Clear Lake council orders RFP for animal services after terminating North Bay contract; public urges spay‑neuter clinic and no‑kill conditions

Clear Lake — The City Council directed the city manager on Aug. 21 to prepare a request for proposals to replace the current animal care and control contract after announcing a termination notice to North Bay Animal Services earlier this month.

City Manager Alan Flora told the council that the council issued a notice of termination to North Bay Animal Services on Aug. 15; under the contract's six‑month notice period the formal handoff was described in staff comments as expected in early February. Flora presented a draft timeline that would bring a proposed RFP to the council on Sept. 4, release the RFP about Sept. 11, allow roughly 30 days for proposals, proceed with proposal review through October and November, and aim for contract approval Dec. 4 with a transition into January and February.

The council gave direction by consensus for staff to develop the RFP and to involve two council members in drafting and review. Council Member Jessica Downey was specifically named as one of those two members; council members also discussed having a regional distribution for the solicitation. Flora said the RFP would be brought back to the council for approval before release.

Why it matters: The city has relied on a contract provider to pick up animals, operate shelters and manage adoptions and fosters. Residents and volunteers told the council that local capacity for spay‑and‑neuter services is limited and that changes at the shelter level affect large numbers of animals and volunteers.

Public comment at length centered on shelter practices, capacity, and access to low‑cost sterilization. Multiple residents and volunteers urged the council to require, or strongly consider, no‑kill policies and to include continuity of employment for current shelter staff in the RFP evaluation. Danielle, who identified herself as a North Bay Animal Services staff member, called for patience and rehabilitation for animals and said, “I do not believe in euthanizing animals simply because they have quirks or behavioral challenges. We don't treat people that way.” Julia, who identified herself as an officer with North Bay Animal Services, said the shelter had reduced kennel use and that some dogs spend long periods in care while staff rehabilitate them: “We've had him probably about a year, and it took us maybe 6 months to get him adoptable.”

Residents and volunteers asked the council to include provisions in the RFP for a spay‑and‑neuter clinic or funding assistance and for clearer supervisory presence at the shelter. Several speakers said cost is a barrier — one resident contrasted $40–$60 neuters elsewhere with local costs “$600” for some dogs — and urged the city to find funding or partners to lower those prices. Barbara Stubblefield asked whether continuing employment could be a contingency in the RFP for current shelter staff; the city manager said employment considerations would be part of the solicitation’s evaluation criteria.

Council members and staff also discussed governance details for the proposal review: Flora recommended a review committee that would include staff and two council representatives and a scoring matrix for proposals; council members discussed whether to include public representatives on the committee.

The council did not take a binding vote to award a contract at the meeting; it authorized staff by consensus to draft and return an RFP and timeline as described. Council members and staff noted timelines were approximate and subject to change based on responses and negotiations.

Shelter data cited in the meeting: a staff member identified as a lieutenant reported 256 intakes to date this year, 253 animals leaving the shelter (47 rescues, 181 returned to owner, 24 adopted, and 1 euthanized), for a stated release rate of about 99.27 percent. The current shelter population was reported as 60 dogs (58 adults and 2 puppies), compared with the prior month of 52 adults and 6 puppies.

Next steps: Staff will draft the RFP and return it to the council for approval at a future meeting; staff recommended that two council members work with the city manager to prepare the draft.

Ending note: Speakers on both sides of the debate urged collaboration among the city, volunteers and regional partners to expand spay‑and‑neuter access, grow foster networks and clarify operational leadership at the shelter.