Clearlake extends month‑to‑month animal‑control contract with North Bay Animal Services

The Clearlake City Council on Sept. 16 authorized extending month‑to‑month contracts with North Bay Animal Services (NBAS) to provide animal‑control officer and kennel technician services and waived competitive bidding due to the specialized and urgent nature of those services.

Staff explained that two city animal‑control officers resigned in June and that recruiting for replacements has been unsuccessful. The temporary NBAS contract supplied a trained officer and kennel technicians on short notice, including assistance during local wildfire events. Staff said the month‑to‑month arrangement allows the city to preserve high live‑release rates and maintain operations while exploring longer‑term options.

Mark Scott (identified on Zoom as NBAS executive director) and department staff praised the partnership and said NBAS serves multiple nearby cities. Council approved the extension and the waiver under Clearlake Municipal Code section 3‑4.5 to maintain continuity of service; staff said existing budget salary savings and other sources will cover the contract for the remainder of the fiscal year.