CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week is set to consider a proposal for the city to offer its own animal control services.

The council will meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, to discuss litigation and negotiations for the city's 26-acre airport property and a property at 2185 Ogulin Canyon Road before convening in public session at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

City Manager Greg Folsom will take to the council the discussion on the animal control services item.

Folsom's report explains that the SPCA of Clear Lake – which has provided animal control services to the city since 2013 – provided a 90-day notice of termination to the city on June 30. As such, the contract ends on Oct. 1.

Since receiving that termination notice, Folsom said the city has explored a number of options, from not offering animal control services at all – which isn't an option according to state law – to entering into a new contract with the SPCA; contracting with the county of Lake for full services, which the city did up until 2009; or contracting with the county for facilities only.

A fifth option, which Folsom is recommending the council adopt, is bringing all animal control services in-house, including building a kennel facility.

In the short-term, the existing Public Works warehouse facility at the airport corporation yard would be modified for a temporary shelter facility, Folsom said.

“This is a significant policy decision that has been driven by budget for many years and has basically kicked the can down the road to the current situation,” Folsom wrote. “From staff's perspective, providing an in-house solution provides the highest level of service to the community and will be competitive on a cost basis with any other proposal.”

In other business, the council will hold a continued hearing on a zoning ordinance amendment to regulate telecommunication towers, antennae and related systems, and authorize the city's delegate to vote in support of the League of California Cities' proposed resolutions regarding a league bylaw amendment, compensation for prolonged electrical power outages, and overconcentration of alcohol and drug treatment facilities and residential rentals.

Also on the agenda will be presentations of proclamations in support of LakeCountyFilm.com and declaring September 2015 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are warrant registers; the minutes of the regular council meetings from Aug. 13 and 27; award of a $5,995 contract for asbestos and lead-based assessment with Geocon Consultants as part of the city's CalRecycle Illegal Disposal Site Abatement Grant; approval of a planning services with Price Consulting Services; contract with Price Consulting Services for planning services to complete the city's 2040 general plan update; an amendment to contract with Raney Planning and Management Inc. for preparing an environmental impact report for the Walmart expansion project; consideration of resolutions for employer paid member contributions for the Middle Management Association (two each) and the Clearlake Police Officers Association (two each); consideration of adoption of resolution 2015-27 authorizing the finance director to make only such interfund transfers as are required to close the books for the fiscal year ending 2015; and consideration of Resolution No. 2015-22, approving a temporary street closure for the annual Power to the Youth event on Sept. 20.

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