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Residents press Clearlake for more shelter funding as attorney threatens litigation over property enforcement
Summary
Public commenters accused city staff of due-process violations in a property enforcement case and urged substantial investment in animal-shelter operations; animal-control staff reported recent intake and outcome numbers and said new vet protocols and partner transfers have reduced on-site population.
Several public commenters used the meeting's public-comment period to focus on animal services and a property-enforcement dispute.
Crystal Pack, an attorney representing property owner Trudy Brooks, told the council she filed an "omnibus reservation of rights" and a notice of intent to litigate, alleging a four-year pattern of harassment, improper citations and due-process violations tied to a 2021 red-tagging. Pack accused Officers Peralta and Lopez of attempting a warrantless search and said the city enforced remedies before a mailed deadline, producing what she called "procedural fraud and selective prosecution." No city official provided a legal response at the meeting.
Kathy Plowman urged the city to provide significantly more funding for animal-control operations, saying the shelter operator should be supported and recommending an annual budget in the range of $600,000. She said the current contract-term was only one year and argued the shelter needs a sustainable operating plan.
Animal-control staffer Shanae presented intake statistics from Feb. 8 to the meeting date: 170 total intakes (including 113 animals originally from North Bay Animal Services), 118 outcomes recorded, 92 transfers to partner rescues, three unassisted deaths and 16 euthanasias. Staff said 44 animals remain on site and that Dr. Jennifer Bennett serves as the sheltervet-of-record to allow in-house treatment and improve response times.
Council members did not take formal action on the allegations or the funding request during the meeting; staff said more information and follow-up would be provided as needed.
