UKIAH Calif. – The North Coast Opportunities Governing Board will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. at the North Coast Opportunities office, 413 N State St., Ukiah.

Unless otherwise indicated, the times listed are approximate, and are intended for time management purposes only.

The discussion of any item may begin prior to the designated time, and may be considered in a different order.
                  
Timed items are as follows:

2 p.m.: Call to order, roll call, introductions, approval of agenda.
2:05 p.m.: Public input.
2:10 p.m.: Consent agenda.
2:15 p.m.: Audit presentation.
2:30 p.m.: Board Resolution 16-04 – line of credit authorization.
2:35 p.m.: HSCDP training plans.
2:40 p.m.: HSCDP organization chart.
2:45 p.m.: The Gardens Project presentation.
3:05 p.m.: NCO employee survey update.
3:15 p.m.: Executive director report.
3:30 p.m.: Human resources/finance meeting report.
3:35 p.m.: Discuss mandatory committee roles and fill rosters.
3:45 p.m.: Brief reports and announcements.
3:50 p.m.: Parking lot (presentation of topics for consideration/future agenda item).
3:55 p.m.: Adjourn to closed session.
Untimed: Report out of closed session.

For information, or if you need disability modification or accommodation in order to participate in this meeting, please contact the NCO executive assistant 48 hours before the meeting at 707-467-3210.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around the North Coast during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Pavement repairs from Rosemont Drive to the junction of Routes 20/53 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
– Rocky fire repairs from Gravel Plant Road to the Lake/Colusa County line will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 29
 
– Valley fire cleanup from the Lake/Napa County line to Hidden Valley will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– Pavement repairs from Main Street in Kelseyville to the junction of Routes 29/175 near Lakeport will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
 
Highway 175

– Fire recovery work from the junction of Routes 29/175 in Middletown to Loch Lomond will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 7 days per week. Motorists should anticipate 30-minute delays.
 
MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Emergency vegetation removal at various locations from Gualala to Elk will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Highway repairs just north of Ocean Meadows Circle will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform slide repairs near the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (near Frog Woman Rock). Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

– Pavement repairs from County Road 307 to Rattlesnake Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 7 days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 271

– Storm damage repairs near Piercy will continue. A full road closure will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should seek an alternate route.

The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).

As El Niño, the high intensity winter storm system, delivers the predicted menacing heavy rains, winds and snow to Northern California. AAA Northern California strongly urges motorists to get their vehicles in tip-top shape and adopt winter-driving skills.

“The El Niño storm system has arrived and brought its expected heavier-than-usual rains to Northern California.  With slippery roads ahead, we can expect to have a higher number of weather-related crashes, deaths and injuries,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “The combination of poorly maintained vehicles and driver error, along with loss of visibility and slick roads, cause thousands of preventable crashes each year.”

Preparing your vehicle is the first step in improving your chances of safe winter driving. There are many ways to winterize your car.

· Check the systems. Make sure your brakes, defroster, heater, exhaust system, and lights work properly. Change the blades in your wipers and check the level and condition of the antifreeze.

· Inspect the tires. Good tread allows the water to escape from under the tires and increases traction. Keep tires at proper pressure. Low pressure allows the tread to squeeze together and reduces traction. Too-high pressure prevents the tread from contacting the road thoroughly.

· Keep a full gas tank. In winter it may become necessary to change routes, idle for long periods of time, travel slowly, or turn around in a storm. A full gas tank allows you to do these maneuvers without worrying about running out of fuel.

· Keep the windshield and windows clear. Have a snow brush and ice scraper in the vehicle. Clean off the roof of the vehicle and the windows. Use the car’s defroster or a clean cloth to “defog” the inside of the windows.

· Carry an emergency kit and your AAA card. Items to include in the kit are a flashlight, first-aid kit, flares or emergency triangles, window washer fluid, tool kit, blanket or sleeping bag, gloves, paper towels, drinking water, and extra food. Also include abrasive material such as sand, salt or non-clumping cat litter, and a small shovel to free the vehicle if it becomes stuck.

· Include chains. Remember, chains must be installed on the “drive” wheels of the vehicle.

· Carry an extra car key. Many motorists lock themselves out of their vehicles when installing chains or attending to weather-related problems.

It’s not enough to prepare your vehicle for winter. Brush up on these tips for adapting your driving techniques for winter weather conditions.

· Adjust your speed for the weather. Slow down. Keep in mind that your vehicle needs at least three times more distance to stop on slick roads.

· Increase your following distance. To safely stop, a vehicle needs a minimum of four to eight seconds between it and the vehicle in front.

· Steer clear of collisions. Learn to take evasive action by steering around a situation to avoid collisions. Steering is preferred to braking at speeds above 25 miles per hour because less distance is required to steer around an object than to brake to a stop. In winter weather, sudden braking often leads to skids.

· Recognize hydroplaning hazards. Even a small amount of water on the road can cause a vehicle to hydroplane. One-twelfth of an inch of water between your tires and the road means each tire has to displace one gallon of water a second. To reduce the chances of hydroplaning slow down, avoid hard braking or sharp turns, drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you, and increase your following distance.

· React to trouble quickly. If you are in trouble, pull completely off to the side of the road, turn on the hazard lights, light flares or place emergency triangles and signal for help. Call for help on a cell phone. Remember to keep your AAA card handy for these types of emergencies.

· Stay in your vehicle: Should your car breakdown or be involved in a crash of any kind, it is imperative that you stay inside your vehicle with your seat belt fastened for your safety.  Many people are injured or killed after an accident by leaving their vehicle and waiting for help on the side of the road. 

· Know how to drive in the fog. Visibility in fog can deteriorate in a moment. The rapid loss of visibility creates serious driving hazards. The following are specific driving tips for fog:

– Drive with lights on low beam.
– Reduce speed.
– Listen for traffic you cannot see. Open windows if necessary.
– Use wipers and defroster for maximum visibility.
– Be patient! Don’t switch lanes unnecessarily.
– Unless absolutely necessary, don’t stop on any freeway or other heavily traveled road.
– If possible, postpone your trip until the fog has lifted.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Following every federally declared disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, conducts audits of disaster assistance payments to survivors ensuring taxpayer dollars were provided appropriately and in an amount meeting the eligible needs of the applicant.

If improper payments were made, FEMA will send a letter, called a notice of debt letter, explaining the situation.

One reason for improper payment could be more than one individual in the household registered and received disaster aid.

Other examples we sometimes find is that funds were not used for intended purposes, or there was a duplication of funds by insurance or another agency. Other times, documentation is missing.

Survivors who receive this letter have rights and options, which the letter will discuss.

Applicants can appeal the recoupment by letter or fax and request copies of their agency records.

The appeal must be made within 60 days of the date shown on the notice of debt letter.

FEMA is committed to working with all applicants identified for recoupment to ensure they have a complete understanding of the determination made in their case and the various options available to them to resolve this debt.

Those with immediate questions about their cases may contact FEMA’s Recoupment Helpline at 800-816-1122 or TTY 800-462-7585. The helpline is available between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If there is an indication of fraudulent activity, FEMA’s Fraud Branch will investigate and, where appropriate, refer the case to the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General for a criminal review of the case.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Oversight Board for the former Lakeport Redevelopment Agency will meet on Monday, Jan. 25.

The meeting will take place beginning at 10 a.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The board will review and approve the recognized obligation payment schedule covering the period July 1, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2016, and adopt the associated resolution.

Staff Report Packet, ROPS 16-17

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County Republicans that want to bring back the local Republican Party in Lake County are invited to an organizational meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

The group will meet at Round Table Pizza, 821 11th St. in Lakeport.

Social time will start at 6:30 p.m. with no host food and beverages. At 7 p.m., the organizational meeting and planning session will begin.

Bring your nomination papers, as they will be discussing the upcoming central committee elections on June 7.

Those who want to serve on the local central committee need to go to the Lake County Registrar's Office and take out nomination papers to run.

Follow the local Republican Party on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Lake-County-CA-Republican-Party-401224996588222/?fref=ts or for more information contact Lake County Chair Dee Cuney at 707-235-2902.