The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, in the council chambers at Clearlake CIty Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Chief Andrew White is asking the council to hold a discussion and give staff direction on his proposal – including a funding plan – for a new shelter.
White’s report explains that the Clearlake Animal Shelter currently operates out of the Public Works Corporation Yard on Airport Road.
He said the shelter consists of kennels located inside the old hangar building and a collection of outdoor kennels, while another old airport building holds the laundry room and an office that doubles as a cat kennel.
“The facility was not built for the current use and lacks adequate space for the volume of animals regularly taken in. The indoor kennels are often doubled up from their intended capacity. The outdoor kennels, which were intended for overflow, are also often filled with animals. There is no exam room for the contract vet to conduct comprehensive exams on animals. There is also a lack of space for proper quarantine,” White explained in his report.
White said the facility’s office building is in major disrepair and lacks enough space to support the operations, and the site overall “is not conducive to animal shelter operations due a lack of fenced corridors and access ways to prevent the escape of animals. There is also no defined area for potential adopters to visit with animals.”
His report said that, over the past year, the city’s Animal Control Ad Hoc Committee and department staff have looked at options for upgrading the shelter. “The options explored have included relocating to other sites in the city as well as renovating an existing building or erecting new buildings.”
On Thursday, White will present the options that the committee and staff have settled on after reaching consensus – acquisition and installation of two modular kennel buildings with HVAC, a combined capacity of 18 kennel boxes and 18 runs, a storage room, cat room, exam room and lobby area; one modular office; and with site improvements that include secure fencing and pathways, a landscaped central area for visiting with animals, concrete walkways and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking.
White said the city engineer has estimated the project could cost $376,000, which covers demolition of the current office building and relocations of other items.
He said staff has contacted the US Department of Agriculture about grant funding opportunities, and the city will be submitting a grant to the USDA by the end of September for up to 35 percent of the project cost, or $131,600. The remainder of the project cost is proposed to be covered by Series A Bond Funds, $200,000, and the general fund, $44,400.
In other business, staff will take to the council a proposed $45,000 contract with HD Excavating for the properties at 16216 34th Ave., 14170 Konocti St., 16052 19th Ave. and 3191 Sixth St. The abatements are pat of the city’s CalRecycle Illegal Disposal Site Abatement Grant.
Also on Thursday, the council will consider staff’s proposal to extend a moratorium on the establishment of tobacco retailing businesses, smoke shops, or hookah or vapor lounges within the city.
During Thursday’s meeting the Clearlake Code Enforcement Department also will make a presentation to the council.
On the consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the July meetings; adoption of Resolution No. 2019-35, approving a temporary street closure for the inaugural soap box derby; second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 231-2019 amending the Clearlake Municipal Code regarding reserve police officers; acceptance of annual audit report for fiscal year ending 2018, including the report to those charged with governance and the appropriations limit report; and consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017.
Following open session, the council is scheduled to hold a closed session to discuss labor negotiations and an existing lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
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080819 Clearlake City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd