and treatment of degraded areas. An additional $7 million will be available through the Forest Legacy Program to conserve environmentally important forest land threatened with conversion to non-forest uses, and up to $2 million will be available specifically for applied research examining forest management and health.

CAL FIRE’s Fire Prevention Grant Program seeks to fund local projects that address the risk of wildfire and reduce wildfire potential to communities in, and adjacent to, forested areas. Qualified activities include hazardous fuel reduction, fire prevention planning and fire prevention education with an emphasis on improving public health and safety.
Find more information and sign up for announcements at www.fire.ca.gov/grants.

Official Call for Applications:

Fire Prevention Program: The call for applications opened on September 25, 2019 and will be due by 3:00 PM on December 4, 2019.

Forest Health Program: The call for applications will open on September 27 and will be due by 3:00 PM on December 6, 2019.

Public workshops will be held throughout California starting September 30; additional recorded webinars will be made available online.

These grant programs are part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment– particularly in disadvantaged communities.

These programs serve to complement the 35 priority fuels reduction and fire prevention projects that CAL FIRE has undertaken at the direction of Governor Gavin Newson. They also complement the State Forest Carbon Plan, which seeks to increase the ability of our forests to capture carbon and improve forest health.
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